John of kronstadt biography examples

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It seemed to me that batyushka looked like Christ in that picture called “The Blessing of the Children.” At first I wanted to curse: why was he hanging around here?… but batyushka’s loving and solemn eyes stopped me: I felt ashamed. And it was not he, the ascetic who had given up the world and his own self, who needed glory.

He would tell people "The Church is the best heavenly friend of every sincere Christian." He conducted divine services daily and offered the prayers of the faithful. The people’s tears at the funeral were so bitter and sincere, that at times even the singers of the Pavlov Life-Guards regiment could not refrain from crying. How can I, as a priest, lead a holy, Christ-centered life since I have a wife and a family and cannot spend hours each day in daily prayer nor undertake feats of asceticism as many of the saints?

In the person of St. John, as in a droplet of water, was reflected the sun of the great soul of the Russian people: unshakeable faith in Christ, simplicity, humility, meekness. In the midst of his exhausting ministry he devoted careful time to his inner life of prayer and kept a diary in which he set down his thoughts, feelings, and prayers.

It was like a veil had fallen from my eyes, it was as if my mind had been opened up, and I remembered clearly my teacher of that day and the lesson he was teaching; I also recalled what he had talked about and understood what he meant. I am quite ill.” This was on October 12, 1984. From his first days as a priest he dedicated himself to serving the poor and the destitute, always sought them out and found them, helped them, took care of the ill, comforted those in despair, bringing to all not only the words of Christ but also His living love and light.

These thoughts filled up an entire wonderful book, published under the title “My Life in Christ.” This book represents a true spiritual treasure-trove and will for all ages remain a witness to how the great saint lived and how should live all those who wish not only to be called but actually be, Christians.

Formerly, he himself used to go out to people solely within the bounds of his city. According to people close to St. John, a good million rubles a year passed through his hands. All of this became a firm religious foundation for the boy in his later long and glorious life in Christ.
Learning came very hard to Vanya in his childhood, which sorrowed him greatly, but also served to spur him on to especially fervent prayers to God for help.

The inhabitants of Kronstadt would see him returning home barefoot and without his cassock. Often parishioners would bring shoes to his wife, saying to her, "Your husband has given away his shoes to someone, and will come home barefoot." He would also write articles for the newspaper exhorting the people of Kronstadt to "support the poor morally and materially." These appeals touched the hearts of many and Fr.

John organized many charitable efforts. Graduating from the Academy, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of a priest and was ordained a priest in 1855. His neighbors frequently asked him to pray for them, as they noticed this special grace-endowed gift in him. Moreover, they even served to conceal his spiritual feats.

It is recorded that such public Confessions would go on for two or more hours. Tens of thousands of people attended his funeral, and a multitude of miracles occurred at his tomb, both then and in the times that followed.
His was a truly extraordinary funeral. This case was a prime example of St. John’s clairvoyance since the woman had gotten this money in a tainted manner, for which she subsequently repented.
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John did a great many charitable deeds with these donations. While completing his seminary studies at the St. Petersburg Academy he dreamt of becoming a missionary to the natives of Siberia or Alaska but observing the conditions of society in St. Petersburg he realized that there was much missionary work needed in Russia.