Life of St. John of Shanghai. Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco miracle worker

Monasticism

Hieromonk John (Maximovich), 1934

John (Maximovich), Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America, Shanghai, saint, miracle worker.
In the world Maksimovich Mikhail Borisovich was born on June 4/17, 1896 in the village of Adamovka, Kharkov province. At holy baptism, he was named Michael in honor of the Archangel of the Heavenly Forces, the Archangel Michael. He came from a noble family of Maksimovichs, among his ancestors was the enlightener of Siberia, St. John of Tobolsk. Mikhail's parents, Boris and Glafira, raised their son in piety.
From childhood, Mikhail was distinguished by deep religiosity, stood at prayer for a long time at night, diligently collected icons, as well as church books. Most of all he loved to read the lives of the saints. Michael loved the saints with all his heart, was completely imbued with their spirit and began to live like them. And his aspirations were expressed in children's games - he turned toy soldiers into monks, and fortresses into monasteries. The Svyatogorsk Monastery, which stood not far from the estate of the Maksimovichs, disposed young Mikhail to a thoughtful attitude towards life. The holy and righteous life of the child made a deep impression on his French Catholic governess, and as a result she converted to Orthodoxy.
Mikhail thought of devoting his life to serving his homeland, joining either the military or the civil service. At first, he entered the Petrovsky Poltava Cadet Corps, from which he graduated in 1914. Then he studied at the Faculty of Law of Kharkov Imperial University, graduating in 1918. He studied excellently, although he devoted part of his time to the study of the lives of saints and spiritual literature. Kharkov church life contributed to the initial steps of young Michael along the path of piety. The relics of the wonderworker Archbishop Meletius (Leontovich) rested in the tomb of the Kharkov Cathedral, who spent the nights in prayer, standing with his hands up. Michael fell in love with this saint and began to imitate him in the feat of staying awake at night. Thus, young Michael gradually began to develop a desire to devote himself entirely to God, and in connection with this, high spiritual qualities began to manifest in him: abstinence and a strict attitude towards himself, great humility and compassion for those who suffer. During the years of teaching, Archbishop Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who became his spiritual mentor, had a particularly strong influence on him, and Michael began to delve deeper into the study of spiritual life. In the end, as he recalled, the local monastery and temple became closer to him than any secular institution.
The tragedy of 1917-1918 finally convinced him of human weakness, of the fragility of everything earthly. He decided to renounce the world and devote himself entirely to the service of God. During the civil war, the Maksimovich family was evacuated to Yugoslavia, where Mikhail entered the university at the theological faculty in Belgrade, graduating in 1925.

Lord of Shanghai

In May 1934, Hieromonk John was consecrated Bishop of Shanghai, Vicar of Peking, and departed to join his flock.
The new bishop arrived at his cathedra on the day of the feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos and, with redoubled zeal, continued his pastoral and ascetic work here. Here he immediately took up the restoration of church unity, establishing contact with local Orthodox Serbs, Greeks and Ukrainians. Possessing inexhaustible energy, in Shanghai, Vladyka John was the inspirer of many undertakings, he took the most active part in many public undertakings of the Russian community. Here he completed the construction of a new cathedral in honor of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Guest of Sinners", erected the majestic St. Nicholas Church - "Temple-Monument to the Tsar Martyr Emperor Nicholas II and His August Family", founded a nursing home and an orphanage in honor of St. Tikhon Zadonsky. Vladyka populated the shelter with abandoned children, whom he fearlessly collected from the streets and slums of Shanghai.

Bishop of Shanghai John

Initially, 8 orphans lived in the shelter, over the years the shelter began to give shelter to hundreds of children, and in total 1,500 children passed through the shelter. The children, despite the usual strictness of Vladyka, were absolutely devoted to him, and the prelate himself labored for them before the Lord - so, when during the war the orphanage did not have enough food to feed the children, Vladyka prayed all night, and in the morning - a call: a representative of which an organization with a large donation to the orphanage. During the Japanese occupation, Vladyka declared himself the temporary head of the Russian colony and showed great courage in defending the Russians before the Japanese authorities.
As before, the saint strengthened himself and enlightened his flock by the daily celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Vladyka was very strict at the altar, demanding exact knowledge and following the rules, forbidding any conversation during the service, and very often remained in the church for a long time after the service. Then he visited the sick daily, taking confession and sharing the Holy Mysteries with them. If the patient's condition became critical, Vladyka would come to him at any hour of the day or night and pray at his bedside for a long time. There are numerous cases of healing hopelessly ill through the prayers of St. John, his unexpected appearances at the right time. The saint also visited prisoners in prisons and the mentally ill and possessed in a hospital for the insane. And everywhere he evangelized and preached, awakening the conscience of some and warming the hearts of others.
The strict ascetic life of Vladyka was expressed not only in fasting (he ate food only once a day, and ate only prosphora during fasts) and sleep deprivation. In order to avoid worldly fame and attention, Vladyka adopted the features of foolishness, in which his feat shone even brighter. So, St. John went everywhere either barefoot or in sandals alone, even in winter. He wore his cassock to such a state of disrepair that it looked more like a beggar's clothes.

Exodus from China

With the coming of the communists to power in China, the Russians who did not take Soviet citizenship were again doomed to an exodus. Most of Vladyka's Shanghai flock went to the Philippines - in 1949, about 5,000 Russians from China lived in the camp of the International Refugee Organization on the Philippine island of Tubabao. The island was in the path of seasonal typhoons that sweep over this sector of the Pacific Ocean. However, during all 27 months of the existence of the camp, he was only once threatened by a typhoon, but even then he changed course and bypassed the island. When a Russian spoke to the Filipinos about his fear of typhoons, they said there was no cause for concern, as "your holy man blesses your camp every night from all four directions." When the camp was evacuated, a terrible typhoon hit the island and completely destroyed all the buildings.

Bishop John of Shanghai on the island of Tubabao

The Russians not only survived on the island, but were also able to leave it thanks to the saint, who himself traveled to Washington and ensured that American laws were amended and most of the camp, about 3 thousand people, moved to the USA, and the rest to Australia.

Archbishop of Western Europe

In 1951, Archbishop John was appointed to minister to the flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Western Europe and Africa with the title of "Brussels and Western European" and with a pulpit in Paris. Here, Vladyka began to restore the memory and veneration of the ancient Orthodox saints of the West and brought many new converts from local peoples to the bosom of the Church, joining many French and Dutch parishes to the Church Abroad. His fame spread throughout the population. So, in one of the Catholic churches in Paris, the local priest tried to inspire the youth with the following words: “You demand proof, you say that now there are no miracles, no saints. Why should I give you theoretical proof when Saint Jean Beausoy walks the streets of Paris today ". In Paris, the dispatcher of the railway station delayed the departure of the train until the arrival of the "Russian Archbishop". All European hospitals knew about this bishop who could pray for the dying all night long. He was called to the bed of a seriously ill person - be he a Catholic, a Protestant, an Orthodox or anyone else - because when he prayed, God was merciful. So, in a Paris hospital, one Orthodox woman was lying, embarrassed in front of her neighbors in the ward of the arrival of a ragged and barefoot bishop to her. But when he gave her the Holy Gifts, a Frenchwoman on the nearest bed said to her: “How happy you are that you have such a confessor. My sister lives in Versailles, and when her children get sick, she drives them out into the street, along which Bishop John usually walks, and asks him to bless them. After receiving the blessing, the children immediately get better. We call him a saint."

Archpastor of San Francisco

In 1962, due to difficulties with the construction of a new cathedral in San Francisco, Saint John, at the request of thousands of former Shanghai flocks of the bishop who now lived there, was appointed to the Western American see. At this time, an old friend of Vladyka, Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco, retired, in his absence the construction of the cathedral was suspended, and the quarrel paralyzed the community. The saint endured many sorrows here, and was even forced to appear in a civil court and give an answer to absurd accusations of shortcomings in the parish council. But with love and long-suffering, the saint brought the matter to an end, and in 1964 the cathedral in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" was erected. And in the last years of his earthly life, despite the enmity, the saint continued to work miracles with his vigilant prayers.

Death and veneration

On July 2, 1966, on the day of the memory of the Apostle Jude, during an archpastoral visit to the city of Seattle with the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of the Kursk-Root, at the age of 71, the great righteous man passed away to the Lord. He served the Divine Liturgy and remained in the altar alone with the icon for another three hours, then visiting the spiritual children near the cathedral with the miraculous icon, he proceeded to the room of the church house where he stayed. The attendants seated Vladyka in a chair and saw that he was already moving away. So Vladyka gave his soul to God before the Hodegetria of the Russian Diaspora.
The funeral service for Vladyka was officiated by Metropolitan Philaret. For six days Vladyka lay in the coffin, but, despite the heat, there was no smell of corruption, and his hand remained soft. At the funeral service, both the multitude of those assembled and the bishops themselves officiating the service could not restrain their sobs. Surprisingly, at the same time, the temple was filled with quiet joy. Eyewitnesses noted that it seemed as if they were present not at the funeral, but at the opening of the relics of the newly acquired saint.
The saint was buried in a tomb under the cathedral he built. Soon, miracles of healing and help in everyday affairs began to occur here. Time has shown with many testimonies that St. John the Wonderworker is a quick help to all who exist in troubles, illnesses and mournful circumstances.
In 1994, a special commission for the glorification of Vladyka found his relics incorruptible, and on July 2, 1994, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia canonized the wondrous saint of God of the 20th century, St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco wonderworker. His general church glorification in the Russian Orthodox Church was accomplished by the decision of the Council of Bishops of June 24, 2008. His memory is celebrated on June 19, old style / July 2, NS).
Already during his lifetime, many believers considered the elder a saint, through his prayers numerous miracles of healing were performed, the most difficult vital tasks of those who believed in the power of his prayers were solved in an incredible way.

From the memoirs of the spiritual children of Blessed John:

"Father John was a rare prayer book. He was so immersed in the texts of prayers that it seemed as if he was talking with God, the Most Holy Theotokos, angels ..."
“In 1939, my faith began to waver, I decided not to go to church anymore, but to go to friends. My path lay past the cathedral, and now I heard singing in the temple.
I went to the temple. Bishop John served. The altar was open. Vladyka said a prayer: "Come, eat, this is My Blood... for the remission of sins," then he knelt down and made a deep bow. I saw the Cup with the Holy Gifts not covered, and at that time, after the words of the Lord, a light descended from above into the Cup. The shape of the light was similar to a tulip flower, but larger. Never in my life did I think that I would really see the consecration of the Gifts by fire. My faith flared up again. The Lord showed me the faith of the Lord, I felt ashamed for my cowardice. "(Mother Augusta)
"I saw how his face sometimes literally transformed during the Liturgy, especially during the days of Great Lent, shining with an unearthly light, and his eyes always full of divine love, radiating inexpressible joy, inaccessible to sinners - and that was a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. But what was the most amazing thing is his gift to see the human heart and draw him to Christ. In the end, if it were not for this righteous man, I would never even have thought about the possibility for me of the pastoral ministry of the Church. " (Father George Larin)
“In San Francisco, my husband, having got into a car accident, was very sick, he lost control of his balance and suffered terribly. Knowing the power of the Masters’ prayers, I thought: if I could invite Vladyka to my husband, but I was afraid to do this at that time due to being busy Bishops, two days pass, and suddenly Vladyka enters us, accompanied by B. M. Troyan, who brought him in. Vladyka was with us for five minutes...
This was the most difficult moment of the illness, after visiting Vladyka, the husband began to recover. Later I met B. M. Troyan, and he told me that he was driving the car when he was taking Vladyka to the airport. Suddenly the Lord says to him:
- Let's go to Liu now.
He replied that they would be late.
Then the Lord said:
- Can you take on a person's life?
There was nothing to do, and he took Vladyka to us. However, Vladyka did not miss the plane, for he was detained." (L. A. Liu)
“Once in Shanghai, Vladyka John was called to the bedside of a dying child, whose condition, according to doctors, was hopeless. Entering the house, Vladyka John went straight to the room where the sick boy was lying, although no one had yet managed to show him where to go. even starting to examine the child, Vladyka prostrated himself before the icon in the corner of the room, and prayed for a long time. Then, assuring the relatives that the child would recover, he quickly left. And indeed, by morning the child felt better, and soon he recovered - without medical help. (Dr. A.F. Baranov-Erie, Pennsylvania)
“I was the leader of a church district in the Philippines, sometimes accompanied Vladyka to the hospital in the city of Guan, where seriously ill Russians were lying. Vladyka visited them, gave them pocket Gospels and small icons. Once, entering the Russian hospital department, we heard terrible screams, coming from afar. To Vladyka's question, the sister said that she was hopelessly ill, who had been placed in a former American military hospital adjacent to this building. Vladyka immediately decided to go to the sick woman. I followed him... Approaching the sick woman, Vladyka laid her on her head cross to her and began to pray. I went out. Vladyka prayed for a long time, then confessed her and took communion. When we left, she no longer screamed, only moaned softly. After a while we again arrived at the hospital and barely managed to drive our jeep into the yard how a woman ran out of the hospital and threw herself at the feet of Vladyka. It was that "hopeless" patient for whom he prayed." (G. Larin - Sydney)
Once, from constant standing, Vladyka's leg became very swollen, and the doctors, fearing gangrene, ordered him to go to the hospital. After long requests, Vladyka was finally persuaded to go to a Russian hospital. But he did not stay there for long: on the very first evening he secretly fled to the cathedral, where he served an all-night vigil. A day later, the swelling of the leg disappeared without a trace.
Vladyka visited prisons and served the Liturgy for the prisoners. Often, at the sight of Vladyka, the mentally ill calmed down and took communion with reverence. One day Vladyka John was invited to take Communion to a dying man in a Russian hospital in Shanghai. Vladyka took a priest with him. Arriving at the hospital, he saw a young and cheerful man, about 20 years old, playing the harmonica. This young man was to be released from the hospital the next day. Vladyka John called him with the words: “I want to give you communion now.” The young man immediately confessed and took communion. The astonished priest asked Vladyka why he did not go to the dying man, but lingered with the apparently healthy young man. Vladyka replied: "He will die tonight, and the one who is seriously ill will live for many more years." And so it happened.

In Shanghai, singing teacher Anna Petrovna Lushnikova taught Vladyka to breathe correctly and pronounce the words correctly, and this helped him improve his diction. At the end of each lesson, Vladyka paid her $20. Once, during the war, in 1945, she was seriously wounded and ended up in a French hospital. Feeling that she might die at night, Anna Petrovna began to ask the sisters to call Vladyka John to give her communion. The sisters refused to do this, as the hospital was locked up in the evenings due to martial law. In addition, there was a strong storm that night. Anna Petrovna was eager and called out to Vladyka. Suddenly, at about 11 am, Vladyka appeared in the ward. Not believing her eyes, A.P. asked Vladyka if this was a dream, or if he really came to her. Vladyka smiled, prayed, and gave her communion. After that, she calmed down and fell asleep. The next morning she felt well. No one believed A.P. that Vladyka visited her at night, since the hospital was tightly locked. However, the roommate confirmed that she also saw Vladyka. Most of all, they were struck by the fact that a 20-dollar bill was found under Anna Petrovna's pillow. So Vladyka left material proof of this incredible event.
Vladyka's former Shanghai servant, now Archpriest Georgy L., says: “Despite Vladyka's strictness, all the servants loved him very much. For me, Vladyka was an ideal that I wanted to imitate in everything. So, during Great Lent, I stopped sleeping in bed, and lay down on the floor, stopped eating ordinary food with my family, and ate bread and water alone ... My parents became worried and took me to Vladyka. After listening to them, the Saint ordered the watchman to go to the shop and bring sausage. In response to my tearful pleas that I did not want to break Great Lent, the wise Archpastor ordered me to eat sausage and always remember that obedience to parents is more important than self-willed deeds. “How can I go on, Vladyka?” I asked, still wanting to do something "especially" ascetic. “Go to church the way you used to go, and at home do what your father and mother tell you.” I remember how upset I was then that Vladyka did not assign me any “special” feats.”
Anna Khodyreva says: “My sister Xenia Ya., who lived in Los Angeles, had a severe and long pain in her arm. She went to doctors, was treated with home remedies, but nothing helped. Finally, she decided to turn to Vladyka John and wrote him a letter in San Francisco. Some time passed, and the hand got better. Ksenia even began to forget about the previous pain in her arm. One day, while visiting San Francisco, she went to the cathedral for worship. At the end of the service, Vladyka John gave the cross to be kissed. Seeing my sister, he asks her: “How is your hand?” But Vladyka saw her for the first time! How did he recognize her and the fact that her arm hurt?
Anna S. recalls: “My sister and I had an accident. A drunken young man was driving towards me. He hit the car door with great force on the side where my sister was sitting. An ambulance was called and the sister was taken to the hospital. Her condition was very serious - her lung was pierced and a rib was broken, which made her suffer a lot. Her face was so swollen that her eyes could not be seen. When Vladyka visited her, she raised her eyelid with her finger and, seeing Vladyka, took his hand and kissed it. She could not speak, because there was a cut in her throat, but tears of joy flowed from the slits of her eyes. Since then, Vladyka visited her several times, and she began to recover. One day, Vladyka arrived at the hospital and, entering the general ward, said to us: “Musa is very ill now.” Then he went to her, drew the curtain beside the bed, and prayed for a long time. By that time, two doctors had approached us, and I asked them how serious the situation of my sister was and whether it was worth calling her daughter from Canada? (We hid from our daughter that the mother had an accident). The doctors replied: “To call or not to call relatives is up to you. We do not guarantee that she will live until the morning.” Thank God that she not only survived that night, but completely recovered and returned to Canada… My sister and I believe that the prayers of Vladyka John saved her.”
Archbishop John said: “The highest prayer is that when a person forgets all his goals, even the loftiest ones, burning with one desire - to draw closer to the Lord, to lay his head at His feet, to give his whole heart. This is perfect love. and perfect prayer. When you want only to breathe in the Lord, only to live in Him, to love Him, to hide in His closeness, in His inexpressible love.
The statements of St. John Maksimovich about prayer sound like spiritual testaments for us today: “The babble of a child is pleasing to Him. The Lord accepts all human petitions, no matter how small and insignificant they may be, if the human heart rejoices and trembles, standing before the face of the Lord. great in this coming. Everything imperfect is made perfect. Do not be embarrassed by the magnitude or insignificance of your petitions, but seek, first of all, not what you want to ask, but the One whom you want to ask. Unworthy are the requests of only those who love the Lord less, than the thing or deed they ask for. But if you love the Lord most of all, then blessed is your every petition, both great and small, and every request of yours will be fulfilled, and that which, according to God's will, will not be fulfilled, will bring you greater good. than the one that will be fulfilled. And always a great fruit remains in our soul from prayer - we ascend to heaven, to the Creator ... "

Akathist
Saint John of Shanghai
and San Francisco Wonderworker

Kondak 1
Chosen by the Miracle Worker and a fair servant of Christ, exude a valuable world of inspiration and an inexhaustible abundance of miracles to the whole world. Praise Thee with love and call Thee:

Kondak 2
Seeing the plentiful outpouring of Your virtues, glorious Saint John, as a life-giving source of the miracles of God, give us drink, crying out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 2
The mind, filled with love, as well as theology, God-wise John, and wise in the knowledge of God and adorned with love for suffering people, teach us to know the True God, as we, in tenderness, let us cry out to You:
Rejoice, unshakable stronghold of the Truth of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, precious vessel of the gifts of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, honest accuser of unbelief and false doctrine!
Rejoice, zealous doer of the commandments of God!
Rejoice, unsleeping ascetic, not giving yourself rest!
Rejoice, beloved shepherd of the flock of Christ!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 3
By the power of the grace of God, the good orphan-giver and mentor of the young men appeared to you,
educating them in the fear of God and preparing them for the service of God.
For this reason, for the sake of Your child, they look at You and thankfully cry out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 3
I truly have, Father John, from heaven a song to you who sing to be, and not from the earth: how can anyone from a person be able to preach your great works. We, bringing to God even imams, cry out to Tisitsa:
Rejoice, covering Your children with unceasing prayer!
Rejoice, protector of Your flock with the Sign of the Cross!
Rejoice, great receptacle of love, ignoring the differences of languages!
Rejoice, all-bright and all-loving lamp!
Rejoice, the image of spiritual meekness!
Rejoice, giver of spiritual sweets to those in need!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 4
We are overcome by a spiritual storm: how worthy it is to praise Your miracles, Blessed John. For thou hast gone to the end of the universe for the sake of salvation and the preaching of the gospel to those in darkness. Thanking God for Your apostolic labors, we sing to Him: Hallelujah!

Ikos 4
Hearing the near and far greatness of Your miracles, by God's mercy, even to our time. In You, God glorified, we marvel and cry in fear:
Rejoice, enlightener of those who are in the darkness of unbelief!
Rejoice, bringing Your people from the far East to the West!
Rejoice, source of miracles poured out by God!
Rejoice, thou who admonishes the erring with love!
Rejoice, speedy comforter of those who repent of their sins!
Rejoice, support of those who come by the right path!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 5
The divine light appeared to you, dispersing the storms of all the fierce ones, existing on the island from the deadly whirlwinds, guard with your prayers, Saint John, and protect with the Sign of the Cross. Teach us, who call on Thee for help, Holy Wonderworker, to cry out to God with boldness: Hallelujah!

Ikos 5
Seeing your many help in misfortunes and circumstances, Most Blessed Father John, bold intercessor before the Throne of God and quick helper in troubles. For this reason, we also trust in Your patronage before God and cry out to You:
Rejoice, banisher of dangerous elements!
Rejoice, thou who deliverest from thy needs by thy prayer!
Rejoice, giver of bread to the starving!
Rejoice, prepare abundance for those who ask!
Rejoice, comforter in the sorrows of those who are!
Rejoice, thou who didst abduct many fallen from perdition!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 6
Preaching like a new Moses, the rotten one appeared to you, leading Your people out of captivity of slavery, Blessed John. Deliver us from the slavery of sin and the enemies of God's salvation, as we cry out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 6
Ascension by Thy prayer, Thou hast done the impossible, O good Shepherd, and bowed the powers of the world to compassion for Thy people. For this sake, we are with them and thankfully cry out to Ty:
Rejoice, diligently helping Thee to those who call!
Rejoice, deliverer from unrighteous murder!
Rejoice, protector from slander and slander!
Rejoice, protector of the innocent from bonds!
Rejoice, reflector from the attack of the wicked!
Rejoice, darkener of lies and revealer of truth!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 7
Although ardently glorify the Saints of the West, who have fallen away from the truth, you restored their veneration in the Orthodox Church, O lover of the saints of the East and West. Today with them in heaven, pray to God for us, singing on earth to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 7
Newly seeing You, the chosen one of God, and together with the saints of ancient Gaul, You appeared in the last times, as if one from these, inspiring Your flock to observe the Orthodox faith, like these confessions in the West. Keep us in this faith to abide, crying out to Ty:
Rejoice, New Martin in abstinence, deeds and miracles of Thy!
Rejoice, New Germane in the confession of Your Orthodox Faith!
Rejoice, New Hilarion in Divine Theology!
Rejoice, New Gregory, in the veneration and glorification of God's Pleasures!
Rejoice, New Faust, with your tender love and monastic zeal!
Rejoice. New Caesar in firm love to the Rules of the Church of God!
Rejoice, Holy Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 8
We saw a terrible miracle at the end of your earthly life, Passion-bearer Saint John, you were raised to the New World, preaching ancient Christianity there and accepted persecution for the sake of your righteousness, preparing your soul for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Marveling now at Your patience and long-suffering, we gratefully cry out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 8
You were all the worker of the grapes of Christ, God-bearing Father, you did not know peace to the end of Your laborious belly, help us unworthy in our deeds, we will also be faithfully faithful to God, wondrous servant of God John, as if glorifying we cry to Thee:
Rejoice, enduring to the end and attaining salvation!
Rejoice, worthy to die before the icon of the Mother of God!
Rejoice, courageous guardian of faith in the midst of the persecution of the unrighteous!
Rejoice, as if you were a good shepherd to your flock, who, as a ruling hierarch, accepted the death while sitting!
Rejoice, having comforted the flock with Your miraculous return after death!
Rejoice, giver of many miracles to Your cancer with faith and love flowing!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 9
All angelic nature rejoiced at the ascension of Your soul to the heavenly abode, but we, marveling at Your miracle on earth, manifested by the action of the Holy Spirit, sing to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 9
The multi-talked vetii will not be able to announce the strength of your holy life, O righteous Father John, the sanctuary of the ineffable God. Oh, the wondrous manifestation of God to our unbelieving time, we silently glorify Thee, crying out like this:
Rejoice, Chamber of Divine Commands!
Rejoice, small and weak receptacle of angelic abodes!
Rejoice, ladder, with which we comfortably ascend to heaven!
Rejoice, clinic of all ailments soon to heal!
Rejoice, secret vault of the deed of prayer!
Rejoice, brightly decorated temple of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 10
At least save the world, even the Savior of the new saint sent us all. Thus, through Him, from the dark depths of sin, Thou called us. Hear Thee, calling us to repentance, Most Blessed Father John, we, in the virtue of misery, cry out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 10
Thou art a wall to all who resort to Your heavenly intercession, Father John, the same, protect us from the demonic militia, free us from various ailments, misfortunes and needs, crying out to You with faith:
Rejoice, blind insight!
Rejoice, by the power of prayer you give life on your deathbed to those who exist!
Rejoice from rebellion and keep scolding!
Rejoice, saving moisture of those perishing in the fire of sorrow irrigating!
Rejoice, paternal intercession of the lonely and abandoned!
Rejoice, holy Teacher of those who seek the truth!

Kondak 11
Unceasing singing to the Most Holy Trinity, Blessed Father John, brought thou with thought, speech and good deeds: with many understanding of the true Faith of the command, thou hast clarified, by faith, hope and love instructing us in the Trinity to the One God to sing: Hallelujah!

Ikos 11
The light-giving lamp of Orthodoxy appeared to those who were in the darkness of ignorance, thou good shepherd of the flock of Christ. So, after Your Assumption, you reveal the truth to the ignorant of it, enlightening the souls of the faithful, crying out to you like this:
Rejoice, enlightenment of the wisdom of God to those who are in unbelief!
Rejoice, rainbow of the quiet joy of the meek!
Rejoice, thunder, fearful of those who persist in sin!
Rejoice, lightning, burning heresy!
Rejoice, resurrection of the dogmas of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, irrigation of Divine Thought!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 12
The grace given to Thee from God poured out knowingly: we perceive this with reverence and gratitude, flowing to Your miraculous intercession, O All-Praised Father John, glorifying Your miracles, we cry out to God: Hallelujah!

Ikos 12
Singing praises to God, marvelously glorified in You, a meek and humble servant, appear to the fallen and unfaithful world, which has created nothing equal to the gift of Your miracles. Marveling at them, we bow with the saints and honor Thee:
Rejoice, new star of righteousness shining in the sky!
Rejoice, new prophet, delivering us from the reign of evil!
Rejoice, new Jonah, prophesying death from sin!
Rejoice, new Baptist, call everyone to prayer and repentance!
Rejoice, New Paul, who bore the burden of preaching the Gospel!
Rejoice, new apostle, bright preaching of faith!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 13
O Most Bright and Favorable Saint of God, Our Holy Father John, the consolation of all in the sorrows of those who are, accept our present prayer offering and beg the Lord to get rid of hell for us by Your God-pleasing intercession, for after death he himself said: "Tell the people, although I died, but I'm ALIVE": Hallelujah! (thrice)

Ikos 1
In the form of an angel, reveal to You in the last times of all creation, the Creator, with the mercy of God, cares about the people of the earth. Looking at Your virtues, Most Blessed John, we cry out to Tisitsa:
Rejoice, adorned with piety from early childhood!
Rejoice with fear and trembling in the will of God!
Rejoice, revealing the grace of God in secret blessings!
Rejoice, quick hearing of those who suffer far away!
Rejoice, loving haste to the salvation of your neighbors!
Rejoice, rejoicing to all who fall to Thee with faith!
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Kondak 1
Chosen by the Miracle Worker and a fair servant of Christ, exude precious peace and inspiration and an inexhaustible abundance of miracles to the whole world. Praise Thee with love and call Thee:
Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Our Father John, Wonderworker of the last times!

Prayer

to Saint John, Wonderworker of the last times

Oh, Holy Hierarch, our Father John, Good Shepherd and seer of human souls. Now at the Throne of God pray for us, as if he himself said posthumously: “Although I died, but I am ALIVE”. Begged the All-Generous God to grant us forgiveness in sins, let us boldly rise in spirit and shake off the despondency of this world and cry out to God for granting us humility and inspiration, God-consciousness and the spirit of piety on all paths of our life. Like a merciful orphan-giver and an experienced guide on earth, now be the leader of Moses and in the turmoil of the Church the all-embracing admonition of Christ.
Hear the groaning of the embarrassed youths of our hard times, overwhelmed by all-evil demons, and shake off the laziness of despondency of the exhausted shepherds from the onslaught of the spirit of this world and languishing in idle stupor.
Let us tearfully cry out to Thee, O warm prayer book, visit us orphans, drowning in the darkness of passions, waiting for Your fatherly guidance, let us be illuminated by the non-evening light, where You stay and pray for Your children, scattered across the face of the universe, but still stretching towards the light with weak love where the light of Christ our Lord abides, to Him is honor and power now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

magnificence

We magnify, we magnify Thee, Saint Father John, and we honor Your holy memory. You pray for us Christ our God.

Troparion (Ch. 6)

Glorious apostle of Christ's heir, / Thou hast appeared to save us of little faith and cold hearts. / Thou hast clothed the ancient saints with grace and deeds, / For this sake, from God, the heavenly secrets have been received. / Oh, kind Syrup-bearer, giving hope to the outcast world, / Oh, Lamp of Christ, Divine flame / kindled at the dawn of the Last Judgment. / Pray for us, St. John, may our hearts be kindled with the flame of saving love for Christ / and that our souls may be saved in the last time.

On July 2, 1994, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia canonized the marvelous saint of God of the 20th century, St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco, the miracle worker.

Archbishop John was born on June 4/17, 1896 in the south of Russia in the village of Adamovka, Kharkov province. At holy baptism, he was named Michael in honor of the Archangel of the Heavenly Forces, Michael the Archangel.

From childhood, he was distinguished by deep religiosity, stood at prayer for a long time at night, diligently collected icons, as well as church books. Most of all he loved to read the lives of the saints. Michael loved the saints with all his heart, was completely imbued with their spirit and began to live like them. The holy and righteous life of the child made a deep impression on his French Catholic governess, and as a result she converted to Orthodoxy.

In the time of persecution by the Providence of God, Michael ended up in Belgrade, where he entered the university at the theological faculty. In 1926, he was tonsured a monk by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), taking the name John in honor of his ancestor, St. John (Maximovich) of Tobolsk. Already at that time, Bishop Nikolai (Velimirovich), the Serbian Chrysostom, gave the following description to the young hieromonk: “If you want to see a living saint, go to Bitol to Father John.” Father John constantly prayed, fasted rigorously, served the Divine Liturgy every day and took communion, from the day of his monastic tonsure he never went to bed, sometimes he was found in the morning dozing on the floor in front of the icons. With true fatherly love, he inspired his flock with the lofty ideals of Christianity and Holy Russia. His meekness and humility resembled those immortalized in the lives of the greatest ascetics and hermits. Father John was a rare prayer book. He was so immersed in the texts of prayers, as if he were simply talking with the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, angels and saints who stood before his spiritual eyes. The gospel events were known to him as if they were taking place before his eyes.

In 1934, Hieromonk John was elevated to the rank of bishop, after which he left for Shanghai. According to Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), Bishop John was "a mirror of ascetic firmness and severity in our time of general spiritual relaxation."

The young Bishop loved to visit the sick and did it every day, taking confession and sharing the Holy Mysteries with them. If the patient's condition became critical, Vladyka would come to him at any hour of the day or night and pray at his bedside for a long time. Numerous cases of healing of the hopelessly ill through the prayers of St. John are known.

With the coming of the Communists to power, the Russians in China were again forced to flee, most through the Philippines. In 1949, about 5 thousand Russians from China lived on the island of Tubabao in the camp of the International Refugee Organization. The island was in the path of seasonal typhoons that sweep over this sector of the Pacific Ocean. However, during all 27 months of the existence of the camp, he was only once threatened by a typhoon, but even then he changed course and bypassed the island. When a Russian spoke to the Filipinos about his fear of typhoons, they said there was no reason to worry, since "your holy man blesses your camp every night from all four sides." When the camp was evacuated, a terrible typhoon hit the island and completely destroyed all the buildings.

The Russian people, living in dispersion, had in the person of Vladyka a strong intercessor before the Lord. Nurturing his flock, Saint John did the impossible. He himself traveled to Washington to negotiate the resettlement of destitute Russian people to America. Through his prayers, a miracle happened! Amendments were made to American laws and most of the camp, about 3 thousand people, moved to the USA, the rest to Australia.

In 1951, Archbishop John was appointed ruling bishop of the Western European Exarchate of the Russian Church Abroad. In Europe, and then in 1962 in San Francisco, his missionary work, firmly based on a life of constant prayer and the purity of Orthodox teaching, bore abundant fruit.

The glory of Vladyka spread both among the Orthodox and among the non-Orthodox population. So, in one of the Catholic churches in Paris, the local priest tried to inspire the youth with the following words: “You demand proof, you say that now there are no miracles, no saints. Why should I give you theoretical proofs when Saint John Barefoot walks the streets of Paris today.”

Vladyka was known and highly honored all over the world. In Paris, the dispatcher of the railway station delayed the departure of the train until the arrival of the "Russian Archbishop". All European hospitals knew about this Bishop who could pray for the dying all night long. He was called to the bed of a seriously ill person - be he a Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox or anyone else - because when he prayed God was merciful.

The sick servant of God Alexandra lay in a Paris hospital, and the Bishop was told about her. He handed over a note that he would come and give her Holy Communion. Lying in a common ward, where there were about 40-50 people, she felt embarrassed in front of the French ladies that an Orthodox bishop would visit her, dressed in incredibly worn clothes and, moreover, barefoot. When he gave her the Holy Gifts, a French woman on a nearby bed said to her: “How lucky you are to have such a confessor. My sister lives in Versailles, and when her children get sick, she drives them out into the street where Bishop John usually walks and asks him to bless them. After receiving the blessing, the children immediately get better. We call him a saint."

The children, despite Vladyka's usual strictness, were absolutely devoted to him. There are many touching stories about how the blessed one, in an incomprehensible way, knew where a sick child could be and at any time of the day or night came to console him and heal him. Receiving revelations from God, he saved many from impending disaster, and sometimes appeared to those who needed it most, although such a transfer seemed physically impossible.

The blessed Vladyka, a saint of the Russian Diaspora, and at the same time a Russian saint, commemorated the Moscow Patriarch at divine services along with the First Hierarch of the Synod of the Russian Church Abroad.

Turning to history and seeing the future, St. John said that in troubled times Russia fell so that all her enemies were sure that she was mortally stricken. In Russia there was no tsar, power and troops. In Moscow, foreigners were in power. People "fell out of spirit", weakened and waited for salvation only from foreigners, before whom they fawned. Death was inevitable. In history it is impossible to find such a depth of the fall of the state and such a speedy, miraculous uprising of it, when people rose spiritually and morally. Such is the history of Russia, such is its path. The subsequent severe suffering of the Russian people is a consequence of Russia's betrayal of itself, its path, its vocation. Russia will rise in the same way as it has risen before. Will rise when faith flares up. When people rise spiritually, when again they will have a clear, firm faith in the truth of the Savior’s words: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all this will be added to you.” Russia will rise when it loves the Faith and the confession of Orthodoxy, when it sees and loves the Orthodox righteous and confessors.

Vladyka John foresaw his death. On June 19 (July 2), 1966, on the feast day of the Apostle Jude, during an archpastoral visit to the city of Seattle with the Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God of the Kursk-Root, at the age of 71, before this Hodegetria of the Russian Diaspora, a great righteous man passed away to the Lord. Sorrow filled the hearts of many people around the world. After the death of Vladyka, a Dutch Orthodox priest wrote with a contrite heart: “I do not have and will not have a spiritual father who would call me at midnight from another continent and say: “Now go to sleep. What you pray for you will receive.”

The four-day vigil was crowned with a funeral service. The bishops who were conducting the service could not restrain their sobs, tears streamed down their cheeks, glittered in the light of countless candles near the coffin. Surprisingly, at the same time, the temple was filled with quiet joy. Eyewitnesses noted that it seemed that we were present not at the funeral, but at the opening of the relics of the newly acquired Saint.

Soon, miracles of healing and help in everyday affairs began to occur in the Vladyka's tomb.

Time has shown that St. John the Wonderworker is a quick help to all who exist in troubles, illnesses and mournful circumstances.

Saint JOHN (MAKSIMOVICH), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, miracle worker
(†1966)

Archbishop John (in the world Mikhail Borisovich Maksimovich) born 4/17 June 1896 in the south of Russia in the village of Adamovka, Kharkov province (now Donetsk region) in a noble Orthodox family. Among the well-known representatives of his family was St. John of Tobolsk (Maximovich).

At holy baptism, he was named Michael in honor of the Archangel of the Heavenly Forces, Michael the Archangel.

In his youth, Mikhail was greatly impressed by the arrival in Kharkov of Bishop Barnabas, later Patriarch of Serbia. Initially, he even wanted to enter the Kyiv Theological Academy, but at the insistence of his parents he went to the University.

During the years of study at Kharkov University (1914-1918), being a student of the Faculty of Law, Mikhail attracted the attention of the famous Kharkov Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who accepted him under his spiritual guidance.

Emigration to Yugoslavia

During the civil war in 1921 when the Bolsheviks completely occupied Ukraine, the Maksimović family emigrated to Yugoslavia in Belgrade (the father of the future saint was of Serbian origin), where Michael entered the Belgrade University at the Faculty of Theology (1921-1925).

Monasticism

In 1920, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) was headed by the confessor of the future saint, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky).

In 1926, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) Mikhail was the First Hierarch of ROCOR tonsured a monk , taking the name John in honor of his ancestor St. John (Maximovich) of Tobolsk, and devoted almost 10 years to teaching at the Serbian State High School and Seminary in honor of the Apostle John the Theologian in Bitola. Already at that time, Bishop Nikolai (Velimirovich), the Serbian Chrysostom, gave the following description to the young hieromonk: "If you want to see a living saint, go to Bitol to Father John."

In 1929 Father John was elevated to the rank hieromonk .

According to Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), Bishop John was "a mirror of ascetic firmness and severity in our time of general spiritual relaxation."

From the day of his monastic tonsure, Father John never slept lying on his bed again - if he fell asleep, then on an armchair or on his knees under the icons. He constantly prayed, fasted rigorously (he eats food once a day), and daily served the Divine Liturgy and communed. Saint John kept this rule until the end of his earthly life. With true fatherly love, he inspired his flock with the lofty ideals of Christianity and Holy Russia. His meekness and humility resembled those immortalized in the lives of the greatest ascetics and hermits. Father John was a rare prayer book. He was so immersed in the texts of prayers, as if he were simply talking with the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, angels and saints who stood before his spiritual eyes. The gospel events were known to him as if they were taking place before his eyes.

Bishop of Shanghai

In 1934, Hieromonk John was elevated to the rank bishop and sent to Shanghai Vicar of the Diocese of China and Beijing, where he served for almost 20 years.

In 1937, under Bishop John in Shanghai, the construction of the Cathedral in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The guarantor of sinners" with a capacity of about 2,500 people was completed. It was the pride of all Russian emigrants in Shanghai, who called it the "Kremlin of Chinese Orthodoxy".

During the Cultural Revolution in China in 1965, the cathedral was closed for worship. For the next 20 years, the premises of the Cathedral were used as a warehouse. Then a restaurant appeared in its annex, and the building itself was transferred to the disposal of the stock exchange, later a restaurant and a nightclub appeared in the Temple building.

Modern view of the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God "Guest of Sinners" in Shanghai

At present, the functioning of the nightclub in the Shanghai Cathedral in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "The guarantor of sinners" has been discontinued, the interior of the club has been dismantled. Restoration work was carried out, during which partially preserved frescoes were uncovered in the dome, the building was turned into an exhibition hall. This building is considered a historical landmark of the city and is protected by the Shanghai Municipality as a monument of history and culture.

Exhibition in the building of the Cathedral

Cases of healings, expulsion of unclean spirits, help in difficult circumstances, which took place in China through the prayers of Vladyka John, over the years made up a significant part of the detailed biography compiled by the brotherhood of St. Herman of Alaska.

In 1946 Vladyka John was elevated to the rank archbishop . Under his care were all the Russians who lived in China.

Exodus from China. Philippines.

For most of Vladyka's admirers, to this day he remains "John of Shanghai", however, "the right to participate in his title" could be challenged, in addition to San Francisco, where he spent the last years of his ministry, France and Holland.

With the advent of the Communists in China, Vladyka organized the evacuation of his flock to the Philippines, and from there to America.In 1949 On the island of Tubabao (Philippines), about 5 thousand Russians from China lived in the camp of the International Refugee Organization. The island was in the path of seasonal typhoons that sweep over this sector of the Pacific Ocean. However, during all 27 months of the existence of the camp, he was only once threatened by a typhoon, but even then he changed course and bypassed the island. When a Russian spoke to the Filipinos about his fear of typhoons, they said there was no reason to worry, since "your holy man blesses your camp every night from all four sides." When the camp was evacuated, a terrible typhoon hit the island and completely destroyed all the buildings.

Saint John visits the camp of Russian refugees in Tubabao

Archbishop of Brussels and Western Europe. Paris.

In 1951 Archbishop John was appointed Ruling Bishop of the Western European Exarchate of the Russian Church Abroad and directed in Paris. Brussels (Belgium) was considered the official residence of Archbishop John. He was titled "Archbishop of Brussels and Western Europe". But he spent most of his time in the vicinity of Paris. On his shoulders fell the affairs of the management of the Russian Church Abroad and assistance to the Orthodox churches in France and the Netherlands. He also retained control of the remaining parishes of the Shanghai diocese (in Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.).

His appearance did not correspond much to a high rank: he wore the simplest clothes and in any weather managed with light sandals, and when it happened that even these conditional shoes passed to one of the beggars, he habitually remained barefoot. I slept only a couple of hours, sitting or bending over on the floor in front of the icons. The bed has never been used. He usually took food only once a day in the most limited amount. At the same time, he helped the poor incessantly, distributing bread and money, and with the same constancy he picked up homeless children in the lanes, among the slums, for whom he founded a shelter in honor of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.

In Europe, Archbishop John was recognized as a man of holy life, so Catholic priests turned to him with a request to pray for the sick. So, in one of the Catholic churches in Paris, a local priest tried to inspire the youth with the following words: “You demand proof, you say that now there are no miracles, no saints. Why should I give you theoretical proofs when Saint John Barefoot walks the streets of Paris today.”

In the photographs, Vladyka John often looked unattractive, that is, completely monastic: a stooped figure, dark hair with gray hair randomly loose over his shoulders. During his lifetime, he also limped and had a speech impediment that made communication difficult. But all this had absolutely no meaning for those who had to experience experimentally that in spiritual terms he was a completely exceptional phenomenon - an ascetic in the image of the saints of the first centuries of Christianity.

The sick servant of God Alexandra lay in a Paris hospital, and the Bishop was told about her. He handed over a note that he would come and give her Holy Communion. Lying in a common ward, where there were about 40-50 people, she felt embarrassed in front of the French ladies that an Orthodox bishop would visit her, dressed in incredibly worn clothes and, moreover, barefoot. When he gave her the Holy Sacrament, a French woman on a nearby bunk said to her: “How happy you are that you have such a confessor. My sister lives in Versailles, and when her children get sick, she drives them out into the street where Bishop John usually walks and asks him to bless them. After receiving the blessing, the children immediately get better. We call him a saint."

Archbishop of San Francisco (USA)

In 1962 he was transferred to the largest cathedral parish of the Russian Church Abroad, in San Francisco .

Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in San Francisco

However, in America, Vladyka John encountered intrigues from some church leaders who, almost immediately after his appointment to the cathedra, contributed to the initiation of a case against him on charges of financial violations during the construction of the San Francisco Cathedral. The American Union of Churches, which consisted mainly of representatives of Protestant denominations, actively opposed St. John. They did not skimp on slander either - they accused the saint of "negotiating with the Greek and Serbian Churches... in order to move to one of them... and for this purpose he seeks to take possession of the property of the Sorrowful Cathedral...", and also that "ow. John surrounded himself with people with a communist background.” At the trial, Vladyka John was supported by some of the ROCOR hierarchs, among whom were Bishops Leonty (Filippovich), Savva (Sarachevitch), Nektary (Kontsevich), and Archbishop Averky (Taushev). The consideration of the case in the San Francisco court ended in 1963 with the complete acquittal of Vladyka John.

Saint John in his cell in San Francisco

Saint John was very strict about violations of traditional Orthodox piety. So, when he found out that some of the parishioners on the eve of the Sunday vigil were having fun at the ball on the occasion of the Halloween holiday, he went to the ball, silently walked around the hall and just as silently left. On the morning of the next day, he promulgated a decree "On the inadmissibility of participation in entertainment on the eve of Sunday and holiday services."

Vladyka’s foresight was usually convinced when he revealed a detailed knowledge of the circumstances of people who had not known him before, even before he was asked a question, he himself called the names of those for whom he was going to be asked to pray, or answered the appeal without any embarrassment to him in thought.

Turning to history and seeing the future, St. John said that in troubled times Russia fell so that all her enemies were sure that she was mortally stricken. In Russia there was no tsar, power and troops. In Moscow, foreigners were in power. People "fell out of spirit", weakened and waited for salvation only from foreigners, before whom they fawned. Death was inevitable. In history it is impossible to find such a depth of the fall of the state and such a speedy, miraculous uprising of it, when people rose spiritually and morally. Such is the history of Russia, such is its path. The subsequent severe suffering of the Russian people is a consequence of Russia's betrayal of itself, its path, its vocation. Russia will rise in the same way as it has risen before. Will rise when faith flares up. When people spiritually rise, when again they will have a clear, firm faith in the truth of the words of the Savior: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Russia will rise when it loves the Faith and the confession of Orthodoxy, when it sees and loves the Orthodox righteous and confessors.

Death and veneration

Vladyka John foresaw his death. He passed away at the age of 71 July 2/June 19, 1966 during a prayer in his cell during his visit to the St. Nicholas parish in Seattle in front of the Kursk-Root miraculous icon of the Mother of God. Sorrow filled the hearts of many people around the world. After the death of Vladyka, a Dutch Orthodox priest wrote with a contrite heart: “I do not have and will not have a spiritual father who would call me at midnight from another continent and say: “Now go to sleep. What you pray for you will receive.” The four-day vigil was crowned with a funeral service. The bishops who were conducting the service could not restrain their sobs, tears streamed down their cheeks, glittered in the light of countless candles near the coffin. Surprisingly, at the same time, the temple was filled with quiet joy. Eyewitnesses noted that it seemed that we were present not at the funeral, but at the opening of the relics of the newly acquired Saint. The body lay in the coffin for 6 days in the heat, while no smell was felt and, according to eyewitnesses, the hand of the deceased remained soft.

The relics of St. John of Shanghai

The saint was buried in a tomb under the cathedral he built. The remains of St. John (Maximovich) have not undergone decay and are open. The commission for canonization, which examined the relics of Bishop John, found that they are similar to the relics of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the Orthodox East.

The tomb of St. John is the place where his relics originally resided. Immediately after the death of Vladyka, people began to come here with the hope of his prayers, memorial services were served for the deceased, notes were placed on the relics asking for help from the saint

Soon, miracles of healing and help in everyday affairs began to occur in the Vladyka's tomb.Time has shown that St. John the Wonderworker is a quick help to all who exist in troubles, illnesses and mournful circumstances.

After the glorification of St. John by ROCOR, his relics were transferred to the cathedral.
At the shrine with the relics of Saint and Wonderworker John of Shanghai

On July 2, 1994, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia canonized Saint John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco Wonderworker as a saint. And on June 24, 2008, St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco was glorified by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Memory is committed June 19 (July 2) - the day of death ; September 29 (October 12) - Uncovering the relics .

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PRAYER
O Holy Hierarch Father John, good shepherd and seer of human souls! Now at the Throne of God you pray for us, as if you yourself said after death: even though I died, but I am alive. Begged the All-Generous God to grant us forgiveness in sins, let us rise cheerfully and cry out to God about granting us the spirit of humility, the fear of God and piety in all the ways of our life, as a merciful orphan-giver and a skilled mentor on earth having been, now be our guide and in the troubles of the Church of Christ admonition. Hear the groaning of the troubled youths of our hard times, overwhelmed by all-evil demons, and look at the despondency of the weary shepherds from the oppression of the corrupting spirit of this world and those languishing in idle carelessness, and hasten to prayer, we tearfully cry out to you, O warm prayer: visit us, orphans, all over our faces universes scattered and existing in the Fatherland, wandering in the darkness of passions, but with weak love for the light of Christ attracted and waiting for your fatherly instruction, let us become accustomed to piety and the heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, while you are with all the saints, glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ, honor and power now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 5
Your care for the flock in her wanderings, / this is the prototype and prayers of yours for the whole world forever offered up; / so we believe, knowing your love, the saint and wonderworker John! Thou art to the afflicted, / the most joyful healer. / Hasten to help us, who honor thee with all our hearts.

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Sparrow Hills

A film from the cycle "The Elders". "Archbishop John of Shanghai"

Saint John Maksimovich (worldly name - Michael) belonged to a well-known noble family. His paternal grandfather was a wealthy landowner. Another maternal grandfather served as a doctor in the city of Kharkov. His father led the local nobility, and his uncle served as rector of Kyiv University.

The future saint was born on June 4, 1896, on the territory of the Kharkov province, in the parental estate of Adamovka. In holy baptism he received the name Michael, in honor of the Archangel of the Heavenly Host.

Mikhail's parents, Boris and Glafira, Orthodox people, strove to give their son a good upbringing and education, in many ways they themselves served as a good example for him. In the future, he had a filial respect for them all his life.

From childhood, Michael was distinguished by poor health. The peace-loving and meek nature of the child contributed to building friendly relations with others, including peers, but he did not have particularly close friends. Maybe it was in this connection that Mikhail rarely participated in the games, but more often than usual he immersed himself in his own thoughts.

Distinguished by his special religiosity since childhood, he liked to play “in monasteries”, building them from toy forts, dressing toy soldiers in “monastic” clothes. As he grew older, he began to collect a religious library, holy icons, and joined in prayer work.

He literally read spiritual literature, the Lives of the Saints, historical writings. Along with a religious feeling, a feeling of love for his Motherland, a feeling of patriotism, matured in him from an early age.

A visit to the Svyatogorsk Monastery made a strong impression on Mikhail, not far from which, in the Naked Valley, his family's country estate was located. The family has repeatedly supported this monastery with their donations.

By striving to please God, by living according to the commandments, Michael had a beneficial effect on his younger brothers and sister (and not only: over time, even his governess, a Frenchwoman, being a Catholic, decided to accept Orthodoxy).

Youth years

At the age of 11, his parents assigned Mikhail to the cadet corps in Poltava.

He studied well, excelling in almost all subjects. And only physical training was given to him with difficulty.

The meek, religious disposition of Mikhail distinguished him from among his comrades in the corps. Once, when the students were marching in a solemn march and their ranks were level with the Poltava Cathedral, Mikhail, driven by an inner sense of reverence, signed himself with the sign of the cross. The leadership wanted to punish him for violating the order and discipline, and only the intercession of the guardian of the corps, Grand Duke Konstantin, who showed proper pedagogical tact and approach, saved the "culprit" from condemnation.

Student years

When Mikhail graduated from the cadet corps in 1914, he faced a choice: where to go to study further? He himself thought about the Kyiv Theological Academy, but his parents, who wanted their son a good legal career (which was real, given his talents and their personal connections), insisted that he enter the Faculty of Law. Having sincere respect for his father and mother, he obeyed their will and entered Kharkov University.

While studying at the university, Mikhail showed enviable success. However, even the workload did not distract him from higher spiritual aspirations. He continued to study religious literature, the Lives of God's saints. Moreover, life experience and the knowledge acquired in the process of training helped to perceive those religious truths, which he used to look at with childish and youthful immediacy, more deeply and seriously.

Post-revolutionary period

The time of completion of training coincided with the time of terrible, tragic events in the life of the Fatherland: the February Revolution and the changes that followed it. Neither he nor his parents shared the revolutionary joy of the overthrow of the Russian Tsar. It can even be said that for Mikhail's family those cold February days became days of sadness and mourning.

A few months after the February Revolution, the October Revolution followed. It was followed by persecution of the clergy and zealous Christians in general. Temples were destroyed, Christian blood was shed.

Michael, sincerely absorbed in the thought of serving God, found it difficult to accept the new political reality. Knowing with what perseverance he was ready to defend the truth, relatives and friends worried about him.

Emigration

By the providence of God, Michael left his native, beloved homeland, and ended up in Belgrade. Here he entered the local university, the theological faculty, graduated from it in 1925.

In 1924 he was elevated to the rank of reader.

In 1926 he was tonsured into the angelic image by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky). The new, monastic name of Michael became: John. So he was named after a servant of God, a representative of his kind, a saint.

monastic life

After taking tonsure, John gave himself up to the desire to follow Christ so much that, for example, one of the bishops who knew him personally, Nikolai (Velimirovich), who was popularly called the Serbian Chrysostom, said that if anyone wants to see today's saint, let him turn to Father John.

For some time, Father John worked in the gymnasium of the city of Velyka Kikinda, as a teacher of the law, then as a teacher at the theological seminary in the city of Bitola. Presenting the educational material, he tried to make it accessible and clear. The students treated him with love.

In 1929, by decision of the church authorities, Father John was elevated to the rank of hieromonk.

He treated his duty as a priest with all seriousness and responsibility. He constantly cared for his flock. He taught them by word and example, regularly served the Divine Liturgy and communed the Body and Blood of Christ, strictly fasted, indulged in prayer vigils (sometimes he didn’t even go to bed, remaining on the floor, right in front of the images of the saints).

During this period, Father John wrote several significant (later widely known) theological works.

episcopal ministry

In 1934, Father John was consecrated a bishop and humbly departed for the place of his new ministry, Shanghai.

In addition to participating in divine services and preaching, organizing parish life, missionary work, and charity work, the saint also personally visited many sick people, inspiring them with a kind pastoral word, confessing and communing the Holy Gifts. They say that, if necessary, Vladyka went to the patient at any time of the day or night.

In 1949, due to the strengthening of communist sentiment in China, Bishop John was forced to leave for the Philippine island of Tubabao, where he stayed in a specially equipped camp along with other refugees.

Showing concern for his flock, Vladyka traveled to Washington and asked to receive refugees. His requests and, of course, prayers did not go unanswered. A significant part of the refugees were able to move to America, and the other - to Australia.

In 1951, Vladyka was appointed archbishop of the Western European Exarchate, subordinate to the Russian Church Abroad.

In 1962, with the blessing of the leadership, he moved to the United States, where he headed the San Francisco diocese.

The local Christian community was not in the best condition there. In addition to general difficulties (including financial ones), internal schismatic moods and movements did not contribute to the normal functioning of the department.

With the arrival of the saint, life in the diocese began to improve. However, not everyone accepted the good undertaking of the bishop with enthusiasm. There were envious and ill-wishers. Intrigues began to be erected against the lord, denunciations to the church leadership began to rain down.

Meanwhile, with the help of God, this situation was resolved in favor of St. John.

On July 2, 1966, during a visit with a pastoral mission to the city of Seattle, during cell prayer, Vladyka's heart stopped and he quietly departed to the Heavenly King. It is alleged that the lord knew in advance about the approach of death.

Saint John is revered by the Church not only as an outstanding saint, but also as a miracle worker.

Troparion to Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, tone 5

Your care for the flock in her wanderings, / this is the prototype of your prayers, for the whole world forever lifted up: / so we believe, having known your love, the saint and miracle worker John! / Whole from God is sanctified by the sacred action of the most pure Mysteries, / we ourselves strengthen our image, / hastened to the suffering, the healer is the most gratifying. // Hurry now to help us, who honor thee with all our hearts.

Introparion to St. John, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco Wonderworker, Tone 1:

You have multiplied the gift of holiness, having become jealous of the words of preaching by the apostle, by vigil, fasting and prayer with the saints you have been imputed, slander and reproach with meekness. For this sake of Christ, glorify the miracles, which you pour out abundantly on all those who flow to you with faith: and now save us with your prayers, O venerable John, the saint of Christ.

Kontakion to St. John the Archbishop of Shanghai and the Wonderworker of San Francisco, Tone 4:

Having afterdicing Christ, after the Holy, the most important came to Christ, he saved God's soviet from the destruction of the godless, the preferences of the Mirny, and the bachelor of the unceasion of the passionate about the passionate, and the soulfulness of them, and we are kindly kind and we are kind and we are like that and we are like that and we are about us and we are like that and about us and about us and about us and about us and about us and about us and we are like us. pray to Christ God, Father John, in the world our souls may be saved.

Prayer to St. John the Wonderworker Archbishop of Shanghai

O our holy hierarch John, the good shepherd and secret seer of human souls! Now at the Throne of God, pray for us, as if you yourself said after death: “And yet I am dead, but I am alive.” I begged for the whole god of God in the greset to give us, but we will be more likely, and to God for the best of giving us the soul of humility, the suffering of God and honesty in all the vibrants of the living, the worldly sophisticated and the sophisticated. Christ's understanding. Hear the groaning of the troubled young men of our hard times, overwhelmed by the all-evil demon, and look at the despondency of the shepherds who are exhausted from the oppression of the putrid spirit of this world and who are languishing in idle negligence and hasten to prayer, tearfully, crying out; Visit us blue, all over the loudly loudly shared and in the domesticity of the people, in the darkness of the strangle, but by glory to the light of Christ, who are more and more likely, and there are no good time, there are no good ones. our Jesus Christ, to Him is honor and power, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer (other)

Oh, wonderful Saint John, you have spread your heart so much, as if the multitude of people from various tribes and peoples from various tribes and peoples who honor you can fit in it! Look at the wretchedness of our words, both of which are brought to you from love, and help us, pleasing God, from now on cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, working the Lord with fear and rejoicing in Him with trembling. And what will we repay you for this joy, we will feel it, seeing in the holy temple your holy relics and glorifying your memory; verily, it is not the imams who will repay, then we will begin to correct ourselves, it is new instead of the old. Sow the grace of renewal, be our intercessor, holy John, help us in weakness, heal illnesses, heal passions with your prayers; преста́вленный же от сего́ вре́меннаго во ино́е жити́е ве́чное, в не́же наста́ви тя Пречи́стая Влады́чица, Одиги́трия разсе́яния ру́сскаго, чудотво́рною Свое́ю ико́ною Коренно́ю-Ку́рскою, Ея́же спу́тник ты яви́лся еси́ в день преставле́ния своего́, ра́дуешися ны́не в ли́це святы́х, сла́вящих Еди́наго в Тро́ице сла́вимаго Бо́га , the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.