Our Traditions
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P.O. Box - Heaven Rev. Hieromonk James (Corazza), San Francisco “Tell the people: Even though I have died, yet I am alive.” — St. John
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is a great honor to correspond with a saint. This was one of the joys of the flock of St. John during his lifetime: how faithfully he sent his spiritual children a greeting on their name’s day, filled with blessings and encouragement. There were even times when his spiritual children received correspondence from him on the same day they had written to him, only to discover that his letter had already addressed their concerns and questions! Upon his repose in the summer of 1966, St. John was interred in a sepulchre within a chapel, one floor directly beneath the main Altar of the New Cathedral. Shortly thereafter, he appeared in a dream to his spiritual daughter, Maria Shakhmatov (the matron of the St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orphanage) and said: “Tell the people: Even though I have died, yet I am alive.” The faithful held fast to these words and continued writing to St. John to ask for his prayers by placing their letters under his miter, which was placed at the head of his coffin. It was as though it were the new mailbox through which correspondence was directly delivered to him in Heaven. At his glorification in 1994, St. John’s holy relics were translated to an ornate shrine in the nave of the New Cathedral. His body was laid to rest in a handcarved coffin placed on top of a separate base. The
empty space between the two pieces (which uncannily resembles a mail slot) became the “forwarding address” for his mail. Upon visiting the New Cathedral, one sees an abundance of letters, notes, and commemoration slips continually filling this space. The New Cathedral clergy read these names before St. John in their frequent Services of Intercession Molebens, beseeching his fervent prayers. Several years ago, two pilgrims from Australia came to the New Cathedral. One placed letters and lists of names under his relics. The other saw this and experienced cynical thoughts, such as “Oh, he doesn’t read all that!” That very night, St. John appeared to the cynic in a dream. He slowly approached her without imparting any blessing and rather sternly said: “I want you to know that I read every name.” Then he slowly moved away and, without giving her a blessing, vanished. The following morning, the pilgrims returned to the reliquary. The former cynic was now writing lists of names, along with a letter to St. John, now brimming with enthusiasm. What an extraordinary privilege it is to be able to write a letter and to submit names for prayer to a saint of our times! He has assured us that every name is precious to him. We simply have to write to him with faith, confident in his earnest desire to help us. Let us hasten to write to Vladyka John, who answered—and indeed continues to answer—thousands of letters from the faithful throughout the whole world by interceding before the Lord with great boldness and love. Editor’s note: Prayer requests to St. John can now be submitted online. Go to http://www.sfsobor.com; St. John; Prayer Requests. There you may provide a list of names of your relatives and friends you wish to have commemorated at the weekly moleben to St. John in front of his relics. This can be done by filling out the online form. The weekly moleben is served every Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Submit your list by no later than Friday at 3:00 p.m. for the following Saturday.
VOL. 2 (№2) 2014 SPIRITUAL SPRING
Our traditions
p.o. box - heaven