San Francisco: June 29, 2024
Photo: orthodox-europe.org
In honor of the thirtieth anniversary of his glorification by the Church Abroad, the Feast of St John the Wonderworker this year was marked with special solemnity at Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, where the saint’s incorruptible relics lie enshrined. Heading the festal Divine Services was the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, together with His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Ruling Bishop of the Diocese in which St John concluded his earthly archpastoral ministry in the mid-1960s, together with a host of local and invited hierarchs and clergy. Amongst these was His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, who traveled to California on the occasion not only out of his deep personal love for St John, but also to represent the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe, of which St John was the Ruling Bishop from 1950-1963. Accompanying him was Bishop Alexander, for whom the occasion marked the first opportunity to venerate the Saint’s relics in their final resting place, as well as visit many sites associated with the life of St John in western America.
As is the custom on the Saint’s summer feast day each year, the precious relics of St John were brought forth from their shrine on the south side of the San Francisco cathedral, to the centre of the temple where the Akathist to his honour (composed by one of St John’s spiritual children, Hieromonk Seraphim Rose) was chanted on Thursday evening. On the present occasion of the 30th anniversary, the Seminary Choir of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville traveled to California in order to sing the services together with the members of the renowned Cathedral Choir.
Photo: orthodox-europe.org On Friday, the All-Night Vigil was served by the First Hierarch and assembled clergy, and on Saturday morning the Divine Liturgy of the Feast was celebrated in the presence of the Saint’s relics. On this annual occasion, Holy Virgin Cathedral is always filled with a great multitude of visiting clergy and faithful, who come from all over the country and world, from every Orthodox jurisdiction and diocese, out of love for the great Wonderworker; but on this occasion the number of visiting clergymen and laity was truly extraordinary. Among those present on the Feast were many individuals who had known St John personally, including some of ‘Vladyka’s children’ who had been raised by him in the orphanage in Shanghai, and later in San Francisco; and some now-elder servers and clergy who had been Altar servers to the God-pleasing Hierarch.
Following the Divine Liturgy and procession with a moleben before the Saint’s relics, from which abundant healings flow on a daily basis, the First Hierarch, assembled Archpastors, clergy and faithful enjoyed a festal banquet and many hours of fellowship, inspired by their common love for one of the Church’s greatest saints and the heavenly protector and guide of the flock of the Orthodox diaspora. The large banquet was organized as a fundraiser for the St John Benevolent Fund, founded by St John in the 1950s, which continues his legacy of providing support and aid to the homeless, the hungry, and especially suffering children around the world.
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St. John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896–1966), was born in Kharkov, Russia (present-day Ukraine), on June 4, 1896 into a noble family, and named Mikhail at baptism. He was a devout child, known for his piety and religious fervor from a young age.
Mikhail Borisovich studied law at Kharkov Imperial University and later theology at the University of Belgrade.
Monastic Life: In 1926, he was tonsured as a monk and with the name John, in honor of St. John Maximovitch of Tobolsk, his ancestor. He was ordained a hieromonk in 1929.
In 1934, John was consecrated as the Bishop of Shanghai. He dedicated his efforts to serving the diverse Orthodox community there, which included Russians, Greeks, Serbs, and Chinese. He founded an orphanage, established a theological school, and worked extensively with the poor and sick.
During World War II and the subsequent Chinese Civil War, Bishop John organized the evacuation of Russian refugees from China to the Philippines, ensuring their safety and spiritual well-being despite facing numerous challenges.
In 1951, he was appointed Archbishop of Western Europe, headquartered in Paris. His tenure was marked by the establishment of several new parishes and missions across the continent, and the recognition of Western European pre-schism saints by the Russian Orthodox faithful.
In 1962, Archbishop John was assigned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Western America. Despite facing opposition and criticism, he revitalized the Orthodox community, completed the construction of the Holy Virgin Cathedral, and continued his extensive charitable work. In San Francisco he founded the St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orphanage. The church at that address still holds services today.
St. John was known for his ascetic lifestyle, profound prayer life, and numerous miracles attributed to his prayers during his lifetime and after his repose. He slept very little and spent nights in prayer.
After his repose on July 2, 1966, in Seattle, numerous miracles were reported at his tomb in San Francisco. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia canonized him in 1994 as St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. In 2008, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate formally recognized the glorification of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. This recognition confirmed his veneration within the broader Russian Orthodox Church.
His feast day is celebrated on July 2, the day of his repose.
