John of Moscow

Blessed John of Moscow, also called John Big-⁠Cap, was a fool for Christ of the sixteenth century, born near Vologda and regarded as a wonderworker in Moscow. He fell asleep on 3 July 1589. He is remembered on 3 July and on 12 June (the finding of his relics).

He was born on the outskirts of Vologda, and in his youth worked in a saltworks and as a water-⁠carrier. He made his work a spiritual discipline, together with strict fasting and prayer. Then he moved to Rostov, where he began the labour of foolishness for Christ and knew Venerable Irinarkh of Rostov. He wore on his body chains with heavy iron crosses, and on his head a heavy iron cap, whence the nickname “Ivan Big-⁠Cap.” In Moscow he went barefoot and almost naked even in the hardest frost and foretold the great misfortunes of Russia, the Time of Troubles and the incursion of the Poles, saying that “in Moscow there will be many visible and invisible devils.” He is said to have spoken the truth without fear, even to the highest, such as the tsar Boris Godunov himself, to whom he is said to have said: “Wise head, search out the things of God; God waits long, but strikes hard.”

Shortly before his death he indicated his own grave, at the church of the Protection on the Moat, afterwards called the cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed. He prepared himself for the grave, took off his chains and showered himself with water three times. Before his death (1589) the blessed one showed the gift of healing. He was venerated at Moscow as a great wonderworker and seer. By order of Tsar Feodor Ivanovich he was buried beside the cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God on the Moat. On 12 June 1672 his relics were uncovered, resting beneath a crypt in one of the chapels of the cathedral, and the commemoration of that day was then established. In 1916 the chapel in which the relics lie was named in honour of Saint John the Blessed. His service and life are preserved in manuscripts of the seventeenth century.