“During the life of St. Seraphim, for his prayers, the Lord protected Russia; and after him there was another pillar, reaching from earth to heaven, Father John of Kronstadt .”
Rev. Silouan
Troparion
In Christ, living forever, miracle worker, lovingly merciful to people in troubles, hear your children who call on you by faith, generous help from you, longing for, John of Kronstadt, beloved to our shepherd.
The veneration of the holy martyr in the Russian Orthodox Church was already known in the twelfth century. Prince Izyaslav (in Baptism, Panteleimon), the son of St Mstislav the Great, had an image of St Panteleimon on his helmet. Through the intercession of the saint he remained alive during a battle in the year 1151. On the Feast of the Great Martyr Panteleimon, Russian forces won two naval victories over the Swedes (in 1714 near Hanhauze and in 1720 near Grenham).
St Panteleimon is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a mighty saint, and the protector of soldiers. This aspect of his veneration is derived from his first name Pantoleon, which means “a lion in everything”. His second name, Panteleimon, given him at Baptism, which means “all-merciful”, is manifest in the veneration of the martyr as a healer. The connection between these two aspects of the saint is readily apparent in that soldiers, receiving wounds more frequently than others, are more in need of a physician-healer. Christians waging spiritual warfare also have recourse to this saint, asking him to heal their spiritual wounds.
The holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is invoked in the Mystery of Anointing the Sick, at the Blessing of Water, and in the Prayers for the Sick.
On Saturday (May 27, 2023), on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporarily Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church at Stonehurst 99.