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Newspaper
articles
Many newspapers and magazines have discussed the life and the work of
father John differently.
In 1909 M.O. Mensikov said in 'New Time' (number 11795): 'Father
John lives in the conscience of the whole Russia, more than any other
ruler, leader, inventor, poet or thinker. He has an unusual, unique
relation towards the people's heart. Most important writers, such as
Dostoevski and Turgeniev, or scientists like Mendelejev are dying among
us. No matter how they are great, their death gathered mostly the
educated people. Only the God man, like father John, can gather the love
of all of us. His name is connected with the sacred feelings, which
connect him with every peasant girl or boy, and with every prisoner as
well. The only thought about him lightens in their conscious like the
candle in front of the icon. The Russians love the God man and they
follow him so stubbornly and persistently. Those who had many life
crisis found their right way with the father's help. Those who had
serious troubles and who were in desperate situations opened their heart
to him. He gave them strength and confidence in return. People who were
under the pressure of any kind and whose pride was hurt would come to
father John and he would help them. He would rise the fallen one, and
surround the rejected one with kindness. He is a great confidence inside
of people; he is their way to the God. All of them would come to him,
and he would accept them with his heart full of love. He was the real
friend and spiritual father of the Russian people. Hundreds of people
came to him looking for his prayers fulfilled by God. People were
attracted by his great, strong faith, by his constant prayers and deep
sympathy for everyone.'
In 1909 E.Poselianin said in the magazine 'Russian breaker' number 4: 'Father
John acted by his own example and honor. His one of a kind Diary is not
only about his great faith but the rare power of thinking about the
spirit boon reaching even to the psalm. The light that entered the dark
brains of people died with him. The most important thing about father
John is that he believed and made the others believe, he walked in the
heaven and took the others with him.'
V. Rozanov discussed the spiritual and historical importance of
father John in 'New Time', number 11775: 'Among the spiritual
men of his time father John is next to Elder Serafim Sarovski and
Filaret Moskovski. The elder Serafim was a prophet. Filaret was great in
establishing dogmatic truths. Father John was the spiritual father of
people. He lived his days among people, doing his acts of love. He
owned, in 19th century (like in real Christianity) the greatest
gift a Christian can have: a gift of helping-healing prayer. That is
confirmed by many documents. He rose himself above others more than it
is expected: there was something unnatural, miraculous inside of him.
Many doctors said that father John showed unusual mental and physical
health and harmony. Simply saying, he had surplus life energy from his
childhood and he shared that energy with the sick and the weak. By this
strength people were attracted to him. It is natural. People want, like
Tom the apostle, to touch, to feel. For the Russian people father John
became the living witness of Orthodox reality and strength, a missionary
of faith and the apostle of true God's love.'
On 19th October 1909. S. Putjanin wrote: 'In our days when
other people troubles do not worry us, when people are starving, when
there are hundreds of people destroyed, father John appears with his
charity. He represents himself as a representative of a new stream,
as if he is from some other planet, with different habits and rules. He
becomes a model to a future man, who realizes that only in sharing with
people we can fulfill our duty of spreading God's boon and joy. Father
John's ascetics and his being a priest make a whole. Still his being a
priest defines everything. He is a complete priest, the spiritual father
of Russia, the main Shepard though never the Patriarch. All that is
shown in his miraculous prayers. The monks and their superiors bow to
him. It is obvious that Christ's face, clean and clear, is seen in
John's face. His true, fervent spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit.
Christ's Spirit lived in him.'
Father John today About today
Father John is close to a Russian man. His Diary is published and read
all over the world. The Russian church all over the world celebrates his
birthday and the day of his death. Many who knew him personally, talked
about him. There are many documents about how much he meant to those
people.
Since 1950 'The Voice of America' has broadcasted the program about the
life and work of father John. In one radio show in December 1972 they
said: 'One of the most impressing characters in Russia - father
John Kronstat died sixty-four years ago. Many books are written
about this rare man and his ability to heal mental and physical diseases
with his prayers. Since he was a child he learnt how to pray truly and
with his heart. God fulfilled his prayers even then. During his
fifty-year career as a priest he became well known priest in Russia. He
completely devoted himself to his career, and in that way he became the
father of the unfortunate and miserable people. His duty as an apostle,
a preacher and a prophet was well known among the people. He was known
as a sincere and good priest. His words full of spirit went directly to
the people's hearts and made them do good.'
Father John belongs to those rare people in spiritual history, who not
only by their spirit but also by their soul were similar to Christ. As
much as he was similar to Christ his personality distinguished more. He
did not know for personal interests. He had nothing to do with public
activities or science. He was undivided, full and whole, he turned
himself to Christ and lived in him. His spreading of Orthodoxy is more
important than all the apologetic arguments. He is based in Christ,
and he can say together with the apostle Pavle the following: I live -
not more me, but Christ lives in me. The word of God, as the central
truth, defines all his life.
Father John was a great elder, a spiritual father of Russia. He
spiritually led many monks, priests and their superiors. He was also
a prophet - sent to Russia before a tempest, to make people repent. His
word should have stayed among people, in order to lead the distracted
and unwavering Russian people towards the only way of salvation - life
in Christ.
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