St. Xenia Building Fund

This Fund was created at Russian Orthodox Church Joy of All Who Sorrow in Cumming Georgia to build a new Church building.

Fr. Alexis began painting icons as an obidience under the direction of the ever memorable Archimandrite Kyprian. He opened To Fr. Alexis through his great artistic talent, the mysteryof Holy Russia expressed in the colors of ancient iconography.

Most Icons at Joy of All Who Sorrow are Fr. Alexis's paintings. High quality Print Copies of Fr. Alexis Art work are available for sale from this page.

Russian Orthodox  Icon Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America

A spiritual mission was organized in 1793, made up of monks of the Valaam Monastery. They were sent to preach the Word of God to the native inhabitants of northwestern America, who only ten years before had come under the sovereignty of Russia. St Herman was among the members of this Mission.

MIRACULOUS HEALING OF HERMAN at the St. Sergius Hermitage there occurred the following incident to Father Herman. On the right side of his throat under his chin there appeared an abcess. The swelling grew rapidly, disfiguring his face. It became difficult for him to swallow, and the odor was unbearable. In this critical condition Father Herman awaited death. He did not appeal to a physician of this world, but locking his cell he fell before an lcon of the Queen of Heaven. With fervent tears he prayed, asking of Her that he might be healed. He prayed the whole night. Then he took a wet towel and with it wiped the face of the Most Holy Mother, and with this towel he covered the swelling. He continued to pray with tears until he fell asleep from sheer exhaustion on the floor. In a dream he saw the Virgin Mary healing him.

When Herman awoke in the morning, he found to his great surprise that he was fully healed. The swelling had disappeared, even though the abscess had not broken through, leaving behind but a small mark as though a reminder of the miracle. Physicians to whom this healing was described did not believe it, arguing that it was necessary for the abscess to have either broken through of its own accord or to have been cut open.

More information about St. Herman of Alaska

Russian Orthodox
  Vladimir Icon of mother of God

Russian church has three times a year celebration in honor of the Vladimir Icon of Mother of God in gratitude for the threefold phenomenon through our Fatherland from enemies: May 21, 23 June and 26 August. Vladimir icon Dame as said tradition, written by Luca on the Board of the table Jesus Christ with his mother and rights. Joseph was dining. Icon was written during the Earth's life of Mother of God. Seeing his picture on, Mother of God is repeated prophetic saying, “ From now on will honor me all generations ”. And have added also: “ The Grace of One, Whom came from my womb and Mine will be with this Icon”. In 450 with IMP. Feodosiya Junior icon was sacrificed in Constantinople from Jerusalem, and in the early 12th of Constantinople brought in Kiev: Constantinople Luca  Xrizoverg sent its Grand Prince Yuri Dolgoruky and at the women's monastery in Vishgorod. 

Our Russian Church makes 23 more June celebrating of an icon Vladimir. It in memory of disposal of Russia wonderful protection the Mother of god from Orda tsar Ahmat in 1480, at conducted. Prince John III Vasilyevich.

On May, 21st the Orthodox Church makes in third time celebration a wonder-working Vladimir icon. It in memory of disposal of Russia With protection of Mother Of God in 1521 from Tatars that had intruded in limits Moscow with such speed that conducted. Prince Vasily Ioannovich hardly has had time to disengage the armies on coast of Oka to keep the further intrusion of enemies.

Russian Orthodox  Icon ST. John of Shanghai & San Francisco

Saint John ( Maximovitch ) of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896 - 1966) was a noted Eastern Orthodox ascetic and hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) who was active in the mid-20th century. He was a pastor and spiritual father of high reputation and a reputed wonderworker to whom was attributed great powers of prophecy, clairvoyance and healing.

In Shanghai, Bishop John found an uncompleted cathedral and an Orthodox community deeply divided along ethnic lines. Making contact with all the various groups, he quickly involved himself in the existing charitable institutions and personally founded an orphanage and home for the children of indigents. It was here that he first became known for miracles attributed to his prayer, and as a public figure it was impossible for him to completely conceal his ascetic way of life. Despite his actions during the Japanese occupation, when he routinely ignored the curfew in pursuit of his pastoral activities, the Japanese authorities never harassed him. As the only Russian hierarch in China who refused to submit to the authority of the Soviet-dominated Russian Orthodox Church, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop by the Holy Synod of ROCOR in 1946.

When the Communists took power in China, the Russian colony was forced to flee, first to a refugee camp on the island of Tubabao in the Philippines and then mainly to the United States and Australia. Archbishop John travelled personally to Washington, D.C. to ensure that his people would be allowed to enter the country.

He departed this life on June 19 (O.S.) / July 2 (N.S.), 1966, and was officially glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on July 2, 1994. His glorification was later recognized for universal veneration by the Patriarchate of Moscow on July 2, 2008.

On July 2, 1966 (June 19 on the Julian calendar) St. John died while visiting Seattle at a time and place he was said to have foretold. He was entombed in a sepulchre beneath the altar of the cathedral he had built in San Francisco dedicated to the Theotokos, Joy of all who Sorrow on Geary Boulevard in the Richmond district. In 1994 he was solemnly glorified on the twenty-eighth anniversary of his death. His unembalmed relics now occupy a shrine in the cathedral's nave. His feast day is celebrated on the Saturday nearest to the 2nd of July. He is beloved and celebrated worldwide, with portions of his relics located in Serbia, Russia, Mount Athos, Bulgaria, the United States and other countries of the world.

Akafist and prayers in English to Our Father John of San Francisco you can be found following this link: http://saintjohnwonderworker.org/servndx.htm .

Russian Orthodox Icon St. Seraphim
of Sarov

When I am dead, come to me at my grave, and the more often the better. Whatever is in your soul, whatever may have happened to you, come to me as when I was alive, and kneeling on the ground cast all your bitterness upon my grave. Tell me everything and I shall listen to you, and all the bitterness will fly away from you. And as you spoke to me when I was alive do so now. For I am living and I shall be for ever.

St. Seraphim's words, inscribed upon his tombstone.

St. Seraphim of Sarov became last sacred, canonized in Russia till 1917. In the age of 19-?? years it has acted in number of novices of desert Sarovskoj, has passed all steps of monastic service and has been imposed in hieromonk , long time conducted a hermetical ascetic life in a woods where people came from all ends of Russia for healing and spiritual manual. During lifetime of people esteemed it as sacred, the seer, wonder maker curing illnesses.

In 1902 the commission founded by the Most Holy Synod, has confirmed more than 100 cases of the healings received at a coffin of Saint Seraphim. 70 years later after death in 1903 Seraphim of Sarov has been canonized.

He departed this life on June 19 (O.S.) / July 2 (N.S.), 1966, and was officially glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on July 2, 1994. His glorification was later recognized for universal veneration by the Patriarchate of Moscow on July 2, 2008.

Link to Akaphist to Saint Seraphim of Sarov:

Russian Orthodox Icon St. Xenia of Petersburg

The only record of "vital statistics" which has been left us concerning Blessed Xenia is the epitaph on her gravestone:

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. HERE RESTS THE BODY OF THE SERVANT OF GOD, XENIA GRIGORIEVNA, WIFE OF THE IMPERIAL CHORISTER, COLONEL ANDREI THEODOROVICH PETROV. WIDOWED AT THE AGE OF 26, A PILGRIM FOR 45 YEARS, SHE LIVED A TOTAL OF 71 YEARS. SHE WAS KNOWN BY THE NAME ANDREI THEODOROVICH. MAY WHOEVER KNEW ME PRAY FOR MY SOUL THAT HIS OWN MAY BE SAVED. AMEN.

Who wrote it, no one knows, but this is all we know about the early life of Blessed Xenia: only that she lived during the reigns of the Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna and Catherine II and that she was married to the imperial chorister, Col. Andrei Theodorovich Petrov. From this latter fact we may assume that she was of the lesser nobility.

Our venerable Mother, the Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg , who in grief over the death of her husband distributed all her possessions and took up a life as a fool-for-Christ. Her life was centered on God, and she sought protection and comfort only in Him while wandering among the poor of St. Petersburg. She is commemorated on January 6(NS).

Little is known of her early life. Neither the dates of her birth nor of her death are known. Her birth is believed to have been about 1731 and her death about 1803.

The wife of Colonel Andrei Feodorovich Petrov, who served as a court chorister, Xenia fell into great grief upon the death of her husband when she was 26 years old. Appearing to have lost her mind from her grief, Xenia distributed her possessions to the poor, and keeping and dressing only in the clothes of her husband she wandered the streets of St Petersburg among the paupers. She called herself by her husband's name: Andrei Feodorovich. Her life was centered on God, seeking protection and comfort only in Him. During the nights, she refused refuge and went into the fields where she prayed through the nights.

When relatives of Xenia tried to help her with necessities she replied , “I do not need anything.” The people of St. Petersburg came to love her as she placed the Kingdom of Heaven before earthly possessions. The people considered her presence in their homes as good signs. Her acceptance of services and bread from merchants, however small, brought them great sales as their customers, who loved the saintly Xenia, frequented those who helped her.

Xenia possessed the gift of clairvoyance. She foretold the deaths of the Empress Elizabeth, in 1761, and of the imprisoned John IV Antonovich, the great-great-grandson of Tsar Alexis, in 1764. After her death her grave became a place of pilgrimage. Portions of the dirt from her grave brought healing for many of the pilgrims.

More information on St. Xenia :

Russian Orthodox Icon Savior Edessa
Not Made by Hands

According to Church legend first icon was the image of the Savior Edessa. That happened during the Earth's living Savior. The Government of the city of Prince Edessa Avgar was seriously ill. Hearing the countless healings, who had committed a Jesus Christ, Avgar wanted to look at the Savior. He sent the solitary to the painted a lick of Christ.

However, the artist could not perform the task. From the person God assumed such splendor that brush Wizard could not pass it to light. Then the Lord washed and wiped dry His Holy Face with the towel and it beautifully displayed its image. Having received the image, Ŕvgar had healed from his illness.

St. Elizabeth the New Martyr of Russia

St. Elizabeth was an older sister of the Empress Alexandra of Russia, and was married to the Grand Duke Serge, a younger son of Tsar Alexander III and the Governor of Moscow. She converted from the Protestant faith to Orthodoxy several years after her marriage of her own free will, and organized women from all levels of society to help the sick and needy.

Grand Duke Serge was killed by an assassin's bomb on February 4, 1905.

After her husband's murder, she began to withdraw from her former social life. She founded the Convent of Sts. Martha and Mary in Moscow, a community of nuns, which focused on worshiping God and helping the poor. She sold all her fine clothes and jewels, and moved out of her palace into the buildings that she had purchased on behalf of the convent.

On the night of July 5, they were all taken to a place in the woods, twelve miles from Alopaevsk, and executed. Grand Duke Sergius was shot, but the others were thrown down a mineshaft, with grenades being tossed in after them. St. Elizabeth lived for several hours, and could be heard singing hymns by local villagers who came up to the mineshaft after the murderers had left.

A few days later, the bodies of St. Elizabeth and St. Barbara were recovered from the mineshaft after the pro-Tsarist armies took Alopaevsk. They were ultimately taken to Jerusalem in 1920, and buried in the church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives.

For more information on St. Elizabeth