Celebrating a Great ‘American Saint’
St. John of San Francisco
Few have heard of St. John of San Francisco. Fewer have heard of St. John of Shanghai. Fewer still would not know that he is the same person. Having grown up in a culture that is increasingly oblivious to all things Christian, most people would not have ever heard his story. Until now.
St. John (Maximovitch) was born on June 4, 1896 in a small Russian village, in present-day Ukraine. He was baptized as Michael and from an early age had a lot of interest in his faith. Little did he know that his faith would bring him all over the world, eventually landing in America. After the Bolshevik takeover, St. John and his family fled to Yugoslavia. He later attended the University of Belgrade in 1925 and a year later was tonsured a monk, then was ordained a priest sometime thereafter.
For a little while, he taught in a high school in Serbia, becoming immensely popular with the people. The local bishops, realizing his sanctity and ability to connect with people, elevated him to the episcopate. He was consecrated a bishop in 1934 and assigned to the Diocese of Shanghai. Yes, Shanghai in China. St. John worked tremendously hard in China by building a cathedral and inspiring the faithful to build churches, hospitals and orphanages.
As strange as it might sound, St. John exuded humility by pretending as if his were a fool at times. He would walk around barefoot to give the impression that he was crazy so that people would not give him any secular honor or glory; something he knew could corrupt anyone. However, his story did not end there.
St. John was pushed to leave China after the ensuing Communist takeover in 1949. He led over 5,000 people to the Philippines and successfully lobbied in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. government to allow the refugees into America. The Holy Hierarch also established a parish in the Capital. After this, he eventually found himself in Europe, as the Archbishop of Western Europe with his throne in Paris. He restored the ancient Gallican liturgy that was abolished by Rome in favor of the Roman liturgy during the Middle Ages. Thus, the Divine Liturgy of St. Germanus of Paris was reborn. St. John also promoted the pre-schism Western Fathers of the Church that largely had been forgotten by those in the East.
After his period in Paris, he came to San Francisco as the Archbishop. He sought to heal divisions among the faithful and bring peace to all people. St. John helped with the new cathedral in San Francisco, dedicating it as Joy of all Who Sorrow Icon of the Mother of God. So, today in the Orthodox Church we celebrate the lovable, bearded Russian Archbishop who died on July 2, 1966 in Seattle.
He immensely cared for his people, strove to advance the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and sought after Christ. One would be hard-pressed to find someone like St. John in this day. However, you never know which Orthodox monastery might be hiding the next American Saint.
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