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From the history of St. John's Monastery The Ioannovsky Monastery owes its establishment to the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, the great man of prayer and luminary of the Church of Christ. In 1899, Father John founded the St. John the Theological Convent in his native village of Sura. The sisters of the new monastery often came to St. Petersburg on monastic affairs, and therefore Father John decided to establish a metochion here. The construction project was drawn up by the diocesan architect Nikonov and approved by Emperor Nicholas II. Construction of the courtyard began in the spring of 1900. Father John followed the progress of the work with great attention. Taking care that everything was done as best as possible, he spared no expense, sending large sums to the construction commission. As soon as the news of Father John’s construction of a new monastery began to spread, donations began to pour in for the monastery in money, various materials and things. And already on December 17, 1901, with the blessing of Metropolitan Anthony, Father himself solemnly consecrated a new church in the name of St. John of Rylsky - in honor of the Heavenly Patron Father John. Father often served there until the consecration of the large cathedral. On December 17, 1902, the main altar of the cathedral church in the name of the Twelve Apostles was consecrated. At the beginning of 1903, by the definition of the Holy Synod, the Surskoe metochion received the status of an independent convent, which was named Ioannovsky - in the name of St. John of Rylsky, and Mother Angelina, the spiritual daughter of Father John, who headed the Surskoe metochion, was appointed abbess of the monastery. In April and October 1903, the side chapels of the Church of the Twelve Apostles were consecrated - in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and in the name of St. Andrew of Crete and St. Mary of Egypt. On the second floor, under the altar of the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the chambers of the founder of the monastery were built, which remained intact until the closure of the monastery. Later, two more monastery buildings were erected. They housed workshops - icon painting and handicrafts, a shelter for orphan girls, photography, a printing house, a hospital where about two hundred people a year received free medicine and an infirmary with 10 beds. In 1903, through the efforts of the Kronstadt shepherd, the Vaulovsky Assumption monastery was established in the Borisoglebsky district of the Yaroslavl province, where Father John often visited. Father himself liked to call himself “the builder of the Ioannovsky Monastery by the grace of God.” The righteous man chose this truly his monastery as his resting place, for which he received permission from Metropolitan Anthony and Sovereign Nicholas II. Gradually, Father John’s health deteriorated, and on December 20, 1908, the great righteous man and man of prayer departed to the Lord. On December 22, with a large crowd of people, the body of the deceased was transported from Kronstadt to St. Petersburg and buried in the church-tomb, built by the diligence of Anna Yakovlevna Lezhoeva in the basement of the monastery building. From the very first day after the burial of Father, a mass pilgrimage began to his tomb. Orthodox people flocked here from all over Russia. The monastery grew quickly, and by the time of the revolution the number of nuns, including the Vaulovsky monastery, was 350 people. The entire extensive monastery economy and the life of the monastery were led by Abbess Angelina. For her labors, Mother was twice awarded golden pectoral crosses from the office of His Imperial Majesty. Subsequently, Patriarch Tikhon awarded Abbess Angelina a diploma of honor in connection with the 15th anniversary of her abbess. After the October Revolution in 1919, the monastery was reorganized into a labor artel, and in 1923 it was closed. The monastery building housed a workers' dormitory, and later an institute. During this difficult time, Abbess Angelina tried to provide spiritual guidance to the sisters, who settled in small communities at different addresses, until her death (February 8, 1927). In the early 1930s, when mass repressions against the clergy and monastics began, many sisters and clergy of the monastery were arrested and sentenced to exile in camps in the North and Central Asia. In 1931, the confessor of Father John of Kronstadt, Archimandrite Jacob (Arzhanovsky), who before his arrest looked after some of the sisters of the Ioannovsky Monastery, was shot. Archpriest John of Ornatsky was arrested in 1936 and sentenced to 5 years in the camps, and earlier, a great admirer of Father John of Kronstadt, the rector of the Kazan Cathedral close to the Ioannovsky Monastery, a new martyr, Archpriest the philosopher Ornatsky, was shot along with his two sons. Thus the history of St. John’s Monastery was tragically interrupted. Through the prayerful intercession of the holy righteous father John of Kronstadt, the labors and authority of His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, when he was Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, this monastery was reopened. The monastery was transferred as a metochion to the Pyukhtitsa Assumption Convent. In November 1989, its restoration began. The Pukhtitsa nuns, led by their elder sister, nun Georgia, worked tirelessly. Services began to be held in the Church of John of Rylsky, and to the joy of everyone, the church-tomb of Father John of Kronstadt was opened for pilgrims. The revival of the monastery providentially began during the glorification of the holy righteous father John. On June 7, 1990, the Local Council elected Bishop Alexy as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and at the same Council it was decided to canonize Father John Ilyich Sergiev as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the summer and autumn of 1990, extensive repair and restoration work was carried out at the monastery. The building was in a deplorable state, since no repairs had been made here since the expulsion of the nuns, that is, for 70 years. The domes, from which crosses had been thrown down in pre-war times, were strengthened; the first cross was raised on the dome of the Church of the Twelve Apostles; in the church-tomb, an iconostasis recreated from ancient photographs and a tombstone over the grave of the Kronstadt shepherd were installed; The cell of the first abbess, Abbess Angelina, was restored and the chambers of Father John of Kronstadt were restored. On March 21, 1991, 3 crosses were raised over the small domes of the church in the name of the Twelve Apostles. Based on surviving ancient photographs, the interior of the main cathedral was restored. A carved oak iconostasis was made - an exact copy of the previous one. Icons were commissioned and painted for him. On July 12, 1991, on the patronal holiday, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II consecrated the church in honor of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. On December 25, 1991, the Ioannovsky Convent, by definition of the Holy Synod, became independent and acquired stauropegial status. On April 29, 1992, the senior nun Seraphima was elevated to the rank of abbess and appointed abbess. God's help was clearly felt in the good and godly task of reviving the shrine. As during Father’s life, the monastery received public donations. Not only individual citizens, but also organizations sought to participate in the revival of the monastery with material support. Grateful nuns pray for benefactors at every service. By the grace of God, the restoration of the main part of the monastery complex along with the churches happened quite quickly, but the remaining buildings were gradually returned to the monastery, and therefore it took more than 10 years to restore the entire architectural ensemble. And now, in our days, the sisters are trying not only to revive, but also to continue the traditions of the organizers of the monastery. In 1999–2000, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, a church-chapel in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God was recreated in the monastery’s fence, and the last of the remaining monastery buildings was also returned to the monastery and renovated. Now its walls house Sunday school classes, monastery workshops and a hotel for pilgrims. In 2002, for the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the Church of the Twelve Apostles, it was completely renovated. In 1992, 27 km from St. Petersburg, the restoration of the Church of the Holy Martyr Sophia began, consecrated on July 9, 1996 by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. A miraculous sign of the Divine Protection over the St. John’s Monastery was the renewal of the icon “Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.” Later, an inscription was found on the reverse side of the canvas: “This icon was painted by priest John Smirnov. 1908 Lesna.” As you know, the Lesninsky monastery, located on the territory of Poland, was under the spiritual care of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, who spoke so touchingly about this monastery: “She was and is my pet.” In 2000, pieces of the cover and belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary were donated for the icon, which were placed in its icon case. Truly the spiritual center of the entire monastery can be called the Tomb of dear Father John of Kronstadt. One of the deepest impressions, indelibly etched into the people’s soul, are the feats of piety of righteous people. A soul that is somewhat religious, somewhat capable of receiving grace-filled impressions, trembles with joy when approaching the burial place of a righteous person. And the sisters, in all their monastic sorrows and troubles, turn to Father in prayer and always feel his invisible intercession. Thousands and thousands of pilgrims flock here. The name of the Kronstadt shepherd is now known throughout the world. Another confirmation of Father John’s holiness are the many wondrous miracles that happened through his prayers. They were committed during his lifetime, and they are still being committed today. Numerous cases of grace-filled healings are recorded and kept by the sisters. Healings from paralysis, cancer, mental illness, burns, tuberculosis, muscle relaxation and others have been recorded. The miracle of physical healing is great, but the transformation of the human soul is inestimable! How many people came to the tomb of Father with crippled destinies, entangled in earthly vanity... And their hearts opened to the Divine Light, to the Annunciation of Christ. Miracles through the prayers of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt in our time We give only a few cases of Father John’s gracious help in our time. Some of them were recorded by the sisters of the monastery from the words of eyewitnesses, others were reported by the people themselves who received this help. Their artless, sincere narratives speak of perhaps the greatest miracle - the resurrection of a dead soul that did not know God and its turning to the Lord. Valentina Nikolaevna Krasavtseva from St. Petersburg glorifies God, marvelous in His saints, thanks Father John for his intercession. The case of her healing is amazing! On December 5, 1990, she was taken to the hospital with an attack of gallstone disease. During the operation, she was found to have a cancerous tumor in her liver in a very advanced state. The preliminary diagnosis was: “... cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatic adenoma of the 4th degree.” From the beginning of March 1991, the patient was placed for examination at the Oncology Research Institute named after. prof. H.H. Petrova. On April 16, 1991, a council of doctors came to the conclusion: “Cancer tumor of the retroperitoneal space. Multiple liver metastases." The patient was discharged under the supervision of an oncologist to go home to die... But Valentina Nikolaevna was only 46 years old, she had two children, the youngest was 8 years old. Soon, doctors offered her chemotherapy, but there was little hope. Death stood before her coldly, clearly, inexorably. “Why are you shouting? – her roommate, originally from Ishmael, once told her. – You have the monastery of John of Kronstadt on Karpovka. Go there! And at the end of April, Valentina Nikolaevna, who had previously been an unbeliever, leaning on her mother’s hand, went to the monastery. It was difficult to get there, although I lived very close by. She approached the priest and tried to cross herself. “Well, you don’t even know how to be baptized,” the priest reproached. “I am a dying man...” began Valentina Nikolaevna and told in detail about her grief. The priest advised her to pray and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Four days later, having repented for the first time in her life, Valentina Nikolaevna took communion. Then, together with everyone else, I went to a prayer service at the tomb and prayed and cried there for a long time. Several more times during the month she managed to come to the monastery and ask dear Father John for help. Just a month and a half after Valentina Nikolaevna’s first appearance at the Ioannovsky Monastery, an entry dated June 13, 1991 appeared in the medical record: “According to ultrasound data, space-occupying formations under the liver are currently not clearly visible.” Repeated ultrasounds performed on August 12 and September 26 again confirmed the absence of liver masses. And so, on October 3, 1991, in the medical center. An unusually emotional (which is not typical for this type of document) note from the oncologist appears on the map: “At the moment, if we focus on ultrasound (namely, echography objectified the tumor lesion), is the patient cured of the tumor? From which one? What caused the tumor to regress?” - the doctor does not hide his surprise and further, having gone through all the possible reasons for such a radical improvement, he does not recognize any of them as satisfactory. But Valentina Nikolaevna herself knows very well the true reason for the healing - this is the manifestation of God’s mercy through the prayerful intercession of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt. Several years have passed since the miraculous healing. Currently, Valentina Nikolaevna is a permanent parishioner of St. John’s Monastery, cheerful and energetic. A resident of the Moscow region, Vladimir Vasilyevich Kotov, had severe pain in his right hand for a whole year, and by the spring of 1992 it almost stopped moving. Vladimir repeatedly turned to doctors. They established a presumptive diagnosis of severe arthritis of the right shoulder, but were unable to provide significant help. Vladimir himself, having lost hope of a cure, began to fervently pray to God, asking for relief from his illness. One day he received a book about the holy righteous John of Kronstadt. Reading it, Vladimir was amazed at the wonderful healings that the Lord performed through the prayers of the great righteous man. “If only I could go to Karpovka to the monastery, and Father would heal me,” he thought in the simplicity of his heart. The trip to St. Petersburg was arranged, and on August 19, 1992, on the Transfiguration of the Lord, Vladimir and his friend prayed in the Ioannovsky Monastery, confessed, received communion, served a prayer service to the holy righteous John of Kronstadt and anointed his sore hand with consecrated oil from the saint’s tomb. At the end of the service, the friends left the monastery and headed to the tram stop. Vladimir hung his bag on his right shoulder and carefully placed his helpless hand on it, as he usually did lately. While walking, the bag began to fall off and he automatically adjusted it with his right hand, without feeling any pain. Stopping dead in his tracks, still not believing himself, he began to move his hand again. She turned out to be completely healthy. Vladimir's friend is a witness to this miraculous healing. Since then, Vladimir Vasilyevich regularly comes to the monastery. To the question: “How is your hand?” - he answers: “Thank God, everything is fine. I came to Father to pray.” Sometimes the Lord, in a special way, admonishes a person through the illness of his children. Trouble came to the family of military musician Grigory Andreevich Vasilevsky: their only son, ten-year-old Seryozha, became mortally ill. In the fall of 1992, the boy began to have severe headaches. The child was admitted for examination to the neurosurgical department of the regional hospital in Murmansk. Magnetic nuclear tomography revealed a brain tumor. Doctors did not hide from shocked parents that with this disease, children usually die or remain disabled. At the beginning of January 1993, Seryozha was sent to the St. Petersburg Neurosurgical Institute named after. A.L. Polenova. A difficult operation lay ahead. There was practically no hope for a cure. For the first time in their lives, the Vasilevskys experienced great grief. And they turned to God, although before they were practically unbelievers. Life flows safely and calmly, and we do not experience any special need for God, but only in the face of trials that the Lord sends us savingly do we realize our weakness and deepest dependence on the Creator. So it was with Seryozha’s parents. In their sorrow, they placed their hope in God, and He was not slow to help. Before leaving for St. Petersburg, the Vasilevskys came to the Murmansk Church, one of the clergy of which, having learned about their misfortune, spoke about the holy righteous John of Kronstadt and about the wondrous healings that took place through his prayers, and advised them to contact the St. John Convent in St. Petersburg, where the relics of the great shepherd rest under cover. Arriving at the monastery, they turned to the priest, who told them about the need for confession and communion and advised them to pray with all zeal to Father John of Kronstadt. The next morning, all three, having repented for the first time, took communion. On the same day the boy was admitted to the hospital. Preliminary tests confirmed the presence of a tumor. Every day, the Vasilevsky husband and wife came to the tomb and prayed before the relics of the Kronstadt righteous man. Seryozha also prayed in the hospital, asking God for healing. How deep and sincere were their prayers! How many times did my mother come to the tomb of dear Father, asking for his prayerful intercession. She later recalled: “One night I dreamed of a very old gray-haired Elder. I stood with Seryozha and cried, asking him to heal my son. He listened to me for a long time, and I was very afraid that he would refuse me. But he got up, walked up to Seryozha and began to say something and stroke him on the head. I didn’t hear what he said. But for the first time in two months I woke up very happy and joyful, and for some reason I already knew in my heart that Seryozha would be healthy!” Two days later, on January 21, 1993, the child was sent for a repeat brain tomography to the Diagnostic Consultative Center No. 1 in St. Petersburg. A computed tomography scan showed the incredible - there was no tumor! The surprise of the doctors and the joy of the parents knew no bounds. The boy was discharged from the hospital healthy. Soon all three again took communion at the Ioannovsky Monastery. How Grigory Andreevich’s eyes shone when he talked about the miraculous healing of his son! A year later, Serezhin’s dad came to the monastery, prayed in the tomb, bringing thanks to the Lord God, the Mother of God and Father John of Kronstadt for deliverance from trouble. He said that his son was healthy, studying at school, and no longer suffered from headaches. The Vasilevskys survived the difficult test and took away the most important thing from it - faith. Ukrainian Olga Soyluk suffered from a nasopharyngeal disease; for 12 years she could not breathe normally through her nose. In the spring of 1993, the course of the disease worsened; I had to use drops every half hour. The patient underwent surgery, but to no avail. The doctors said that three consecutive operations would not be possible, since the nasal septum was severely deviated and the mucous membrane was dead. During Holy Week, Olga sent a letter from Ukraine to the Ioannovsky Monastery, asking to pray at the relics of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, and on Holy Week she was already breathing freely. “I can’t even believe,” she writes in a letter of gratitude, “that now I am a free person, not tied to a pharmacy.” By the grace of God, the oil from the lamp from the tomb of Father John has miraculous power. One woman, who had been suffering from bronchial asthma for several years, began to anoint her chest with this oil, and the disease went away... Another woman, after anointing herself, was healed of severe eczema on her face. In September 1993, the youth Victor died from severe burns. The child underwent four skin grafts, but the healing went very poorly and the wounds did not heal. They began to anoint Vitya with consecrated oil from the Holy Sepulcher and from a lamp from the tomb of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, and a miracle happened - the skin began to heal intensively, and a week after the anointing, the wounds almost completely healed. The boy's family lives in Kyiv. It turned out that his great-grandfather on his mother’s side was a deacon and served several times with his father John of Kronstadt. Victor’s father was not baptized, but after the healing of his son he believed, came to the monastery and was baptized on the day of his Heavenly patron - the holy noble prince Oleg of Bryansk, October 3, 1993. For several years, a woman named Olga, who lives in the Moscow region, has been coming to the Ioannovsky Monastery. With special zeal she prays to St. John of Kronstadt in his tomb. Here is her letter in which she talks about several cases of Father John’s help. “Lord bless! In 1992, I fell ill with a depressive stomach ulcer and bilateral pneumonia. Severe pain and weakness gave me no rest. I couldn’t eat food: nausea and pain got in the way, and I lost consciousness. There were no prayers. I only remembered one single prayer - to John of Kronstadt. I realized that I urgently needed to take a ticket and go to St. Petersburg, to the holy monastery of Father John. It was with difficulty that I reached the monastery. Three times in a row I attended the liturgy, ordered a prayer service to the holy righteous John of Kronstadt and venerated the holy relics. On the third day, fear disappeared, pain disappeared, appetite appeared, strength and vigor returned, the desire to work and go to confession as often as possible. Since then, every day I thank Father John of Kronstadt, every day I pray to him both morning and evening; I read him an akathist and sing the troparion all my free time, and I thank the Lord for everything. I give everyone his icons and akathist, I ask everyone to pray to him in any situation. After all, he said that you have to wait for earthly doctors for hours, and when they come, it is unknown whether they will help, but the holy saints of God come to the rescue instantly. And many, many times, calling on Father John for help, I received healing on the same day. In 1993 I had severe poisoning. I could not get out of bed, but only repeated: “Father John, dear Father, come to the rescue, heal me, forgive me, a sinner, and pray to the Lord for me, do not leave me in your holy prayers. There is no one else to help me, only you and the Lady Most Holy Theotokos, soon hear me and come to my aid.” A few hours later I got up, smeared oil from the holy relics on my stomach and throat with the words: “Our Holy Righteous Father John, pray to God for us.” A few drops dripped inside, down my throat. And very soon I felt better. In 1994, I developed a tumor on my leg in the form of a hard lump; it was painful to walk. My sister told me to go to the doctor immediately because it could be a blood clot. At night I anointed this tumor with the oil of Father John of Kronstadt with the words: “Lord! Through the prayers of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt, heal me!” - and read the troparion to Father forty times. I fell asleep, and in the morning when I woke up, there was no trace of the tumor left. Often illnesses of the body are a consequence of our sins, therefore healing is granted to a person after sincere, deep repentance. Here is one such case. A woman from Moscow named Lyubov, 45 years old, came to the monastery in the summer of 1996 to thank Father and told about her salvation. About a year and a half before, doctors found a tumor on her and told her that she urgently, within three days, needed to cut it out. But Lyubov decided to postpone the operation for two weeks in order to prepare for it in a Christian way - to receive communion and unction. With the blessing of her spiritual father, she went to confession to Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov), confessor of the Holy Vvedensky Monastery in Ivanovo. There she brought a very detailed confession, during which she reviewed her entire life. With the help of Fr. Ambrose, she confessed all her forgotten sins, including those related to her illness, and received Holy Communion of Christ. Then she went to Blessed Lyubushka, who advised her not to have surgery, but to take holy oil from Father John of Kronstadt and smear the tumor site. When Lyubov told the doctor that she was refusing the operation, he called her a “frivolous” person, apparently considering her half-crazy. To a world far from God, life according to Christ’s commandments always seems crazy! With faith, relying entirely on the will of God, Love began to smear the sore spot with oil every day. After about two weeks, she felt as if something had burst inside her, after which she began to feel immediately better. Soon the swelling disappeared and all signs of the disease disappeared. Love no longer turned to doctors - the miraculous healing through the prayers of Father John was so obvious. The servant of God Eugene testifies: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner! On August 14, 1996, I was healed from terrible pain and colic in my right kidney. On August 10, straight from work, I was taken by ambulance to the hospital. It was Saturday, and for two days before the doctor arrived I suffered from attacks of pain. On August 12, the doctor examined me and ordered an examination. The next day I turned for prayer help to Father John of Kronstadt through my wife Nina. She brought oil from the lamp in Father’s tomb, and on August 14, at 3 p.m., we prayed and anointed the sore spot. Instantly the pain went away, and two hours later very small stones came out, easily and simply. I must say that for two days, on August 12 and 13, I drank flaxseed every two hours, but the attacks, however, were repeated more and more often. And when I touched the oil from Father John’s lamp, the pain disappeared immediately!” One day a woman came to St. John’s monastery and told about her healing. The sisters asked her to write down her story. Here is the entry: “In October 1996, I fell ill. At first I was treated with medications, but they did not help. A month and a half has passed. I was getting worse and worse, I couldn’t even leave the house. While I was ill, I read a book about our holy righteous father John of Kronstadt, and I was struck by the case of healing from a flower from his cancer. I remembered that in the house there was oil from a lamp from Fr. John of Kronstadt. I stopped taking medications and started smearing myself with this oil. A week later she completely recovered. She made a vow to come and thank Father John, but due to her wickedness she did it only today. On December 25, 1996, the servant of God Raisa was boarding a subway car when she was hit by a closing door and broke a rib. The doctor said that the fracture is very dangerous, because it is located right under the heart and is extremely difficult to treat. Raisa was very upset. But then she remembered how once during a theological course she heard a story about Father John of Kronstadt by the rector of the monastery church, Fr. Nicholas. The priest spoke about how quickly the saint of God responded to people’s requests. This story, filled with warm love for dear Father, made a deep impression on her then. And Raisa decided to ask him for help. With difficulty, overcoming the pain, she began to come to Karpovka, order prayer services, and light candles in the tomb. And she constantly prayed to Father at home, read the akathist, began every day with prayers to the Kronstadt Wonderworker - in a word, she only thought about him. And he was not slow to respond to such ardent and sincere faith. A month later, the severe injury was healed without any consequences. Now Raisa tries to come to the monastery more often to thank the merciful miracle worker again and again, sharing her joy: “Father saved me, and I will remember this all my life.” Photinia, a church chanter from Tambov, sent the following letter to the Ioannovsky Monastery: “Mother Abbess, bless! I inform you about the miraculous healing that I received through the prayers of our righteous John. On December 31, 1996, I fell and broke two ribs, and suffered a bruise to the bony process and kidney. The blow was so strong that all my insides shook. The traumatologist, a very experienced one, immediately identified my condition. I couldn’t walk, lie down, sit, just stand, otherwise there would be wild pain. I was given sick leave. I am a singer in the choir of the Sorrow Church of the former Ascension Convent. On January 2, a new baptismal church was opened on the territory of our church in memory of Righteous John of Kronstadt. Lying in bed, almost motionless, I began to read the life of this holy righteous man, about his miraculous healings. I thought maybe he would help me too, and I fervently prayed to him with tears. And - lo and behold! – On January 3, I slowly got up, there was almost no pain. I walked to the church on my own. She confessed, took communion in the new church, and served a thanksgiving prayer service. Ten days later I went to the doctor. He immediately sent me to the so-called “TV” to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor who looked at me said: “I don’t find anything with you, everything is clean... But after ten days, neither the fractures, nor even the bruises can go away!” She invited a colleague, but even the two of them found nothing, absolutely nothing. With their conclusion, I went to the attending physician, he did not believe it and said: “It happens that the devices are faulty.” I took a second photo - nothing! He was shocked, and I rejoiced with joy! The doctor said that I was born under a lucky star. And I knew who helped me. I almost ran out of the office. This is the kind of miracle I received in our time, sinful and unworthy. To confirm my words, I am sending you my sick leave. Mother, I am in debt to the holy righteous John. I thank him for his mercy towards me. May God grant you and your sisters spiritual joy in God and many years to come. With low bow Photinia, Tambov.” “Dear sisters in the Lord! I have long wanted to inform you that our family has more than once received help from St. John of Kronstadt, the great miracle worker. The first case was 2 years ago, when my 10-year-old son became seriously ill. After resuscitation, his arm dangled like a whip. The doctors couldn’t do anything; they said they probably cut a vein in my shoulder. I did not despair, but gave communion to my son at your monastery and fervently prayed to Father, then sent me a note about his health. And they themselves didn’t notice how his hand started working. It was a miracle. But we know that for us this is a miracle, but for God and His saints everything is possible. The second incident happened a year ago with my 76-year-old mother. The bully crushed her head with brass knuckles (he was struck three times with a strong blow). I immediately washed my hair with holy water, anointed it with the holy oil I had, then came to your monastery to order a prayer service. Afterwards I took holy oil and flowers from Father’s tomb. I made tea and went to the hospital. Everything is overgrown like a young girl’s. The doctors were only surprised that she was discharged so early (a week later). And recently I severely burned my hand with steam - and again, thank God. Received help from His Great Saint. Thank God for everything. Nechepuruk Lidia Ivanovna, St. Petersburg.” Skibitskaya Raisa from the Moscow region suffered from rheumatism for a long time. Since 1993, she began to have difficulty moving, as all the toes on her left foot were deformed, and she could not walk. At night, she often woke up and spent 2–3 hours reading a book about the life of Father John of Kronstadt, as well as an akathist to John of Kronstadt. In 1998, she was reading again at night and suddenly saw that her toes straightened. She realized that the miracle happened through the prayer of Saint Father John, and now she walks normally. Servant of God Tamara S. from Moscow writes that she came to the Lord recently, in 1993. The saint brought her to the church of God Nikolai, who saved her from cruel death. In her letter, filled with ardent love for Father John, she reports on the miracle of healing: “On January 1, 1997, I felt sick, the whole right side of my body ached. I couldn't breathe out of pain. On the night of January 4, the hellish pain returned to me with renewed vigor. In the morning I called the doctor. In the meantime, I cried, suffered, asked St. Nicholas and Father John to save me - after all, all the planned things were falling apart... K. Sursky’s book about Father John of Kronstadt stood on my shelf. The last time I opened it was six months ago, and then I read other spiritual books. I went to the shelf, took a book, opened it in the reserved place and began to read. And, experiencing mine and what was read on page 502, I, together with that priest, cried out: “Dear Father, help!” And at the same moment everything passed for me, as if it had never happened. I lie down and listen to myself - everything is fine. On Christmas Day I went to church and took communion. On the evening of January 9, the same pain appeared, only on the left. But I immediately asked Father John for help, and everything went away. I humbly ask you to serve a thanksgiving prayer service at the tomb of the great righteous man and wonderworker Father John of Kronstadt; ask for his prayers for healing me from passions and illnesses, and help in my affairs, and strengthen my faith in Christ. I have many books about him and his complete works, and I want to know more and more about him. I buy and give his icons and books to friends, relatives and churches. I believe that little is still known about him and that they honor him in Moscow, in Russia.” Of course, here we present only a few of many, many miraculous cases. But not for external effects and glory, to which this world is so committed, healings are performed by the power of God through the prayers of the saints. They are performed for us, for our direct benefit, in order to restore our bodily integrity, but most importantly, spiritual health. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee! Holy and righteous Father John, pray to God for us!