Acting and former Head Sisters:

• Marina Ivanovna Zacharin (current)
• Natalia Vladimirovna Ekzarhova
• Marina Petrovna Vernigora
• Lidia Alexandrovna Nartzisova
• Tatyana Petrovna Zelensky
• Ksenia Geogrievna Voevodskaya
• Natalia Karlovna Zhadan
• Tatyana Petrovna Sorokin
• Xenia Orestovna Shtrandman
• Julia Ernestovna Mikvitz
• Nadejda Sergeevna Merriam
• Lyudmila Ippolitovna Grigorovich-Barskaya

Poem by Andrey Gidaspov dedicated to all Sisters

To the Myrrh-Bearing Women of St. John’s 
In solitude of deep devotion,
When streams of myrrh
Flow through your heart,
You carry Christ,
Light Unbegotten,
Like a torch of Truth
In transient times. 

We hear your steps,
We hear your singing,
Your prayers live
In words and deeds,
You light our candles,
Blessed sisters,
You share your love,
You give us peace.
You clean, you teach,
You cook, you pour
Your selfless tears
For us all,
You smile, you greet,
Your love endures
Our imperfections,
And your soul
Like a touch of God
Heals our sores -
You live your life of sacrifice,
And when you smile,
Your joy and hope
Shine like a beacon from afar.

Maria, Katie, Joannikia,
Marina, Olga, Anna, Ruth,
Joanna, Michaela, Nonna,
Anastasia and Nicola,
Irina, Danika, Stylina
Elena, Mary, Katerina,
Natasha, Paula, and Kristina,
Viktoria, Lydia and Ludmila,
Raisa, Sarah and Sophia,
Tatyana, Julia, Angelina,
Melania, Melanie, Galina,
Anne, Dionisya, Valentina,
Svetlana, Theodosia, Nina,
Justina and Elizabeth,
Nadezhda, Vera and Lyubov,
We thank you dearly, thank you all!

For bearing myrrh of caring souls,
For grace and mercy of your love,
For making Church our second home,
So Christ the Savior dwells in us!

Andrey Gidaspov
May 17, 2016