GIOVANNI DI KRONSTADT

JOHN of KRONSTADT. - Celebrated Russian ascetic, “Orthodox,” b. in 1829 to a cleric near Arkhangelsk, d. in 1908. After completing his studies at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Saint Petersburg, he went to Kronstadt, an island in the Gulf of Finland near Saint Petersburg, where he served as a priest in the local church of St Andrew. There he carried out his ministry until his death. He was never a monk. Nonetheless, his life was entirely filled with the most ardent zeal for his own sanctification and that of his neighbour. He prayed much and for long hours, a trait that stands out as characteristic of him. Many miracles, even at a distance, are attributed to him. He wrote a fine book, *My Life in Christ*, which has also been translated into French. He died in a reputation for holiness and was buried in Saint Petersburg. He is sometimes venerated by “Orthodox” in a manner closely approaching the sensual aberrations of the Khlysty.