The Church of Saint John the Russian in Prokopi, Evia island, is one of the most respected and historically significant Orthodox pilgrimage destinations worldwide.
The sacred relic of the Saint, preserved incorrupt inside the church, attracts thousands of faithful pilgrims and visitors from all over the world every year.
The natural setting of Prokopi, among lush ravines, forests, and the famous centuries-old plane trees, creates an atmosphere of peace and spiritual uplift that is rarely found elsewhere.
The Life and Confession of Saint John the Russian
Birth – Military Service – Captivity
Saint John was born around 1690 in a village of Little Russia, to virtuous and devout parents. From an early age, he was raised in the Orthodox faith and learned the sacred teachings.
When he reached legal age, he was conscripted into the Russian army, during the reign of Peter the Great. He took part in the Russian-Turkish War of 1710–1711, which proved unfortunate for his homeland, and together with many other Russians he was captured by the Tatars. The captives were sold to Ottoman officials; John ended up in the household of a cavalry officer from Prokopi of Asia Minor, a town in Cappadocia near Caesarea.
Confession of Faith
Many of his fellow captives, as recorded by the sources, renounced their faith in Christ and converted to Islam, either out of fear or because of pressure and promises. John, however, remained unwavering in his Orthodox faith. He is described in the sources as a “free besieged man,” with his body in captivity but his soul unenslaved.
To the coercive demands of his master to change his faith, he responded with words preserved by tradition: “I was born a Christian and I will die a Christian… I will never deny the true faith of my parents.” This steadfast confession led the official texts of the Church to recognize him as a “new confessor.”
The Stable as a Place of Ascetic Life
In Prokopi of Cappadocia, John lived and worked in the stable of the household, among the animals. The sources describe him enduring mistreatment, insults, and mockery, while the Ottomans called him “kiafiri,” meaning infidel, precisely because he refused to renounce his faith.
With diligence and great care, he tended the animals in the dark stable, where he also rested. There he prayed and glorified God “like another Job,” as ecclesiastical texts note. Accounts of the pilgrimage record that although his master and his wife once offered him a small room near the stable, the Saint chose to remain there as a way of ascetic practice and humility.
At night, according to the official biography, he kept vigil in the narthex of the Church of Saint George, carved into the rock near his master’s house, praying continuously. The peak of his spiritual life was frequent participation in Holy Communion, especially every Saturday, as emphasized by the biographical account of the pilgrimage.
The Miraculous Prayer – The Miracle of the Plate
Church tradition and the official texts of the Municipality and the Pilgrimage state that Saint John gained a reputation as a miracle worker already during his lifetime, mainly through his prayer. A characteristic example described in detail is the so-called “miracle of the plate.”
When the Aga traveled on pilgrimage to Mecca, his wife in Prokopi hosted a banquet for relatives and friends. Among the dishes was pilaf, which the master particularly enjoyed. At that moment, the hostess remarked how pleased her husband would be if he could eat from the same food. John then asked for a plate full of pilaf, simply saying that he would send it to Mecca.
The guests, as the account relates, laughed, thinking he was joking or that he intended to give it to the poor. John took the plate to the stable, knelt down, and prayed fervently. According to the narration, the plate “disappeared” from before him, and he returned to the table saying that he had sent the food to his master.
A few days later, when the Aga returned from Mecca, he brought with him a plate bearing the household’s emblem, recounting that he found it in his room filled with warm pilaf, without knowing how it arrived there. His wife and the guests then associated the event with John’s prayer, and this incident became one of his most well-known miracles.
The Dormition and the Incorrupt Relic
According to official sources, Saint John fell ill and, on May 27, 1730, asked to receive Holy Communion for the last time. The priest, fearing the fanaticism of the Turks, hesitated to bring the Holy Gifts into the stable and, “by divine inspiration,” as the sources state, concealed Holy Communion inside an apple so that he could administer it there. Shortly afterward, John surrendered his soul to God.
Three years after his burial, an exhumation took place, and according to the texts of the Municipality and the Pilgrimage, it was revealed that his body remained incorrupt and fragrant. From 1733, the precious relic became part of the liturgical life of the Church and has since been venerated as a grace-bearing holy relic.
The relic was initially placed in the Church of Saint George in Prokopi of Cappadocia, later in the newly built Church of Saint Basil the Great, and afterward in a newer church, where countless faithful would travel to receive blessing.
From Prokopi of Cappadocia to Neo Prokopi of Evia
After the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the population exchange of 1924, the holy relic was transported by ship to Greece together with the refugees. At the port of Chalkida, it was received by the Metropolitan of Chalkida and the local authorities.
The refugees who settled in Northern Evia founded the new settlement of Neo Prokopi and transferred the relic there, where it was initially placed in the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen.
On May 27, 1951, the sacred relic was transferred to the newly built church dedicated to the Saint, placed in a silver reliquary decorated with scenes from his life and miracles. From that time until today, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world visit Nea Prokopi to venerate the Saint and seek his blessing.
The Incorrupt Relic and Its Miraculous Rescue from Fire
According to official ecclesiastical tradition and the oldest written biographies of Saint John, one of the most significant and well-known miracles associated with his holy relic occurred in 1832, during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, when Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt rebelled against Ottoman authority.
Osman Pasha, leading 1,800 soldiers, passed through Cappadocia heading toward the Cilician front and attempted to spend the night in Prokopi. The Muslim inhabitants of the town, many of whom were Janissaries and hostile to the Sultan, refused to receive his army.
The Christian residents attempted to prevent a confrontation, but when they realized that an attack was imminent, they took their families and fled to nearby villages and caves, leaving behind only the elderly.
The following day, Osman Pasha entered Prokopi by force. Looting and acts of violence followed. Some soldiers entered the Church of Saint George, seized silver objects and oil lamps, and eventually opened the Saint’s reliquary, hoping to find valuable items.
Disappointed that they found no treasures, they decided, in order to mock the Christians, to burn the holy relic.
They carried it into the courtyard, gathered brushwood, lit a large fire, and threw the relic into the flames.
According to the preserved testimony, the sacred body was not burned; not only did it remain incorrupt and unharmed, but it also appeared to the impious soldiers as if it were alive, frightening them and driving them away from the church enclosure. Terrified by what they witnessed, as recorded in the old accounts, the soldiers fled, leaving their plunder behind.
The next day, elderly Christians found the relic intact among the burnt remains and placed it back into the reliquary.
This tradition, recorded in all early biographies and repeated by the official pilgrimage, is considered one of the most important testimonies to the sanctity of the Saint.
The Miraculous Presence of the Saint Through the Centuries
The tradition of the Pilgrimage and the official texts of the Church state that Saint John the Russian was venerated as a miracle worker already during his lifetime, and even more so after his dormition, when his incorrupt relic became a place of reverence and refuge for thousands of people.
In the old Church of Saint George in Prokopi of Cappadocia, where his relic was initially kept, many pilgrims from the surrounding area and distant villages arrived seeking prayer, protection, and spiritual support. Over the decades, his reputation spread throughout Asia Minor, and people recorded cases of healings, relief from illness, and sudden resolution of difficult situations.
As the Pilgrimage notes, the faithful sought the Saint not only as a protector of bodily health but also of the soul, believing that his intercession brought peace, patience, and consolation to those undergoing trials.
With the transfer of the relic to Northern Evia in 1924, Nea Prokopi developed into a major new pilgrimage center. From the very first decades, residents and visitors offered thanksgiving testimonies to the church for the Saint’s intervention in various circumstances: illnesses, dangers, family difficulties, and serious challenges of everyday life.
These accounts are testimonies of faith offered by pilgrims through letters of gratitude, votive offerings, and personal narratives, which are preserved by the Pilgrimage.
Ecumenical Spiritual Significance
Today, Neo Prokopi continues to welcome an uninterrupted flow of pilgrims from every part of the world. Within the church, the accounts of people who believe they received help or consolation from the Saint are preserved, and the Church records them as testimonies of faith.
Thus, the presence of Saint John is not limited to his historical life alone, but continues to this day through the living relationship maintained between the Saint and the pilgrims, who believe that his grace accompanies all who invoke him with faith and hope.
The figure of Saint John the Russian has gained international recognition. Numerous churches and chapels in different countries have been dedicated to his name, and his memory is devoutly honored throughout the Orthodox world. The Saint’s history, the simplicity of his life, and the countless miraculous events associated with his intercession have transformed Prokopi into one of the greatest centers of Orthodox pilgrimage.
Each year, May 27, the day of his feast, gathers a vast number of pilgrims who fill the village to participate in the procession and the great festive Divine Liturgy. The experience is unique: chanting, incense, crowds of people of all ages, and an atmosphere of deep reverence combined with collective expectation.
The Church and the Holy Relic
Inside the church, the incorrupt relic of the Saint is preserved in an ornate reliquary. The space is simple yet imposing, with beautiful frescoes, icons, and architectural elements that combine tradition with more recent artistic influences.
The flow of visitors is constant. Many travel long distances to pray, light a candle, or seek the help and protection of the Saint. Others come to offer thanks for a miracle or to leave a votive offering in gratitude.
The calmness of the space, the scent of incense, and the soft lighting create a feeling that goes beyond the religious framework and touches the human soul deeply.
Prokopi – A Village Immersed in Nature
Prokopi is a destination in its own right. Built in a lush valley, it is surrounded by dense forests, abundant waters, and impressive centuries-old plane trees that provide natural shade and coolness throughout the year.
Visitors can enjoy leisurely walks along the river and beneath the giant plane trees, follow paths ideal for hiking, and stop at traditional tavernas for a meal. The village also features small shops with local products and souvenirs, which nicely complete the experience of visiting Prokopi.
Nature here has a healing quality. Combined with the spiritual atmosphere of the church, the village offers an experience of calm and inner balance that many travelers seek, even if they do not arrive with a specific religious motivation.
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