I appreciated Steve Kloehn’s Oct. 22 article on the Patriarch of Constantinople’s visit to Chicago (Main news). Even if I disagree with some of the opinions expressed, I think he pretty much “got it right” concerning the patriarch’s position and status in the Orthodox world, plus some of the important “political” issues he is confronting in the American Greek Orthodox community.
I would also like to inform Mr. Kloehn that Chicago has its own canonized Orthodox saint (Russian Orthodox, in this case): St. John Kochurov. St. John was a young Russian priest who served the diverse Chicago Eastern European Orthodox community, which, under his direction, came together to form Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. During his time here (from 1895-1907), he commissioned the architect Louis Sullivan to build the present structure at 1121 N. Leavitt St. (1903). This beautiful edifice stands as a reminder of St. John’s gifts and dedication to his flock.
St. John also served a parish in Streator, 90 miles away. In 1907 he returned to Russia, following in the footsteps of the former Bishop of America, Tikhon (later elected Patriarch during the Russian Revolution), and served as a priest in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. In 1917 he was killed by rioting Bolshevik troops soon after their capture of St. Petersburg. The Russian Orthodox Church officially canonized St. John as the first clergy martyr of the Russian Revolution in 1994. His feast day is celebrated on Oct. 31, the day of his martyrdom.
