I Have Received Much More Than I Have Deserved

This book is basically a celebration of life of Archbishop John (Garklavs), a diocesan Orthodox Christian hierarch of Latvia (1943-1944) and the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest in America (1949-1980). It is a valuable source of information for historians and a valuable spiritual aide to all Christians, especially the Orthodox ones. Of special interest is Archbishop John’s connection with the icon of the Theotokos, which was written by Apostle St. Luke, and which the German military took out of Tikvin, Russia as a war trophy during World War II. They entrusted the icon to Archbishop John, who took it to Germany and then to America. It influenced Archbishop John’s life during his tenure as a refugee in Germany and in his new home in America. The icon was returned to Tikhvin in Russia after the demise of Communism, where it resides today. The author of the book, Alexander Gavrilin, is a professor of history at the University of Latvia, whose specialty has been the Orthodox Church in Latvia. Archbishop John’s life may serve as an appropriate example for Orthodox seminarians and clergy, as well as for all Christians.