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 ARCHIMANDRITE IOANN,
THE ELDER OF PSKOV-CAVE MONASTERY, REPOSED IN THE LORD
Pskov Cave Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, February 5, 2006
On February 5, the day of All Russian New Martyrs and Confessors, the oldest monk and spiritual father of the Pskov Cave Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, greatly loved Elder Archimandrite Ioann (Krestiankin), reposed in the Lord. He was 95 years old. Father Ioann passed away a few minutes after taking Holy Communion.
Father Ioann is known and revered in many countries of the world. It is impossible to convey what Father Ioann meant for his spiritual children and for all of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the last years, due to his age and poor health, he did not have an opportunity to receive all those who needed his advice. However letters for him from many parts of the world keep coming to Pskov Cave monastery. Father Ioann’s sermons and books keep opening a new, spiritual world for thousands of people and bring yearning souls to God. Among the most famous and popular books of his talk and letters are "The Experience of Preparing a Confession�, "Sermons, Thoughts and Congratulations�, "Reference Book for the Monastics and Laymen� and the compilation "Letters of Archimandrite Ioann (Krestiankin)�. Sermons and letters by Father Ioann have been translated into foreign languages and published abroad.
On April 11, 1910, in the town of Orlov an eighth child was born in the family of Mikhail Dmitrievich and Elizaveta Illarionovna Krestiankins. The boy was christened Ioann after Saint Ioann of Desert, whose memory was remembered that day. It is remarkable that the memory of Saint Venerable Mark and Jona of Pskov Cave monastery was celebrated the same day as well. Ivan helped at the church, throughout services since he was a little boy. Later in Orlov he became a postulant under the guidance of Archbishop Seraphim (Ostroumov), who was well-known for his strictness, When Ivan turned two, his father, Mikhail Dmitrievich, died. His highly devout and religious mother, Elizaveta Illarionovna, brought him up on her own.
Father Ioann has always gratefully remembered those who led him on his spiritual path. In his childhood in Orlov he was directed by archpriests Father Nikolai Azbukin and Father Vsevolod Kovrigin. When he was ten years old he was influenced by archpriest-staretz (spiritual Elder) Georgy Kosov from the village of Spas-Chekriak in Orlov region. Father Georgy was a spiritual disciple of Venerable Amvrosy of Optinsky monastery.
As a young man Father Ioann first learnt about his future monastic mission from his two friends, a future Martyr Archbishop Seraphim (Ostroumov) and Bishop Nikolai (Nikolsky). A nun-staritsa from Orlov, Vera Alexandrovna Loginova, when giving Father Ioann her blessing to live in Moscow, told him she would meet him in the land of Pskov in the distant future.
After finishing school Ivan Krestiankin did a book-keeping course and worked as an accountant having moved to Moscow. On January 14, 1945 at the Vagankovski cemetery’s church he was ordained deacon by Metropolitan Nikolai (Jarushev). The same year, on the day of Jerusalem icon of the Mother of God, October 25, he was ordained priest by Patriarch Alexy I. It was at the parish of the Nativity of Christ in Izmailovo, and he was left to serve there.
Father Ioann did an external Seminary degree and in 1950, having studied for four years at Moscow Theological Academy, he finished his PhD dissertation. But he had no chance to get the recognition of his work, because he was arrested for his zealous pastoral service at the end of April 1950. His verdict was seven years of labour camps. He was freed two years early, in February 1955 and was stationed in Pskov diocese, and in 1957 was sent to Riazan diocese where he served as a priest for nearly eleven years.
The young priest was ministered by the Spiritual Elders of Glinsk, and one of them, Schema-archimandrite Seraphim (Romantsev) became his spiritual father, and later received the monastic vows of his spiritual child. The last Elder of Optina Hegumen Ioann (Sokolov) saw a spiritual soul mate in an ordinary parish priest. Father Ioann was tonsured to monastic orders in Sukhumi on June 10, 1966, the day of Saint Sampson.
On March 5, 1967 hieromonk Ioann was admitted to Pskov-Cave monastery. He was consecrated Hegumen on April 13, 1970 and consecrated Archimandrite on April 7, 1973.
Father Ioann was taught by the monastic daily life itself and by the real people who were the devout monks of Pskov-Cave monastery: Hieroschemonk Simeon (Zhelnin), Schema-archimandrite Pimen (Gavrilenko), Archimandrite Afinogen (Agapov), abbot Archimandrite Alipiy (Voronov); also the last Valaam Elders: Hieroschemonk Mikhail (Pitkevich), Schehegumen Luka (Zemskov), Schemonk Nikolai (Monakhov), and retired Archbishops: Bishop Feodor (Tekuchev) and Metropolitan Veneamin (Fedchenkov).
Father Ioann himself suffered for his faith, having gone through prison camps, so his decease on the day of commemorating New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia is not a coincidence. We believe that having joined the other venerable souls he will face the Lord’s throne with heartfelt prayers for us.
Father Ioann will forever remain in the memory of all who knew him as a wise priest, to whom the Lord’s will was opened, who was a diligent monk, fasting and praying hard, who shared generously his rich life experience and warmed with his love everyone who turned to him for advice, and who was a worthy successor of the monastery’s tradition of Elders.
May his memory be eternal!
MAY GOD GIVE YOU WISDOM!
A LETTER OF FR. JOHN KRESTIANKIN
Be the salt of the earth
Pray to the Holy Martyr Tryphon, and through his intercessions you will always have work. Go to church to pray, and help whomever you can, but your main work should be your occupation in the world.
Believers should be the salt of the earth, and not close themselves up to people. Preach not so much with words as with your life, your patience and love towards suffering and lost people.
Do not look too far ahead, and if you will live every day with God and with prayer, the Lord will draw your little boat through life and direct it toward salvation.
May the Lord preserve you and make you wise!
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