I was baptized into the Church in 1980. I believe that it was in 1984 that this healing took place. It was on the Feast of Pentecost. I had received the Mysteries and had returned to my parents' home. My parents and I were about to go to my sister's for a family celebration when I was asked to change the windshield wipers on my parents' car. In removing the second wiper, the clip which held it in place broke and sliced a long, wide and deep gash into my right thumb. This was of concern as I had just received Holy Communion and I was bleeding profusely. I quickly bound the wound with a tissue that I had in my pocket. It was very painful, and the cut was so wide that it was clearly going to require stitches. But I couldn't worry about that now. As my mother hunted for something which could serve as a bandage, it occurred to me that I should anoint the wound with oil that I had from the tomb of Vladika John. I did so, and the pain immediately disappeared. After binding the wound, we went to my sister's home and had a pleasant afternoon. Upon returning, I opened the bandage to check on the cut. I had never seen anything like it. Skin had formed over the gash; the blood, visible under the transparent skin, was still liquid and moved freely. Not knowing what to make of this, I bound up the thumb again. In the days that followed a scab formed under the skin, gradually decreasing in size until it was tiny, and finally came to the surface and fell off. As a reminder of this miracle I have a small scar, really no more than an interruption in the fingerprint, on the side of my thumb, the size and shape of the scab when it came off.
I believe it was the next year, or perhaps two years later, when another healing occurred. I was doing some seasonal work with some friends. By the end of the day, one of them, Patrick, was feeling quite sick. A nasty influenza had been going around, and it appeared that he was coming down with it. It was doubtful that he would be back on the job soon, and I was concerned about his long drive home. Pat was a Lutheran, and I didn't know how he would respond to the idea, but I told him of my healing, and suggested that, if he were willing, I would anoint him with oil from Vladika's tomb, which I had on hand. He consented, and with it I drew the sign of the Cross on his forehead. Much to our astonishment, he showed up the next day. He reported that when he arrived home he had a high fever. He just managed to get into bed when sleep overtook him. In the morning, to his surprise, he was completely well.
Over the years I have been convinced of the concern and protection of Vladika John, even when my prayers were not answered as I would have wished. I was eventually blessed by being given a relic of a hair of Vladika John, which I keep against the day when it can be encased in an icon of Vladika with a halo.
After moving to Erie, to join the vibrant Old Rite parish here, I was told a story by Bishop Daniel, which you may wish to check to make sure my facts are correct. When he was a seminarian and deciding about his future, he asked the blessing of Vladika John and another hierarch (it may have been Metropolitan Philaret) to become an Old Rite priest. Vladika John gave his blessing and added something to the effect: "Stay with the Old Rite. The Old Believers need you to protect them." Bishop Daniel, of course, was influential in the Old Ritualists here joining with the New Ritualists under the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and eventually he was consecrated Bishop of the Old Rite, with Erie as his cathedra. So one can see even here the blessing hand of Vladika John.
Lastly, I have been praying for some years for a friend of mine, James, a conservative Lutheran who was very dismayed at what he was seeing in the church world. I had hopes that he would eventually convert to Orthodoxy, but not any time soon — especially now that he had a pious Lutheran wife and a new son, and we had moved to virtually opposite sides of the country.
In November 1990,1 received a letter from Jim in which he told me that he had contracted a virus which left him with partial paralysis on one side of the face (Bell's palsy). Concerned, I wrote back asking if he would like me to send him a bottle of oil from Vladika's tomb. To my pleasant surprise, a few weeks later Jim wrote that although his health problems were more of a nuisance than a major trial, he would nevertheless appreciate the oil. When I called to be sure the oil had arrived safely, he reported that nothing miraculous had happened; he realized of course that the oil was not some magic charm with a guarantee, but a plea for God's mercy. But something miraculous had happened! As I talked with him it became obvious that the prodding of the Holy Spirit was at work. This was borne out in Jim's next letter: "I am doing quite well at the moment, thank you. As I mentioned, nothing immediately spectacular, but have been on an upward trend for me in general lately. I am happy to attribute some of the credit to Vladika John." In the same letter he requested that I paint an icon for his son, and asked for information of what Synod parish and priest might be in his area. I encouraged him to attend Pascha services — which he did. He wrote afterwards: "To say I was moved would be an understatement. I know where I belong, and that is in the Orthodox Church." He also asked for prayers for his wife, that they could enter the Church together. Clearly, Vladika John is aiding in this conversion. Even years after his repose, Vladika continues to do missionary work to bring converts into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I testify that the above are truthful accounts to the best of my knowledge and memory.
Luke Gehring, Erie, PA