Presbyter
John of Olenyevsky, in the world Ivan Vasilievich Kalinin, was born on August 5, 1854. His weak health did not prevent him from earning a living through small crafts, particularly knitting scarves and mittens. The main work of his life was prayer and visiting the local church, where he assisted the priest as an altar server. From the age of seven, he read the Horologion and sang in the choir, and at night he stood in prayer, limiting himself in food.
At the age of 65, he was ordained by Archbishop John to the rank of deacon and served in the churches of the villages of Olenyevka and Solovtsovka in the Penza region, and in 1946 he became a priest. From 1930 to 1951, he lived in a cell.
On March 26, 1951, the elder was severely beaten by unknown assailants, and on July 24, 1951, on a Monday at 7 a.m., he passed away. He was buried in the cemetery in Solovtsovka, and in 1996 his coffin was transferred to the territory of the Trinity-Sergius Church in the village of Solovtsovka. On December 27, 2000, Priest John Kalinin was canonized as part of the Assembly of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church of the 20th century.
The holy relics are located in the church of Solovtsovka, and at the cemetery of the neighboring village of Olenyevka, a grave remains, the place for which Father John chose himself. In Olenyevka, the cell of Father John has been preserved.
The memory of the priest-confessor John of Olenyevsky is celebrated on May 18 and July 24.
