John of Kronstadt’s lifetime edition "On the fast" is available on the portal of the Presidential Library

On the eve of the Lent the Presidential Library’s holdings were enriched with the book St. John of Kronstadt "On the fast." For the first time this unique edition was published 120 years ago, during the life of the holy pastor, who was at the time archpriest in the St. Andrew's Cathedral of Kronstadt.

Why the Lent was established and how should one fast? What is the attitude of church leaders to the Lent? Answers to these and many other questions, the importance of which does not fade over the centuries, can be found in the book of John of Kronstadt. It includes his thoughts as well as sayings of early Christian ascetics.

The book says that "Lent consisting of Quadragesima and Holy Week, was set under the apostles. Quadragesima was established in imitation of the Savior's forty-day fast in the desert, the Holy Week commemorates the suffering and death of the Savior. "John of Kronstadt convinces "all deniers of the fast that it is needed for spiritual renewal, for improvement of the soul", the fast helps to "clear the mind and develop a sense, to encourage the will for good deeds."

John of Kronstadt, born Ivan Ilyich Sergiyev, lived in 1829-1908. The Presidential Library’s holdings dispose of an extensive collection of rare books about this priest, educator, social activist. Thus, the "Biography of Father John of Kronstadt, Archpriest of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Kronstadt" published in 1892, states: "One can hardly find a person in Russia, where ever he lives, and whatever caste he belongs, who does not know father John and has not hear about him. Across our vast Motherland one can hear stories about good deeds of the Kronstadt priest, about the power of his prayer, producing miraculous cures, the great moral assistance received from him by all those who come to him with faith.” The book tells about the laborious pastor service of Father John and his assistance to the people of Kronstadt: "Here he has created: a charity shelter for orphans and a children's day shelter, a free primary school; outpatient clinic for coming; shoemaking workshop and bookbinding; popular readings, popular cuisine and dining room, a bookstore, a rooming shelter, charity for poor women, loan of benefits."

John of Kronstadt was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church abroad in 1964, and later, in 1990, by the Russian Orthodox Church.

To date, the holdings of the Presidential library contain over 220,000 materials, about 3, 000 of which, covering religious themes, are freely accessible. These are rare books on the history of religions including the Orthodoxy, biographies of saints, documents on the Church's participation in the development of the Russian statehood. Many of them may be found in the collection "The History of the Russian Orthodox Church," available on the website of the Presidential Library.