Silent Protest

Saint John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai, then of Western Europe, then of San Fransisco, was an ascetic man who was very severe on himself. He could be loving, especially to small children and the very poor. But he always taught the truth by word, by the way he lived his own life, and sometimes by silent protest.

One of Saint John of Shanghai's favourite Russian saints was Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk. In the middle of a pagan festival held during the Apostles' Fast, Saint Tikhon rode in and delivered a heated sermon against the pagan behaviour of the supposedly Christian participants.

Saint John of Shanghai did something similar. But ever mindful of Christ's command to all people not to condemn others, Saint John protested the inappropriate behaviour silently. People drew their own conclusions.

On 2 November 1964 (by the civil calendar), Archbishop John's Church, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, celebrated the solemn canonisation of Father John of Kronstadt. Archbishop John was archbishop of San Francisco at the time. He greatly venerated Saint John of Kronstadt, and took a prominent part in compiling the church service and akathist for his commemoration. On the evening before 2 November 1964, in the San Francisco Cathedral, Archbishop John celebrated the first All-Night Vigil in recognition of the saintly life of Father John of Kronstadt.

The Latin Church celebrates All Saints Day on 1 November, and All Souls Day on 2 November, each year. On the night before All Souls Day, there is a strong tradition of celebrating a festival of disorder called Halloween. The word Halloween is an old English reduction of All Hallows Evening,(All Souls Evening). In the United States of America, Halloween has become an occasion for children and others to make mischief, dressed in costumes of witches, warlocks, devils, ghosts, and fantasy creatures. Many use it as an occasion to call on the dark powers in opposition to Christianity.

Halloween night in 1964 was a Saturday night. Saturday nights in the Orthodox Church are supposed to be a time of spiritual preparation for Sunday Liturgy. A group of Russians organised a Halloween Ball in San Francisco on this night. Because they were at the ball, a number of people were absent from the Cathedral's All-Night Vigil where the saintliness of Father John of Kronstadt was being celebrated, and where the true believers were spiritually preparing for the Sunday Liturgy the next day. Archbishop John was greatly sorrowed by their absence.

After the service Archbishop John went to the ball. He climbed the steps and entered the hall, to the great surprise of the participants. The music stopped, and the archbishop, staff in hand, slowly and deliberately made his way around the hall, looking intently at all the people. He did not speak a word. None was needed. The mere sight of their archbishop was enough to sting the conscience of all. Archbishop John left in silence. Even before he worked his way all around the hall, people were slinking out, leaving in shame.

The next day in the cathedral at Holy Liturgy, there was a guilty silence. People were very subdued. Archbishop John preached on the saintliness of Father John of Kronstadt and called all to imitate him, to give up their evil ways, and to lead a devout Christian life preparing for what is to come.

This saintly protest of Archbishop John at San Francisco won over many of the pleasure-seeking wordly-minded members of his church, to a more devoted, loving, Christian way of life.

Ever since, the Orthodox Church has been very careful not to hold social functions on a Saturday night, when all should be preparing spiritually for Holy Liturgy the next day.

edited and corrected from
Blessed John The Wonderworker
by Fr Seraphim Rose and Abbot Herman,
St Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, Platina, California, 1998,
with additional previously unpublished material.