On November 13, 2024, on the day of remembrance of the holy martyr John Kochurov, of Chicago and Tsarskoye Selo, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York. The service was conducted by the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov. On the eve of the feast, he celebrated Vespers and Matins with Polyeleos.
Priest John Kochurov served in North American lands at the same time as the builder and first rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, the holy martyr Alexander Khotovitsky, under the leadership of St. Tikhon, the future Patriarch of All Russia.
Father John raised money on his own in Russia and built a Russian Orthodox church in Chicago.
In 1907, Archpriest John Kochurov returned to Russia. His last place of service was the Catherine Cathedral in Tsarskoe Selo. In 1917, he was vilely murdered by the Bolsheviks.
His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon, who personally knew Father John, wrote to his widow, Mother Alexandra Kochurova: “We keep in our hearts the firm hope that, adorned with the crown of martyrdom, the deceased pastor now stands before the Throne of God in the ranks of the chosen ones of the faithful flock of Christ.”
