Hegumen Anastassy from the Old Cathedral advised me to write to you about a blessing which my son Christopher received-
It happened in 1983. Christopher, who was then three years old, went to an ear specialist who found that he had a thirty percent hearing loss, due to an accumulation of liquid behind the ear drum, caused by repeated ear infections. His impaired hearing contributed to a slowness in learning to speak. An operation was scheduled to drain the liquid and implant tubes.
That spring, my two older sons (twelve and ten years old) had gone to visit Hegumen Anastassy in San Francisco. Brother James, Father Anastassy's assistant, showed them Archbishop John's sepulchre and they brought home oil from the vigil lamp burning on his tomb. I anointed Christopher with this oil before his visit to the speech pathologist, and again two days before his operation, with the words, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, by the prayers of the ever-memorable Archbishop John, heal the ears of my son Christopher."
The next day Christopher had a final examination before the operation. The doctors discovered that his ears had healed. There was no hearing loss and all the liquid had disappeared. The operation was cancelled. It was a tremendous relief for us, but we were even more amazed by what Christopher told us: "That man made my ears better." He repeated this several times. Once, after prayers which he finished with the words, "Thank you for making my ears better/' I asked, "Who made your ears better?" He pointed to a postcard of Vladika John which stood in the corner with our icons. Again he repeated, "This man made my ears better." He said this so insistently that I know he believes that Blessed Vladika John healed his ears. I don't know how he knows this, but he does; he insists on this, and we believe him. I have no other explanation; I only know that my son is now better, and we are very grateful for the prayers of ever-blessed Archbishop John.
Agape Ketrenos, Portland, OR
Vladika — guardian of family life.
I have been helped numerous times by the holy prayers of Vladika John, which continue to this day. I should like to relate at least one incident.
Many years ago I became pregnant with a child neither my husband nor his family wanted; we already had several children. It was very difficult for me both physically and emotionally because I was very sick. I often went to dear Father Mitrofan, who comforted all by his Christian love and warm prayers. We prayed to Vladika John and thanks to his holy prayers everything smoothed out at home. My father-in-law even helped my husband with our other children while I recuperated in the hospital after the birth of the baby. It was a boy, whom we named John in honor of the holy hierarch, Saint John of Tobolsk, Vladika's ancestor.
L.T., California