Wisdom!: = Readings from the Fathers of the Church: St. John of Kronstadt = Archives

September 03, 2004

The Miraculous and Prophetic Vision of St. John of=20 Kronstadt

The Holy and Righteous John of Kronstadt recalled this vision which = he had in=20 January of 1901:

After evening prayers I laid down to rest a little in my dimly lit = cell since=20 I was fatigued. Hanging before the icon of the Mother of God was my lit = lampada.=20 Not more than a half hour had passed when I heard soft rustle. Someone = touched=20 my left shoulder, and in tender voice said to me, 'Arise servant of God = John and=20 follow the will of God!'

I arose and saw near the window glorious starets (elder) with frosty = grey=20 hair, wearing a black mantia, and holding staff in his hand. He looked = at me=20 tenderly, and I could scarcely keep from falling because of my great = fear. My=20 hands and feet trembled, and I wanted to speak, but my tongue would not = obey me.=20 The starets made the sign of the cross over me, and calm and joy soon = came over=20 me. Then I made the sign of the cross myself. He then pointed to the = western=20 wall of my cell with his staff in order that I should notice certain = spot. The=20 starets had inscribed on the wall the following numbers: 1913, 1914, = 1917, 1922,=20 1924, and 1934.

Suddenly the wall vanished, and I walked with the starets toward a = green=20 field and saw a mass of crosses-thousands standing as gravemarkers. They = were=20 wooden, clay, or gold. I asked the starets, 'What are these crosses for' = He=20 softly answered, "These crosses are for those who suffered and were = murdered for=20 their faith in Christ and for the Word of God and have become = martyrs!"

And so we continued to walk. Suddenly I saw an entire river of blood = and=20 asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of this blood? How much has been = spilled?' The starets looked around and replied, This is the blood of = true=20 Christians!' The starets then pointed to some clouds, and I saw mass of = burning=20 white lamps. They began to fall to the ground one after another by the = tens and=20 by the hundreds. During their descent they grew dim and turned to ashes. = The=20 starets then said to me, 'Look!' I saw on a cloud seven burning lamps. I = asked,=20 'What is the meaning of the burning lamps which fell to the ground' He = said,=20 Those are the churches of God which have fallen into heresy, but these = seven=20 lamps on the clouds are the seven Catholic and Apostolic Churches which = will=20 remain until the end of the world!'

The starets then pointed high into the air and I saw and heard angels = singing, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Sabbaoth!' Then a large crowd of = people with=20 candles in their hands rushed by with joy on their shining faces. They = were=20 archbishops, monks, nuns, groups of laymen, young adults, and even = children and=20 babies. I asked the wonderworking starets, 'What is the meaning of these = people'=20 He responded, These are all the people who suffered for the Holy, = Catholic,=20 Apostolic Church, for the holy icons at the hands of the wicked = destroyers.' I=20 then asked the great starets if I could sit down next to them. The = starets said,=20 'It is too early for you to suffer, so joining them would not be blessed = by=20 God!'

Again I saw a large group of infants who had suffered for Christ = under Herod=20 and had received crowns from the Heavenly King. We walked further and = went into=20 large church. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but the starets = said, 'It=20 is not necessary to cross yourself because this is a place of = abomination and=20 desolation!' The church was very gloomy. On the altar was a star and a = Gospel=20 book with stars. Candles made of tar were burning and crackling like = firewood.=20 The chalice was standing there covered by strong stench. There was = prosphora=20 with stars. A priest stood before the altar with face like pitch and = woman was=20 under the altar covered in red with a star on her lips and she screamed = and=20 laughed throughout the church saying, 'I am free!' I thought Oh, Lord, = how=20 awful! The people, like madmen, began to run around the altar, scream, = whistle,=20 and clap their hands. Then they began to sing lecherous songs. Suddenly=20 lightning flashed, frightening thunderbolt resounded, the earth = trembled, and=20 the church collapsed, sending the woman, the people, the priest, and the = rest=20 into the abyss. I thought Oh Lord, how awful, save us!

The starets saw what had happened as did I. I asked, 'Father, tell = me, what=20 is the meaning of this frightening church?' He responded, These are the = earthly=20 people, heretics who have abandoned the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church = and=20 recognized the newly innovated church which God has not blessed. In this = church=20 they do not fast, do not attend services, and do not receive Holy = Communion!' I=20 was frightened and said, The Lord has pity on us, but curses those with = death!'=20 The starets interrupted me and said, 'Do not mourn, but just pray!' Then = I saw a=20 throng of people, each of whom had a star on his lips and was. terribly=20 exhausted from thirst, walking here and there. They saw us and yelled = loudly,=20 'Holy Fathers, pray for us. It is very hard for us because we ourselves = cannot.=20 Our Fathers and Mothers did not teach us the Law of God. 'We do not even = have=20 the name of Christ, and we have received no peace. We rejected the Holy = Spirit=20 and the sign of the cross!' They began to cry.

I followed after the starets. 'Look!' he said pointing with his hand. = I saw a=20 mountain of human corpses stained in blood. I was very frightened, and I = asked=20 the starets, 'What is the meaning of these dead bodies?' He replied, = These are=20 people who lived the monastic life, were rejected by the Antichrist, and = did not=20 receive his seal. They suffered for their faith in Christ and the = Apostolic=20 Church and received martyrs crowns dying for Christ. Pray for these = servants of=20 God!'

Without warning the starets turned to the north and pointed with his = hand. I=20 saw an imperial palace, around which dogs were running. Wild beasts and=20 scorpions were roaring and charging and baring their teeth. And I saw = the Tsar=20 sitting on a throne. His face was pale and masculine. He was reciting = the Jesus=20 Prayer. Suddenly he fell like a dead man. His crown fell. The wild = beasts, dogs,=20 and scorpions trampled on the anointed Sovereign. I was frightened and = cried=20 bitterly. The starets took me by my right shoulder. I saw a figure = shrouded in=20 white - it was Nicholas II. On his head was a wreath of green leaves, = and his=20 face was white and somewhat bloodied. He wore a gold cross around his = neck and=20 was quietly whispering a prayer. And then he said to me with tears, = 'Pray for=20 me, Fr. John. Tell all Orthodox Christians that I, the Tsar-martyr, died = manfully for my faith in Christ and the Orthodox Church. Tell the Holy = Fathers=20 that they should serve a Panachida for me, a sinner, but there will be = no grave=20 for me!'

Soon everything became hidden in the fog. I cried bitterly praying = for the=20 Tsar-martyr. My hands and feet trembled from fear. The starets said, = :Look! Then=20 I saw a throng of people scattered about the land who had died from = starvation=20 while others were eating grass and vegetation. Dogs were devouring the = bodies of=20 the dead, and the stench was terrible. I thought, Oh Lord, these people = had no=20 faith. From their lips they expelled blasphemy, and for this they = received God's=20 anger.

I also saw an entire mountain of books and among the books worms were = crawling emitting terrible stench. I asked the starets, 'What was the = meaning of=20 these books?' said, These books are the Godlessness and blasphemy which = will=20 infect all Christians with heretical teachings!' Then the starets = touched his=20 staff to some of the books, and they ignited into flames. The wind = scattered the=20 ashes. Further on, I saw a church around which was a large pile of = prayer=20 intentions for the departed. I bent over and wanted to read them, but = the=20 starets said, These prayer requests for the dead have been lying here = for many=20 years, and the priests have forgotten about them. They are never going = to read=20 them, but the dead will ask someone to pray for them!' I asked, 'Who, = will they=20 get to pray for them?' The starets answered: 'The Angels will pray for=20 them!'

We proceeded further, and the starets quickened the pace so that I = could=20 hardly keep up with him. 'Look!' he said. I saw a large crowd of people = being=20 persecuted by demons who were beating them with stakes, pitchforks, and = hooks. I=20 asked the starets, 'What is the meaning of these people?' He answered, = These are=20 the ones who renounced their faith and left the Holy, Catholic, = Apostolic Church=20 and accepted the new innovative church. This group represents priests, = monks,=20 nuns, and laymen who renounced their vows or marriage, and engaged in = drinking=20 and all sorts of blasphemy and slander. All of these have terrible faces = and a=20 terrible stench comes from their mouths. The demons beat them, driving = them into=20 the terrible abyss, from where hell fire comes forth. ' I was terribly=20 frightened. I made the sign of the cross while praying, Lord deliver us = from=20 such a fate!

I then saw a group of people, both old and young, all of whom were = terribly=20 dressed, and who were raising a large, five pointed star. On each corner = were=20 twelve demons and in the middle was Satan himself with terrifying horns = and a=20 straw head. He emitted a noxious foam onto the people while pronouncing = these=20 words, 'Arise you accursed ones with the seal of ...' Suddenly many = demons=20 appeared with branding irons and on all the people they placed the seal: = on=20 their lips, above the elbow and on their right hands. I asked the = starets, 'What=20 is the meaning of this?' He responded, This is the mark of the = Antichrist!' I=20 made the sign of the cross and followed after the starets.

He suddenly stopped and pointed to the east with his hand. I saw a = large=20 gathering of people with joyous faces carrying crosses and candles in = their=20 hands. In their midst stood a large altar as white as snow. On the altar = was the=20 cross and the Holy Gospel and over the altar was the vosduch with golden = imperial crown on which was written in golden letter, 'For the short = term.'=20 Patriarchs, bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and laymen stood around the = altar.=20 They were all singing, 'Glory to God in the highest and peace on Earth' = Out of=20 great joy I made the sign of the cross and praised God. Suddenly the = starets=20 waved his cross upwards three times, and I saw mountain of corpses = covered in=20 human blood and above them Angels were flying. They were taking the = souls of=20 those murdered for the Word of God to heaven while they sang, Alleluia!' = I=20 observed all this and cried loudly.

The starets took me by the hand and forbade me to cry. 'What is = pleasing to=20 God is that Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered and shed His precious blood = for us.=20 Such ones will become martyrs who do not accept the seal of the = antichrist, and=20 all who shed their blood will receive heavenly crowns.' The starets then = prayed=20 for these servants of God and pointed to the east as the words of the = Prophet=20 Daniel came true, 'Abomination of desolation.' Finally, I saw the cupola = of=20 Jerusalem. Above it was a star. Within the church millions of people = thronged=20 and still many more were trying to enter inside. I wanted to make the = sign of=20 the cross, but the starets grabbed my hand and said, 'Here is the = abomination of=20 desolation!'

So we entered into the church, and it was full of people. I saw an = altar on=20 which tallow candles were burning. On the altar was a king in red, = blazing,=20 porphyry. On his head was a golden crown with a star. I asked the = starets, 'Who=20 is this?' He replied, 'The Antichrist!' He was very tall with eyes like = fire,=20 black eyebrows, a wedge-shaped beard, a ferocious, cunning, evil, and = terrible=20 face. He alone was on the altar and he reached his hands out to the = people. He=20 had claws as those of a tiger for hands and he shouted, 'I am King. I am = God. I=20 am the Leader. He who does not have my seal will be put to death.' All = the=20 people fell down and worshipped him, and he began to place his seal on = their=20 lips and on their hands in order that they should receive some bread and = not die=20 from hunger and thirst.

Around the Antichrist his servants were leading several people whose = hands=20 were bound as they had not bowed down to worship him. They said, "We are = Christians, and we all believe in our Lord Jesus Christ!' The Antichrist = ripped=20 off their heads in a flash and Christian blood began to flow A child was = then=20 led to the altar of the Antichrist to worship him, but he boldly = proclaimed, 'I=20 am a Christian and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, but you are a = minister, a=20 servant of Satan!' 'Death to him!' exclaimed the Antichrist. Others who = accepted=20 the seal of the Antichrist fell down and worshipped him. Suddenly roar = of=20 thunder resounded and thousand lightning flashes began to sparkle. = Arrows began=20 to strike the servants of the Antichrist. Then a large flaming arrow = flashed by=20 and hit the Antichrist himself on the head. As he waved his hand, his = crown fell=20 and was crushed into the ground. Then millions of birds flew in and = perched on=20 the servants of the Antichrist.

I felt the starets take me by the hand. We walked further on, and I = again saw=20 much Christian blood. It was here that I remembered the words of Saint = John the=20 Theologian in the book of Revelation that blood would 'be up to the = horse's=20 bridle.' I thought, Oh my God, save us! At that time I saw Angels flying = and=20 singing, 'Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord of Sabbaoth!' The starets looked back = and went=20 on to say, 'Do not grieve, for soon, very soon, will come the end of the = world!=20 Pray to the Lord. God be merciful to His servants!' Time was drawing = near to=20 close. He pointed to the east, fell to his knees and began to pray So I = prayed=20 with him. Then the starets began to quickly depart from the earth to the = heights=20 of heaven. As he did so I remembered that I did not know his name, so = cried out=20 loudly, 'Father, what is your name?' He tenderly replied, 'Seraphim of=20 Sarov!'

That is what 'saw, and this is what ' have recorded for Orthodox = Christians.=20 A large bell rang above my head, and I heard the sound and arose from = bed.=20 'Lord, bless and help me through the prayers of the great starets! You = have=20 enlightened me, the sinful servant, the priest John of Kronstadt."

--T= he=20 Miraculous and Prophetic Vision of St. John of Kronstadt

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Wisdom!:=20 Readings from the Fathers of the Church

September 03, 2004

The Miraculous and Prophetic Vision of St. John of=20 Kronstadt