'''John (Alexeev)''', an elder of Valaam, known in the world as John (Ioann) Alexeevich Alexeev, was a Schema-abbot at the [[Valaam Monastery|Valaam]] and [[Valamo|New-Valaam]] monasteries.
==Life==
John was born on [[February 14]], 1873 in Tver province of Russia into a family of a peasant family. He graduated from the [[parish]] school of the village of Il’inskoe.
John In 1889, he entered Valaam Monastery. After spending four years in the Skete of St. Herman of Valaam, he was born in Februaryconscripted into the army for another four years. Released from military service, 14he temporarily returned home before returning, 1873 in Tver province 1901, to Valaam. John was given obedience for two years at the [[metochion]] of Russia the Valaam monastery in a family of a peasantSt. Petersburg. He graduated from Later, he wrote that the parish school of city had a bad influence on him and that he, weak in spirit, could not accommodate the village of Il’inskoeurban bustle.
In 1889 he entered the 1906, John became a [[novice]] at Valaam Monasteryand, on [[May 22]]. He spent 4 years in the Skete of Saint Herman of Valaam and then was conscripted into the army for another 4 years. Then he temporary returned home and then, in 19011910, again went to Valaam. John he was given obedience at [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the metochion name of the Valaam monastery in St. Petersburg where he spent 2 years. He wrote later, that the city had a bad influence on him and he, weak in spirit, could not accommodate the urban bustleHyacinth.
In 1906 John was enlisted as a novice of After repeated petitions, Hyacinth returned to the Valaam [[monastery ]] and on May, 22lived initially in St. Elias Skete, 1910 he was tonsured a monk with then later in the name Skete of HyacinthSt. [[John the Forerunner|John the Baptist]].
After repeated petitionsOn [[October 19]], Hyacinth 1921, he was returned to appointed [[abbot] of St. Tryphon of Pechenga Monastery. Then on [[November 13]], he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]] and [[November 15]] a [[hieromonk]]. At that time, the monastery and was living in St. Elias’ Skete and later in within the Skete territory of St. John the Baptistnewly independent Finland.
On October 19In 1932, 1921 he was made an abbot of St. Tryphon of Pechenga monastery. Then on NovemberHyacinth returned to Valaam and, 13in 1933, he was ordained tonsured in [[hierodeaconMonastic Ranks|Great Schema]] with the name John and November, 15 – [[hieromonk]]began to live in seclusion in the Skete of St. John the Baptist. At that timeIn 1938, the monastery he was on elected the territory spiritual father of Finlandthe monastery.
In 1932 Hyacinth returned to Valaam and in 1933 he 1940, Fr. John was tonsured in Great Schema evacuated with the name of John and started other brethren to live in seclusion in Finland during the Skete of St. John [[w:Winter War|Winter War]] between the Baptist. In 1938 he was elected as a spiritual farther of the monasterySoviet Union and Finland.
In 1940 Fr. John was evacuated with other brethren to The elder reposed on [[June 5]], 1958, in the New-Valaam Monastery in Finland.
==Writings==Father John carried on an extensive correspondence. Among his spiritual children were people both with higher education and simple, simply uneducated. In the 1950s, some of his letters were published in the journal "Aamun Koitto", translated into Finnish by the chief editor Hieromonk Paul, so the readers got acquainted with the teachings of the elder and his advices. In 1956, a small collection of letters was published in Helsinki in Russian. Subsequently, in 1984 and 1990, the letters were reprinted several times in Finlandand, in 1984book form, 1990. The book was were translated into English and Serbian. Many times the letters were published in Russia.
The ==Sources==*[http://shiigumen.ru Letters of Valaam elder reposed on June 5, 1958, in the John(Alexeev)] In Russian*[http://drevo-info.ru/articles/18968.html Drevo: open orthodox encyclopedia. Schema-Abbot John (Alexeev).] In Russian*[Valamo|New-http://valaam.ru Web site of Valaam Monastery]] in Finland. In Russian
==Source==*[http[Category://shiigumen.ru Letters of Valaam elder John(Alexeev)Monastics]]*[http://drevo-info.ru/articles/18968.html Drevo[Category: open orthodox encyclopedia. Schema-Abbot John (Alexeev).Priests]*[http://valaam.ru Web site of Valaam Monastery]
