CHICAGO, IL [DOM] – A historical celebration took place this year for the feast of the Hieromartyr John of Chicago, in the very city in which he labored in for over a decade. October 30 and October 31 brought together clergy and faithful from all over the Diocese of the Midwest to greet, for the very fist time, the relics of St. John Kochurov.
On Wednesday evening, the All Night Vigil was held at the historic Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL, the very temple the saint built in 1903. His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest presided over the service. Serving with the Archbishop were Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Chancellor, Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Mousa Haddad (Antiochian Orthodox Church), Priest Nikolaj Kostur (Serbian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Mykola Bodnarchuk, Archpriest Michael Myers (Bulgarian OCA), Priest John Kennerk, Deacon Paul Garklavs and Deacon Andrew Bender.
Litiya was served outside making a procession around the temple that the saint built. During the Polyeleos, the icon containing the relics of St. John was processed to the center of the Cathedral for the singing of the Magnification. “This was the first time St. John has physically returned to this city since leaving for Russia,” reported Fr. Herman, making this the first time that Orthodox Christians in this country were able to venerate the missionary saint of America. The responses were sung by the Chicago Deanery Male Choir under the direction of Reader Philip Sokolov. At the end of the vigil, the Archbishop greeted everyone and offered a reflection of St. John’s labors and work.
The very next day, the feast of St. John of Chicago, clergy and faithful gathered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Daniel was the main celebratant and was joined by, Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Chancellor, Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Mitered Archpriest Vladimir Kovalchuk, Priest Andrew Kishler (Antiochian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Tarasy Maxim, Archpriest Michael Myers (Bulgarian OCA), Priest John Segvich, Priest John Kennerk, Priest Anthony Saunders, Priest Joseph Whittaker, Deacon Paul Garklavs and Deacon Nikolai Tambur. The responses were sung by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Reader Vladimir Lymar.
During his homily, Archbishop Daniel shared the importance of St. John and his presence at the Cathedral. “We know St. John because his life and testimony reach out to us through the decades since his martyrdom. We know saint john because he intercedes for us. This is certainly a special day, celebrating saint john, especially since we know him and feel his presence here spiritually here at all times. We know that he worships with us in this temple.”
Following the Archbishop’s remarks, Fr. Alexander greeted the Archbishop and gathered clergy, “This is always an inspirational day for us in Chicago. We have always felt the prayers of our Father John, but now to have him permanently in the Cathedral is a great blessing and inspiration.” After the Prayers of Thanksgiving a festive meal was held in the hall.
It was in 1899 that Father John Kochurov commissioned noted architect Louis Sullivan to construct what is today Holy Trinity Cathedral. The new church was consecrated by Saint Tikhon of Moscow in 1903 and designated a cathedral in 1922. After his return to Russia, Father John became the first clergyman to be martyred at the outset of the Bolshevik Revolution. He was glorified as Saint John of Chicago and Tsarskoye Tselo in December 1994. Now, in 2024, a portion of his relics have been transferred to this temple and are enshrined for veneration.
