Photograph of Saint John Kochurov, who served in Chicago and after returning to Russia was the first priest martyred by the Communists in 1917.
Tomorrow, the third Sunday of Pentecost, we commemorate All Saints of North America. This evening at Great Vespers at 6:00 we will sing hymns about those who went before us in the American Orthodox Church. Herman and Innocent of Alaska are remembered prominently. So are those who were sent from Russia and returned to their homeland to undergo martyrdom under Communism like John Kochurov and Alexander Hotovitsky. Especially well remembered is Tikhon of Moscow, who came here as a bishop and commissioned the translation of the divine services into English, a legacy in which we at Saint Elizabeth Church are particularly grateful to participate. The most recent member of this growing "cloud of witnesses" is Sebastian of Jackson and San Francisco, who labored as a missionary in California and was only canonized five years ago.
Particularly beautiful is the hymn we will sing this evening about the saints—both known and unknown—who have sancitifed our lands with their faith in God:
Rejoice, mountains of Pennsylvania, leap for joy O waters of the Great Lakes, rise up, O fertile plains of Canada, for the elect of Christ who dwelt in you are glorified. Men and women who left their homes for a new land, with faith, hope, and patience as their armor, they courageously fought the good fight.Comforted by the beauty of the Orthdoox faith they labored in mines and mills, they tilled the land, they braved the challenges of the great cities, enduring many hardships and sufferings. Never failing to worship God in spirit and truth, and unyielding in devotion to his most-pure Mother, they erected many temples to his glory. Come, O assembly of the Orthodox, and with love let us praise the holy men, women, and children, those known to us and those known only to God, and let us cry to them: Rejoice O saints of North America and pray to God for us.
This feast day comes one week after the commemoration throughout the world of All Saints of the Orthodox Church. Like All Saints Sunday, All Saints of North America Sunday extends our joyful celebration of Pentecost (celebrated two weeks ago) by reminding us that the Orthodox Church has been established here in America, and that the gates of hell will never prevail against her.