On October 31, 1917, Archpriest John Kochurov became the first clergyman martyred in the Russian Revolution, marking the beginning of the era of the New Martyrs of the twentieth century. Born in 1871 in the Ryazan region to a pious priestly family, John was raised in deep Orthodox faith. After completing his studies at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy, he longed for missionary service and was sent to the Diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska. In America, he was ordained in 1895 and assigned to Saint Vladimir’s Church in Chicago, where he labored tirelessly to build parish life among poor and diverse Orthodox immigrants. His crowning achievement was the construction of Holy Trinity Cathedral, consecrated in 1903 by Bishop Tikhon (the future Patriarch of Moscow), for which Fr. John received high church honors for his devotion and missionary success.

In 1907, after twelve years of service in America, Fr. John returned to Russia to continue his priestly and educational ministry. For nearly a decade, he taught God’s Law in Narva’s schools before being appointed in 1916 to Saint Katherine’s Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo. There, his inspired preaching quickly won the love of the faithful. When the chaos of the October Revolution reached Tsarskoye Selo, Fr. John and his fellow clergy led a prayer procession for peace amid artillery fire, calling on the people to remain calm and faithful. The next day, Bolshevik forces entered the town, and Fr. John was seized, beaten, and taken to the outskirts near Saint Theodore’s Cathedral, where he was shot to death for his faith and for leading prayers for peace—thus becoming the first clergy martyr of the Revolution.

Fr. John’s martyrdom deeply moved the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Benjamin of Petrograd, Patriarch Tikhon, and the All-Russian Church Council all recognized his death as a true martyrdom for Christ. His burial at Saint Katherine’s Cathedral was attended with profound grief, and the Church organized aid for his widow and six children. Patriarch Tikhon, who had known Fr. John personally from America, wrote that he was certain the martyred priest now stood “at the Throne of God among the elect of Christ’s flock.” On March 31, 1918, Patriarch Tikhon celebrated the first memorial service for the New Martyrs of Russia, during which Fr. John Kochurov’s name was read first—the first in a long line of confessors and martyrs who would sanctify the suffering Church in the century to come.

Troparion — Tone 1

Aflame with love for God, you gave your life as a martyr for Christ and neighbor, / for this you received a crown of righteousness from Him. / Hieromartyr John, entreat the most Merciful God / to preserve the Holy Church in peace and to save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 1

You were revealed to all as a true shepherd / O Hieromartyr John of Chicago, / for you nurtured your people in the Orthodox Faith, / guiding them by word and deed on the path of salvation, / and defended the Faith even unto the shedding of your blood. / Therefore, we, your spiritual children, cry out in thanksgiving: / Glory to Him who gave you strength! / Glory to Him who granted you the Martyr’s crown! / Glory to Him who through you grants mercy to all!

Kontakion — Tone 8

As you zealously fulfilled your pastoral service, / you brought your soul to God as a well-pleasing sacrifice, O Father John. / Entreat Christ God to grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 3

Now the holy Hieromartyr is glorified, / for he took up his cross and followed Christ. / In so doing, he gave us a model of true discipleship. / Therefore, let us cry aloud to him: / Rejoice, O Father John, the glory of priests!