Saint Ioannikios, Father Confessor of the Dormition Holy Mountain Hermitage

Commemorated on February 10.

From that moment, he experienced terrible suffering. He left the monastery, assured of his complete cure, and went home to Kuban. Later, he received instructions on how to conduct himself so that he would not become subjected to that same evil spirit again. Father Ioannikios said later that when the possessed man threw him over his shoulder and ran up the stairs, he suddenly felt a power within him which enabled him to overcome the man almost effortlessly, while calling upon the sweetest name of the Lord Jesus.

It was not only adults who were brought to Father Ioannikios, but even children who exhibited sure signs of possession. They spoke in foreign languages, foretold the future, and blasphemed so much that it was frightening. It was much easier to win them over than the adults, however. This was not simply because they were only children, but also because their innocent nature was much more receptive to God’s grace. There were cases where the possessed would relate in detail, and in a loud voice, whatever Father Ioannikios did or thought, or if he ate a little more than usual. They told him that all of his efforts to cast them out would be in vain. Therefore, he fasted even more, for he knew that prayer and fasting are the best weapons to use in healing those who are afflicted.

Not only were the saint’s prayers effective against evil spirits, but also in healing many other illnesses of people who came to him with sincere faith. Once, a young man, the son of a merchant from a nearby town, visited him in his cell. He told him of his sorrow at being a drunkard, because this caused his parents intense grief. He fell down at the feet of Father Ioannikios, begging to be released from this destructive passion, by his prayers. Father Ioannikios put on his epitracheilion and read the prayer for the sick, and then he anointed him with holy oil. He ordered him to drink a little holy water every morning before eating or drinking anything else.

After a while, the young man visited Father Ioannikios again and said that from the time that he prayed over him and anointed him with the holy oil, he felt such revulsion for wine that he could no longer endure the smell of it. He gave fervent thanks to Father Ioannikios for this. The saint advised him to continue to drink the holy water, ascribing his cure to the grace of God. Later, the young man became interested in monasticism and entered a monastery in Kursk province.

Feeling compassion for everyone, Saint Ioannikios was always ready to help a poor person in trouble and even went so far as to deny himself as much as possible.

A large throng of pilgrims usually visited the monastery on the Feast of the Transfer of the Relics of Saint Nicholas on May 9, and the church was very crowded during the services. Once, two well-dressed, still young women from Rostov on the Don River came for this Feast. One of them was pregnant and was so pressed by those in the church that she felt that her child was about to be born. The other woman got her out of the church with some difficulty, and her son was born in the monastery guesthouse. This created a disturbance and so the manager told Father Ioannikios what had happened, and asked him what to do. He wondered if he should ask the women to go to the nearby village.

“Why,” Father Ioannikios cried, “are we like animals to act in such a way?”

He went to the guesthouse himself and asked the other woman to come out and tell him right away about everything in detail. Then he sent other women pilgrims to the monastery to go and help them. He also sent for the parish priest to come and baptize the baby, because a Hieromonk is not permitted to do so, except in cases of great necessity. He himself became the child’s godfather 2 and participated in this unforeseen event which befell these visitors so far from their home, for which they thanked him very much. The boy’s father, a wealthy merchant of Rostov, became a great benefactor of the Holy Mountain Hermitage and sincerely respected Father Ioannikios, keeping him informed about the child’s growth and accomplishments.

One of the saint’s extraordinary character traits was his love for children. Often, among the pilgrims, there were families with children, who received special attention from the Elder. He also had a child-like simplicity and trust, and he knew how to convey this to the youngsters so that they loved him and listened to him. He said, “The innocence of such children always evokes tenderness in me. One child looks like an angel of God, the purity of his soul just radiates from his face, especially at Holy Communion.”

Certain unfortunate persons, feeble-minded adults, may seem like children in their undeveloped minds. These also received the special love and protection of the kindly Father Ioannikios. We have already see how much he loved Theophilos, the blessed Fool for Christ (+ January 30, 1868), and how he cared for him during his illness, visiting him and gratifying all his wishes.

Theophilos was not the only one he befriended, however. Father Ioannikios always knew how to get along with those whose mental faculties were somewhat diminished. They always loved him and listened to him, and would frequently work along with the monks.

When Hieromonk Kyprianos, the monastery’s Father Confessor reposed, Father Ioannikios, in the humility and simplicity of his soul, did not wish to take his place. Some of the monks, however, desired this. Even Father Kyprianos himself pointed him out as a Confessor who was more experienced than anyone else. The Superior, Archimandrite Germanus, chose him as his own Father Confessor following the death of Father Kyprianos. This elevated him in the eyes of the entire monastery, but he always acted in such a way that he would not arouse anyone’s jealousy or give them cause to complain.

Frequently, he was sent out into the world by the Superior on the monastery’s business. Even though he was exposed to worldly turmoil, he preserved his spiritual tranquility by unceasing prayer. He also brought much benefit to those worldly people in whose company he happened to find himself. In particular, he loved to visit with his spiritual children who were living in the world. He completed his business quickly and in an expeditious manner. He did not like to sit around for very long. He performed his duties, and then went home to the monastery. His ill health also made such traveling and movement necessary for him. If he remained in his cell too long, the bleeding would start again. If he was traveling, it stopped right away. So it happened that he would leave the monastery feeling very weak, but when he returned he felt much stronger. Whether he was in a railroad car, at the train station, at an inn, or in the home of a peasant, he always tried to benefit his neighbor.

His cell was very simple. There were a few icons, a number of Church Service Books, some clothing, a poor man’s tea service, and a cheap clock. That was all. He always had books all over his cell. Some were opened, others had page markers. It was apparent that the Elder spent all his spare time in reading. A lampada always burned in his cell before the holy icons. He always advised people to prepare for, and to partake of, the Holy Mysteries of Christ as often as possible. He would say, “Someone who often prepares himself for receiving Holy Communion will improve in his inward being unconsciously, and even that is a great accomplishment. Our union with Christ through partaking of His Mysteries makes even our poor and insufficient preparation better by His grace. It renews us and recreates us, transforming us from carnal creatures to spiritual beings. Every person who partakes of the Holy Mysteries frequently will soon discover this and feel it within himself. Do not tell me that you are not prepared, or are unworthy to partake often. You are not prepared because of laziness, and in this way you do what the Enemy likes. He cannot endure anyone who prepares himself and receives Communion often, because this person is frightening and inaccessible to him. You are not worthy! Who among us can claim to be worthy of receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord? All of us are unworthy of this gift of God’s mercy! If we deprive ourselves of this gift by saying that we are unworthy, then we sin grievously, because we are pushing God away from ourselves. If we acknowledge our unworthiness, if we repent, and if we thirst to partake of the Holy Mysteries, then we receive help from above, and this becomes the means by which we partake of the Holy Mysteries uncondemned.”

Since he himself was cautious about manifestations from the spiritual world, Father Ioannikios always warned his Spiritual Children about believing in dreams or visions.

His simplicity was extraordinary, and often it was like that of a child. Since he was non-acquisitive, he always declined expensive gifts. If he was forced to accept, he would give all of it to the monastery, according to the strict cenobitic Rule. It was easy to make him happy with a small inexpensive gift. He preferred small sizes of books, such as the Psalter, the Holy Gospels, or the book of Canons. He had them in the smallest sizes one could obtain. His tea service was also quite small, almost like those made for children. Nothing made him happier than to be presented with a small drinking glass, or a tiny tea cup, or a small comb.

Several events occurred to make his poor health even worse. Once, while passing through the monastery yard, he saw that the crank on the water well was not working properly, and that the novice who was sent to repair it was unable to do so. The Elder came, and without stopping to think about it, he started to help. He climbed to the top of the structure and fell down into the well, where he might have drowned if the pulley hadn’t kept his head above the water. He bruised his shoulder, arm, and side very seriously on the wooden sides of the well. The monks came running and pulled him out of the well nearly unconscious, and he was ill for a long time afterward. This fall made his health even worse and, as he said himself, it was the precursor of his approaching death.

He found himself in danger once again, on one of his trips by train. He was rushing, as quickly as ever, to get into the coach. He missed his step, however, and fell between the car and the station platform. He was saved by his slender build, which allowed the train to pass over him, brushing him slightly with the wheels.

Even after this, he was sick for some time, and his side turned black and hard to the touch. As he lay beneath the train expecting to be killed, he prayed to the Mother of God asking her to deliver him from such a terrible death. Suddenly, he felt as if someone were pulling him toward the platform to a narrow space where he lay on his side and waited for the entire train to pass over him.

“Yes, my time is near, perceptibly near,” he said. He began to ask his friends not to forget him after his death, and to remember his parents Nikḗtas and Martha as well. “If you love me,” he said, “do not forget my parents. In this way you will show your love for me.”

On February 1, 1882 he was visited by the Superior, Father Germanus after Vespers, who found the Elder very ill. They sent for a doctor, who diagnosed him with acute pneumonia, and stated that his condition was grave. His Confessor, Hieromonk Arkadios, brought him the Holy Mysteries every day, and visited him often. His neighbor in the next cell, Hieromonk Dometios, was with him almost all the time and looked after him with rare love and devotion.

On February 8, he received the Mystery of Holy Unction. Toward evening on February 10, he became much worse. Now his death was very near, indeed. His Confessor read the Prayer for the dying over him. Father Germanus came to visit and stayed until the end, which was not long in coming. At 7:00 P.M. he passed peacefully and quietly away.

The crowds in the monastery were very large. Memorial Services were sung over him, and everyone wanted to bid him farewell in his cell. It was very stuffy because of the crowds, but his body remained incorrupt. There was no odor of death, but he was so thin that his body on the table looked like bones covered with skin.

On February 11, his body was taken from his cell to the church of the Protecting Veil by Hieromonk Paisios, the Confessor for the monks. On February 12, in the same church, the Superior, Archimandrite Germanus, solemnly served the Liturgy with other priests, and the Funeral Service took place afterward. The coffin was taken to the underground church in the caves and was buried there.

Saint Ioannikios was glorified on July 12, 2008.

1 The monastery was rebuilt after it was destroyed by the French in 1812.

2 According to Canon 4 of the Fourth Ecumenical Synod, a monk may not intrude upon or meddle in ecclesiastical affairs. See The Pedalion p. 248. The Interpretation of this Canon says that “monks must not become godfathers to children being baptized (except in cases of urgent necessity...”) Pedalion page 249.

Bishop Nikodim (Kononov) of Belgorod, National Ascetics of Piety of the XVIII-XIX Centuries, February Volume (Жизнеописания Отечественных подвижников благочестия 18 и 19 веков, февраль). This anonymous translation was edited by Archpriest Joseph Frawley.