Another appearance of Saint King John that took place in July 2013, in Keratea, Attica, during a gathering of about three hours with more than 70 people present. The story you will read below was experienced and narrated to me by three women a mother and her two daughters: Mrs. Alexandra, the mother, Maria, and Philothei (I have changed their names intentionally and for obvious reasons). Let me add here that these three women have deep faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, live a spiritual life, and are humble and devout people who work very hard and help many others through their almsgiving, prayers, and deeds. In fact, the mother, Alexandra, has a special spiritual relationship with many saints, such as Saint Blaise, Saint John Maximovitch, and others. I will now recount, as briefly as possible, what these three women told me.
Sometime in mid-2011, we had gone by car to Sounio. At one point, Maria stopped at a kiosk to buy something. Looking toward the kiosk owner, she saw him holding a book with a photo of Saint John Vatatzes on the cover. She was overjoyed, because for many years and especially through the teachings of the missionary elder Modestos from Mount Athos, who often visited their home the three women knew and awaited the coming of the Saint King from poverty. Maria, overwhelmed with joy, said to the kiosk owner: “Ah, how happy I am that you’re studying Saint King Vatatzes! My family is waiting for him to be resurrected and to receive his holy blessing.” The kiosk owner replied: “If you want to see Saint John the Merciful, give me your phone number, and when the time comes, I’ll call you!” Maria was pleasantly shaken, filled with questions, and eventually gave her home phone number. About two years passed, and in July 2013, Maria received a phone call: “Maria, come with your family to such-and-such place, at such-and-such address, at such-and-such time, to see and speak with the Saint King!” The morning call came around… At 6 a.m., the call joyfully startled Maria, who responded: “Yes, of course, we will come just as you said and described.” And so it happened. Bringing along the deeply devout and now blessed Styliani, the four women arrived at the designated, spacious, and very well-kept house.
Along the way, before reaching the house, another miraculous sign occurred: a “woman” stopped them on the road and led them directly to the house where the gathering was taking place! As soon as the four women entered the house, they saw about 70 people seated in a large living room, and among them was a man dressed in what resembled an imperial robe with military features. They sat down with great reverence, awe, and focused attention. They silently repeated the Jesus Prayer (“the prayer”) within themselves from time to time. Saint King John spoke calmly, beautifully, nobly, regally, with a very humble and gentle tone, using a somewhat unique language something between the Holy Scripture and Ancient Greek. Yet, all those present understood him perfectly and found his words deeply nourishing. The Saint King stood about 1.71 to 1.73 meters tall. His eyes were a brownish-green color, and his entire presence radiated deep royalty and noble majesty. He knew and addressed each participant by their baptismal name. All those present felt joy, peace, and spiritual elation in their souls, as they later confirmed to one another. At first, Saint King John addressed everyone with a general and comprehensive message.
Then he spoke about the very difficult days to come, the paramount importance of intense prayer preferably on one’s knees, his forthcoming governance of the entire world with its seat in the Queen City (Constantinople), and the importance of people using garlic extensively for the illnesses that would arise, urging them to share this information with others. Several times, the attendees saw Saint King John turn to a tall young man standing to his right, dressed in a uniquely radiant white tunic, and say to him: “Michael, write this down and tell it to the Lord!” The four women said it was absolutely impossible to look directly into “Michael’s” eyes, which seemed to sparkle with light. Later, Saint King John requested to meet with each family privately, one group at a time. The private meeting between Saint John and the four women lasted about 40 minutes. When it was their turn to speak with him, the young “Michael” discreetly approached as well. In her natural spontaneity and simplicity, Maria said to Saint King John: “Could we speak without the young man hearing us?” And Saint King John replied: “Maria, this is Archangel Michael. Speak as you wish! He assists me in the work of our Lord. I am King John Vatatzes, and I have been given the mission and ministry by the Lord to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world that all people on earth, without exception, may believe and become Orthodox Christians.” At another moment, Saint King John said: “Maria and Philothei, those small icons you wear around your neck though they are not visible because you wear them under your clothes you purchased them in such-and-such year at the Great School of Halki in the Princes’ Islands, near the Church of Panagia Pausolypi (a sacred double-sided icon of the Palaiologos era from the 14th century). The images depicted on those icons are connected to my imperial ancestors of holy Constantinople!”
Furthermore, Saint John said the following: “Maria and Philothei, I know that at this moment you are working as teachers for the Ministry of Education. When I am in the Holy God-Protected City, I will release you from your current duties and state obligations, and I will have you close to me to assist in the global mission of Orthodox revival and the evangelization of all nations. Orthodoxy and the Holy Gospel of the Lord will be taught to every nation on earth.” At one point, Saint King John also addressed the blessed Styliani, saying: “Styliani, the Lord is pleased with your holy life, with how much you pray so earnestly and reverently, and how you never let go of your prayer rope not even for a moment.” The women looked at each other again and again, unable to believe that they were living, conversing, and hearing all this from the lips of Saint King John. In another moment, Saint King John approached with noble grace and discernment and literally placed his hand on the back of Mrs. Alexandra and said: “Alexandra, why do you cry and grieve so deeply for your departed husband, the general? The general is beside the Lord! When you cry, he is troubled and saddened. It is better not to continue.” At the end of the meeting with the four women, Saint King John said: “I am preparing my army. Next, I will go to the Ministry of National Defense. I have there my own senior and junior officers who are also soldiers of Christ. After the Ministry, I will go to the region of Katerini, near Mount Olympus. That is where my headquarters are.”
This are excerpts from the Book: The Way to the Queen City - by: Elias Kallioras (2024).
The prophecies excerpts translation were prepared by The Holy Wisdom and uploaded to the YouTube channel on November 1, 2025.