Biography of John Mironova

Lyudmila Moscow ordinary saint, even categorically unbelievers, heard about saints. About people of the pious life who were awarded the gifts of miracles and insight. About those who have already been able to enter the mountain monastery on Earth. As a rule, we know about them from life narratives. But time is continuous, and each has its own saints. Through them, the Lord Himself personally acts.

It is very important to know that the Russian land does not imprison the righteous and invariably God's mercy. It is very important to see them nearby. And think about where they are, and where we are. About such a person, our contemporary and our countryman - Metrophorer Archpriest John Mironov, today's conversation. This is the day of the celebration of St. John the Gracious, Patriarch of Alexandria.

Pious parents gladly called the son Ivan in honor of the saint. The first years of Vanya took place in a large hardworking peasant family with a patriarchal way. In traditional, saturated with Orthodoxy, folk culture. When collectivization began, the father, like many peasants, flatly refused to join the collective farm. For this, the family was sent to exile for 10 years.

To the camp for Sinyavinsky swamps, on peat mining. Sister Anastasia recalled: “They drove in commodity wagons ... to build a hydroelectric power station. Who refused to join the collective farm, everyone was there. They brought, settled in frozen huts ... ". Several dozen license plates of workers and until the country's history is stored on the map. In one of the barracks of one of the villages was the Mironov family.

Here, four children died of hunger and illness: three brothers and sister. Ivan and Anastasia survived. Mom at work caught a cold and fell ill with tuberculosis. This disease tormented her to death, 17 years old. He died on peat development uncle. And in - shot the second uncle. Labor, constant labor was the main content of life. From 10 years old, children began to work.

They wove the baskets and wore peat in them. However, for the peasants, the feasible children's labor was common. In the traditional folk community and family way there is no third -party way, everything: both old and young, divide both labor and holidays. The main thing that the parents of the children taught is to store faith, not to murmur. Take with humility and thank for everything that the Lord sends.

Subsequently, Father John recalled: “We remained the weakest to live and tell people that it was all in our history, not in a dream, but in reality. Everything had to be tested, experienced, passing through the fire, water and copper pipes, but not to embitter and not damage your soul. ” In the year, the family was transferred to the village of Mednoye near our current Arbuzov.

Here Vanya graduated from elementary grades, and then, like all the happy Soviet children, continued to study at a secondary school in Pavlovo-on-Neva. About his teachers, Father John all his life keeps a grateful memory. They did not break the crosses from us, did not blaspheme the Lord. One teacher - Muza Konstantinovna - was completely the daughter of a priest, however, she never spoke about faith with us, it was impossible.

” Before the war, the family settled down a bit, there was their own garden, kept chickens and a goat. But the war began. The bombing did not stop. First, the Germans bombed, then their own. The Mironovs decided to return to their homeland.

Father John recalls: “For more than a month we went next to the front to the Pskov province, from where our family was sent. There were such mournful days that they did not go to reach. But the Lord helped. " It was very difficult to see young dead Russian soldiers. ” During one of the bombing, the refugees raised the icons and began to pray - like never before.

” And the Lord retained. They ate with alms. We spent the night, as you have to, if they are allowed, in the barn or in the bath. And thanks for that. A lot of restless grimy was washed around the light. One stop on the road was especially remembered. The hostess of the house “stumbled the bathhouse, washed us, the underwear that the one who had wound up was fried, ironed.

Forever Ivan remembered Elizabeth and the fact that she was a Catholic. There is a well -known folk spiritual poem about how the Lord himself, under the guise of wanderers, wanted to enter the house, but the hostess did not recognize him. Many years later, in the sermon, Father John recalled this parable: “Who came to you is your guest called. And having done for him - you did for the Lord.

” For the Lord Himself sends the merciful to the suffering, and the suffering to the suffering. That main meeting on the road was a meeting with Christ himself. But for all its amazingness, this is an ordinary gospel episode of folk life. They returned home, and for some time lived calmly. There were no partisans in the vicinity, the Germans did not bother.

And in the year before the retreat, the entire population was driven to Germany. Ivan fled from the camp, crossed the front line. And at the age of 17 he went to defend the fatherland by ordinary in the howitzer regiment of the Red Army. During the crossings, he even slept on the go, but the guns did not sit on the bed: you will fall asleep - you will fall off, so it will crush you. It has been a lot to work.

Each time, when parking, it was required to dig a trench a full profile for a millimeter howitzer and even disguise it. Everything happened, fell under German shelling and bombing. But I was not afraid with God, I always wore the cross. Will not give.An ordinary Russian soldier was distinguished only by a particularly strong faith. However, the priest does not wear rewards, neither military nor church ones.

Considering that “that the reward should be from the Lord, and all this is human appearance in order to decorate us. And it must be decorated with humility and patience. ” In November, he was demobilized. In March, my mother died of consumption. Father was exiled for the new 10 years. Such a sentence was typical of many more able -bodied men who visited German captivity or occupation.

Ivan Mironov decided to serve God. It was a serious step in God -finding. Courage was required here. The clergy of the older generation began its life with the feat of confession. Aunt Anna, who took care of the young man, advised me to go for a blessing for admission to the seminary to Serafim Varitsky. The first meeting with the saint in the year coincided with acquaintance with seminarians Vasily Ermakov and Anatoly Malinin, future famous shepherds.

In the same year, Ivan began training in spiritual schools. After graduating from the Academy, he began pastoral service in the year. The folk love for the priest manifested itself early. Archpriest Anatoly Moroz, who studied at the academy at that time, recalls Seminarian Ivan Mironov, always surrounded by old women. They recognized spiritual grace in it even then. He managed to “choose the path to the saint whose name you wear” - to become John Graint.

This is a special word. Tenderness is inseparable from love.