Elder John Mironov: biography, where he serves and how to get to him

In St. Petersburg, God and people in the church of the icon of the Virgin "The Inexhaustible Chalice" serves an amazing priest - Archpriest John Mironov (elder). Many people have received from his prayers healing of mental and physical ailments. But its special power is manifested in the fight against human passions and addictions from drugs, gambling, alcohol. The path of Father John was difficult, as with many devotees, past camps, famine, war and persecution of the church and its ministers. Feeling sorrow from the early years and being a believer, he found solace in Orthodoxy and decided to follow the path of a parish priest, serving God and people.

Childhood

Father John Mironov was born into a peasant family in the village of Shabany, Pskov region on November 25, 1926. His childhood was during a period of repression and hunger. In the years of the establishment of Soviet power, the family of the future elder was sent to forced labor in connection with the refusal to join the collective farm and for exuding the Orthodox faith. The reference was assigned to the peat extraction of the Sinyavino swamps. The exiles were transported in freight cars, and on site were resettled in frozen huts.

Life from 1932 to 1935, Father John Mironov recalls as a hungry time, during this period his three brothers and sister died. Uncle died from hard work and hunger, and her mother contracted tuberculosis. In memory of Father John, 1936 smashed the smell of bread, which gradually began to appear on the tables, and as a reward children sometimes received candy. One incident from the life of the family of that period was especially remembered.

As Father John Mironov said, his father managed to buy a few loaves of bread in Leningrad, and, having packed them into a sack, went home on the train. On the way, the bag was cut and stolen almost all the bread, only two loaves were saved. The houses considered this a great success, because everyone was alive and even slightly fed.

War time

In 1937, the boy's eyes often arrested innocent, single breadwinners of the family, condemning many to death. The study for John began only at the age of 9, but it was impossible to indulge in serenity - the children began to work early, almost on par with adults. In parallel with his studies, the boy wove baskets and carried peat into them.

The occupation began in early September 1941, the family of Mironovs decided to make their way to the Pskov region. The road was very heavy and passed along the front line. They did not get help from anyone, they got to the place with great difficulty.

The retreat of the Germans for many has become an even greater tragedy, the number of deaths has multiplied in the camps. After the departure of the Germans, 17-year-old Ivan was sent to the front, where he served in artillery troops. For his services in the battles with the invaders Ivan Mironov was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War II degree, and at the end of the war received the medal "For victory over Germany".

Studying in seminary

In the post-war period, life did not become easier: his father was in a ten-year camp exile, and his mother left the world in 1946. Ivan was a believer, and the decision to become a priest, which appeared in the war, was only strengthened, it was necessary to be instructed to enter the seminary. Father John Mironov received the blessing to study at the Leningrad Theological Seminary from the elder Serafim Vyritsky in 1948.

Meetings with the elder Seraphim were later many, but the first was remembered by the future archpriest especially strongly. Ivan came to the house of Father Seraphim during the holiday, saw a large number of people and met two seminarians. All those who came were expected to receive or preach, the outgoing cell-attendant invited seminarians to join the elder, John remained on the street. After a short time, the woman left and invited the seminarians again, pointing directly at Ivan. Once in the cell, the young man confessed his secret desire and received the blessing from the old man. Later, Seraphim Vyritsky predicted that Father John would be trained at the Theological Academy.

Studies began in 1948, students and priests were few, in parallel with Fr. John studied the future Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan John. Students, on the instructions of the head, often held liturgies in the open churches in the Leningrad region, where there was no permanent priest. During his stay in the seminary student John Mironov went on a pilgrimage to the Odessa elder Kuksha (Velichko). During the conversation, he proposed to choose a complex monastic way of service, but the young man did not dare, and then the elder said that he would have to change many parishes, which turned out to be prophetic.

Priesthood membership

In the winter of 1956, the future Elder John Mironov married through marriage with his fiancée Nina. In April of the same year, he was ordained deacon, and priestly consecration took place three months later. Prediction of the elder Kukshi about wanderings around the parishes began to come true from the first appointment to the village of Borisovo.

This appointment was followed by a transfer to the village of Chudovo, where Olga's eldest daughter was born, then the priest was sent to serve in Staraya Russa, where the daughter of Seraphim was born. The next place of service was the city of Petrozavodsk, during this period the son Alexander appeared.

Intractable character

In the early 60-ies the Elder John Mironov fell into disgrace with the authorities, although it was time for Khrushchev's "thaw". During this period the priest of the young priest Father Alexander Ilyin invited him and his family to serve in Novgorod the Great. Gagarin flew into space, and the proverb was walking among the people: "Gagarin flew into space, he did not see God."

Turning to the flock with the sermon, the young priest could not remain silent and reminded parishioners of the words of the church hymn: "God can not be seen by men, the angels do not dare look at Him." After this incident, the competent authorities ordered the father and family to serve in a small rural parish near the Mstinsky Bridge station.

The faith of Father John was always deep and sincere, and numerous miracles helped to establish themselves in God's providence. Once Father John was very ill, and the doctors prescribed treatment in the hospital. The general chamber was filled with people, it was difficult to sleep, in the quiet of night the doors disappeared, and three nuns entered the room. They prayed for the priest's health and went around all the patients in the ward.

Near some they read prayers and blessed, and others were left in silence.
Later it became known that those who received the prayers of the mysterious nuns quickly went on to the amendment, and the rest in a short time died. Father John recovered quickly and found out that the day of vision was the feast of the three martyrs, the sisters of Irina, Agapia and Hionia. There were many such mystical stories in the life of the Elder, but not all of them he tells.

Always in the ministry

In 1964, the Elder John Mironov received the title of archpriest. During all the pastoral work, the priest had to change 15 parishes. In the last decade of the twentieth century, he was a spiritual mentor in the church of the Great Martyr Catherine of the village of Murino (Leningrad region).

At the very end of the century the priest was transferred to serve as rector of the church of the icon of the Mother of God "The Inexhaustible Chalice" at JSC "Zavod ATI", which is located in St. Petersburg. Father John Mironov is still here. The temple with his inauguration began to fill with people and he began to live an active Christian life.

Activities

Continuing the canonical ministry in the church, some priests also use all modern possibilities for carrying the word of God to the world, such is Father John Mironov. He organized at the parish "Orthodox Radio of St. Petersburg", the All-Russian Society "Treasure", began to publish the information parish edition "Leaf of the Treasury".

To communicate like-minded people, the society "Sfense" and the "Wakefulness" club were created, the Sunday school was organized for children, the anti-sectarian center operates. All undertakings had a continuation, so the Elder John Mironov in St. Petersburg became the catalyst for the emergence of sobriety societies throughout the diocese.

Similar communities appeared at the Cathedral of St. Catherine the Great Martyr (Luga), the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra and spread further. Since 2001, in the laurel, the day of the memory of the holy martyr Vonifatia (January 1), the procession is held, in which members of the society of nondrinkers of St. Petersburg participate.

Awards

In 2016, the father of John Mironov (the elder) celebrated the 90th anniversary. Biography of the priest is full of trials, but all of them were received by him with Christian humility. For many works the priest is awarded secular and ecclesiastical awards. He was awarded a patriarchal letter, he wears the high rank of the white clergy - the mitrofor protopriest.

In 2005, the name of Archpriest John Mironov was added to the pages of the "Golden Book of St. Petersburg", where every year people are recorded who made a significant contribution to the development and history of the city.

Elder John Mironov himself notes that he has many awards, but he does not wear them, considering that the main awards come from God, and the rest are only for human vanity and decorum. He regards patronage, humility and wisdom as important ornaments.

Factory arrival

Many people who heard stories about the amazing father, the question arises; Where does John Mironov serve? Father John is the rector of the church of the icon of the Virgin "The Inexhaustible Chalice". The construction of the house church at the ATI plant (Flower Street, 16) was initiated by the community of teetotalers in 1996. The architect of the project was Yu. P. Belov, now an active worker of the parish.

The temple was consecrated in the spring of 1997 with the blessing of Metropolitan Volodymyr. Since January 1998, the rector of the church was Archpriest John Mironov. "Inexhaustible chalice" is the icon of the Virgin, prayer near which saves the believer from addictions. And miracles in the temple are difficult not to notice. According to the testimonies of the parishioners, during the activity of the temple from alcoholism, smoking and gambling, at least 1000 people got rid of.

In the parish community are actively advocating the rejection of bad habits, attracting the work of psychologists, drug treatment doctors. The position of the abbot and parishioners is active-offensive, and it is reflected in all endeavors and is realized by all available means, which includes Internet broadcasting of the radio station "Orthodox radio", preaching of the abbot, printed products and personal conversations with the suffering.

Life of the parish

Constant parishioners of the church are active people and can tell many stories about their father, they speak about him with great respect. To all who come to the prayer in the temple, Father John helps first with word, and later with deed. According to those who applied to him with requests for prayer, he radiated love for his neighbors, he was able to console himself in the most difficult moments of his life.

The church has all the conditions for abandoning harmful habits - in the lower floor there is a sports hall for teenagers and youth, the Orthodox Church "Wanderer" gives performances and performances over the main part of the church, on the fourth floor.

How to get to Father John

The feast day in the church of the icon of the Holy Virgin "The Inexhaustible Chalice" is celebrated on May 18. You can come to confession in the morning hours at 9:15 or at 16:00. Liturgies begin at 10:00, and the evening service leaves at 17:00.

You can learn about the work of the society of teetotalers directly in the church, where parishioners will be happy to answer all questions. The temple is often overcrowded, as many people are eager to have a personal encounter with the spiritual elder, John Mironov. How to get into the temple and talk with the priest, is interested in many, for whom it is vital, and the elder rarely refuses requests.

Father John accepts parishioners in the church during the days of worship. Some people familiar with the situation say that it is possible to ask for a prayer or to send a note on Saturdays, usually the priest comes to the church to 14-15 hours and for some time professes, and also takes the sufferers before the evening service.

Reviews

In 2016, Father John Mironov celebrated his 90th birthday and is considered the oldest acting archpriest, his pastoral ministry also came close to a round date and was marked by a 60-year experience. On the occasion of the anniversary, famous guests and ordinary people came to congratulate the birthday. The primate of the church congratulated the jubilee and spoke of him as an outstanding man and pastor. In his address, the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy wrote that John Mironov began serving God in a difficult time, when priests were persecuted and deprived of not only freedom, but also of life. Having passed all the trials, Father John remained faithful to God, the church and continues to bring light and favor to people.

Bishop Nazarius noted that all believers are in joy because there is such a shepherd in the world and expressed confidence that by the Lord's grace the years of John Mironov lasted up to 90 years. He also said that the contribution and life of the old man are invaluable and serve as an example to subsequent generations. He noted that the elder is a person who shows "how it is necessary to live in any years - both in fat and lean, how it is necessary to believe in Christ and love Him and His creations."

The parishioners sincerely love and appreciate Father John Mironov. Reviews about it touching, in them spiritual children call the abbot "sunny father." According to the testimony of many people turning to the elder, the prayer of John heals from alcoholism, drug addiction and other forms of destructive dependence. Officially, the church does not comment on such statements, but popular rumor spreads the glory of the healer throughout Russia. To the father for help and guidance go from afar and certainly get help.

Sometimes Father John refuses to pray, but it is done for the good of the supplicant. As he said, there is no sense in prayers of strangers, let even priests, if the soul is lazy.