Prayer to Our Righteous Father John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

holy and righteous John, our father, great wonderworker and beacon of the land of Russia! In the effulgence of heaven thou dost behold Christ our God, deemed worthy of His mercy because of thy love. Full of divine grace, partaking ever of the Body of Christ and His Blood, thou didst take up thy pastoral labor even unto the evening of thy life; and even now thou hast not ceased from thy toils, living forever in Christ. O great pastor, we know that when thou didst serve as priest others learned compassion through thee, and yet others were raised up by thee from poverty and sinful falls, and greatly loved thee who taught them all manner of good. Wherefore, we beseech thee: teach us also to do good, to abstain from sin, and to take care for the salvation of our souls; and be thou a good helper for us in every good deed, for God hath told thee the needs of His people, O our healer and benefactor! This, too, do we know, O righteous father: that thou wast a great man of prayer and a wondrous celebrant of the unbloody Sacrifice, full of the spirit of faith, hope, and Christian love. For, lo! celebrating the Divine Liturgy and praying ardently in behalf of those who entrusted themselves to thy prayerful aid, like a solicitous father thou didst embrace all with thy love, mindful of them, that their sin may be washed away by the all-holy Blood of Christ. Wherefore, we sinners also, trusting in thy love and aid, earnestly cry out to thee: O great pastor of the Russian land, pray thou in behalf of thy brethren, our archpastors and pastors, that they may live according to the will of God, as did the pastors of old who were pleasing unto God, and that the Lord may attend unto their supplications at every hour. O most marvelous wonderworker, entreat our all-merciful Savior in behalf of all who are infirm and imperiled in divers ways and who look for consolation, that they may receive help and be comforted. Pray thou unto God, O father John, for children and youths who are studying, that they may acknowledge the Christian Faith and live according to the Faith, fervently loving our Lord, the all-holy Theotokos, and all the saints, and with them thee, who art truly their good father and instructor; and that their guardian angels may protect them as thine own guardian angel peserved thee from the obstacles of the enemy. Aflame with the spirit of apostolic zeal for the Orthodox Faith, thou didst fiercely and continually denounce the blasphemies of those who pervert the Gospel of Christ. Wherefore, we beseech thee: O favorite of God, even now strike down all temptations and schisms which are now so multiplied, that the Orthodox people may live in unity, peace and concord with each other and in faithfulness to their mother, the Church of Christ. To these things we add with faith this great entreaty to thee: O great prophet and wonderworker, who hast been revealed to thy people, intercede before the dread throne of the Lord of glory, that He take pity and have mercy upon the land of Russia, wherein thy love hath shone forth so greatly. May the Lord deliver His people from the yoke of the evil and godless and their bitter torment! O all-wondrous father John, priest of the Most High God! Behold, we venerate thy precious icon, knowing that the Lord hath given thee to His people as a great helper and comforter. Ask therefore for us the spirit of repentance and true restoration. We know that in the days of thine earthly life a great multitude of people, putting aside their pride and confusion, weeping and lamenting, repenting openly of their secret sins, through thee received from God the Savior enlivening remission in the holy temple. As once thou didst cover them, so do thou now invisibly stretch forth thy hand of blessing and beg God for the forgiveness of our sins. Enable us also to pass the remaining time of our life in a manner pleasing unto God, that by thy holy prayers we may be deemed worthy to attain unto the kingdom of heaven, and there, with thee our father, intercessor and helper, may glorify God Who is wondrous in His saints—the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit—now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.