On Monday evening, March 16, a presentation of the book Pastor. Teacher. Friend: St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco in the Recollections of His Contemporaries, published by the Sretensky Monastery’s publishing house, took place in the assembly hall of Sretensky Theological Academy in Moscow. The book was presented by His Grace Theodosius, Bishop of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, and Archpriest Peter Perekrestov (dean of Joy of All Who Sorrow Diocesan Cathedral in San Francisco, CA).
The author of the book is Fr. Peter, who for many years has served as the cathedral dean. This church was founded by the Holy Hierarch John (Maximovitch) when he occupied the See of San Francisco, and his holy relics also abide there. Fr. Peter can rightly be considered the saint’s biographer. Records of the holy hierarch’s talks with his spiritual children and students, facts, and memoirs – materials that Fr. Peter has collected almost his entire life – were compiled into this book. This edition is not the first – a fact which confirms the uniqueness and value of Fr. Peter’s work.
Bishop Theodosius is also an expert on the life of the saint. He was consecrated bishop in Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral; taking part in his consecration were two of St. John’s spiritual children – Archbishops Michael (Donskoff; former Archbishop of Geneva & Western Europe) and Peter (Loukianoff; +2024).
At the beginning of the meeting, Fr. Peter presented a film about St. John, on which he had labored for many years. The footage features photographs of the saint’s parents, as well as previously unpublished video recordings made during the archpastor’s lifetime. As Fr. Peter noted, he regards this film as a sacred treasure, inasmuch as in it one can see how the holy hierarch lived, moved, and spoke.
During the discussion, Fr. Peter and Bishop Theodosius answered numerous questions about the hierarch and shared recollections of him from his contemporaries. They spoke about how the holy hierarch was a friend to young people, showed special care for them and for children, organized two shelters for them, and visited them frequently. A notable and touching detail was that St. John would come to the children when they were already asleep and adjusted their blankets himself.
At the end of the meeting, Fr. Peter autographed books for those interested.
