A new documentary about St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco, made its Russian premiere on Sunday, March 15, at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University in Moscow.

The film, titled The Aroma of Holiness, drew a full house of 500, reports the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

St. John, who served as a hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and reposed in San Francisco in 1966, is beloved both in America, where he spent the final years of his earthly life, and in Russia, making him a living bond between Orthodoxy on both sides of the ocean and throughout the Orthodox world.

Directed by Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, Dean of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, the film had its general premiere in Los Angeles in October 2024, after which it traveled to Poland, Switzerland, France, and ROCOR parishes across North America.

Fr. Peter spent over ten years gathering material from public sources and private archives. Describing the film as an “icon in motion,” he noted that it presents only St. John’s own words and teachings, rare photographs, footage of fellow saints of the era, and more than 14 minutes of St. John himself.

The Moscow premiere was attended by His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan, who spoke about St. John’s place in his own life and recounted several miracle stories.

Following the screening, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, President of PSTGU, spoke of his respect for the legacy of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and the significance of the restoration of Russian Church unity in 2007. Those present then venerated a new icon of St. John containing one of his relics.

The following day, a second screening was held at Sretensky Theological Seminary, accompanied by the presentation of a new edition of Father Peter’s book of memoirs, Pastor. Teacher. Friend. That screening likewise drew a large crowd.

Film on St. John of San Francisco makes Russian debut