CHICAGO, IL [DOM] – The feast of the Hieromartyr John of Chicago, was held 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 world to celebrate the memory of the missionary saint.
On Thursday 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. The Archbishop welcomed His Grace Bishop Peter of Caffa, Vicar of the Exarchate of Spain and Portugal, to the Cathedral for the festal celebration.
Serving with the hierarchs were Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Chancellor, Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Mykola Bodnarchuk, Archpriest Mousa Haddad (Antiochian Orthodox Church), Priest Leonty Naidzions (ROCOR), Priest John Kennerk, Priest Anthony Saunders, Deacon Paul Garklavs, Deacon Andrew Bender, and Deacon Timothy Heinbokel. 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 Bishop Peter and all of those gatehred for the feast.
On the feast of St. John of Chicago, clergy and faithful gathered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Daniel celebrated with Bishop Peter and they were joined by, Archpriest Herman Kincaid, Chancellor, Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Mitered Archpriest Vladimir Kovalchuk, Archpriest Athanasios Chulakov (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Archpriest Tarasy Maxim, Archpriest Michael Myers (Bulgarian OCA), Priest Nikolai Lochmatow, Priest Jacob Van Sickle, Priest John Kennerk, Priest Anthony Saunders, Deacon Paul Garklavs, Deacon Nikolai Tambur, and Deacon Timothy Heinbokel. The responses were sung by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Reader Vladimir Lymar.
At the end of the service, Archbishop Daniel recalled the life of St. John. Bishop Peter offer a reflection stating that he was very moved by the experience and the work of the saints in Chicago. Following the Archbishop’s remarks, Fr. Alexander greeted the hierarchs and gathered clergy. 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. In 2024, a portion of his relics have been transferred to the Cathedral and are enshrined for veneration.
