Начало прославления о. Иоанна. Христолюбивая раба Божия Параскева Ивановна Ковригина. Празднование 25-летия и 35-летия священства

Perhaps, for a long, long time, this great lamp would have had to burn under cover, due to his deep humility, to the inexpressible sorrow of all the saints who demand and thirst for it, prayers and help pleasing to the Lord - if the All-Seer Himself had not sent a guiding star, indicating the place where this long-sought and long-sought lamp and prayer book was kindled. - And this star appeared in the person of none other than the noble, deceased old woman in God - the virgin Paraskeva Ivanovna Kovrigina, whose entire life, from her childhood until her death, was filled with spiritual edifications and wonderful examples and at the same time imbued with the spirit of strict asceticism. Paraskeva Ivanovna Kovrigina was born on October 14, 1816, in the Kostroma province, Chukhloma district, Glazunovo-Bushnevskaya volost, Soborovsky parish, the village of Tushevino, in the village of Falagino, located 12 versts from the city of Galich. The whole family consisted of pious parents Ivan Ivanovich and Juliania Filimonovna, four sons - John, Kosma, Julian and Andrei, and two daughters - Ksenia and Paraskeva. All of them were serfs of Prince Dolgorukov. The youngest of the family, the daughter of Paraskev, although by nature not endowed with special physical beauty, from an early age was distinguished by outstanding spiritual beauty: she was humble, meek and silent, opening her lips only to reasonable speeches - for the glory of God or in moments of regret for someone else’s grief. She was submissive to her parents and greatly valued their blessing. From the age of 18, she already managed all the household chores in the house; took the risk of accepting strangers and wanderers, although her family did not like it very much, and they often annoyed her for this. She, loving golden silence, bore all reproaches without complaint, sharing her share with others, so that no one left the house without at least something. Acquiring with her accommodating, meek and kind character the general love and respect of those around her, she did not at all exalt herself in front of others and always tried to be unnoticed. But her attractiveness, open and bright look, unparalleled modesty, combined with tenderness of address, could not hide from the keen and inquisitive eyes of men, many of whom considered it a pride and great honor to be her fiancé and sought her hand; why the father, in order to avoid a forced marriage to a serf, bought her freedom, not at all suspecting what was hidden and cherished in the soul of his daughter Paraskeva, whose thoughts and feelings were completely absorbed in the salvation of her soul and the acquisition of the eternal Bridegroom - Christ. In an effort to devote herself to constant virginity, Paraskeva thought not about marriage, but about spiritual objects dear to her heart. For this purpose, with particular curiosity, she talked for a long time with pilgrims or nuns, being carried away by their stories and, being literate, she herself loved to read a lot of soul-saving books, especially from the lives of saints. Respecting sacred persons to the point of reverence, Paraskeva became very irritated if anyone spoke unkindly or vilely about the clergy. Loving church services, she did not miss a single Sunday or holiday without visiting the parish church, despite its 7-mile distance from their village, and was in a hurry to come to the church of God at the beginning of the service. And only the spring flood of the rivers forced her to confess and receive Holy Communion. Tain outside his parish church. It is touching to imagine how a young ascetic - weak in her gender, but strong, like adamant, in spirit and faith, with prayer in her mouth, having with her the icon of the Intercession of the Mother of God - this heavenly Guide, often on a dark night, in inclement weather - alone fearlessly makes her way to the parish church or to the holy monastery and at the same time there are no travel temptations or embarrassments had the power to stop her from her intended and undertaken good goal. From the age of 20, Paraskeva became zealous about going to pilgrimages - both alone and accompanied by others; Moreover, being the full mistress of the family, which had grown, due to her caring for her relatives’ orphans, to 20 people, she would have had to refuse this spiritual pleasure. But holy intention does not recognize barriers; and Paraskeva, having the Mother of God as her assistant, manages to go everywhere: she does not forget strangers, works hard at home, visits holy places and, at the same time, does not miss the evening and morning prayer rules; In addition to all this, she also complacently endures criticism for her love of holy places from those around her, who, according to the teachings of our primordial enemy - the devil, mocking her piety and affection for her, the friends who voluntarily accompanied her - dared to call them to their faces schismatics and whippersnappers. But all these undeserved ridicule were ultimately broken by Paraskeva’s imperturbable character, protected, moreover, by unshakable patience. A particularly favorite place for Paraskeva to visit was the Reshma monastery, in which, like a fragrant krin, the disciple of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the pious elder Hieromonk Hilarion, labored at that time, who had enormous influence on Paraskeva’s heart and on her entire subsequent life. From the first glance, he saw in her an irresistible and strong desire for everything sublime, not worldly, for feats of self-sacrifice for the salvation of the soul, and for spiritual conversations, which he conducted with her, not getting tired, but rejoicing, seeing her reverence and attraction for them. And how soul-saving and sensitive these conversations of the great and decrepit old man with the ascetic must have become - young not in years, but in spirit and thirsty for spiritual enlightenment?!.. One All-Seer - the Lord was an impartial witness to the sublime mood of these two beings: one, already hungry for eternal union with Christ, and the other, who had only managed to fully mature on spiritual soil!.. This is how the Lord, inscrutable in His destinies, regardless of gender, age, or social status, brought together, already in absentia akin in spirit, the humble Paraskeva Ivanovna with the venerable elder Hilarion, who, possessing, among other virtues, the gift of foresight, instead of making a will, without hesitating, expressed his will to Paraskeva - to go to Kronstadt, saying on his deathbed, as if in the spirit of prophecy and blessing that in Kronstadt there is a great luminary of the Church of Christ - Fr. John, and for Paraskeva to serve under him. And so, seventeen years before her death, Paraskeva Ivanovna moved to Kronstadt, where her brothers had long lived, one of whom was wealthy and stingy, and the other, although poor, was kind, with whom she loved to stay more. Who would not revere the wondrous ways of God's providence, who arranged for the Paraskeva brothers to live more than a thousand miles from their homeland, but in no other place, namely in Kronstadt, where the great star of the spiritual world began to shine, as if expecting only a smaller, guiding star?!.. It was not for the sake of her brothers that Paraskeva Ivanovna strove to Kronstadt: her spiritual heart was also looking for spiritual food. Her main goal and desire were far from being achieved, for she had not yet met or even seen Fr. John Sergiev, to whom, according to the insightful will of Fr. Hilarion, came to serve, despising everyone and everything in this vain world. What an unspeakable joy and kindred feeling must have filled Paraskeva’s thirsty heart when she saw Fr. John for the first time during the evening service in St. Andrew's Cathedral?!.. She immediately felt with all her kind, beneficent heart towards her neighbor that the will of the blessed elder Hilarion was beginning to be fulfilled. Leave the cathedral without taking a blessing from Fr. Joanna, she was unable to. But Paraskeva’s heart, wide in love, moves her further: she asks her father, the archpriest, for permission to reveal her soul to him in confession and, having received what she asked, dares to bother Fr. John - give her some time for spiritual conversation and edification before confession. - After this, Fr. the archpriest brought her to one poor woman, Evlampia Petrovna Shlyapnikova, revered and protected by him, asking her to accept Paraskeva Ivanovna as her own mother. From then on, the soul, heart and inner, beneficial activity in God of the late Paraskeva Ivanovna Kovrigina began to express themselves. Having barely taken refuge with Shlyapnikova for a very short time, Paraskeva Ivanovna, having previously lived in a large family and knowing from experience that it is impossible to get along in this life without strife, began to inspire her, during quarrels and family troubles, not to respond with mutual barbs, as is usually the practice of women from time immemorial, but to read a prayer in secret. And the beneficial effect of the advice was immediately revealed. As soon as family discord began, and Evlampia Petrovna armed herself with secret prayer, the silence that everyone loved was immediately established. - Further, Paraskeva Ivanovna often said to Evlampia Shlyapnikova: “Remember all the priest’s words, for he is a great lamp.” - Meanwhile, at that time, the people did not yet see anything outstanding in Father John Sergiev, except for some strange, supposedly out-of-date relations with his flock, especially the weak, requiring spiritual strengthening, whom he himself sought out, inspired and shared with them the last means, to the considerable surprise of those around him, who were not accustomed to seeing such an excellent, original attitude of a truly loving shepherd towards his suffering flock. But Paraskeva’s sensitive heart could not hide this warm care for those in need on the part of Fr. Archpriest John; although this time she lived in Kronstadt for only six weeks, forced to leave for the village to complete the construction, where she lived for 3 years and 4 months, staying in Kronstadt with her soul - for a loving heart, no matter where it hovers, always strives in spirit for the beloved object. Nevertheless, this separation was painful for Paraskeva, since she was without leaders and advisers. And the Lord, merciful to those who love Him, knowing her soul and sincere, good aspirations, did not want to tempt Kovrigina’s patience any longer and in December 1872 deigned to settle her in Kronstadt forever. Residents of Kronstadt, both attentive and curious, could not help but be struck by the unusual circumstance of how Paraskeva Ivanovna walked for a long time along the streets of the city with Fr. John Sergiev, and also accompanied him everywhere, humbly talking with him and carefully listening to his edifications. It is very clear that the curious provincial crowd, mostly female, was unable to overcome its curiosity and, seizing a convenient time when Paraskeva was alone, besieged her with questions about Father John and the reason for her long conversations with him. Delving into the spirit and intentions of the questioners, Paraskeva Ivanovna, herself feeling it in her soul and heart, firmly and simply explained to them how beneficial and gratifying the conversations of Fr. Archpriest Sergiev and how a person who sincerely opened his soul to him in confession is renewed, and one blessing received from him arouses special reverence and love for him, respect for the priesthood and gives rise to concern for his own salvation. And this unartificial, meek word, sprinkled with genuine faith about Father John, immediately found several who responded to her, which is why the attitude towards Paraskeva Ivanovna changed. A society was formed, albeit still too small, which began to pursue Kovrigina, with the beneficial goal of talking with her in a spiritual sense, revealing their mental and heart sores and consulting about various plans, undertakings and perplexities, especially in those cases when they were embarrassed to communicate something weighing on the soul personally to Father John Sergiev. But thirsting for spiritual renewal for both herself and her neighbor, Paraskeva Ivanovna could not stop at so little: her abundantly loving heart also sought abundant fruits. For this purpose, she convinced the most venerable father, Archpriest John, to organize spiritual conversations in worthy homes, for those thirsting for spiritual salvation and enlightenment, and, having received the consent and blessing of Fr. The archpriest informed her friends about the place and time of the conversation, warning them to invite only believers to it. As in every matter that arises on spiritual grounds, initially very few attended the conversations, either because they did not trust what was offered at them, or because of spiritual blindness and devotion to the corrupt world, and did not want to attend them at all, so as not to hear reproaches and accusations of their conscience. All this required all-healing time and certain conditions. But - “do not be afraid, little flock: for your heavenly Father has deigned to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). And it was not afraid, but, driven by insatiable virtue towards its neighbor - Paraskeva, it gradually grew and grew. During the conversations, various advice was offered and confusion was resolved, and life was told about life according to God’s commandments. Anything that was not fully understood immediately during the conversation was explained at leisure by Paraskeva Ivanovna, who knew much of the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of the Holy Fathers. Thus, as one of the listeners put it, Elder Paraskeva was an accessible, understandable, kind and humble mentor for everyone. The twenty-fifth anniversary of Fr. John in the priesthood. Paraskeva Ivanovna’s heart was kindled with a strong, irresistible desire to commemorate and immortalize this day with something special - to perpetuate the memory of the most worthy and zealous of shepherds. However, no matter how great and loving Paraskeva’s desire was, bringing it into reality turned out to be more than difficult, almost impossible. Too wasteful, often following harmful whims, the few admirers of Fr. John were far from generous in carrying out a good thought, in addition, they treated this matter with distrust and negligence. The benevolent, venerable old lady had to endure a lot, a lot of moral, spiritual torment. As you know, in general it is not easy to ask even for daily food, which you cannot do without. And to ask - and on a large scale - to satisfy only the desire to do honor to another and, moreover, without having sources at hand (!), is already a feat of its own, affecting the conscience, irritating the nerves and killing the good mood, so necessary in every good deed. And only sincere, genuine love came to Kovrigina’s aid. After many difficulties and obstacles, the sum of 800 rubles was finally collected, and it was decided to purchase and present it to Fr. John Sergiev's pectoral cross. Although with incredible efforts and difficulties, it would seem that the good intention was fulfilled in the end, to the general joy of the zealous donors, and especially Paraskeva Ivanovna, who gave the first, bold thought about this intention. But deeply humble Fr. John, recognizing that it was unworthy and reproachful for his virgin conscience to wear on his chest the precious image of the One who carried a wooden cross on His shoulders, did not at first want to hear about such an offering from those who were zealous, and only after persistent requests and skillful arguments, based only on love, on the part of Elder Paraskeva, did he finally give his consent to accept this valuable gift, saying in gratitude a heartfelt, touching speech of such content. Speech on the day of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the keymaster, Archpriest of the Kronstadt Cathedral, John Sergiev, to the parishioners on December 14, 1880, said in the church, while presenting the precious cross “And you, dear brothers, remembered the significant day for me of my ordination to the priesthood? And with such benevolent, all-covering love, they deigned to commemorate this day by presenting me with this precious sign of our common redemption! Thank you for looking favorably on my twenty-five years of service as a priest! I don’t know who is more honored in this gift: you or me? I think that you, who sympathized with my feasible service, the goal of which is our common sanctification and salvation; - yes, to you, - to the warmth of your faith and love, your Christian feeling. May these Christian virtues always be with you. This day could pass without any special sign of attention on your part to my humble service, just as similar days pass in the service of many of my brethren. But you, good, enlightened children of the church, do not like to let these days in the lives of church leaders go unnoticed, giving glory and thanks to the common Benefactor and Savior God. May you, first of all, be honored for your favorable attitude toward my infirmities. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, that is, who honors him by his very name and title, will himself receive the reward of a prophet (Matthew 10:41), says the Lord. I say: thank you for being kind to my weaknesses. Yes, I am filled with weaknesses and I know my weaknesses, but the power of God is perfected in weakness: - and it was wonderfully accomplished in me during my 25-year priesthood and, I dare say - for I will tell the truth - through me the Glory of grace was accomplished in many, in the simplicity of believers, in an obvious, tangible way! Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us grace upon grace (John 1:16). I am telling you about this power of God in me so that you, together with me, glorify the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, whose grace and mercy do not fail, just as now they will not fail forever. Who can calculate during all this time the abyss of God’s salvation, which was accomplished in me by the grace of Christ every day and many times over! I cannot count the countless number of machinations of the ruler of the world and attacks of passions destroyed by the mercy and power of Christ in me, through my secret prayer of faith, for the sake of heartfelt repentance, and especially by the power of Divine Communion! What angelic, all-encompassing mind will consider all the secret gifts of God to my soul - the gracious gifts of mercy, purification, sanctification, enlightenment, peace, tenderness, freedom and spiritual space, joy in the Holy Spirit, boldness and power of various help, of which I have been invisibly vouchsafed throughout all the days of my priesthood! I cannot count the countless number of grace-filled healings - mental and physical, performed in me by the Lord through the heartfelt invocation of His wonderful name... Glory to our Savior God! He sees that I am unfaithfully sending this glory to Him. Only by Him and in His name am I glorious, and without Him I am dishonored; only through Him is he strong, and without Him he is weak; with Him he is holy, without Him he is full of sins; with Him I am bold, without Him I am faint-hearted; with Him he is meek and humble, without Him he is irritable and not good. Exalt the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. (Ps.33:4). May these mercies of the Lord remain unforgettable for me forever, may they strengthen my faith and hope for the future, may they confirm my steps in doing the commandments of God, in the unfaltering passage of the high rank of priest. Dear brothers! Seeing this precious cross made of gold and precious stones, I remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Angel or Bishop of the Laodicean church coming to me: I advise you to buy from me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich (Rev. 3:18), that is, to gain a soul purified by the fire of temptation. I have not bought and have not yet acquired for myself this spiritual, incorruptible gold: will I wear this perishable gold in vain, without acquiring a pure soul and an immaculate heart? I have not yet acquired the inalienable spiritual, precious Stone, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 10:4), and I have not firmly established myself on Him; and without this Stone, precious visible stones will not give me light and will not establish my soul on an unshakable foundation. Oh, Lord, precious Stone, enlighten me, still darkened by the darkness of passions, and strengthen my feet, which often waver on the stone of faith! You bring me as a gift, as an expression of your love, your faith and piety, this precious cross. But how can I put it on the chest, when our Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, carried a wooden cross on His shoulder to accept an unrighteous execution for us, exhausted under its weight? How will I wear it when I have not yet learned from Him to lay down my life for the sheep of His flock; when I did not learn to crucify my flesh with its passions and lusts; when I had not yet learned to live not for myself, but for Him, who died and rose again for our sake; when does ungodly pride in various forms still live in me and often darken my soul? Will I, to expose myself, wear it on my breasts, in which love for the Crucified One and for those for whom He was crucified does not yet burn with a constant flame? Forgive me my bewilderment and my hesitation. We are ready to receive awards, but we are not always ready to sacrifice ourselves. O dear souls, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God! May He draw us all to Himself, according to His promise: when I am lifted up from the earth to the cross, then I will draw everyone to Himself, and may He appropriate us all by eternal appropriation; May he unite us all in unanimity under the saving banner of the cross, for a victorious march to heavenly Jerusalem, where the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, awaits us all. I ask for your prayers for me. As for me, my most sacred duty will continue to pray for all of you and sincerely wish you success from day to day in faith, hope and Christian love. A few more words. I am not a warrior alone in the field; I give due gratitude to the cathedral brethren, with whom I have worked until now in the field of priestly service, and who, with their love and peacefulness, helped me a lot to ensure that my service was good, unblemished, and fruitful for pious souls. Thanks also to our archpastor, who looked favorably on my service and on your intercession before him on my behalf. Thank you all." However, the activities of P. I. Kovrigina at first were concentrated only in a small circle in the city of Kronstadt. This is already the rule of the ascetics of Christ: to seek God and run away from human glory, which interferes with wisdom. – But how can a city standing on a mountain top hide from view (Matthew 5:14)? Do they light a lamp in order to put it in a hidden corner without any benefit (v. 15)? Finally, isn’t it from the mouths of twelve simple fishermen - “their words went out into the whole earth, and their words into the ends of the world” (Ps. 19:5)?.. True, the great lamp of the spiritual world shone brightly for a long time, but it still shone only in one, and then deaf, place; whereas, according to the predestination of the Most High, it should have shone brighter and more extensively, for “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:38). And so, in 1881, Paraskeva Ivanovna, not content with the established spiritual conversations in Kronstadt, hurries to the capital, so that here too, fearlessly, with only faith in God and love for one’s neighbor, sow the good seed. And what a wondrous coincidence of circumstances!.. St. John Chrysostom is fearlessly glorified in the church of God by a simple woman, and the unforgettable Fr. Archpriest John Sergiev is also fearlessly glorified by the noble old woman - a virgin, and glorified not in one church, but everywhere; may the words of the Lord of glory spoken to the Apostles be fulfilled: “Whoever spoke in the ear in the church will be preached on the housetops” (Luke 12:3). And thus, proclaiming the glory of the virtue of the most venerable shepherd, the humble servant Paraskeva imperceptibly herself became a participant in this glory. Residents of the capital were not slow to respond to Kovrigina’s firm call: fertile soil for spiritual sowing was found in St. Petersburg and, in fulfillment of the words of St. John the Theologian about the Samaritan Photinia, - “from that city many believed in Him, for the word of the woman who testified!” (John 4:39). Spiritual conversations continued as before in the apartment of Paraskeva Ivanovna herself and on a larger scale, due to the influx of zealous inhabitants of the capital into Kronstadt. – The meeting itself became one of the most outstanding, far from modern: everything was led by Paraskeva Ivanovna personally, without partiality and, even more so, without greed; everything was common to the services of the believers, starting with accommodation and food, so that the Christian meetings of the first apostolic times, dear to every Orthodox Christian, involuntarily came to mind, when the believers - “they had one heart and soul, and they had all things in common” (Acts 4:32) - there was neither rich nor poor, neither master nor slave, but all brothers and sisters in Christ. But these were only the first weak steps of Kovrigina - regarding the spiritual activity of Fr. Archpriest Sergiev in the capital. The great future was still maturing, albeit with noticeable speed. It was not then that Kovrigina hurried to St. Petersburg to limit herself to conversations about Fr. John, who brought spiritual joy only to the elect. No, her zealous nature for good enterprises moved her further, to help those suffering and burdened with various adversities. Elder Paraskeva introduces many families to this loving shepherd, through whose prayers peace is established in these families suffering from various ailments, adultery and disagreement or disobedience to the parental will are destroyed; healings are obtained from various diseases and ailments; the true God is known; respect for sacred persons is established; love for those near and far is strengthened and dissolute life is abandoned forever. And this honor, this gift of various healings from the respected father of the archpriest, with the warm participation of the good Kovrigina, is for the first time awarded in the capital - not to palaces, not to the fortunate people of this world endowed with an abundance of earthly goods, but to the modest, for the most part, meager in means, subsisting in life on bread for kvass, the inhabitants of Sennaya, who from time immemorial have enjoyed an unenviable reputation and contempt: yes The unforgettable words of the Savior will come true that “the healthy do not require a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12), burdened with mental and physical ailments and oppressed by life itself. Among these, burdened with illnesses and oppressed by life, was, by the way, me 4, over whom the beneficial influence of Paraskeva Ivanovna’s advice and suggestions, based on the solid stone of faith and love for one’s neighbor, was manifested on the most extensive scale. Not to mention the healing of my entire family through the prayers of Fr. John, whom Kovrigina so skillfully positioned in my favor and the unforgettable joy of the whole family, and which will be discussed in detail below, - even in the smallest everyday events, the guidance and fraternal advice of the venerable old woman always brought abundant and completely unexpected fruits. Existing with a large family solely through trade, which even for the most experienced capitalists often undermines all well-being, I, with limited funds, have repeatedly had to drink the bitter cup of complete failures, each time putting me in a hopeless situation. And Paraskeva Ivanovna always appeared precisely at these critical moments, like a kind angel of peace and prosperity, finding a way out of the hopeless, solely thanks to her firm trust in God’s providence, which she tried with all the strength of her loving soul to kindle in me. So, one day I was in complete despair from ruin in trade: there was no goods, there was a lot of debt and they didn’t believe in credit, and the daily maintenance of my family and workers cost more than ten rubles. Kovrigina came, to whom I told my great grief. She, having consoled me with words full of the most lively sympathy, told me to go to Kronstadt to see Fr. John, having encouraged him to boldly go to improve the trading business. Having received from my father the archpriest the reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ in Kronstadt and thereby relieving my soul, I soon returned to St. Petersburg and, drawn by some invisible force, straight from the station I went to a merchant’s wife, the owner of a live fish tank, who, having asked me about my business and family and, despite the fact that I already owed her, willingly and without hesitation, let me go I got 1,500 rubles worth of goods on credit, which I still attribute solely to a miracle and the godly prayers of Fr. John and Elder Paraskeva. Another time, also, having no money at all, it was necessary to pay 400 rubles for the shop and provide water for live fish. Due to my inherent cowardice, I again fell into despair, and again suddenly, as if sent by someone, the kind Kovrigina appeared, saying only with sympathy that for God nothing is impossible. And indeed, on the same day, beyond all expectations, I borrowed the required amount of money from my godfather and other friends and made a trade turnover, rejoicing in my soul that I knew such a godly old woman, a few sincere words of which avert what, in our opinion, impassable grief. And there were a lot of similar cases of Paraskeva Ivanovna’s beneficial participation in seemingly hopeless circumstances. But to list them all in detail would be too lengthy and petty, and most importantly, humiliating for the memory of Kovrigina herself, whose spiritual influence and power of love were sharply expressed in more important events. – And besides, the spiritual influence of persons of highly moral, pious life on others is generally difficult to describe. One must experience this beneficial effect for oneself in order to form a clearer idea of ​​its effect on the soul and spiritual side of a person: but it is more than impossible to convey the essence of this effect in words. No less than I am indebted to the good advice and instructions of Paraskeva Ivanovna and my brother in spirit and craft - G.N. Tyagunov, with whom we unconditionally and with zeal fulfilled all her wishes, suggestions and intentions, fearing to pay for disobeying her advice, which, however, Tyagunov did not avoid from his first acquaintance with Elder Paraskeva, thanks to his youth and inexperience. This was in 1883. – Having suffered with my legs for about 4 years with my wife and having heard about the wondrous power of the prayers of Fr. Archpriest John Sergiev, Tyagunov had a sincere desire to invite this good shepherd to his apartment, and just did not know how to begin to fulfill his good desire. However, there were good people who advised Tyagunov’s parents to first see Kovrigina, who soon visited them, approved of the good intention, volunteered to assist Father John’s speedy arrival and at the same time warned them to pay attention to all the advice of the archpriest, who arrived on the same day. – Having prayed for their healing and talked in the spirit of edification about the salvation of the soul, Fr. John invited the sick to come to Kronstadt, to which they happily expressed their consent. But, repeatedly planning to go to Kronstadt, each time they were distracted or delayed by something, and besides, they decided that St. Petersburg had its own priests. Paraskeva Ivanovna found out about this and, coming to the Tyagunovs, insisted that they immediately go to Fr. John, which was done by them. - Imagine their surprise and shame when they approached Fr. Archpriest Sergiev for a blessing, not only did they not receive it, but they were also convicted by him of doubt, inattention to their soul and carelessness towards the clergy. Having received such a morally instructive lesson and seeing before them the chosen one of God, who understood even the thoughts of others, the Tyagunovs hastened to repent of their error and frivolity, and, having received forgiveness and instruction from Father John, they were granted communion with St. Christ's Mysteries and invited the perspicacious shepherd to the apartment to pray and bless the water, which the good Fr. The archpriest willingly complied, seeing their complete repentance. After this, guided by his blessing, they returned to St. Petersburg healed of their illness. - From that time on, G.N. Tyagunov became fully convinced of the power of the prayers of Fr. John Sergiev, and in the danger of neglecting the good advice of Paraskeva Ivanovna, and to help me, he became a zealous executor of all the enterprises and suggestions of Kovrigina, for which we both had to endure a lot of troubles and bullying from blood relatives, and from comrades, and even from the benefactors themselves, who judged us by personality and external gloss and therefore treated us with distrust. But we remained faithful disciples of Elder Paraskeva to the end, despising all adversity, for the sake of helping the ascetic of Christ and firmly remembering that “patience makes art, art makes hope, hope no longer puts one to shame” (Rom. 5:4, 5). “And it never put us to shame if we blindly followed the advice of the loving Paraskeva Ivanovna. Elder Paraskeva had the same strong spiritual influence on all those who had to turn to her mediation. And there were a lot of such persons, and most of them were female, since the latter, as was said above, being timid and embarrassed by Father John, could more openly and simply explain their spiritual secrets to Paraskeva Ivanovna, who was so close in spirit to the venerable shepherd. No less remarkable is the fact that even on people whom Kovrigina herself addressed on a completely private matter, she also managed to make a deep and indelible impression. For example, in all her movements, manners, and gait, one could notice imperturbable calm and sedateness. Her whole being was permeated with deep, unfeigned humility, but not at all without the slightest shadow of hypocrisy. Her senile, handsome and extremely pretty face, precisely the face of a sweet virgin, sharply struck the eye of an inexperienced observer with its imprint of long-term, moral, mental and heart suffering, great grief and everyday hardships. - The gaze - despite the fact that the deceased wore large dark blue round glasses - expressed complete submission and devotion to her fate to the will of Him, by whom kings reign and rulers rule. Speech - the most artless, simple, but smooth, even, imbued with the spirit of love, humility, patience and brevity - flowed like a majestic and at the same time quiet river, pierced the depths of the soul, ennobled the heart, evoked feelings of tenderness and contrition for sins and left in the mind the convictions of the vanity and perniciousness of life. In a word - to put it in short, simpler and clearer - he was a man not of this world, a man in the flesh and an angel in spirit, each visit of which for an unobscured soul and heart left for a long time a mood of spirit that was too beneficial, sweet and inexpressible in many ways. If we add to all this the truly Christian, peaceful death of Paraskeva Ivanovna and the touching and touching gathering of the numerous public that filled Kronstadt to pay her last Christian, brotherly duty at the funeral service and burial, at which I was honored to be present, then it will become obvious to everyone how the life of Elder Paraskeva was - difficult, and useful, and bitter, and pious, and filled with love for her neighbors, who repaid her with mutual love. In conclusion, I cannot keep silent about the fact that the deceased venerable Paraskeva Ivanovna served as a guiding sign for such a great luminary in the spiritual world as the deeply respected and venerable father Archpriest John Ilyich Sergiev. – So, during my 5th acquaintance with Fr. John Sergiev and Elder Paraskeva Ivanovna, my whole family suffered from various ailments. I had severe, chronic rheumatism throughout my body, and felt unbearable pain in my head, chest and legs. The wife was somewhat relaxed and had no appetite; the daughter was pale, thin, exhausted and melting like a candle, day after day. “Having been given away by the doctor many things, and not being able to heal a single thing” (Luke 8:43), I turned to the assistance and advice of Elder Paraskeva, who, having strengthened my faith in the power of prayers and intercession before God, Fr. John, brought him to our apartment, and Father Archpriest, as soon as he entered the room, said that the day of his visit would also be the day of healing for my family. Then he talked with us, served a prayer service and, blessing us all, left. After the departure of the wonderful Fr. Archpriest - just as the Apostle Paul once instantly saw the light when he turned to Christ - so we all, gradually strengthened by the power of his prayers, were freed from our ailments, enjoying excellent health to this day. G. N. Tyagunov and his wife were completely healed of their diseases of the legs and head, thanks to the miraculous prayers of the loving shepherd and the warm, kindred participation of Paraskeva Ivanovna. In addition to my family and the Tyagunovs, the following persons received complete healing after undergoing useless treatment for a long time: someone who lay in the hospital for a long time and in vain - from a long-term internal illness; innkeeper - from relaxation and rheumatism in the legs; carpenter - from a 7-year-old headache that gave him no rest day or night; His daughter, who had not begun to walk for a long time and was sick from birth, was healed; then, one artisan and a woman were healed of a long-term heart and head illness. Among those who received complete healing were also persons whose illness was recognized by medicine itself as incurable. “So, one carpentry contractor, now deceased, suffered from a hernia for 12 years, and two women suffered from epilepsy, and all three were completely healed of their incurable - for man, but not for God - illnesses. No less worthy of surprise is the deliverance of one painter’s wife from an evil spirit with which she had been possessed for 12 years, and she could not stand in the church, she screamed and fought furiously, and during these fits of rage, ten people were unable to hold her. – Whoever says anything about the non-existence of supposedly possessed people today; but we know from the legends of the holy fathers that even all visible air space is filled with evil spirits that have free access, in varying degrees and types, to inhabit each of us, so that if the grace of the Holy Spirit does not abound in a person, then the spirit of evil in heavenly places certainly dwells and dominates in him (Eph. 6:12), the presence of which, for those who have eyes to see, can always be encountered at every step. Thus, strong anger that consumes a person, envy, enslavement by some passion, from which a person, even with all the desire, cannot get rid of, prove the possession of an evil spirit in him. And those suffering from such spiritual and moral ailments, and then healed, attract the most attention, since in these cases, one’s own will, usually daring, is completely powerless, and all medical means are blown away, “like dust before the wind” (Ps. 17:43). – Of those suffering from such ailments, there were two men and two women, and all four, indulging in heavy drunkenness, led dissolute lives, abandoned all honest work, not even having daily food, and were considered completely lost; but still, four returned to the path of truth, fell in love with honest work and lead a sober life. And all these healings and blessings came down through the godly prayers of the loving shepherd. And the key, the engine and the guide for all these, who were waiting for the movement of water, was the same old lady Paraskeva Ivanovna Kovrigina, ever-memorable and marvelous in life. The wife of one sailor, married not out of mutual love, hated her husband, not listening to the admonitions of either relatives or friends, and life was only a burden to her. This went on for two years until God brought her to meet Paraskeva Ivanovna, who, being very sympathetic to her marital grief, advised her to invite Fr. Ioanna Sergiev for an apartment. The good shepherd arrived, served a prayer service, had an edifying conversation with both spouses and blessed them before leaving, after which their lives completely changed for the better, and they still live in peace, love and harmony. “And when this soldier woman became pregnant, Elder Paraskeva predicted to her that she would have a son and her godson, which soon came true. However, the beneficial deeds of the good archpriest Fr. John Sergiev was a grain of sand in a field for the crowded capital. And so, tireless and greedy for virtue, Kovrigina, considering the glory of such a wondrous shepherd too insignificant, with the power of all her energy moves the grateful hearts of those who received healings and other benefits through the prayers of Father John - to notify the believing Orthodox world about all this through newspapers, placing all the troubles on this matter on me and Tyagunov. And thanks to our efforts, the most popular newspaper “Novoye Vremya” was the first to respond, on December 20, 1883, No. 2807, and published a statement of gratitude, which is transmitted here in its entirety, for further confirmation and edification of those who wished it - as a memory for posterity and in eternal gratitude to the unforgettable Fr. Archpriest John Sergiev and the ever-memorable elder Paraskeva Ivanovna. Statement of Thanks “We, the undersigned, consider it our moral duty to testify to our sincere spiritual gratitude to the archpriest of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in the city of Kronstadt, Father John Ilyich Sergiev, for the healing provided to us from the diverse and serious illnesses from which we suffered, and from which medical care could not heal us previously, although some of us spent a long time in hospitals and were treated by doctors. But where weak human efforts were in vain, warm faith in the Almighty Healer of all evils and diseases, who sent down help and healing to us sinners through the medium of the pious archpriest, worthy before the Lord, turned out to be saving; Through the holy and beneficial prayers of this ascetic, who deserved so much before the Supreme Creator of all blessings, we all not only received complete deliverance from the bodily ailments that oppressed us, but some of us were miraculously healed from moral infirmities, which irrevocably led them onto the path of vice and destruction, and now, strengthened by such a clear sign of God’s mercy towards them, we felt the strength to leave our former sinful life and remain more firmly on the path of honest work and God-fearing behavior. Considering it especially useful for the edification of many in our time of little faith to declare publicly about such a visible manifestation of the all-good providence of God, tirelessly caring for sinful humanity, we recognize it as our constant duty in the face of everyone to declare our deep gratitude to the Reverend Father Archpriest, who has helped so much, asking him in the future not to forget us sinners in his prayers. At the same time, trying to remember ourselves, we also convey to others the only highly worthy saving advice taught to us by the highly worthy pastor-healer during our appeals to him - to live according to God’s truth and to receive Holy Communion as often as possible.” This is what was published in Novoye Vremya about the grace-filled and healing power of the prayers of the venerable and powerful prayer book before God, Fr. Archpriest John Sergiev; Moreover, under the statement, 15 persons were named separately who received healings and other benefits through the prayers of this shepherd, with an explanation of the essence of the healings themselves. In 1884, Fr. Thirty years of ministry was celebrated. John Sergiev in the priesthood. The day of his Angel was approaching - October 19, and on the same day the opening of an orphanage called “Nursery” was scheduled in Kronstadt. Elder Paraskeva wanted to commemorate this solemn day and honor the glorious, tireless labors of the Kronstadt shepherd. She communicated her cherished thought to someone, and soon this thought became action - not like at the twenty-fifth anniversary, for Fr. More than one capital, Kronstadt, knew John, and Paraskeva Ivanovna was diligently received in many houses in St. Petersburg. Thus, the first major donor to respond to a good cause was breeder I. I. Kulagin, who gave 100 rubles. On Kovrigina’s advice, they brought it to Fr. John also received a pectoral cross by subscription, depending on the zeal of the donors. When collecting money, two opposing parties took part: one volunteered to collect the money itself, while the other was nominated for the collection by Eldress Paraskeva; and the first party, infected with pride, was not at all successful; but for the second, the voluntary sacrifices of the givers and the grateful exceeded all bold expectations. We intended to offer a cross of 700 rubles, but collected 2000 rubles. But when presenting the cross, Fr. John, according to accepted custom, needed to make some kind of welcoming speech. For those who love diligently and firmly believe, there are no barriers. And the old woman, without thinking for a long time and blessing herself, turns with a request to compose a speech to the well-known preacher and master in the capital, the father of the Archpriest of the Ascension Church V. Ya. Mikhailovsky, who himself reverently before Fr. John, as a true and good shepherd, fulfilled our request with joyful pleasure, remembering in his speech the good participation of Paraskeva Ivanovna in the glorification of the wondrous shepherd, and in the knowledge of him by those who were hungry and thirsty for spiritual advice and the salvation of the soul. However, due to the envy of our primordial enemy the devil, such a mention of Elder Paraskeva in the speech served as a bone of contention for the preliminary listeners of the speech, since many, blinded by the spirit of contempt for their inferiors in position, found it incompatible to place next to the name of such a highly revered and learned shepherd with the name of the thin and unlearned old woman, not knowing that “rowdy, weak and thin-born God has chosen peace, that he may put to shame the wise and the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27, 28). And the dispute was resolved by Fr. John, who, having spiritually united his thoughts with the humble ascetic, on the contrary, thanked for the mention of the name of Paraskeva Ivanovna and demanded that her name be left and certainly pronounced in a speech, which was printed in the Kronstadt Bulletin on October 21, 1884, No. 127, and the content of which was as follows: Dear Father Archpriest John Ilyich! With a feeling of reverence, with filial joy, as always, we stand before you in these moments. Greeting you on the day of your Angel from the bottom of our hearts, we ask the Lord to extend your wondrous life, dear to all believers, for many years, for the salvation of your spirit, for sanctification, edification and healing of those burdened with many sins and serious illnesses. We take this day to express our gratitude and sincere respect to you. It is no secret that according to you, our kindest father, according to your faith, grace is given to heal illness and ulcers in people. It is no secret that through your prayers the paralytic are strengthened, illnesses disappear, demons are driven away, the sad are comforted, families are pacified, prosperity is established in the lives of others, stubborn sinners are brought to their senses; those who left churches, who forgot repentance, who were mired for a long time in the abyss of iniquity - with the tears of the prodigal son, were returned by your influence to the bosom of their mother - the Orthodox Church and lead a pious life. We know that you work tirelessly for the glory of God, that those who come to you with faith in God and hope for His help, with your sacred participation and action, are awarded God's blessing. And you yourself rush to help everywhere, to the best of your ability. Both the wretched hut and the large, rich palaces see you raising your reverend hands in prayer for the sick. You desire to be “all things in order to save all things.” And according to your faith it happens to you. Through you, faith in the Orthodox is strengthened, unbelief is exposed, the honor of the priesthood is restored, glory to God is proclaimed through the mouths of those of little faith, and the whole Church of Christ rejoices that the saint on earth does not become scarce, that you, loving God and your neighbor with all your soul, do not seek your own. We say all this without wanting to embarrass your humility. What should we do when, from the abundance of our hearts, our lips cannot help but speak, just as the soul of the old woman, the servant of God Paraskeva, who was like-minded with you, did not hide from people about your piety, closeness to the Lord. Forgive us, our benefactor, ascetic of God, that we dared to portray you in front of you. We believe that your life does not flow without struggle, not without crosses and suffering; We see that through many sorrows it is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. Therefore, we, grateful to you, in unity of spirit with you, not wanting to be without your prayers for a minute, ask Your Reverence to accept from us, in memory of our heartfelt devotion to you, this holy cross, lovingly erected, watered with tears of joy and blessed by the gracious Lord. Live, our good shepherd, for a long, long time for the glory of God, for the salvation of your neighbors. We believe that your prayer can accomplish much before God.” After reading this speech, a dispute arose again, since many wanted to print it in newspapers, at their own discretion and with distortion of the original text. I, with all my ignorance, understanding the true meaning of speech and valuing its inviolability, was excited to such an extent that, forgetting myself in a frenzy, boldly defended the interests of Fr. John, and the culprit of his glorification - Elder Paraskeva - not agreeing to leave out a single punctuation mark from the speech. And only the intercession of a peace-loving shepherd resolved the dispute in my favor and the speech, which came into my possession, was published without the slightest change. The venerable old lady lived only two years after this greeting, touchingly following the activities of Fr. John, rejoicing at the success of his prayers and the strength of his faith. And in her spirit she foresaw even greater glory for Fr. John, for the sake of the Savior he glorified, and in the last months of her life she often said: “How I would like to live another two years to see how they will flock to Fr. Ioann Sergiev received thousands of people to meet him and see him off in huge crowds.” Father John Sergiev visited the sick Kovrigina every day, talking as usual about God, heaven, the soul, repentance and the afterlife. The sick woman was not afraid of death: she prepared for it from an early age, living in God and good deeds as a virgin and going to the Lord as the bride of Christ. In addition to conversations with Fr. John, whom she asked after her death to say a funeral oration for the edification of the believers, and after repeated communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ from this wondrous shepherd, Elder Paraskeva spent the rest of her time in contemplation of God, in reading and singing psalms, for which she gave her soul to God on September 24, 1886, on the day of remembrance of St. Equal to the Apostles First Martyr Thekla, whose life and apostolic exploits she tried to imitate all her life. It is significant that Fr. Every time John came to Kovrigina’s funeral service, he said “hello” to her at the grave, for he firmly believed that she was “a maiden - not dead, but asleep” (Matthew 9:24). The burial of Paraskeva Ivanovna, although modest, was too crowded. Not only did everyone who knew her in Kronstadt, her admirers as a pious woman and a seer, gather to pay her their last fraternal duty, gratitude, reverence and offer prayerful memory of her, but many also came from St. Petersburg, leaving their usual, mainly trading, occupations. Thus, one of our contemporary ascetics departed to the Lord, both saved in the world, like a dove in Noah’s ark, and, undoubtedly, by her own deeds, and mentally saved in Christ Jesus. - The saying of St. was fulfilled over her exactly. John the Theologian about the Samaritan woman Photinia, that “from that city many believed in Him, for the word of the woman who testified!” (John 4:39). May we have eternal gratitude to her for her worthy father, Archpriest John Ilyich Sergiev, and may we have eternal memory for her insight, humility, patience and love for one’s neighbor. God gave it to us so that we would know the great luminary of the spiritual world and a warm prayer book, but God took it from us in order to intercede before the throne of grace for us, unworthy and burdened with mental and physical ailments. May the name of the Lord be blessed from now on and forever. Word spoken by Archpriest Ioann Ilyich Sergiev at the funeral of the maiden Paraskeva Ivanovna Kovrigina in the Church of Alexander Nevsky at the “House of Diligence”, in Kronstadt, September 27, 1886 The maiden will not die, but sleep, so said the Giver of the century and breath on earth and the Head of the general resurrection from the dead of the human race, the Lord Jesus Christ, when He was brought into the room where the dead daughter of Jairus lay. The girl did not die, but was sleeping, He said, foreseeing his victory over death, which had corrupted our nature, and the miraculous resurrection of this girl from the dead, which would immediately follow. Our Lord would have said the same now if He had apparently come to us and seen this deceased His servant, Paraskeva. I say this with confidence because, on the one hand, indeed, since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, our death has been trampled upon and has become a dream, a rest from labors for everyone who lived and died in faith and piety, and on the other, and especially because this deceased spent almost her entire life so piously and so fruitfully that her death, which she preceded by repeated confession and communion of the Holy Mysteries, Flesh and Blood Christ, truly became a consolation for her, a dream of repose from her labors. And I hope that her spirit now rejoices, having laid aside the mortal, heavy shell of flesh, rejoices in the hope of immortality and reward for deeds and contemplation of the Glory of the Face of Christ. So, accept from us greetings to you, servant of God Paraskeva, from everyone, I, servant of God Paraskeva, asked me to say a word when escorting you to another life, of course, so that those who gathered to see you off would receive edification and consolation at your very death. True, not only your life, but also your death is very edifying and instructive for everyone who knew you. By your word and example you attracted many to the Holy Church and pious living: you taught many to confess more often and partake of the Holy Mysteries to strengthen them in the Christian life. And you died peacefully and edifyingly, with prayer on your lips and in firm hope in God’s mercy towards you even after death. You were not afraid of death: you met it with a triumphant spirit, as the harbinger of God. Accept from us, as our last tribute to you, these funeral prayers and singing. May the Lord place your soul in the villages of the righteous, from where sickness, sorrow and sighing flee. Amen. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the priesthood of Archpriest Fr. Ioann Ilyich Sergiev 1855–1890 “And the glory that You gave Me I have given to them.” Ever since the evening of December 11, 1890, Kronstadt presented an unusually crowded picture. All the hotels were full, so there was not the slightest possibility of getting room. What, one wonders, has brought such a mass of people here? – Not honoring a public figure, not a man of science, not some dignitary, but honoring a clergyman, Archpriest Fr. John Ilyich Sergiev, who served in the priesthood for 35 years. Honoring Fr. John began the day before in St. Andrew's Cathedral with an all-night vigil, which he performed himself, in the co-service of the entire local clergy and numerous clergy, among whom was the synodal missionary Hieromonk Arseny. After reading the canon, Father John delivered a lengthy, heartfelt sermon on the height of the priestly rank. The cathedral was illuminated according to Easter, and the people gathered no less than for Easter matins. Matins and early liturgy on December 12 were celebrated in the Church of the House of Diligence by Hieromonk Fr. Gennady. At 10 o'clock the late liturgy began in St. Andrew's Cathedral. Again a large crowd filled the cathedral, and, however, order and decorum were not violated. The Divine Liturgy was performed by Father John himself, co-served by the clergy and numerous clergy, including Archpriest V. Ya. Mikhailovsky, who arrived at night, and with the protodeacon of the local cathedral V. V. Poletaev. After the communion verse, Father John said a heartfelt word, which we present here without any editions or abbreviations. “What does it mean, beloved brothers and sisters, this solemn meeting of yours, unusual on an everyday day, in this holy church dedicated to the name of the first-called Apostle of Christ? What brought you to this sanctuary? Without hesitation, I will say that you were united and gathered by your faith and love for God, and after God, for me, as His servant. By the inexpressible mercy of the Lord God towards me, a sinner, and by His immeasurable long-suffering, I am destined to live until the day on which I have completed thirty-five years of my service as a priest at this church. You, out of your condescending love for me, considered this not a small circle of time to be fruitless for the Church of God and for you, and came with me to thank the Creator of times for His countless mercies to me and to you, shown over so many years through my feasible service to the Lord and you, and to ask for their continuation in the future. So, today we have a modest triumph of the faith of the Church, a triumph of the priesthood, shepherd and flock, a triumph of fraternal unanimity and Christian love. This means that there is a holiday in our yard, according to Russian proverb. We often hear or read about holidays of various institutions, about holidays of people of science, art and various public ministries, and now it is a church holiday. I thank the Lord with all my heart, with all my being, for His mercies towards me, and to you all, my heartfelt bow for your brotherly love in Christ. In my person you give honor to the holy order, with which the grace of Christ has honored people like you, weak by nature, including me. The honor that you bestow upon me now goes back to the eternal High Priest Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, who sanctified Himself for us and sacrificed Himself for us to His heavenly Father; for my priesthood and that of all those who are sanctified is the priesthood of Christ: Christ alone is the true, eternal priest, and in our person He himself priests, the eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Christ God, You Yourself glorified those who glorify us, Your priests on earth: and grant us, priests, the grace to worthily carry out the highest service of the priesthood and always be sanctified ourselves and sanctify and save others by the grace given to us! You have gathered, beloved brethren, to honor me, unworthy, with gifts and praise. I thank you heartily for these sacred gifts (of course, icons and holy banners), but how can I accept your praise? I, according to the word and instruction of Christ, am an indecent slave, who did only what I should have done, with the help of grace given to me by the Lord. And did I do what I should have done? In all honesty I will say no: much was lacking in my ministry according to the inner man, and in general my ministry was not without shortcomings. It is my duty to recognize this and ask for mercy for my shortcomings and mercy from the Lord, and from you, mercy for my weaknesses. But I wish with all my heart holiness and perfection, and with all my might, with God’s help, I will strive for correction and perfection, for we are told: Be ye perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).” This speech, delivered not oratorically, but warmly and sincerely, made a strong impression. After the prayer service, which was attended by 31 priests and 6 deacons, offerings and reading of greeting addresses began. The first to congratulate the hero of the day were the clergy of the cathedral, led by rector P.V. Trachevsky, who presented him with an expensive icon depicting St. Andrew the First-Called and St. John of Rylsky, and the priest of the cathedral P. A. Klepachevsky said a heartfelt word, which we present in full. “Your Reverence, Father John! Today marks 35 years since your ordination as a priest at the cathedral church of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called in Kronstadt. It was not in vain that the wise Distributor of human lots gave you the destiny to serve as a priest and to teach by word and example of life, firstly, in a church dedicated to the name of the first believer Apostle, who predicted a glorious future for our fatherland in the successes of faith and piety, and secondly, in a city historically and spatially separated from the places in which, by virtue of the apostolic prophecy, the glory of the saints of God shone. As a humble priest of God, you came to this city to this holy church and began to priest and teach not in the convincing words of human wisdom (1 Cor. 2:5), but in the simplicity of sincere faith in the almighty grace of God, the power of which is made perfect in weaknesses and replenishes what is lacking. In such simplicity of your faith and piety there went many and many years of your living, vigilant pastoral, teaching and social activity; - years filled with both joys and sorrows, uprisings and declines in spirit, hope for the success of the faith in God and love for your neighbor preached by you, years of struggle both with your own weaknesses and with the callousness and hardness of the hearts that you turned to God of people; they walked until the day when the glory of your daily, every-minute prayerful and active deeds became the property of the hearts of all the believing sons of Russia. And so the city, standing so alone and exclusively serving military and commercial affairs, thanks to your presence in it, becomes an object of religious attention and a source of religious and moral consolation - to such an extent that our church, expanded under you and decorated not without your participation, now cannot accommodate all the people in whose hearts, perhaps for the first time, you kindled a spark of faith in God and awakens the need for salvation. No wonder you spent 35 years glorifying the Apostle, who predicted glory for the faith of Christ in our fatherland. Accept from us, your co-workers in time and place, but weak and infirm co-workers in your deeds, this holy. icon as a sign of our deep respect for your person, and pray to the Chief Shepherd, may he grant us the weak strength to serve Him worthily and achieve the only need for salvation for ourselves and our flock.” Father John thanked his colleagues with tears in his eyes. Then, from the St. Andrew's Trusteeship, the Duma and admirers, a silver banner was presented, intended for the church being built in the homeland of Father John, and the following welcoming address was read: “Very revered Father John, most merciful shepherd! The bright and joyful anniversary for us of your 35th year of service to the Holy Church, the Tsar and the Fatherland has brought thousands of your admirers from all over Russia to our city. But this is an insignificant drop compared to the overwhelming and only known to God number of your reborn spiritual children, who are scattered throughout the face of the Russian land, its cities and towns, and for whom your anniversary is their spiritual triumph. Here we see only a weak idea, compared with the countless host of both living and departed witnesses before God and people, of those grace-filled gifts and works of mercy that you have poured out on us and on them from the inexhaustible source of your love and compassion for the sorrows and infirmities of people! At this spiritual feast of your faith and indestructible hope in the power of the redemptive merits of our Savior, when all those present and absent merged, as if into one invisible choir of reverence for their “good shepherd,” - at this solemn moment, accept the expression of boundless gratitude and selfless love from your native flock, the Kronstadt parish of St. Andrew the First-Called, in the person of the St. Andrew's parish guardianship created by you. Many of those present here in the church are your spiritual children from the first days of your shepherding. Many were with you and near you in the days of loneliness, in the days of your sorrows and labors, when the wisdom of God, raising you invisibly to the degrees of spiritual gifts and inner revelations, led you through a long year of trials, melting the treasures of your heart, like priceless gold in the crucible of suffering and temptations - into a chosen and honest vessel for yourself! In these moments, when you are still here on earth, crowned, as if with a brilliant crown, with a tribute of glory, reverence and gratitude for your good deeds, accept from us, your flock and admirers, this banner, built for the church erected at the place of your birth, and may it become an eternal testimony to future generations of selfless love for your “good shepherd” of his native flock and her reverence for the greatness of the 35-year national, tireless feat of the priesthood! Here, in Kronstadt, your service to the mourning and helpless; your unparalleled feat of mercy and love of poverty; Your business is the charity of orphans, the upbringing and education of children; Your preaching of work and piety... in short: Your name and the evangelical spirit of service are imprinted forever in the activities of your beloved “House of Diligence”, in its church and numerous charitable institutions and in your heart you will find traces of the memories of selfless love and unshakable devotion to you of all the same former co-workers, your members of the board of trustees, who stand here in unison and unanimously, closed in the canopy this sacred banner." The address is covered with many signatures. Following this, Archpriest V. Ya. Mikhailovsky greeted Father John on behalf of the St. Petersburg brethren. Priest F.N. Ornatsky with a deputation “from the Society for Religious and Moral Education in the Spirit of the Orthodox Church” presented a welcoming address in a luxurious velvet binding. This is what this Society said: “Your Reverence, venerable father Archpriest John Ilyich! Our Lord Jesus Christ, foreseeing and outlining the future ministry of the holy apostles and their successors, the shepherds of the Church, to the cause of saving people, called them the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a city standing on the top of a mountain (Matthew 5:13–14). Such a high appointment was fully justified by the holy apostles, bearers of the highest gifts of the Holy Spirit. But their ministry continues today in the Church: the Lord God and from among the successors of St. the apostles, at different times and in different places of His dominion, brings extraordinary figures into the field of Christian life. One of them, undoubtedly, is you, a worthy member of the Society for the Propagation of Religious and Moral Education in the Spirit of the Orthodox Church. So in ancient times, from among the people of Israel, the Lord God raised up extraordinary servants, executors of His will, in accordance with the needs of one or another time in the life of the people of God. And what do the people of our time need, who have lost their way and are straying from the true path, especially among the conditions of urban life? It is precisely in that one thing that is needed, according to the word of Christ (Luke 10:42), which has become the property of your soul and serves to glorify the greatness of God in your human weakness: in faith, the expression of which is fervent prayer to God, and in charity with your right hand, so that your left hand does not know about it. The source from which you learned these Christian virtues was the Holy Scripture, highly valued by you from childhood, and deeply and heartily studied in school and life, which is all inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). You never cease to point out to the people this source of God’s revelation, as it is understood and preached by the fathers and teachers of the Holy Orthodox Church, as the only source of living water flowing for people into eternal life. In this aspect of your activity, you, venerable hero of the day, are a true member of the capital’s religious and educational Society, which, since its inception, nine years ago, has been following your fruitful activities with joy and edification for all its members. For 35 years now, with unshakable faith in God, with fervent prayer to Him and a hand that never fails to help your neighbor, you have truly served as salt, protecting from moral corruption and preserving for the kingdom of heaven those thousands of Russian people who from all sides of our vast homeland, both personally and in absentia, turn to you. For 35 years, you, like a pure candle, kindled by the almighty right hand of the Most High, have been burning daily in prayer before the throne of the spotless Lamb, slain for the sins of the world, interceding before Him for the poor in spirit, those who weep, the meek, those hungry for righteousness, those burdened with life, who come to you with requests for edification, consolation and support. For 35 years you, like a city standing on top of a mountain, have been attracting all seekers of salvation to you, and from yourself to the path of virtue and further - to the city of the Great King, heavenly Jerusalem... May the name of the Lord be blessed in you and through you! Welcoming you on this anniversary day, Venerable Father John, the council of the “Society for Religious and Moral Enlightenment in the Spirit of the Orthodox Church” prays to the Lord God that He will preserve you with His grace in health and strength of mental and physical strength for many, many years to the glory of His Most Holy Name, for the building of His Holy Church, for the benefit of people who need the example of your faith, your prayerful help, and often and in material assistance." The following greeting from the editor of “Russian Pilgrim” A.I. Popovitsky was read: “Mm. gg. Each of us knows that our highly respected hero of the day has been given the name of Kronstadt by everyone and everywhere. Many do not know either his patronymic or last name. For everyone, he is Father John of Kronstadt. Why? Of course, because the place of his permanent residence and service is here, in this first-class maritime citadel, which so hospitably opened its doors to us today. Needless to say, all of us, non-Kronstadt residents, envy our glorious Kronstadters. They can tell us: you have Father John only as a dear guest, but we have him as one of our own, because he is from Kronstadt. But excuse me, gentlemen; I want to say that, despite this name, Father John is ours, ours is entirely the same as yours. I want to understand this name in the same sense in which some of our heroes and figures received the name Rymniksky, Smolensky, Amursky. Indeed, Kronstadt is the place of the valiant exploits of Father John, the place of his moral conquests and victories. Here, during his 35-year career, he raised several generations of Russian youths, instilling in them high moral and religious rules. Here he accomplished the greatest feats of Christian charity, hardly ever practiced on such a grandiose scale. Here he taught each and every one to sincerely and fervently pray, to repent heartily and fervently, to resolutely and firmly take the path of goodness and truth. Here, finally, with repeated signs of the omnipotence of God, the instrument of which God chose him, he always insistently pointed out that these signs constituted the fruit of the faith of those on whom they were revealed, and thus, little by little, sowed in them the seeds of such virtue, which our modern age especially needs. But, having accomplished all this here, Father John did not isolate himself in a tight circle of a small town, and the waters surrounding the local island did not cut off Father John from the rest of Russia. Just as the heroes of Smolensk, Trans-Balkan and Amur rendered the greatest services to the entire fatherland with their exploits, so the hero of Kronstadt, expanding his moral conquests far beyond the borders of Kronstadt, is a spiritual educator and leader for everyone who has heard about him, for all who call upon him. His pastoral instructions and moral and religious lessons taught here; an example of the tireless pastoral activity taking place here; high examples of Christian charity, the first object of which was the Kronstadt poor - all this finds an echo in all Russian hearts and, accepted sincerely, cannot fail to bear fruit a hundredfold; and that small seed of faith that he sowed here at the beginning, couldn’t it grow into a great tree that would cover the entire Russian land with its leaves? At least this is what Father John prays for, and we know that God hears his prayer. One might be surprised at the extraordinary charm that surrounds Fr. John, but not we, gentlemen, will be surprised at him. Is there at least one person here who does not know that wherever Father John appears, darkness dissipates, grief subsides, and need is covered? His meek gaze, full of love for his neighbors, penetrates into the very depths of every heart, brightly illuminates the dark recesses of the spiritual nature of each of us, destroys all perplexities and fears in it, sheds healing balm into the tormented soul, encourages and comforts the suffering and sorrowful. Who of those who turned to him left without a lightened heart, without restored peace of mind, without joy or hope? And all this is done without any artificiality, everything is so heartfelt and simple! Can such properties and actions of Father John remain without a charming influence on everyone around him, on everyone who heard about him? That is why hundreds and thousands of people flock wherever Father John appears. Everyone wants to receive his blessing, look at him, touch his clothes. Each of us, gentlemen, has seen and knows this. And our current meeting does not prove the all-Russian charm and importance of Fr. John? Don’t we see here that almost all of Russia responded to the 35th anniversary of his pastoral ministry, and that his admirers came here from everywhere it was possible to come from, and the points of departure for greetings to him covered a huge region of our fatherland. Isn't it true, gentlemen, that Fr. John is not only Kronstadt, but also All-Russian; and don’t you consider it quite appropriate to raise a glass to the health of Father John on behalf of all Russian people! From the city of Kharkov, which Fr. visited this summer. John, was presented with the address of Mr. Zheverzheev with a deputation and a luxurious altar gospel worth more than a thousand rubles. A collector visiting Kronstadt, hieromonk Fr. Palladium, a small gospel bound in velvet was presented and a few simple but sincere words were spoken. To all greetings Fr. John expressed his sincere gratitude. After this, the celebration was moved to the church of the city council, where the hero of the day and all the clergy moved. There, first of all, a short prayer service was performed, then offerings from the city began. The mayor of Shebunin presented the address from the local council. “In our age, the age of untruth and personal interests,” the mayor read, “your 35 years of selfless service to your neighbors is a feat that you involuntarily bow to.” This was followed by deputations: from the sailors, headed by the commandant Admiral Brylkin, who read the address, and from the local gymnasium, headed by its director, Mr. Kozeko, who made a speech; and a former student of Father John, now a teacher at the gymnasium, Mr. Sofronov, in a wonderful speech expressed his heartfelt gratitude to him for his upbringing. This was followed by deputations: from the “Society for Rescue on the Waters”, from the editors of the “Kronstadt Bulletin”, from the shelters in St. Petersburg (Mr. Aristov and Dr. N.N. Dvoryashin; the latter read the address and presented the icon of the Savior, purchased, as Dr. Dvoryashin said, with the money of the shelters), from the St. Andrew’s shelter (presented with gold embroidered airs, veil, etc.), and many others, so that the reading of greetings and introductions lasted more than an hour. Then all the deputations and invited persons went to the hall of the City Duma, where lunch was served. The first toast was proclaimed by Fr. John for the Sovereign Emperor, after which endless toasts and speeches began. The first to speak on behalf of the city was the mayor, Mr. Shebunin, after him Archpriest V. Ya. Mikhailovsky; the former mayor N. Volkov gave a tendentious speech, but the best speech was given by the priest F.N. Ornatsky. Here is the speech we give without any abbreviations: “According to Father John in today’s sermon, his anniversary celebration is a feast of shepherding. And indeed, in all its moments: both in the cathedral, and in the Duma church, and in this dining hall, it splashes with feelings of love for the good shepherd that animates us all. Let us wish, gentlemen, that the holy unity of the shepherd with his flock from this final point of our homeland - from Kronstadt, spreads throughout the entire Russian land, from end to end. Pastoring, according to Fr. John, is an expression of the great ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us wish that the Russian Orthodox pastorate, headed by a single great Shepherd, following the example of Father John, unites all Russian people into a single herd - “may there be one herd and one Shepherd.” Toast o. F.N. Ornatsky caused great excitement precisely because before everyone’s mental gaze he opened up broad prospects that could be realized if the pastors followed the example of Fr. John. N. N. Volkov (former mayor) greeted the venerable shepherd with the following speech: "Mm. years! Today, in the decline of our 19th century, the century of unbelief and selfishness par excellence, when the proud human mind, pompous with its great discoveries, strives to take the first place and imperiously demands for itself and only itself to be worshiped, crowds of people from all over Russia came to us, in Kronstadt, to greet not a great intellectual figure, not an eminent statesman, but a humble servant of the altar of the Lord, 35 years old in word and deed preaching love for one's neighbors, moreover, as if protesting against the claims of the mind; they came to us for today’s celebration in honor of the great heart and great love of Christians, in such overwhelming numbers as they have never come together on any anniversary. And these crowds are right. Christian love, love for one's neighbor, is that constructive, connecting principle, that cement that holds together all the individual structures of the human mind, without whose life-giving spirit they disintegrate in deathly impotence; Christian love is truth itself, truth embodied in deeds; the great heart, therefore, as its bearer, receives preferential worship. For us Russians, such a celebration of loving deeds should be especially dear, since we, who are lagging behind the rest of Europe in mental development, can say without any boasting that we have always surpassed it in matters of the heart and love; Only inspired by it, with Christ in our souls, by virtue of the powerful love for the Motherland and the Throne, which constitutes one of its manifestations, united by it, could we victoriously endure such a disaster as the Tatar yoke, can we put up with the poor surrounding us. Let those present here not think, however, that when I contrast the love of the Russian heart with Western rationalism and formalism, I see in it a guarantee of immobility and stagnation. No, a thousand times no; Anyone who thinks this way about the Russian heart is already slandering it. On the contrary, due to its gentleness and tolerance, it is accessible to every good teaching, but for each of them it is and will be that cleansing crucible through which only all the great intellectual works of the West can penetrate to us. In a word, the Russian heart has always loved the triumph of spirit over dead form, which constituted its strength. And now one of those who embodied this popular idea is present among us. So, without noise, with humility, without putting it into any form striking in appearance, he did his loving work for 35 years. At times it was hard, very hard for him: they did not understand him, they saw him as an uninvited teacher, denouncing others with his deeds, he was condemned and slandered; but he, as a Russian person, was not embittered at his enemies, his persecutors; with Christ in his soul, with forgiveness on his lips, ignited by a divine spark, he walked forward along the once-planned path, without stopping, without yielding, and he won. Today there are no more enemies around him, there are only friends and admirers: he has become the subject of popular adoration. What a pacifying, encouraging example in sadness and misfortune is even this external side of the life of the venerable hero of the day. At this memory, the healthy cup involuntarily rises by itself, the cry involuntarily breaks out: “Long live the great comforter of sorrow!” Let us also exclaim: long live the venerable Fr. John!" Doctor Dvoryashin said a few words about the love that burns in Father John; and after him the director of the gymnasium, Mr. Kozeko, spoke. Almost at the end of lunch, a member of the “Society for Religious and Moral Education in the Spirit of the Orthodox Church” A. A. Zybin addressed Father John with the following words: “35 years have passed since then, most revered Father John, when the great Chief Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, called you to be a servant of the word and a shepherd of the sheep of the flock of words. Thanks be to Him, the All-Bountiful! He rewarded you with many different gifts: the power of love, the power of faith, the power of conviction, and especially the great gift - the gift of prayer and even the gift of healing. And you, as a true worker of His harvest, did not bury these talents, but hourly, every minute you use them for the good of your neighbors in the life around you. From the first days of the priesthood, you realized the full height of the priestly rank, deeply aware of the great responsibility that every priest, after completing his earthly path, bears before the throne of the great High Priest and Lord, not only for himself, but also for his flock. Remembering and realizing all this, from the first days of your priesthood you became a true shepherd, a good shepherd. Every day, during your entire 35-year ministry, you, having made a bloodless sacrifice, united with the Lord, sparing neither strength nor health, gave all of yourself to serving your neighbors; He went to the basements of the poor and to the palaces of dignitaries - both here and there he prayed for the sick, encouraged the discouraged, instructed, wept with those who wept, rejoiced with those who rejoiced; in a word, as the apostle puts it, “he bore the infirmities of the weak and thereby fulfilled the law of Christ.” And so, looking at your past activities, the words of the apostle involuntarily come to mind: “The power of God is made perfect in weakness.” Yes! And it was wonderfully accomplished in you throughout your 35-year ministry. And these many thousands of poor people, whom, with God’s help, you fed and warmed; these exemplary charitable institutions and, finally, a long series of mental and physical healings that took place through your prayer through the invocation of the wonderful and saving name of Jesus Christ - is this not a reflection of that divine grace, which, I repeat, was accomplished in your weakness and is now being accomplished. Thanks to the Almighty for the countless gifts that He sent and is sending to you! Thank you too, good shepherd, for that love, joy and peace, for those instructions that you brought to your flock, leading them to moral perfection - to achieving heavenly Jerusalem. Little by little, each of us will pass into eternity, but your name will not die for future generations; it will burn like a bright star on the pages of Russian church history, as the name of a true shepherd, a good mentor, a defender of the orphans, as the name of the most humane of people. May the great Chief Shepherd and High Priest reward you according to the riches of His glory and give you health, strength and strength to continue your pastoral service, and may it ignite in us the spark of that love that burns in your heart for Him alone, Crucified for us, and for your neighbors, for whom you, following the example of Him, the great Bishop, lay down your soul. May He send you many, many years!” After A.A. Zybin the missionary Fr. Arseny and many other people. The dinner was of a highly lively character and was imbued with a general feeling of love. The dinner was attended by all the cathedral clergy with the venerable rector P.V. Trachevsky, the city clergy and visitors, as well as many high-ranking officials. Lunch ended around 5 o'clock. Leaving the guests, Fr. John went to the “House of Diligence”, in the hall of which a modest dinner (for more than 200 people) was served by St. Petersburg admirers and admirers. The offerings began again. In a luxurious crimson velvet binding the address “From St. Petersburg admirers” was presented, a bouquet of flowers and several other gifts and addresses. More ordinary people were present here, but there was so much joy and unanimity in them that the dinner was no less lively, forming as if a common family, as was expressed by the missionary Fr. Arseny and A. A. Zybin. During lunch, Mr. Sobennikov read a sincere poem, which brought tears to many of those present. You have already served God for thirty-five years, And you served the people for thirty-five years. You have chosen a difficult path for life And he put a lot of his energy into it. You have never turned the road off the straight line: He walked straight and believed that God would send help! And my tired legs ached in pain, My soul ached for the unfortunate people. My heart sank at the sight of the vice, Serious national illnesses and troubles. Have you seen that evil and untruth are widespread The dawn of Christ was covered with fog. You were walking. And a lot in the past There were obstacles along the right path. But you defeated them, and the good seed I sowed so that the truth of Christ would bloom. And pride, fame, self-interest, wealth, He opened his eyes, clouded with envy; And gave free access to the fallen brotherhood, To remove all false shame from that brotherhood. Remember your childhood! How did it run? And how did you live then, our teacher? How did life grow in the midst of hardships and grief? The Lord, to the people, know that he has saved you! Through the wilds of the north in the heat and frost As a sad child I walked and dreamed: - “Why do people shed tears, yes tears?” “And who sent these tears to earth?” “Why has need become related to grief, And torments unfortunate people with himself?” You didn't know the reason. But everything was explained From the experience of your hard life, Holy childhood, all the salt of impressions Already youth understood in soul and mind, Based on holy faith and Christ's teachings She created her conviction forever. But childhood has passed, irrevocable years! Childhood and youth were hidden long ago, And they sank into the eternity of great nature, They have no place to return from. And time, obedient to the laws, fled, From a young man you grew stronger and more mature. Even though the bitter fate surrounded you, But you weren’t looking for personal happiness. Only the young soul was eagerly torn Come to the aid of the suffering and the orphaned, And suffering cruelly from the grief of the people, I decided to sacrifice myself. The people's troubles affected her painfully, And it was bitter for her to live helpless. Then you took up the cross as a banner of victory, I went to serve all the sufferers and orphans. And for thirty-five years this banner has been yours, Goodness is sanctified day after day, Love, labor, compassion, prayer For everyone who comes under the banner of the canopy. So you lived for the world, forgetting yourself, And he bore his heavy cross resignedly. Although the world's sorrow slowly falls, But it falls and collapses. Strong is Christ! And He is your fortress, teacher and strength! And He lovingly imparted wisdom to you; And that power resurrected love in the world, And with this love you conquered everyone. But the sun has already bowed to the west of life, Having passed its mighty and strong zenith. And in its strength it was strengthened again - Love and truth burn more clearly. The native north in the red summer The day can be incredibly long! And long after noon the mighty light There the sun's rays shed a stream. Shine like that too! – health and strength, Be strong, calm, and the banner of Christ It will not tremble in your pure, truthful hand; The soul is strong in faith, pure in deeds! Live, our kind, dear and beloved! With your simplicity you admonish us, And your cross is heavy, healing, invisible Give it to your descendants for the benefit of their lives! Lunch ended at 7 o'clock. Crowds of people stood near the “House of Diligence”, awaiting the departure of Father John. As usual, the poor were not forgotten, for whom a two-course dinner was arranged for 700 people. On this day Fr. John received many congratulatory telegrams from the capitals and from different parts of Russia, from different persons: high-ranking and ordinary, spiritual and secular. We cannot help but quote in full one of the telegrams, which is particularly sincere, namely the telegram from the St. Petersburg charitable brotherhood of St. Sergius, sent by the chairman of the brotherhood, Lieutenant General. Lashkarev. The lamp of faith, not hidden, but placed on the church candlestick! Unmercenary, never-tiring comforter of the needy, color and praise of Orthodoxy, faithful servant of the Lord - accept the greetings of the holy brotherhood. Sergius and pray for our salvation.” It is rare to see such unanimity at such celebrations as we observed at the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the priesthood of Fr. John. It was truly a triumph of shepherding and the unity of the shepherd with his flock, a triumph of faith and Orthodoxy, as priest F.N. Ornatsky put it in his speech; or, better said, we will add: it was the triumph of the love of Christ, which conquers everything, conquers everything; which makes the persecuted and weak strong and attracts hearts to them. The power of God is made perfect in weakness! The pious and believing admirer Fr. talks about this. Ioanna K. F. Kudryavtsev. The same Mr. Kudryavtsev continues the story.