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Show IFATHEB JOHN, I1TE0 Mi PHIEST, DIES Close of Career of Character Long Famous in Empire of t he Czar. .PETEIiSBU.RQ, Jan. 2. Father John of Cronstadt is dead. Tho noted priosfc for some timo had been suffering suffer-ing from chronic drops- and intestinal eohiplaiuts and tho cud, chough mid-den, mid-den, wjs not unexpected. father John was born- November 30, 1S29. As a priest of tho Andrew church at Cronstadt, Cron-stadt, his zeal and devotion drew about him hosts of followers and attracted tho attention of 'the emperor, who constantly con-stantly befriended him. A pilgrimage of the present empress lo tho phrino of St.. Soraphin, which among pious Russians , was believed to havo .been responsible re-sponsible for tho birth of tho desired heir to the throno, waa undertaken on Father John's advice. Tho .lale years of .Father John's life were clouded by tho ill rcputu of tho sect of Johnites which was exploited byran unscrupulous and immoral group oi men and women to their great financial finan-cial advantage. Tho priest's eyes wore opened to this 011I3- last summer, wheu he . anathematized the false leaders. Father John of Cronstadt was christened chris-tened John Sergieff. llo was born at Archangel in 1S20. JT.is lifelong loyalty to the staro as well as to his outspoken criticism of tho government when ho thought it; was in tho wrong, and tho reputation acquired iu his later years as-a miracle worker all combined to make him one of tho most striking personalities per-sonalities in Russia. Thousands journeyed jour-neyed every yea? to Cronstadt for his benediction'. ' |