When I was ten years old, I became seriously ill with mononucleosis. My temperature rose to 106 and I felt extremely weak. More than a week passed without any change. The doctors tried everything to cure me but finally told my mother that we must hope that the illness would pass of itself. I later learned that this illness frequently lasts several weeks and, in extreme cases, can even result in death.
My father decided to call New York, where Vladika John was taking part in a meeting of the Synod of Bishops, and tell him of my condition. Vladika calmly assured my father that I would soon recover, not to worry but to trust in God's mercy. The next morning my temperature had dropped to 100 and I remember feeling much better; I even got out of bed. When the doctors heard of this, they had a hard time believing how quickly my condition had improved. They cautioned my parents that I would still have to spend a long time in bed recuperating before I regained enough strength to go to school. Before the week was over, however, I had completely recovered and returned to school.
It turned out that after the conversation with my father, Vladika John had gone to the Synod church and served a moleben for my health. Knowing that nothing in life happens by chance, I attribute my quick recovery to the prayers of holy Vladika John.
Priest Alexander Krassovsky, Santa Rosa, CA