Commemoration of St. John of Kronstadt

Today, October 19th, the Holy Orthodox Church commemorates St. John of Kronstadt!  St. John of Kronstadt was born Ivan Ilyich Sergiyev in 1829.  From 1855 he served as a Priest in St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt.  St. John was a married Priest, who lived with his wife in virginity.  Through his uniting labors in his Priestly duties and love for the poor and sinners, he was granted by our Lord great gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, to such a degree that in the last years of his life miracles of healing - both of body and soul - were performed countless times each day through his prayers... He left us with his well known "diary" My Life in Christ.   He was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in 1964 and June 8th by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990.

Also be sure to check out an Orthodox book supplier that carries his book, My Life in Christ, at St. John of Kronstadt Press

Troparion:

As a zealous advocate of the Orthodox faith,

As a caring Solicitor for the land of Russia,

Faithful to the rules and image of a pastor,

Preaching repentance and life in Christ,

An awesome servant and administer of God's sacraments,

A daring intercessor for people's sake,

O Good and righteous Father John,

Healer and wonderful miracle-worker,

The praise of the town of Kronstadt

And decoration of our Church,

Beseech the All-Merciful God

To reconcile the world and to save our souls!

Troparion:

With the apostles your message has gone out to the ends of the world,

And with the confessors you suffered for Christ!

You are like the hierarchs through your preaching of the word;

With the righteous you are radiant with the grace of God.

The Lord has exalted your humility above the heavens

And given us your name as a source of miracles.

O wonder-worker, living in Christ for ever,

Have mercy on those beset by troubles;

And hear us when we cry out in faith, O our beloved shepherd John!

Kontakion:

This day the pastor of Kronstadt

Appears before the throne of God

Praying fervently on behalf of the faithful

To the chief pastor Christ, who has promised:

"I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it!"