Great Schema Hieromonk
In the world, Ivan Kryukov was born in Kursk in a merchant family in 1795. From childhood, he was filled with love for monasticism and asceticism. At the age of nine, he was sent to learn the craft of making tiles. After the death of his wife, at the age of 38, he entered the Glinsk Monastery of the Kursk diocese, under the guidance of the elder-abbot Philaret.
For a year and a half, he was a novice, after which he received the right to wear a cassock. John became famous for his ability to heal the sick. After 7 years, he was tonsured into the mantle with the name Ioannikiy and appointed as the economist of the monastery. In the Holy Mountain monastery, he was left in the position of economist and worked hard for the improvement of the Holy Mountain.
John waged war against the governor of Potemkin, defending the peasantry. Later, he was ordained a hieromonk and appointed as a spiritual guide to the pilgrims. In 1850, he secluded himself in a small cell, where he lived for 17 years, 5 of which were without heating.
In such labors, he lived, communing once a month. The brethren of the monastery accused him of pride, but John gained many admirers among the laity. For his ascetic love for God and his neighbors, the Lord granted him the gift of healings. In the last years of his life, he could only perform the unceasing Jesus prayer.
On August 11, 1867, he peacefully passed away and was buried at the altar of the hospital church. Widespread popular veneration began from the day of his death, and many miraculous healings occurred. On August 24, 1995, the glorification of the ascetic for local veneration in the rank of venerable was held by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. On November 30, 2017, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made the decision for his church-wide glorification.
