In the seminary where Father John held the position of teacher, there was a seminarian who was laughed at by others because his uniform did not fit well (he did not have the money to go to a tailor). One day, in a fit of anger, he threw a stone at them and hit the window of Father John’s room. Father John looked out. Suddenly, the teacher, Father Panteleimon, appeared between the seminarian, full of embarrassment, and Father John. “No lunch and dinner!” — he hummed in a powerful baritone and rushed on. When Father Panteleimon disappeared, Father John said softly: “Nothing, nothing. I’ll pay.» And then he added: “The Lord forgives sins that are not repeated.”
Being punished by being deprived of lunch and dinner did not only mean being prohibited from having lunch and dinner. It was necessary to be present during meals, when both the junior school students and the theologians from the senior classes were fed in the huge dining room. The seminarian was kneeling (by order of the teacher, Father Panteleimon) near the pulpit, located in the center near the wall of the dining room…
At night, everyone around was sleeping. He couldn’t close his eyes. He was hungry and tired from kneeling. Suddenly he saw the shadow of a limping man. The shadow limped between the rows of beds, stopping to cover those scattered in their sleep, and finally bent over his bed. Father John said: “Are you awake…” He did not ask, he only expressed what he was sure of. “I’m not sleeping, Father John.” Father John thrust a piece of bread and olives wrapped in paper into the young man’s hands (it was a fast day). He wanted to say something (“thank you,” maybe), but the teacher stopped him. “The Lord forgives sin that is not repeated,” he said and limped back to the door.
Boots
Many did not understand Vladika John, they were embarrassed by his appearance: he walked barefoot. There were even complaints against Bishop Metropolitan Anastasy. One of the complaints asked that the high priest order Vladyka John to wear shoes. Metropolitan Anastassy responded to this request, wrote a letter to the Bishop, and the parishioners, delighted by this, hastened to present their archpastor with new shoes.
The Bishop accepted the gift, thanked him and carried the shoes… under his arm.
Again a complaint to the Metropolitan, again Abba writes to Bishop John about obedience and receives an answer from him: “I have fulfilled your instructions. You wrote for me to wear boots, but you didn’t write for me to put them on, so I wore them… and now I’ll put them on.” And Vladyka Archbishop walked through Paris in boots.
Strict Shepherd
Vladyka John’s strictness towards himself did not prevent him from being condescending towards the weak.
Here is what he answered to one Dutch priest, who reproached the Russians for chatting during the service: “These are poor emigrants. You need to understand that the only place where they can meet is the temple.”
Charity Fundnd Holy Land
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