Akathist to Saint John Kochurov of Chicago and St. Petersburg

Kontakion 1

O glorious Hieromartyr John of Chicago, true emulator of the Good Shepherd, you nourished your flock with streams of Divine doctrine. You defended them from the minions of the evil ones who sought like ravenous wolves to devour them. You preserved them whole and unharmed at the expense of your earthly life. Therefore, we honor you as a true disciple of the Lord, crying out:

Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Ikos 1

You were born into a priestly family like the Holy Forerunner, and like him you went out into a wilderness proclaiming the Kingdom of God. In doing so you strengthened those who believe, and you corrected those in error. Therefore we, the descendants of those who heeded your call, cry out to you:

Rejoice, heavenly trumpet proclaiming God to the world;
Rejoice, mouth speaking true theology;
Rejoice, beacon of Truth amidst error;
Rejoice, correction of those deceived by the prince of this world;
Rejoice, tormentor of the devil’s minions;
Rejoice, strength of the Faithful;
Rejoice, herald of Truth in the New World;
Rejoice, Truth’s guardian and martyr in the Old World;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 2

You came to America as to a wilderness of strange beliefs, O Father John; and like the Herald of Christ, whose name you bear, you proclaimed the Kingdom of God to all who would listen. Teaching them to praise the one True God in Trinity and to sing with the angels: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 2

Following in the footsteps of Saints Innocent, Herman and Juvenaly, you came to North America, a land as strange to you as the Slavic lands were to Saints Cyril and Methodius. Nevertheless, by word and deed, you fulfilled both the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. You earned for yourself by the Grace of God, the reward of a wise and faithful steward, and from us these words of praise:

Rejoice, heir of the Alaskan Saints;
Rejoice, inspiration of Saints to come;
Rejoice, benefactor of those in need;
Rejoice, consolation of those in sorrow;
Rejoice, advocate of the powerless;
Rejoice, physician of those infirm in soul and body;
Rejoice, you that give strength to the humble;
Rejoice, you that teach humility to the proud;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 3

You came to North America from your native land. Amidst the cacophony of cultures and ideologies, you clearly preached the Word of God; you brought many to the True Faith, and you taught them to sing: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 3

Like Abraham, you left your homeland, and you guided your people through a new land of promise, thus manifesting the Orthodox Faith to its inhabitants. In thanksgiving, we, the Faithful of this land cry out to you:

Rejoice, anchor of faith in the tempest of worldly cares;
Rejoice, rock pouring forth spiritual nourishment;
Rejoice, bestower of the manna from Heaven;
Rejoice, our mediator who offers our gifts to God;
Rejoice, guide of the pious;
Rejoice, recoverer of those lost in sin;
Rejoice, illuminator of those in delusion;
Rejoice, re-uniter of those in the Unia;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 4

You came to North America, and from peoples of diverse tongues and nationalities, you brought together citizens of the Holy Nation called by Christ’s name. In the unity first manifested at Pentecost, you taught them to sing as one: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 4

Imitating the journeys of the Apostle Paul, you traversed the heartland of North America, sowing the seeds of Orthodoxy in the fertile soil. Now we, the fruit borne of your labor, offer our praise to you:

Rejoice, you that heeded the call of Christ;
Rejoice, laborer in the field of Faith;
Rejoice, planter of the seeds of Truth;
Rejoice, winnower of the chaff of error;
Rejoice, you that tended the field by word and deed;
Rejoice, you that nourished it by the shedding of your blood;
Rejoice, you that were sown as a righteous seed;
Rejoice, righteous seed, for you have borne fruit in abundance;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 5

As chief amongst priests, you visited the churches under your care, across the heart of the continent; confirming true teachings, dispelling falsehoods, and reuniting those who had lapsed; that with one voice we may cry out: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 5

The land of North America was fertile; and with your saintly co-workers you strove to offer a plentiful harvest to the Lord. You sowed where you knew others would reap. Through your efforts, the Church in North America has borne much fruit; and she glorifies your memory, saying:

Rejoice, faithful follower of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon;
Rejoice, companion of saintly priests;
Rejoice, colleague of victorious martyrs;
Rejoice, peer of the Seventy;
Rejoice, elder of pious laity;
Rejoice, servant of the faithful;
Rejoice, laborer in the vineyard of Christ;
Rejoice, pure fruit of Christ the True Vine;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 6

You are truly beloved of God, O Holy Father John; for you were granted a foretaste of the Communion of the Saints, while still on earth. You counted amongst your co-labourers your archpastors, the Holy Archbishop Tikhon and the Holy Bishop Raphael. Your colleagues in the sacred priesthood were Alexis and your co-sufferer Alexander. We praise you as we sing to the God who glorified you: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 6

As a priest, you led your people in prayer, while manifesting to them an image of the Great High Priest. Now, as you stand before Him whom you preached, we your spiritual children offer you such words of praise as these:

Rejoice, model of virtue;
Rejoice, icon of piety;
Rejoice, physician of souls;
Rejoice, consoler of penitents;
Rejoice, refuge of the weak;
Rejoice, reprover of the proud;
Rejoice, leader of the Faithful;
Rejoice, rescuer of the lost;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 7

As the crowd once thronged Christ, seeking His aid, so your people sought you out; for you helped and guided them through all tribulations of this world. We now, as then, entreat you to aid all who worship the Holy Trinity, crying out: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 7

As Christ once instructed His disciples to allow the children to come to Him, and as He Himself once taught the elders in the Temple, so also you, O Holy Father John, instilled the deposit of Faith in your flock, from the youngest to the oldest. Therefore, we of all ages praise you with these words:

Rejoice, O lampstand of Truth;
Rejoice, beacon of the Faith;
Rejoice, trumpet of the Spirit;
Rejoice, voice of the Fathers;
Rejoice, flowing stream of divine knowledge;
Rejoice, abyss of heavenly wisdom;
Rejoice, zealous expounder of the Word of God;
Rejoice, fervent dispeller of ungodly myths;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 8

In unquestioning obedience to the Great Commission, you, O Holy Father John, imbued your flock with all that Christ commanded and taught through the Apostles. Securing them in the armor of Faith, you thus protected them from all assaults of the Adversary, and you enabled them joyfully to sing: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 8

You have emulated Christ in all things, even in the horrific manner of your death, O Holy Hieromartyr John. As he was derided by pagan soldiers, so you were mocked by those of the atheists. As He was whipped and beaten, so you were bound and dragged over railway ties. And as His body was pierced by the nails and the spear, so yours was pierced by bullets. For this, we offer you praise befitting your righteous life with such words as these:

Rejoice, shining image of a Christian life;
Rejoice, glorious icon of virtue;
Rejoice, prey of the atheists;
Rejoice, victor over the godless;
Rejoice, sacrifice pleasing to God;
Rejoice, libation nourishing the Church;
Rejoice, true shepherd of the Church;
Rejoice, true Martyr for Christ;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 9

In all things you embodied all that Christians are called to be: prophet, priest and king; prophet, for you proclaimed the uncorrupted Word of God to all; priest, for you offered all things, even your life, to Christ that all might be sanctified; king, for you ruled your people as a just, and compassionate ruler in the name of the King of Kings. For this, we honor you as we cry out to Him who rules over all: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 9

In all things you emulated the first disciples of Christ. You traversed great distances, teaching, adjuring, and exhorting all who sought the True Faith. To those in need, you brought heavenly comfort. To the infirm, you manifested the Physician of Souls and Bodies. To the confused and deluded, you brought the True Light which enlightens all. To all generations, you proved to be the model of true Christian living. For this, we honor you with these words:

Rejoice, healer of souls;
Rejoice, intimidator of demons;
Rejoice, guardian of the weak and destitute;
Rejoice, reprover of the proud;
Rejoice, enlightener of those seeking Truth;
Rejoice, confounder of those teaching empty myths;
Rejoice, Lamp of Faith;
Rejoice, extinguisher of the flames of perdition;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 10

In ancient times, when Abraham arrived in the land to which God sent him, he erected an altar and offered sacrifices to glorify the Lord’s goodness and mercy. Likewise, when you arrived in North America, you erected an altar to the Holy Trinity, at which you offered the bloodless sacrifice to Him for your sins and for those of the people. Now, as we stand before that same altar, we honor you and we entreat your aid, as we offer a sacrifice of praise to the God of our Fathers, crying out: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 10

O thrice-blessed Priest John, you were raised from a priestly family in the manner of Aaron. You were Divinely-appointed to the priesthood in the manner of Melchizedek. You fulfilled your priestly calling, preserving the Body of Christ as it was entrusted to you at your ordination. Through tribulation, hardship, persecution and even death, you preserved that portion entrusted to you whole and unharmed. Now, as you stand glorified before the Throne, we, your spiritual children, offer you this praise:

Rejoice, rival of Abraham in holy obedience;
Rejoice, equal of Zechariah in piety and suffering;
Rejoice, imitator of the Apostle Paul in steadfast proclamation of the Truth;
Rejoice, emulator of the godly John in unwavering love of the Lord;
Rejoice, colleague of the Seventy in zealous witness to Christ;
Rejoice, companion of Saint John the Baptist in virtue;
Rejoice, righteous shepherd in the manner of Saint Ignatius;
Rejoice, loving father after the example of Saint Nicholas;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 11

Arriving in North America, you changed your outward appearance to acclimate yourself to this strange new land; yet within you the Faith was preserved whole and uncorrupted. Neither did your devotion to your holy calling change; for you labored fervently through all manner of hardship and tribulation, in order to multiply that which was entrusted to you, like the servant with the five talents. We, the multitude gained by your labor, now gather to praise Him who acquired us through you, singing: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 11

A good shepherd seeks the sheep who is lost. In like manner, you sought those led astray by reformers, schismatics, and those whose devotion is to worldly cares. Yet in so doing, you strove to prevent the ninety-nine from falling away. You sought to fulfill Christ’s call that there be one flock and one shepherd. For this we, your rational flock, honor you saying:

Rejoice, paragon of rational sheep;
Rejoice, scourge of irrational wolves;
Rejoice, embodiment of the True Shepherd;
Rejoice, condemnation of hirelings;
Rejoice, reconciliation of those led astray;
Rejoice, exhortation of the Faithful;
Rejoice, cornerstone of the Church in our land;
Rejoice, millstone grinding away the evil in our midst;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 12

The Holy Justinian exclaimed that he had out-done Solomon when he had erected the Great Church. However, you, O holy Father, have surpassed them both; for not only have you erected a Temple to the glory of God, but in like manner you have added to the building up of the Church by adding soul upon soul, as a builder would add stone upon stone. You sealed your work with your blood as with mortar. For this, we honor you as we praise the Cornerstone upon which you built, crying out: “Alleluia”.

Ikos 12

“Be all things to all people”, the holy Basil implores of Christ, asking Him to be what He is. In this, you emulated Christ to your people as a provider to the poor, a protector of the weak, a solace to the distressed, an anchor of the Faithful, and beacon to the lost. For this we extol you with such words as these:

Rejoice, apostle bringing Truth to our land;
Rejoice, teacher illuminating those in the fog of error;
Rejoice, preacher of virtue and Christian love;
Rejoice, unmercenary freely granting Grace from God;
Rejoice, bodily angel guarding your charges from the assaults of the Evil One;
Rejoice, heavenly disciple adjuring those who reject God;
Rejoice, confessor enduring hardships in defense of the Church;
Rejoice, prophet of the Word rejected and killed by your own countrymen;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 13

In all things you are the embodiment of the true priesthood in Christ. You are both a priest descended from priests after the order of Aaron, and a priest set apart by God after the order of Melchisedek. You are the image of piety like Simeon the Elder, and model of righteous devotion like Zechariah the Prophet. You are a zealous teacher and pastor in the manner of Saint John of Kronstadt, and a fervent evangeliser in the manner of Saint Juvenaly of Alaska. O disciple, priest, and martyr for Christ, we praise and honor you as we glorify the Great High Priest who inspired you, proclaiming: “Alleluia”.

(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)

Ikos 1

You were born into a priestly family like the Holy Forerunner, and like him you went out into a wilderness proclaiming the Kingdom of God. In doing so you strengthened those who believe, and you corrected those in error. Therefore we, the descendants of those who heeded your call, cry out to you:

Rejoice, heavenly trumpet proclaiming God to the world;
Rejoice, mouth speaking true theology;
Rejoice, beacon of Truth amidst error;
Rejoice, correction of those deceived by the prince of this world;
Rejoice, tormentor of the devil’s minions;
Rejoice, strength of the Faithful;
Rejoice, herald of Truth in the New World;
Rejoice, Truth’s guardian and martyr in the Old World;
Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Kontakion 1

O glorious Hieromartyr John of Chicago, true emulator of the Good Shepherd, you nourished your flock with streams of Divine doctrine. You defended them from the minions of the evil ones who sought like ravenous wolves to devour them. You preserved them whole and unharmed at the expense of your earthly life. Therefore, we honor you as a true disciple of the Lord, crying out:

Rejoice, O Father John, true pastor of the Orthodox Christians in Russia and in North America.

Prayer to Saint John Kochurov

O holy, glorious, and truly-victorious Hieromartyr John, Enlightener of North America and shining star of Russia. As Saints Cyril and Methodius brought Orthodoxy to the Slavic lands, so you brought the True Faith to the New World. Having been set over a portion of Christ’s flock, you became all things to them, that you might by all means save some [see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23].

To the powerless, you were an advocate; to the ignorant and unenlightened, a teacher and preacher of Grace; to the spiritually weak, a pillar of strength; to the needy, a benefactor and protector; to the sick, a physician of soul and body; and to those estranged by false teaching, you were a light in the darkness. At the same time, you were to all a minister of the sacred Mysteries and an example of righteous living. Having come with your family to an alien land, you ceaselessly gave yourself for your flock, traversing the Midwest so that none of the sheep of Christ would be left unattended. In so doing, you endured hardship, suffering, sorrow, and strife.

Then continuing your service in your homeland, you ultimately suffered death at the hands of your own countrymen, like the prophets of old. All this you accepted for the sake of the Gospel, O glorious Father. May we, through your example and prayers, be enabled to imitate your righteous life. O true shepherd of the rational flock, entreat the Chief Shepherd, that the Church in our land and throughout the world may enjoy the unity of the Holy Trinity; that it be spared from the powers of the devil which constantly besiege it. And, as your last act on earth was to pray for the cessation of hostility, so also implore the Lord of Hosts and Prince of Peace, that our world may be preserved in peace and tranquility.

O righteous Pastor, never cease beseeching the Lord that He may extend His bounteous mercy upon us, His unworthy servants; for He it is whom you served; He it is who glorified you; and He it is to whom we ascribe glory, honor and worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.