A Prodigal Saint: Father John of Kronstadt and the Russian People

by Nadieszda Kizenko

Rarely are we privileged to see the making of a saint, but it is just what this book gives us for John of Kronstadt (1829–1908), a major figure in the religious life of Late Imperial Russia. So popular was Father John during his years of ministry that Kronstadt became a pilgrimage site replete with peddlers selling souvenir photographs, postcards, and commemorative mugs. A Prodigal Saint follows Father John’s development from activist priest to venerated spiritual leader and, after his death, to his elevation to sainthood in 1990. We see both the inner life of an aspiring saint and the symbiotic relationship between a living icon and his followers. Father John represented a fundamentally new type of religious behavior and a new standard of sanctity in Late Imperial Russia. He ministered to the poor of Kronstadt, creating shelters and employment programs and participating in the temperance movement. In the process he acquired a reputation for prayerful intercession that soon spread beyond Kronstadt. When he was asked to minister to the dying Alexander III in 1894, his fame became international as he attracted correspondents from the United States and Europe. In his later years he allied himself increasingly with the radical right, which has had momentous implications for the Russian Orthodox Church in the twentieth century. Kizenko draws upon rich and virtually unknown documents from the Russian archives, including Father John’s diaries, thousands of letters he received from his followers, and the police reports on the sect that formed around him. John’s diaries are a truly unique source, for they document the making of a modern his struggles with doubt, his ascetic practices, and his growing realization that others saw him as a saint. Kizenko explores the extent to which Father John collaborated in the formation of his own cult and how he himself was influenced by the expectations and desires of his audience. In the final chapter she follows Father John’s posthumous reputation (and the struggles over how to use that reputation) in Russia, the Soviet Union, and throughout the world. A Prodigal Saint is published in collaboration with the Harriman Institute at Columbia University as part of its Studies of the Harriman Institute series. It is a pioneering study that contributes to our understanding of lived religion, saints’ cults, and modern Russian history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

392 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

Reviews

[Laura N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched book about Father John of Kronstadt and his affect on the Russian people. Interesting view of his private life verses how he was viewed by his congregation. The author does a great job of pulling everything together and asking and answering questions that may come up for the reader. The author was also my Professor in college!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Prodigal Saint: Father John of Kronstadt and the Russian People is a very thorough presentation. This is not a hagiography, but a scholarly biography, as unbiased as possible, based on many contemporary documents, including letters received by the saint. Each chapter is nicely summarized in the last paragraphs of each section.
The strength of the book is how it situates John (1829-1908) in the context of his time, his country and his people, as is highlighted in the title itself.

come this way to read my full review of it:
https://myrtleskete.com/2017/03/20/bo...

[Ross Heckmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book regarding a simply fascinating and deeply inspiring character. This book is about a saint but it is scholarly, not hagiographic. It presents St. John of Kronstandt as he was, both in his greatness and glory, and in his fallibility and with his blind spots as well. The book also describes how various groups of people viewed him, from his own time up to the present. Because of this book, St. John has become for me an outstanding inspiration and an example for how to live a truly loving and holy life in the world.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Truly Flawless Contribution to Russian History
Published by Amanda M. Kladis - 04-2006

Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko has truly mastered defining and illustrating the life of "A Prodigal Saint" It is written in a solid and cohesive manner that makes it a pleasure to read. I too, have had the pleasure and honor to have been one of Dr. Kizenko's students I would unequivically recommend this book to any individual interested in Russian History. I look forward to her next literary work!