John of Kronstadt
Righteous
Commemorated June 8 · October 19 · December 20
Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest, who lived with his wife in virginity. Through his untiring labours in his priestly duties and love for the poor and sinners, he was granted by our Lord great gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, to such a degree that in the last years of his life miracles of healings — both of body and of soul — were performed countless times each day through his prayers, often for people who had only written to him asking his help. During his lifetime he was known throughout Russia, as well as in the Western world. He has left us his diary My Life in Christ as a spiritual treasure for Christians of every age; simple in language, it expounds the deepest mysteries of our Faith with that wisdom which is given only to a heart purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Foreseeing as a true prophet the Revolution of 1917, he unsparingly rebuked the growing apostasy among the people; he foretold that the very name of Russia would be changed. As the darkness of unbelief grew thicker, he shone forth as a beacon of unquenchable piety, comforting the faithful through the many miracles that he worked and the fatherly love and simplicity with which he received all. Saint John reposed in peace in 1908.
Troparion
With the apostles thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth;
with the confessors thou didst endure sufferings for Christ;
thou didst resemble the holy hierarchs in thy preaching of the Word;
and with the venerable hast thou shone forth in the grace of God.
Therefore, the Lord hath exalted the depths of thy humility above the heavens,
and hath given us thy name as a source of most wondrous miracles.
Wherefore, O wonderworker, who livest in Christ forever,
take pity in thy love upon people in misfortunes;
and hearken unto thy children,
who with faith call upon thee,
O righteous John, our beloved pastor.
Kontakion
O father John, namesake of grace, who wast chosen by God from childhood, who in thy youth miraculously received from Him the gift of learning, and in a dream wast most gloriously called to be a priest: Entreat Christ God, that we may all be with thee in the kingdom of heaven.