Saint John of Kronstadt

1829–1908 19th–20th c. 23 works

Saint John of Kronstadt (1829–1908) was a Russian Orthodox archpriest, pastor, and spiritual writer, one of the most beloved and influential figures of the late Russian Church. A married parish priest rather than a monk or bishop, he became renowned across Russia for his fervent celebration of the Divine Liturgy, his ministry of prayer and healing, and his tireless charity among the poor of Kronstadt.

Born Ioann Ilyich Sergiev to a poor clerical family in the far north of Russia, he was educated at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy and in 1855 was ordained to serve at Saint Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt, the naval town near the capital, where he remained for over half a century. He gave himself to the destitute of the town, founding the House of Diligence to give work and dignity to the poor, and thousands sought him out for confession, counsel, and prayer.

He is best remembered for his spiritual masterwork My Life in Christ, a collection of reflections drawn from his diaries on prayer, repentance, and the Eucharist, marked by a vivid sense of the reality of God and of the Church's Mysteries. His many sermons, catechetical talks, and later diaries — including A Living Ear of Wheat and his Lenten preaching — extend the same ardent, experiential piety.

He reposed in 1908 and was mourned throughout Russia. He was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in 1964 and by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1990, and is commemorated on 20 December (and 1 June, the day of his glorification); his writings remain a standard of modern Orthodox spiritual life.

Sources: Orthodox Church in America — Saint John, Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Works in the library

Modern translation

A Living Ear of Wheat

Saint John of Kronstadt19th–20th c.3h 54m read

A 19th–20th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Modern translation

Catechetical Talks

Saint John of Kronstadt19th c.3h 42m read

A 19th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Modern translation

Christian Philosophy

Saint John of Kronstadt19th c.4h 33m read

A 19th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Modern translation

Golden Words

Saint John of Kronstadt19th c.1h 20m read

A 19th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Modern translation

Great Lent

Saint John of Kronstadt19th c.4h 4m read

A 19th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Modern translation

My Life in Christ

Saint John of Kronstadt19th c.8h 33m read

A 19th c. spiritual work by Saint John of Kronstadt.

Read

Free ebooks by Saint John of Kronstadt

Every work below is free to read online and free to download — no account, no paywall. Browse all free ebooks.