Worship Of Father John

WORSHIP OF FATHER JOHN.

The belief of the Russian peasantry In the divinity of Father John of Kronstadt is still largely held, says the St Petersburg correspondent of the London Times.

Trustworthy newspaper reports are to the effect that twenty peasants living at Karpovka, in the Don territory, Journeyed 1,000 miles to Kronstadt in order to worship Father John, persisting in maintaining that he was Christ. They were discovered by the police and were sent home to be dealt with by the ecclesiastical authorities.

The correspondent also describes 1 scene he himself witnessed at St Petersburg, a few days ago, when Father John was leaving the Nicholas railway station. In spite of the secrecy observed, a large crowd had assembled and Father John had to be escorted to the train by a dozen gendarmes, who formed a ring around him. Nevertheless women tried hard to approach him, and some threw themselves on the ground in order to crawl inside the ring and kiss his feet or even his garments. When Father John was in the train the gendarmes formed a line in front of it, but one woman approached and besought the passenger to ask the famous priest to show himself, even if only for a moment.