Orthodox saint
St John of Kronstadt
St John of Kronstadt, the Righteous Wonderworker
Άγιος Ιωάννης της Κρονστάνδης · Пра́ведный Їѡа́ннъ Кроншта́дтскїй · Праведный Иоанн Кронштадтский
St John of Kronstadt is remembered on 20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St John of Kronstadt for healing of illness, deliverance from drunkenness and drug addiction, for oneself or a loved one and help in debt, poverty and want.
Feast days
- Feast
- Repose
- Kept on
- 20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
- Feast
- Glorification (Moscow Patriarchate, 1990)
- Kept on
- 1 June (14 June on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
- Feast
- Birth; glorification by ROCOR (1964)
- Kept on
- 19 October (1 November on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.
The life of St John of Kronstadt
John Sergiev was born in 1829 in a poor village in the far north of Russia. A slow learner as a boy, he prayed one night on his knees and received such understanding that he graduated among the first of his class. As a married priest at St Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt, the port city of sailors, laborers and beggars, he gave himself entirely to the poor: he bought their food and medicine, came home barefoot because he had given away his shoes, and founded a House of Industry so that the destitute could earn their bread. He taught the Law of God in the town school with such warmth that no pupil was left behind. He served the Divine Liturgy daily, and crowds from all over Russia came to his services and confessions. Countless healings came through his prayers. He reposed on December 20, 1908. Orthodox Christians pray to Saint John of Kronstadt in sickness, in poverty and for those enslaved to drink.
What the faithful ask of St John of Kronstadt
The faithful pray for
- healing of illness
- deliverance from drunkenness and drug addiction, for oneself or a loved one
- help in debt, poverty and want
- finding work after losing a job
- children who have gone astray
- children who struggle in school
- help in despair
- a fervent love for the Divine Liturgy
St John of Kronstadt protects
- families from the ruin of drunkenness
- the poor from destitution
- the despairing
- children and students
Patron of
- the poor and destitute
- those struggling with alcoholism and addiction and their families
- teachers and catechists
- students who find learning hard
- priests
- Kronstadt and St Petersburg
Miracles
As a struggling schoolboy he prayed on his knees at night, and suddenly 'a veil fell from his eyes,' his mind was opened and he became one of the best in his class.
Through his prayers he healed the sick and brought sinners to repentance; he worked more miracles than almost any saint except Saint Nicholas.
A contemporary recorded how a long-ruined drunkard who pushed through the crowd to meet him at a Petersburg station was turned from his drinking.
Source: Как священник из Кронштадта стал чудотворцем еще при жизни (Российская газета)
Where the traditions differ
First glorified by the Russian Church Abroad (1964) and by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1990; Russian piety especially invokes him against drunkenness. Greek devotion exists but is far smaller. The 19 Oct / 1 Nov date (his birthday) is ROCOR's glorification day; the Moscow Patriarchate keeps 1/14 June.
St John of Kronstadt in our shop
We don't carry an icon of St John of Kronstadt yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is ready.
Until then, the closest we carry
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God Folding DiptychAlso prayed to for anxiety, depression and despair$99$69
Folding diptychSt Herman of Alaska & Guardian Angel Folding DiptychAlso prayed to for teachers$99$69
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to St John of Kronstadt for the people and the need you name.
Name days
These names keep their name day on a feast of St John of Kronstadt:
Prayed to for
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of St John of Kronstadt?
Repose: 20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar); Glorification (Moscow Patriarchate, 1990): 1 June (14 June on the Old Calendar); Birth; glorification by ROCOR (1964): 19 October (1 November on the Old Calendar).
What do Orthodox Christians pray to St John of Kronstadt for?
Orthodox Christians pray to St John of Kronstadt for healing of illness, deliverance from drunkenness and drug addiction, for oneself or a loved one, help in debt, poverty and want, finding work after losing a job, children who have gone astray and children who struggle in school.
What is St John of Kronstadt the patron saint of?
St John of Kronstadt is the patron of the poor and destitute, those struggling with alcoholism and addiction and their families, teachers and catechists, students who find learning hard, priests and Kronstadt and St Petersburg.
What does St John of Kronstadt protect from?
St John of Kronstadt protects families from the ruin of drunkenness, the poor from destitution, the despairing and children and students.
Whose name day is on a feast of St John of Kronstadt?
The name day of John, Ivan and Ioann.
Sources
- Repose of Saint John of Kronstadt (OCA) (read 14 October 2026)
- Праведный Иоанн Кронштадтский (Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)
- Как священник из Кронштадта стал чудотворцем еще при жизни (Российская газета) (read 14 October 2026)
- Иоанн Кронштадтский (Википедия) (read 14 October 2026)