St. John of Kronstadt and the Jews

basedserb
Published on Sep 6, 2025
St. John of Kronstadt (+1908) one of the greatest saints of the 19th and early 20th centuries, showed true Christian love and courage against attacks and slander from Jews.

I.K. Sursky both knew Saint John personally and collected many eye-witness accounts of him for his biography.

? Saint John of Kronstadt by I.K. Sursky
https://www.bostonmonks.com/product_info.php/products_id/986/osCsid/1516d71e518132fe9949ac16e10f9b38

? Read the text here:
http://www.holy-transfiguration.org/library_en/saints_kronst3.html
? My Life in Christ by St. John of Kronstadt
https://churchsupplies.jordanville.org/products/my-life-in-christ-the-spiritual-journals-of-st-john-of-kronstadt-hardback?srsltid=AfmBOooqINrXZNpkdZ10GqCzo6Tw6fgPMLsHLmeDYMIXRoo6AEf5z11k
? On Repentance (Homily from Great Lent) - St. John of Kronstadt
https://youtu.be/K1FM_0uTMzE
? Difficulties in Prayer - St. John of Kronstadt
https://youtu.be/9b6nz3ZfJCs
? What Has the Feast of Pascha Left In Our Souls? - St. John of Kronstadt
https://youtu.be/uWCkPqxuBt8
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery near you:
https://orthodox-world.org/
https://orthodoxyinamerica.org/
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Concerning St. John’s relations with the Jews, it should be noted that he believed the policy of the Russian Tsars in regard to non-baptized Jews, in terms of isolating them from the mass of the Russian people in the Pale of Settlement, to be a very wise decision, since he thought that only such a policy would deliver the Russian people from inevitable subjugation to the Jews, which subsequently did happen in Russia. For this reason batyushka did not give his blessing in 1890 to V. Solovyev’s project to expand the rights of the Jews in Russia, which project was later rejected also by the Tsar himself.

The great pastor’s dirtiest and lowliest enemy was the Jewish press. For three years (1905-1908) it daily mocked the pious pastor, mocked his miracles, his charity, the veneration of his followers. Slanderous stories were made up, feminine veneration of him was vilified, popular ardor towards him was spit upon. St. John courageously spoke out against the revolution, and in his homilies he reminded the authorities of their duty to suppress rebellion. The Russian leadership amazedly learned from him that Apostle Paul himself obligates the use of the sword. The Jews could not forgive St. John for this. Becoming supporters of Leo Tolstoy, who rejected the church and state, the Jews rained down a whole torrent of dirt upon St. John, who had stood up for the defense of the Orthodox Church and the Russian state.
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Orthodox Wisdom is dedicated to sharing the writings and lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. Glory to Jesus Christ!

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