Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of St. John of Chicago
CHICAGO, IL [Holy Trinity Cathedral] — The parish of Holy Trinity Cathedral here will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint John Kochurov with a month of services and activities, according to Priest Alexander Koranda, Priest-in-Charge.
On Sunday, October 1, a Service of Thanksgiving was served, thanking God for all the blessings of the cathedral. On October 14 and 15, the cathedral will participate in Open House Chicago and anticipates hosting thousands of visitors. On Friday, October 20, Matins for the Departed will be celebrated at 6:30p.m., while on Soul Saturday, October 21, services will be held remembering all parishioners who have departed this life. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:30a.m. On October 22 at 1:00 p.m., Dr. Lisa Gassin, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Olivet Nazarene University, will present a lecture on the work of Saint John and those he worked with during his missionary days in Chicago.
The feast of Saint John Kochurov will be celebrated by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, and the local hierarchs and clergy of Chicago. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31. The newly formed Saint Mardarije Choir will sing the liturgical responses. On Monday, October 30, the festal Vigil will be celebrated at the cathedral at 6:30 p.m. Fellowship will follow both services in the cathedral hall.
The Wonderworking “Hawaiian” Iveron Icon of the Mother of God will be present for the Vigil and Liturgy on October 30 and 31.
According to Father Alexander, Holy Trinity Cathedral, founded in 1892, is home to the oldest Orthodox Christian parish in Chicago. This beautiful church was designed by the famous American architect, Louis Sullivan. It was consecrated by Saint Tikhon of Moscow in 1903 and built under the leadership of Saint John Kochurov of Chicago, who was the first clergyman to be martyred at the outset of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Located in the heart of Chicago’s historic Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park neighborhood, the cathedral has been a vital part of the community for more than a century. It is an official City of Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it’s the center of religious life for many Orthodox faithful and their families.
“We are dedicated to serving the people of God in the spirit of Christian love, and we invite you to come and worship with us whenever you are in the Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park area,” Father Alexander said.
Further information may be obtained by calling 773-486-6064 or writing to ajkoranda@gmail.com.
