John the Russian
Encyclopedia
Saint John the Russian (1690 - May 27 (N.S. June 9), 1730) is one of the most renowned saints in the Greek Orthodox Church
. Being a prisoner of war and a slave to a Turkish Agha, he became famous and respected even by his Muslim
master for his humility, steadiness in faith and benevolence. His holy relics are undecayed and wonder-working; there are evidences that this saint particularly helps sick children and those who suffer from cancer
.
(Ukraine
nowadays). Having came of age, he was recruited to the army of Peter the Great and took part in the Russo-Turkish War (1710–1711). During the war he was captured prisoner and sold to slavery to the head of Turkish cavalery.
and was humiliated and tormented for that by the Turks
, who called him a kafir
, which means "unbeliever". But as the time went by, the mockery had stopped due to saint's steadiness in faith, humility and diligence, and saint John became respected by his master and the household. He worked as a groom and lived in the stables. Other slaves mocked at him for the zeal he was working with, but the pious man took no offence, trying to help them in their needs and comforting them when needed. For his sincere kind-heartedness, the saint had earned love and trust of the Agha who proposed him to live as a free man, in separate house. But he refused, saying: "My patron is Lord, and no one is above Him. He predestined me to live as a slave in a foreign land; seems, it must be so for my salvation".
In the daytime John worked and prayed, keeping strict fast, and when the night came, he used to go secretely to the cave-church of St. George, where he said the prayers of All-Night Vigil
. Every Saturday he used to take the Holy Communion.
Soon the Agha became rich and one of the most influential people in Urgup
. He decided, that it is due to the holy man, who lives in his home. Having become rich, the Agha decided to carry out the Hajj
. During this travel, his wife was giving a dinner to the relatives and friends. When the master's favourite dish, pilau was being served, she told John, who was waiting upon the table: "How glad would your master be, if he could eat this pilau with us". The saint asked her to give him this dish, promising to send it to Mecca
. Everybody was laughing, but Jonh's request was complied, they decided he wanted to eat pilau himself or give it to the poor.
When the Agha came back, he told about the miracle that had happened to him: while being in Mecca, he found a fuming plate of pilau in his locked room. And on this plate his name was engraved - as on every plate in his home.
hidden inside an apple. Having taken it, the saint man died. It was June 9, 1730.
, Greece
. His right hand is in Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Athos
. By blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow in 2003-2004 a small wooden church of St. John the Russian was erected in Moscow
, in Kuntsevo district. In Novosibirsk
, Russia
the lower side chapel of the church of Our Lady of the Sign
is also devoted to St. John the Russian.
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
. Being a prisoner of war and a slave to a Turkish Agha, he became famous and respected even by his Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
master for his humility, steadiness in faith and benevolence. His holy relics are undecayed and wonder-working; there are evidences that this saint particularly helps sick children and those who suffer from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
Youth
John the Russian was born approximately in 1690 in Little RussiaLittle Russia
Little Russia , sometimes Little or Lesser Rus’ , is a historical political and geographical term in the Russian language referring to most of the territory of modern-day Ukraine before the 20th century. It is similar to the Polish term Małopolska of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
(Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
nowadays). Having came of age, he was recruited to the army of Peter the Great and took part in the Russo-Turkish War (1710–1711). During the war he was captured prisoner and sold to slavery to the head of Turkish cavalery.
Life in Slavery
The saint refused to adopt IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and was humiliated and tormented for that by the Turks
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, who called him a kafir
Kafir
Kafir is an Arabic term used in a Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as "unbeliever" or "disbeliever"...
, which means "unbeliever". But as the time went by, the mockery had stopped due to saint's steadiness in faith, humility and diligence, and saint John became respected by his master and the household. He worked as a groom and lived in the stables. Other slaves mocked at him for the zeal he was working with, but the pious man took no offence, trying to help them in their needs and comforting them when needed. For his sincere kind-heartedness, the saint had earned love and trust of the Agha who proposed him to live as a free man, in separate house. But he refused, saying: "My patron is Lord, and no one is above Him. He predestined me to live as a slave in a foreign land; seems, it must be so for my salvation".
In the daytime John worked and prayed, keeping strict fast, and when the night came, he used to go secretely to the cave-church of St. George, where he said the prayers of All-Night Vigil
All-Night Vigil
The All-Night Vigil , Opus 37, is an a cappella choral composition by Sergei Rachmaninoff,written and premiered in 1915. It consists of settings of texts taken from the Russian Orthodox All-night vigil ceremony. It has been praised as Rachmaninoff's finest achievement and "the greatest musical...
. Every Saturday he used to take the Holy Communion.
Soon the Agha became rich and one of the most influential people in Urgup
Ürgüp
Ürgüp is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. Located in the historical region of Cappadocia, and near the cave Churches of Göreme, it is renowned for its nightlife and for its good adjustment to tourism, making it a popular night stop for Cappadocia...
. He decided, that it is due to the holy man, who lives in his home. Having become rich, the Agha decided to carry out the Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
. During this travel, his wife was giving a dinner to the relatives and friends. When the master's favourite dish, pilau was being served, she told John, who was waiting upon the table: "How glad would your master be, if he could eat this pilau with us". The saint asked her to give him this dish, promising to send it to Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
. Everybody was laughing, but Jonh's request was complied, they decided he wanted to eat pilau himself or give it to the poor.
When the Agha came back, he told about the miracle that had happened to him: while being in Mecca, he found a fuming plate of pilau in his locked room. And on this plate his name was engraved - as on every plate in his home.
Beginning of reverence
News of this miracle spread quickly, and everyone, even Muslims began to call John a "veli" - a "saint". But he didn't change the way he lived, spending time in hard work and prayers. Before his death he had become seriously ill, and having no ability to stand up, asked for a priest to give him the Holy Communion. The priest was afraid to go openly to Muslim house and passed the EucharistEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
hidden inside an apple. Having taken it, the saint man died. It was June 9, 1730.
Holy Places Worth Visiting
The relics of saint John are in Church of Saint John the Russian in (Prokopi) in EuboeaEuboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. His right hand is in Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Athos
Athos
Athos may refer to:* Athos , one of the Gigantes in Greek mythologyAthos may also refer to:-Places:* Athos, a village in France, part of the commune Athos-Aspis...
. By blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow in 2003-2004 a small wooden church of St. John the Russian was erected in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, in Kuntsevo district. In Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
the lower side chapel of the church of Our Lady of the Sign
Our Lady of the Sign
The Icon of Our Lady of the Sign is the term for a particular type of icon of the Theotokos , facing the viewer directly, depicted either full length or half, with her hands raised in the orans position, and with the image of the Child Jesus depicted within a round aureole upon her breast.The icon...
is also devoted to St. John the Russian.
Links
- http://www.roca.org/OA/39/39g.htm Life and miracles of St. John the Russian
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/skoobie99/2790469191/ Interior of the church of St. John the Russian in Neo Prokopion
- http://www.iconograms.org/sig.php?eid=488 Icon of St. John the Russian
- http://www.ioannrus.ru Official website of the Church of St. Jonh the Russian in Moscow (in Russian)