Just as in our present times, during the time of St. John of Kronstadt’s service throughout Russia and the world, the Orthodox Church comprised quite a number of clergymen with lukewarm faith. The holy pastor said of such: “The present terrible decline in faith and morals is related to the coldness which many hierarchs and clergymen display towards their flocks.” He himself was continuously persecuted and harassed by them during his lifetime. Even Metropolitan Isidore of St. Petersburg himself often did not understand St. John’s situation, forbidding him to wear the holy vestments he received as gifts and trying to prohibit St. John from serving within the precincts of other parishes. The rectors of these parishes, being people of little faith, did not believe in the power of God being manifested through the saint, envied his popularity, and by means of slander tried to prevent St. John from serving in their churches.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 01:44:47 +0000
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