Topic: Russian Church
Photo: St. John arriving in Shanghai in 1934
Today, July 2, the Russian Orthodox Church commemorates the life of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco – one of the most venerated saints of the Russian diaspora. Services will be held in his honor at churches around the world. However, this is a particularly special occasion for the Church of John the Baptist in Washington DC. This is the only parish personally founded by St. John in the United States for emigrants in 1949, ITAR-TASS reports.
On July 2, 1966, St. John died while visiting Seattle at a time and place he was said to have foretold. He was entombed in a sepulcher beneath the altar of the Holy Virgin Cathedral he had built in San Francisco dedicated to the Theotokos, Joy of all who Sorrow on Geary Boulevard in the Richmond district. In 1994 he was solemnly glorified on the twenty-eighth anniversary of his death, and 14 years later his canonization was confirmed by the Russian Orthodox Church.
His feast day is celebrated on the Saturday nearest to the 2nd of July. He is beloved and celebrated worldwide, with portions of his relics located in Serbia, Russia, Mount Athos, Bulgaria, United States, Canada (Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Kitchener), England (Dormition Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, London) and other countries of the world.
© ITAR-TASS. 02 July, 2012
Updated: Monday, 2 July 2012 5:19 PM EDT
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