Our Сonvent received a particle of the holy relics of St John (Maximovich), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, as a gift in September 2008. This treasure was brought to us from America by Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, a member of clergy of San Francisco Cathedral in honour of “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon of Mother of God. Father Peter came to our convent once more after visiting the homeland of St John of Shanghai. He had travelled there in order to deliver a part of the relics and personal possessions of the Saint to Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra. An armchair of the Saint and articles of his vestments were among the personal possessions of St John, brought from San Francisco. These things remained in the house of an acolyte where St John reposed, for many years. The acolyte’s son Sergius continued to keep them after the death of his father, and it was him who presented them to the monastery. All the holy treasures received by the monastery will be placed in a church in honour of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco, which is being built in the village of Adamovka at the place where the home of the Maximovich family stood. The site has been bought by Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra recently. A skete of the monastery will be established at this place.

Father Peter and Matushka Helena visited the metochion of our Convent on Monday, October 12. Father Andrew together with Father Peter served a moleben in the church built in honour of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of Mother of God. Both monastic sisters and the brothers who live at the metochion sang the Akathist in honour of Mother of God. There was a procession with icons and holy banners around the church, the dormitory and the refectory after that. Such a procession has been held every evening since the time when the Divine Liturgy started at the metochion. After the procession, Fr Peter anointed the brothers and the sisters with holy oil and sprinkled them with holy water. The rite of forgiveness, which also happens daily, ended the day. The brothers asked one another to forgive their faults in order to maintain inner peace. After that, Father Andrew and Father Peter addressed the brothers of the metochion with words of love.

Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok: “It is God’s mercy that keeps us here where we can work not only in the fields or in a cowshed, but also cleanse our hearts.

When I look at a person who has become closer to God here at the metochion, I still cannot help thinking about his future and where he will be tomorrow. It may happen that he will commit a grave sin because of a glass of vodka or wine and go astray…

The Lord gave us an opportunity to build this church. I hope we will consecrate it in the nearest future. We all are one, so a sin of one brother affects everyone. I wish we did not lose faith and trust and gratitude to the Lord. God has enough love, mercy and humility for all.

We pray together with Fr Peter today. The Akathist in honour of the icon of Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice” is read on the other side of the ocean, too. Alcohol abuse [in Russia it is often referred to as “the green serpent” that bites] afflicts people in the well-off America just like it does here. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret, our choir recorded this Akathist to commemorate the first anniversary of the union between the two parts of the Russian church. We are happy that the Lord gives us a chance to pray together because the Lord is in the midst of even two or three people gathered for His sake, and there are many of us here.”

Archpriest Peter Perekrestov: “Thank you for giving us an opportunity to be here with you today. It is a great pleasure for me. Our work can not be compared to the ministry of Fr Andrew and the sisters. It must be because of this that the Lord has arranged it for us to be here with you today and to feel your hearts. The Christian spirit is always full of optimism: he who is with Christ wins. One of spiritual authors said, “The army of Christ is the only army that knows in advance that victory awaits it.” What we should do is to be faithful to Christ, trust Him and work as much as we can.

I would like to add that we are all ill and suffer from various infirmities. Your infirmity lies on the surface and is obvious – a glass of wine. On the contrary, we do not show our infirmities. We have venom inside our souls, which others cannot see. It is more difficult to defeat it. From the outside we are good, but from the inside we are not that good.

As Fr Andrew already said, we all are involved in that struggle: priests, monks, people who appear to be successful… The Lord has gathered all of us and we should keep together and bear one another’s burdens. Therefore, I would like to ask you to pray for us, too.”

Fr Peter also took part in the meeting of the monastic sisters on Wednesday, October 14. He told the sisters that St Elisabeth Convent had become dear to him, just like Gethsemane Convent in Jerusalem earlier. Father Peter shared his impressions about his visit to the metochion as well.

Father Peter and Matushka Helen invited Father Andrew and Mother Abbess Euphrosinia to San Francisco to venerate the holy relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco.

The sisters who visit the patients of the psychiatric clinic have long been asking St John to help them in troubles. A chapel in honour of St John is to be built on the territory of the clinic. This decision was taken right after the canonization of His Eminence John at the Archpastoral Council of 2008.

Saint John, pray to God for us!