The Chicago Saint, Hieromartyr John Kochurov, Celebrated with Great Festivity on His Feast

CHICAGO, IL [DOM] – The feast of Hieromartyr John of Chicago was held in the very city in which he labored for over a decade. October 30th and 31st brought together clergy and faithful from all over greater Chicago for the feast of one of their very own saints, St. John of Chicago.

On Friday 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 Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Mykola Bodnarchuk, Priest John Kennerk, Deacon Paul Garklavs, and Deacon Timothy Heinbokel. The responses were sung by the Chicago Deanery Male Choir under the direction of Reader Philip Sokolov.

The next day, the feast of St. John of Chicago, just prior to Divine Liturgy, Father Alexander received five catechumen into the Orthodox Church by Holy Baptism. In his address to the newly received, Father Alexander highlighted the missionary work that took place under St. John while he labored in Chicago. 123 years later, the work of St. John is still being felt by the many souls that have…