Conversation of Father John of Kronstadt with Shepherds (June 21, 1904 in Sarapul)

St. Andrew of Ufa with St. John of Kronstadt

They write from Sarapul:

“The venerable Fr. John Sergeev of Kronstadt, accompanied by His Grace Mikhei, vicar bishop of Sarapul, arrived in Sarapul on Sunday, June 20, and was met at the pier by an enormous crowd of people who had come from many villages and factories, by the clergy (up to 40 persons), representatives of the local municipal and zemstvo self-governments, and other institutions. After disembarking at the pier, the highly respected pastor, accompanied by His Grace Mikhei and a vast multitude of people, proceeded to the cathedral, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Bishop Mikhei, with the concelebration of 24 local priests and priests invited from the district.

It goes without saying that the small old cathedral was far from able to contain the entire mass of people who wished to be present in the church where the most beloved and most popular clergyman in our vast Mother Russia was praying. The majority of the worshippers crowded the square adjoining the cathedral, waiting for the exit and blessing of Fr. John of Kronstadt, the dearly beloved 'batiushka' to all.

During the divine service Fr. John delivered two sermons, and in the second he touched upon the military events in the Far East. While he was in the cathedral, several telegrams were handed to him through his cell-attendants. These telegrams were evidently petitions for the granting of health and healing. After reading the telegrams, the venerable batiushka reverently lifted his eyes to heaven; his lips were whispering, and his hands holding the telegrams were laid upon the altar. The moment was deeply moving: hearts were softened, tears welled up in the eyes. One sensed a special solemnity and the communion of the great intercessor for the Russian people with the Giver of blessings, the Lord God, taking place in the modest Russian church of a remote provincial town, amid a vast, but for the most part simple and unlearned crowd.

After the conclusion of the service, Fr. John departed from the church through the side doors to the chambers of His Grace Mikhei, his personal friend, of which the people in the church were informed. As is known, His Grace Mikhei had formerly served in the navy, holding the rank of captain of the second rank, had lived for a long time in Kronstadt, and owed his transition to his present ministry entirely to the influence of Fr. John.

On Monday, the 21st, the distinguished guest served the Liturgy in the church of the men’s monastery; on the following day, the 22nd, in the women’s monastery; and on the 23rd he departed on the same steamship.”

Supplement to the Vyatka Provincial Gazette (1904).

Conversation of Father John of Kronstadt with Shepherds 

(June 21, 1904 in Sarapul)

By Holy Hieromartyr Andrew of Ufa (Ukhtomsky)

God granted me to be a witness and a participant in a wondrous conversation which our great shepherd and man of prayer, Father John of Kronstadt, held with other shepherds of the Church of Christ. This took place on June 21, 1904, in the city of Sarapul, where batiushka had arrived at the invitation of His Grace, the Bishop of Sarapul, Mikhei. The local clergy from the surrounding area gathered in the hall of the local Theological School in expectation of the invited batiushka. When he appeared in the doorway of the hall, all those present greeted the dear guest with the singing: “Today the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered us together…” Batiushka first went into the school chapel, venerated the holy altar, and then returned to the hall and invited everyone to sit around the table. Thus began his wondrous conversation with those assembled.

* * *

“I am very glad,” said batiushka, “to see you and to converse with you; I thank you that you have gathered here, and those who served with me today at the Divine Liturgy I thank for our common prayer. Nothing so animates a person in any undertaking as the awareness of communion, of unity in harmonious work. And in God’s work, in service to one’s neighbor, it is especially hard to endure the feeling of loneliness. True, we all live in the holy Church, together with all the righteous of God who have departed this world; but even on earth we need the help of our brethren — both spiritual help, prayerful help, and help in daily life. Therefore I especially thank you for your sympathy: it shows that we are all doing one and the same work.”

* * *

“You, my brothers and fellow servants, undoubtedly have a question in your hearts: how do I dare to travel all over Russia, praying for so many who ask for my prayer? Perhaps someone would call this boldness… But I would not have dared, brothers, to undertake such a great work if I had not been called to it from above. It happened like this. Someone in Kronstadt fell ill. They asked for my prayerful help. Even then I already had the habit of refusing no one who asked. I began to pray, entrusting the sick person into God’s hands, asking the Lord for the fulfillment of His holy will concerning the sufferer. But unexpectedly an old woman came to me (originally from Kostroma), whom I had known for a long time. She was a God-fearing, deeply believing woman who had lived her life as a Christian and was finishing her earthly pilgrimage in the fear of God. She came to me and insistently demanded that I pray for the sick person not merely in general, but specifically for his recovery. I remember that I was almost frightened then: ‘How can I,’ I thought, ‘have such boldness?’ However, this old woman firmly believed in the power of my prayer and stood her ground. Then, having confessed before the Lord all my insignificance and sinfulness, I perceived the will of God in this matter and began to ask for the healing of the sick person… And the Lord granted him His mercy: he recovered. And I gave thanks to the Lord for this mercy.

Another time, through my prayer, healing was again granted. In these two cases I clearly discerned the will of God — a new obedience from God for myself: to pray for those who would ask for it. And now both I myself know, and others testify, that healings are accomplished through my prayer. Especially striking are the healings of those possessed, who always suffer terribly. There have been cases when such a person, possessed by an evil spirit, is brought — uttering blasphemies and at the same time speaking obviously unconsciously and quite incoherently. But after I read prayers over him, the sick person became joyful and calm, peacefully received the Holy Mysteries, from which earlier he had tried with all his strength to flee. And it is remarkable that such sufferers remember almost nothing of what they said in the state of possession. It is clear that at that time they were doing not their own will, but another’s — one contrary to the will of God, a demonic will.

Often the demons retain their power over the afflicted person for a long time and resist stubbornly. Then the sufferers utter words such as: ‘We are old; we have long had power over him.’ But the power of God, before which demons tremble, overcomes them.

Sometimes, however, I myself remained powerless before the evil force; I was unable to help the sufferers, and they died in a state of possession. For, according to the word of the Savior, this kind is cast out by prayer and fasting, and because of my manner of life I was sometimes unable to fast for long periods; therefore I proved powerless even when I wished to help.”

* * *

“As for my inner spiritual state, I can tell you that I follow the ancient great rule 'nosce te ipsum' (know yourself). This is, in essence, the content of my entire life, and to this day I do not cease to ‘know myself.’ Through this self-knowledge I come to know my helplessness in every respect, and this compels me to humility. Indeed, everything good that I do, I do by God’s mercy, by His grace; and everything bad comes personally from me, from my corrupted nature and from our common enemy of salvation. I see God’s help in everything in my own life, and I consider myself the most negligent, the worst of all Russian pastors, because if these gifts of God that I receive had been given to someone else, he would have done far more good than I.

Constant study of my own nature makes me continually cautious and constantly imploring God’s gracious help for cleansing from sins. And this same knowledge of my human weaknesses also compels me to help others, to pray for them, to sympathize, to forgive, and so forth.

This study of my human nature is especially precious to me because through it I come to know the chief attributes of God. I know from my own experience how merciful our Lord is, how long-suffering, how almighty in helping us, how ‘swift to hear.’ He is the source of our spiritual and bodily health, of purity of soul and of spiritual strength.”

* * *

“But I, brothers,” batiushka continued, “do not lead an ascetic way of life. Do not think that I consider this worthy of imitation — no. Perhaps there would have been far greater success in my activity if I had arranged my life with a more ascetic setting. But the conditions of my ministry deprived me of the possibility of being an ascetic.”

* * *

“I read newspapers as well, but often I regret the time lost. Much is written there that is superfluous and completely useless.”

* * *

“But here is what I always, unfailingly read: the Canons that are appointed to be read daily at Matins. One may say that by this reading I was formed in the church life. And what infinite depth of content is contained in these Canons, in these daily commemorations of the great righteous ones, of their holy lives, of their feats! Through this reading the soul little by little becomes accustomed to the church life, to the church’s remembrance, gradually imbibes the spirit of those whom the holy Church blesses, is enlightened, ceases to be self-enclosed, and becomes strong in the struggle against sin. And if anyone sets this reading of the Canon as a daily rule, he will daily rise spiritually, ascending from strength to strength.

But above all I love to read the Holy Scriptures of both Testaments. I cannot live without this reading. How much content is here! How many laws of the life of the human soul are revealed here! How much a person striving for spiritual renewal can draw from here in order to be reborn from evil into good! Holy Scripture is especially necessary for a preacher. Here is an inexhaustible theme for sermons — only know how to edify yourself and to edify others.”

* * *

“Thus, brothers, this is what the Lord commanded me to tell you,” batiushka said thoughtfully. “I did not plan in advance what to say to you; I spoke only what God placed upon my soul.”

* * *

Then one of those present asked: “Tell us, batiushka — during your constant travels, how do you fill your free time? Does the environment and its change make an impression on you?”

“I pray, I pray constantly,” Father John replied quickly. “I cannot even understand how one can spend time without prayer. Truly, prayer is the breath of the soul.”

“Tell us, batiushka,” the questioner continued, “what makes you so concentrated in prayer during the Liturgy, when sometimes there is so much disorder around and so many things that can distract from prayer?”

“I attained this only through habit. To learn quickly to concentrate in prayer, to gain mastery over oneself — this is a great task. Through prolonged work on oneself one can achieve this. Repentance is very necessary here, a swift bringing to mind of the image of Christ or of the Cross of the Lord, and a full awareness of one’s spiritual defilement and helplessness.”

* * *

Another questioner then spoke: “Teach us, batiushka, how to struggle against despondency in pastoral work. At first there is terrible despondency because of one’s own sinfulness. One’s hands fall when one remembers the words: ‘Physician, heal thyself.’ Teaching then does not come to mind at all — and immediately there is despondency!”

“That is unnecessary. Here one must remember one’s duty. The thought of duty should act upon the pastor forcibly and encouragingly. ‘You are authorized by the Church; you must act’ — this thought should animate the pastor and, of course, disperse all despondency. And this despondency is from the enemy!” replied batiushka.

“But there is another kind of despondency — from blasphemous thoughts that appear in the mind at the most sacred moments of the service.”

“Well, that despondency,” Father John said energetically, “comes directly from a lack of your faith, batiushka. The point is that blasphemous thoughts must be despised; struggle here is unnecessary and even harmful — one simply must not pay attention! But if any thoughts whatsoever lead to despondency, that already comes from weakness of will; it means that you give these thoughts time to dominate you, perhaps even take a certain pleasure in them… From this despondency then follows! One must not bring one’s soul to despondency! Do you not know how ‘swift to hear’ the Lord is, how quickly He fulfills all our requests? Therefore, Father, from the very beginning drive away all spiritual disturbance with fervent prayer; in due time the sinful disposition seized by prayer completely disappears, and it can never lead a truly and fervently believing person to despondency.”

“But, batiushka,” the interlocutor continued, “there is yet another particularly heavy state of despondency that I experience — when I see triumphant evil.”

“That is another matter. That is truly difficult to endure; I too often experience such a state. Here one must strengthen oneself by prayer and firmly believe that the Lord is able, by ways known to Him alone, to turn even the greatest evil to good.”

Thus ended Father John’s conversation with the pastors of Sarapul. Many thanked him for these moments, long memorable for them.

* * *

After this, batiushka still had time to conduct a private conversation about contemporary pastoral ministry and its tasks. He said that pastoral work in the present time is becoming ever more difficult; the struggle of the pastor is gradually becoming more refined, and therefore pastors must be ever more at the height of their calling.

In his inner disposition the pastor must completely renounce all self-loving attitudes and become like the biblical shepherds in their “standing in the spirit.” For this, pastors need complete and constant vigilance and concentration, a continual crucifixion of self for the sake of their flock.

The conversation turned to contemporary life. Batiushka drew attention to the mood of modern society. “A remarkable disease has appeared today — a passion for entertainments. Never before has there been such a need for entertainment as now! This is a direct indication that people no longer know how to live, that they have forgotten how to live a serious life — by labor for the benefit of those in need and by inner spiritual life. And they have begun to be bored! And they exchange the depth and content of spiritual life for entertainments! What madness! Truly like children deprived of reason! And yet entertainment is already a social vice, already a social passion! This is where pastors must direct their strength: they must bring back into life the content it has lost, restore to people the meaning of life… Of course, pastors must themselves prepare for this.”

“Pastors must also guard our people from these ‘entertainments.’ The people do not yet know ‘entertainments’: the people know honest, healthy labor; they know the feast day — a day of prayer and rest. And instead of rest they are offered ‘entertainment,’ often immodest and harmful! And how much self-deception people must have in order to impose their corrupted tastes on the people, to remake life according to their own views… Pastors must be at the height of their calling.”

When the conversation touched on the contemporary condition of France and the persecutions of religion there, Father John exclaimed with conviction: “Oh, there the papacy is to blame for everything! The heretical tendencies of the papacy have distorted Christianity, which France in fact does not yet know. There the clergy, together with their pope, first separated themselves from the flock, and then the flock began to relate with hostility to the clergy, and then to Christianity as a whole. And of true Christianity the French have not even heard.”

This opinion of batiushka Father John, the shepherd most beloved by the Russian people, is of infinite value — and with this our conversation came to an end.

Deiátyel’ (The Activist)

Notes:

*) The entire conversation consisted of separate accounts by batiushka about himself, not especially closely connected in content with one another.

**) Here is a small illustration of batiushka’s “constant” prayer. He was invited to be photographed in a group. He agreed. During the photographer’s preparations he suddenly sighed: “O Lord, our God, who created us in Thine image and likeness, illumine us with the Light of Thy countenance.” The mood of those present, of course, immediately changed.

Some time later, when they sat down to drink tea, batiushka again, to everyone’s surprise, prayerfully and thoughtfully said: “O Lord, O Lord, ineffable sweetness, feed us with Thy truth.” After these prayerful sighs, without exaggeration one can say that those around him experienced a dulling of their sensory tastes: so powerfully did the word of the great man of prayer resound in ears and heart alike.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.