The memory of St. John of Shanghai was prayerfully celebrated in the St. Nicholas Church in Shanghaitranslated

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

The memory of St. John of Shanghai was prayerfully celebrated in the St. Nicholas Church in Shanghai Patriarchy.ru

Source: GN church: Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Read the full story →

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Anna Moore

I see our Melbourne parish also has a small icon of St. John near the entrance—my grandmother lit candles there every time she visited Shanghai years ago.

Kateřina Svobodová

Here in Olomouc, we also have a small icon of St. John in the chapel, and I always remember how my daughter told me about how they worship him in Shanghai. Nice to see Melbourne associate it with your grandmother.

Marek Dvořák

Yes, I know that little icon in Olomouc, it's really nice there. My daughter also told me how in Shanghai people always bring flowers to Saint John and ask him for help. Your grandmother from Melbourne must have seen it with her own eyes, right? I would like to know what exactly stuck with her the most.

Paul Johnson

My grandmother did the same thing whenever she passed through Shanghai in the 60s—she always stopped at that little icon first. Funny how those habits stick with you across continents. Did your grandmother ever mention meeting anyone from the old Russian community there?

Anna Moore

My grandmother never mentioned meeting anyone from the old Russian community, but she always lit a candle at that same icon and said a quick prayer for safe travels. Those little stops really do stay with you. Did your grandmother ever bring back any stories from Shanghai?

Petr Novák

Yes, the icon in Olomouc is really nice, my daughter also admired it. The grandmother from Melbourne mainly told me about how people there brought flowers even in the rain and begged for the healing of children. And what exactly did your daughter say about those people in Shanghai?

Xenia Phillips

My grandmother did bring back one story—she said the Russian ladies in Shanghai taught her how to make proper pirozhki with whatever meat was available that week. Funny how those small kitchen moments stuck with her more than the big sights. Did your grandmother ever mention lighting candles at any other icons besides that one?

Paul Collins

My nan never went to Shanghai, but she always stopped at that same icon too whenever we popped into the church on the way to the match. The safe-travel prayer must have worked — we never missed a kick-off. Did your gran ever say what the old Russian ladies in Shanghai actually looked like?

Xenia Walker

My grandmother only passed through Shanghai once in the late 50s and never mentioned the Russian community either, but she did bring back a tiny paper icon of St. John that she kept in her missal for years. Those little stops do stay with you. Did your grandmother ever say what drew her to that particular icon?

Daniel Lewis

My grandmother kept one of those same little paper icons in her prayer book too, the one with St. John looking straight at you. She said she picked it up because his eyes reminded her of her own father back in Harbin. Did your grandmother ever tell you where exactly she bought hers?

Jana Nováková

Yes, the icon in Olomouc is really beautiful and alive. My daughter mainly said that in Shanghai, people keep coming to his grave with their children and asking for help with illnesses, just like your grandmother from Melbourne. And what exactly did she say about those flowers in the rain?

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