The morning call., 1892-01-17
A REMARKABLE
RUSSIAN PRIEST.
Father l0ann Of CH0nStadt Who Has Per-
formed miraculous Cures,
People Flock to Him by the Thousands Some.
thing About the Public Confessions he
Has Held-His Charities
Ereoial to THE SUNDAY CA5L
PARIS, Dec. 81, 1891 To-day Russian
OF note said to me: "Haye you never heard


| markabie priest has never reached you, for
in Russia, go to any town, any village. go
! anywhere between the Baltic and the Black
Sea, 90 even to Siberia and pronounce these
words, 'Atietz Ioann,' you will see the peO-
pie cross themselves and then say, He is
handkerchief, a holy man."
Father Ioann is simple priest at The
church Of st. Andre, Cronstadt, and vet his
renown Is like that OF Peter the Hermit
Every day he receives letters from all parts
OF Russia, and very often great Russian
daily papers consecrate long articles to his
wonderful miracles. The father is 62 years
old. and was born at Soursk. His family
was of the oorest, and his daily amusement
was to visit the village cemetery and wander
among the tembs. With great difficulty he
learned to read, and at the primary ceSi-
astical school Ioann found it almost impos-
sible to obtain the first elements of an edu-
cation. His stupidity was so great it was
feared that the child would become idlotic,
but suddenly his intelligence developed in
remarkable manner.
One day, in despair, because he could not
learn, loann fell on his knees and prayed
with great feryor for hours. Suddenly came
hight, ana remembering all that had been
told him by his teachers. he found that he
understood. Thanking God for the great
change the boy fell asleep, and the next day
he eagerly opened his books to discover that
the precious faculty of comprehension was
really his. From that time on IOann WAS
the most brilliant pupil in school. the most
celebrated among the students Of the TheO-
logical Seminary.
When he became a priest Father Ioann
was appointed to the poorest of parishes,
but one day man. sick unto death, came
| 10 him Tor consolation. Father Ioann
looked at the man, drank from cup and
! then
OFFERED THE CUP TO HIS GUEST.
After finishing the communion the priest
said. Let US Dray' and the man wen away
cured. Everywhere the news spread, and
others afflicted with disease went TO the
| priest who sent them on their way rejoicing
a student made wager with his COM
rades that he would deceive the priest. He
pretended 10 be very i'll and sent for Father
loann, who found the young man in bed,
apparently suffering agony Looking at
HIM moment the priest said,
Remain there as ynn are" and went
| away. The student tried to rise - impO5-
| sOle-for paralysis WAS creeping over him.
Screaming with terror, he again sent for
the priest, who placed his hand on the
Young mans forehead and said, Believe,
you must believe" and The student arose
| and walked
A woman present at one of his sermons
began to doubt. As Father IOann passed be-
fore her without giving his benediction, she
called 10 him. No reply. Again she slled,
and this time he said TO the woman,
Go to your home quickly" She Obeyed.
and on the threshold fell dead.
4 man who was cured by Father IOann
told mo that he had been afflicted with
disease, considered incurable, that his tor
| tuTe was almost beyond belief, thai every
| great doctor in Russia had bern consulted,
and that at last he decided to
send for the priest of Cronstadt And"
said this sufferer. "he came 10 nv bedside,
and told me to rise and pray with bin. /,
who had not been able to rise without the
aid of two persons, rose and dressed alone.
In tho room next my bedroom, with the
| priest, | knelt near the icon, and as Father
| IOann imploTed for my cure / felt my heart
beat with more regularity, my strength re-
turn, and l wept AS we finished praying
the priest asked where | suffered the most,
and passing his hand lightly over the
place, he told me to pray fer
| yenty. Two weeks later was completely
cured. but one year after l became i'll
again and made vow TO visit Father
I0ann's church In Passion week. The
building was crowded and
DIMLY LIGHTED WITH CANDLES
And lamps. The people all seemed to
be pressing toward spot whence pro-
Cetutu ny SbtIiCd1 SOUSs IttIS TdtU6T
Ioann stood under the dim light of a lamp
making the public confession. As | APP
preached him he recognized me- and called
me by name. Then telt the balm Of peace
enter my soul, and l could not restrain my
tears"
Apropos of this public confession Father
IoRnn talks simply, without seeking ora
torical effect and when he finishes the peo-
pie are quiet. Then he cries, repent, re-
pent, repent" and the voice of the
multitude is like one great sob; each one
fOrgets that he Is not alone, and
confesses sins or crimes, sometimes so ter
Tble as not 10 be ayOWed 10 ones self. and
often so great as TO be punishable by law.
or late Father I0ann is unable TO hold
these confessions often, because of the h0r-
rible avowals made by some OF the repent
ant sinners. 1t Is said that when the Metro
politan Of St. Petersburg forbade Father
loann to hold these confessions he was
stricken with blindness, and Father Ioann
caused him to recover sight. This may be
only legend, but it proves the extraor-
binary power of this simple priest and the
prestige by which he is surrounded.
And II his cures be wonderful, his charity
is even greater. Every day, from all points
of Russia, the priest receives sums Of money
from poor and rich, and at nightfall ali this
money has been distributed among those
who have the greatest need. A story is
told to this effect: A young girl went to
Father loann one day and SAID: Father. |
am in despair-because l have no money
my marriage cannot take place"
Have courage. Come to me tomorrow
morning; the first money receive shall be
yours" And the next day the young girl
carried away purse containing 800 rubles.
Father loann is tall, and his head resem-
bles the ideal one of Christ. Hiseyes are blue
and aifectonate, and his whole expression
denotes beneyolence.
FATHER IoANN HAS FOR ASSISTANT
A physician, named DIR. EsSipoff, and this
physician is at the head of all the charitable
ntitutiOns founded by the priest; among
these are asylums for the poor and homes
for abandoned children. Whenever the
priest leaves the presbytery 10 visit the sick.
crowds are stationed on both sides of the
road, and children run to see him, to be
blessed by him, and always, no matter what
may be the state of the weather, these peo-
pie are bareheAded, kneeling or PROSTATE on
the ground.
Not long ago Father Ioann made q visit
to his native village, and during his stay
100000 people went hither as pilgrims; not
only that, but prominent Russian journals
sent special reporters 10 record his deeds.
Father loann believes in work. He says
HE who by experience learns the useful
ness OF labor for the soul as well as for the
body Eever fears great labor, but on the
contrary he rejoices as an eagle rejoices
over his prey
Again, lie says: Love is God If You
love, God is in you, and you are In God.
Hatred is demon. III, for a moment only,
you are angry against your neighbor. the
demon penetrates you like needle, but
soon becomes like mountain, So great Is
his EXPANSION. = Speak and act Rc-
cnrding to.truth. without scrpples-brayely,
firmly. decidedly. Our God is a God of
force"
Whatever modern scientists may think OF
Father leann, the faithful in Russia believe
that the priest of the little church Of St.
Andrew nj Cronstadt is a prophet ia modern
saint. BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR.