MOSCOW: 31 March 2026
St Tikhon Orthodox State University hosts the premier of the film "Aroma of Holiness"

On Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Sunday of the Cross, the Russian premiere of a new film about St John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco – “The Aroma of Holiness,” took place at the Sobornaya Palata Hall of the St. Tikhon Orthodox University (PSTGU). Registration for the film closed a few days after the screening was announced, as all 500 seats were filled – a complete sell-out – which testifies to the love and veneration of St. John in Russia.

The film’s director, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, Dean of Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, spent over 10 years gathering material for this film – form public sources and private archives. The film is special due to the amount of footage featuring the St. John himself. The film “The Aroma of Holiness” contains neither personal recollections from people who knew St. John nor private reflections on the significance of his life and work. Instead, the movie contains only St. John’s words and teachings, rare photographs of Vladika, as well as video footage of the holy Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II and his family, St. Patriarch Tikhon, the holy martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, and over 14 minutes of Vladika John himself. In 2024–2026, the film was. shown in Poland, Switzerland, France, and at numerous parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the United States and Canada: Washington D.C., Montreal, and Los Angeles, as well as Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, and St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Scarsdale, New York,

A guest of honor at the premiere was Bishop Theodosy of Manhattan. He and Archpriest Peter Perekrestov were introduced by the President of PSTGU, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, who is also a member of the Synodal Theological Commission and the Commission for the Canonization of Saints. Bishop Theodosius spoke first, discussing the significance of St. John in his own life and recounting a number of miracles performed by this wondrous saint. Archpriest Peter Perekrestov shared how the movie was created and spoke of the film as an “icon in motion.” Father Peter noted a number of honored guests at the movie premiere: Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov), Dr. Ivan Vasilyevich Maksimovich – a relative of St. John, and the wife of the film’s narrator, Archpriest Sergei Pravdolubov – Father Sergei recorded St. John’s texts for the film two months before his passing – Matushka Margarita Pravdolubova. The All-Russian premiere of the film was dedicated to the Ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (March 16 is the day of his repose) and Archpriest Sergei Pravdolubov. The gathering sang “Eternal Memory” for them.

The movie screening took place in absolute silence, amid tears and the joy of a living connection to a great saint of the XX century, St. John. In conclusion, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov shared his love and respect for the legacy for the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and emphasized the great significance of the restoration of Russian church unity in 2007. At the end of the evening, those gathered venerated a new icon of St. John containing a relic of his, and shad an opportunity to speak with both Bishop Theodosy and the film’s director, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov.

The following day, the second screening of the film “The Aroma of Holiness” took place, this time in the big hall of the Sretensky Theological Seminary. Concurrently with the screening, there was a presentation of the new edition of Archpriest Peter Perekrestov’s book of memoirs about St. John: “Pastor. Teacher. Friend.” As on the previous day, the screening drew a huge crowd.