Tamara Ivanov shares her memories about Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco as well about the Russian community in Shanghai "I cannot consider myself a refugee but my parents were refugees. The Chinese welcomed my parents. Our family took a ferry in 1921 from Kazan and tried to immigrate to Japan but they were refused entry, next they tried to enter another country – I cannot remember which one – and were refused as well. The ferry then changed course to Korea where the officials accepted all immigrants, over 1000 of them. Some of them sadly passed away on the journey due to hardship and sickness. A priest served requiem mass and the bodies were thrown in the water. It was horrible. At the time there was a plague epidemic in Korea and many people died. The Korean officials asked the newly arrived immigrants (my father was among them) to help bury the many dead Koreans that had died from the epidemic. The real miracle is that while the Russian immigrants were helping to bury the Korean dead, not one of them contracted and suffered from the epidemic. After a short time in Korea my family received word that the Chinese government was now prepared to accept Russian immigrants. The “white” Russians pushed China ahead because opera, ballet, amazing concerts were brought along. La crème de la crème got gathered in Shanghai. And this time there came our beloved father John. He helped a lot. He opened an orphanage, etc. Once Father John came to me when I was ill with camp fever. The nurses started to cover all the patients properly. There were some old ladies. I and my friend Allochka – she also had a camp fever – lay in the corner. Father John came up to me. He put his hands on his walking stick, like this. I saw just his eyes. He looked into my eyes and said, "Tamara, you have beautiful eyes, but unfortunately these eyes will experience many tears". He gave me a small glimpse of the future when I was 9 years old. Unfortunately after some time political forces decided to discredit Father John and there was a big effort to keep him from succeeding at his mission. Politics is always politics. It came even to the point that Father John was summoned but as soon as the judge looked at him, Father John got freed. He recognized a saint person in him. The issue was not discussed in the media. They tried to avoid any conflicts between Father John’s supporters and opponents. After a while – I was already 13 or 14 – I was walking along rue Albert. Opposite Aunty Tanja’s house where I was going to there was a field where a French game with a net and a ball was played. And there was girl whom I knew from my school. She was sitting on a cloth and having a plate in front of her. I was on another side of the road. I saw it – she was very ugly and there was something about her. As a child I could not understand it back then. She looked miserable. Then I noticed Father John come. He came up to her, hugged her, talked to her tenderly, found some coins in his pocket and put them in her plate. I was so happy to see all this. The young girl’s mother came out and started to beat her while Father John tried to protect her. I could not witness this any longer and ran away. The WW II had come to an end and most Russians were faced with the choice of returning to the Soviet Union or going elsewhere. A lot of Russians stayed in Shanghai. My brother was one of them. As the Red Army was entering Shanghai, most of the immigrants were evacuated - Father John organized a ferry to bring them to the Philippines, the island Tubabao, where they remained for two years. Once there was a storm. Father John went to the water, held his hands and the storm died out. All this time, 2 years, Father John was in contact with American authorities. He tried to find a way for the Russians in the Philippines to be officially accepted in the USA. And he succeeded. I was already in the States. The moment when the ferry from the Philippines arrived I and my husband Pavel were at the port and witnessed the arrival. My brother was on that ferry. People were coming from the ferry, kissing and hugging each other. Everyone was extremely happy. Shanghai. The Palm Sunday. It was a beautiful day. That was the first time when I deeply realized that I was Orthodox. I was 7 years old. My father took me to the church and put me on his shoulder. There was incredible crowded. Everyone held an alight candle. I was so deeply impressed… I remember, I hugged my father’s head and pressed myself against it strongly. On the way home my father told me about this holiday. Next day we went to the mass. My father said to me: “Tamara, never forget two very important things – you are Orthodox and you are Russian”. I was 7 when he told it to me. Wherever I’ve been I have never felt ashamed to say that I am Orthodox and I am Russian". Thanks to Genia and Peter Kruger for their generous help with the translation.

• published: 08 Jan 2013
• views: 326