WEBVTT
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Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
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Today is Saturday, october thirty first, twenty twenty six.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:14.960
Today we remember priest martyr John Kotarov, a faithful servant of Christ who became the first clergy martyr of the Russian Revolution.
00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:22.640
John Koturoff was born on July 13, 1871, in a village in the Riazon region of Russia.
00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:29.039
His father was a priest who served faithfully in their local church and taught God's law in the public school.
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:34.799
Growing up in this environment, John was inspired by his father's humility and dedication.
00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:44.799
He studied theology with great success, first at the Denke Theological School, then at the Riazon Theological Seminary, and finally at the St.
00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.520
Petersburg Theological Academy.
00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:53.840
From early on, John saw his future as a parish priest combined with missionary work.
00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.759
After graduating, he was sent to serve in the Diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska.
00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.680
In 1895, he was ordained a priest and assigned to the Orthodox parish in Chicago.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:14.799
This parish was small and made up of many different ethnic groups, including Russians, Slavs, Arabs, Bulgarians, and others.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.840
Father John worked hard to nourish this diverse community in the Orthodox faith.
00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:26.079
He faced many challenges, including poor church buildings and limited financial resources.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:34.400
Despite this, he helped build a new church in Chicago, the Holy Trinity Church, which was completed in 1903.
00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:39.519
His efforts were recognized with awards and honors, including the Order of St.
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:40.400
Anna.
00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:50.879
Father John also took on important roles in the diocese, such as chairing the Mutual Aid Society and serving on the Censorship Committee.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:56.400
He was known for his pastoral care, missionary zeal, and dedication to his flock.
00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.680
In 1907, Father John returned to Russia to serve in the diocese of St.
00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:02.879
Petersburg.
00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:07.200
He taught God's law in schools and continued his pastoral work.
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.840
In 1916 he was assigned to St.
00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:15.599
Catharine's Cathedral in Sarskoya Selo, where he served as a parish priest.
00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:23.599
In nineteen seventeen, during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution, Father John remained a steadfast shepherd to his people.
00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:32.400
When Bolshevik forces entered Tsarskoia Selo, he helped organize a prayer procession for peace despite the danger.
00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:39.199
On october thirty first, nineteen seventeen, Father John was arrested by Bolshevik forces.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.800
He was taken to the outskirts of town and shot.
00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.240
Though wounded, he was dragged and beaten before dying.
00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:50.479
His body was found the next day, his pectoral cross missing.
00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:58.560
His death was the first martyrdom of a Russian Orthodox priest in the 20th century and deeply affected the church.
00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.520
The local clergy served a funeral service at St.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:07.520
Catharine's Cathedral, and the church officially recognized his death as martyrdom.
00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:15.199
The church called on the faithful to support Father John's family and to prepare to help other persecuted clergy.
00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:21.280
His sacrifice became a symbol of faithfulness and courage during a time of great trial.
00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:30.719
Father John Kochuroff's life reminds us of the cost of discipleship and the power of steadfast faith in the face of persecution.
00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:37.360
May we honor his memory by living with the same dedication and love for Christ and His Church.
00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199
Let us pray.
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.479
Lord, grant us the strength to follow your servants who gave their lives for you.
00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:50.479
Help us to remain faithful in times of trial and to love one another as they did.
00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.400
Bless and comfort all who suffer for your name.
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:59.759
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:00.639
Amen.
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.080
Lord help us to be faithful like Saint John Kotaroff.
00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:08.159
Give us strength in times of trouble and courage to follow you.
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.719
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:13.439
Amen.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.479
Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:06.400
Today is Saturday, october thirty first, twenty twenty six.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:14.960
Today we remember priest martyr John Kotarov, a faithful servant of Christ who became the first clergy martyr of the Russian Revolution.
00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:22.640
John Koturoff was born on July 13, 1871, in a village in the Riazon region of Russia.
00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:29.039
His father was a priest who served faithfully in their local church and taught God's law in the public school.
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:34.799
Growing up in this environment, John was inspired by his father's humility and dedication.
00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:44.799
He studied theology with great success, first at the Denke Theological School, then at the Riazon Theological Seminary, and finally at the St.
00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:47.520
Petersburg Theological Academy.
00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:53.840
From early on, John saw his future as a parish priest combined with missionary work.
00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:59.759
After graduating, he was sent to serve in the Diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska.
00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.680
In 1895, he was ordained a priest and assigned to the Orthodox parish in Chicago.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:14.799
This parish was small and made up of many different ethnic groups, including Russians, Slavs, Arabs, Bulgarians, and others.
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:19.840
Father John worked hard to nourish this diverse community in the Orthodox faith.
00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:26.079
He faced many challenges, including poor church buildings and limited financial resources.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:34.400
Despite this, he helped build a new church in Chicago, the Holy Trinity Church, which was completed in 1903.
00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:39.519
His efforts were recognized with awards and honors, including the Order of St.
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:40.400
Anna.
00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:50.879
Father John also took on important roles in the diocese, such as chairing the Mutual Aid Society and serving on the Censorship Committee.
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:56.400
He was known for his pastoral care, missionary zeal, and dedication to his flock.
00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.680
In 1907, Father John returned to Russia to serve in the diocese of St.
00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:02.879
Petersburg.
00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:07.200
He taught God's law in schools and continued his pastoral work.
00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.840
In 1916 he was assigned to St.
00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:15.599
Catharine's Cathedral in Sarskoya Selo, where he served as a parish priest.
00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:23.599
In nineteen seventeen, during the turmoil of the Russian Revolution, Father John remained a steadfast shepherd to his people.
00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:32.400
When Bolshevik forces entered Tsarskoia Selo, he helped organize a prayer procession for peace despite the danger.
00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:39.199
On october thirty first, nineteen seventeen, Father John was arrested by Bolshevik forces.
00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.800
He was taken to the outskirts of town and shot.
00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.240
Though wounded, he was dragged and beaten before dying.
00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:50.479
His body was found the next day, his pectoral cross missing.
00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:58.560
His death was the first martyrdom of a Russian Orthodox priest in the 20th century and deeply affected the church.
00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:01.520
The local clergy served a funeral service at St.
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:07.520
Catharine's Cathedral, and the church officially recognized his death as martyrdom.
00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:15.199
The church called on the faithful to support Father John's family and to prepare to help other persecuted clergy.
00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:21.280
His sacrifice became a symbol of faithfulness and courage during a time of great trial.
00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:30.719
Father John Kochuroff's life reminds us of the cost of discipleship and the power of steadfast faith in the face of persecution.
00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:37.360
May we honor his memory by living with the same dedication and love for Christ and His Church.
00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199
Let us pray.
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:44.479
Lord, grant us the strength to follow your servants who gave their lives for you.
00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:50.479
Help us to remain faithful in times of trial and to love one another as they did.
00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.400
Bless and comfort all who suffer for your name.
00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:59.759
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:00.639
Amen.
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:04.080
Lord help us to be faithful like Saint John Kotaroff.
00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:08.159
Give us strength in times of trouble and courage to follow you.
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.719
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:13.439
Amen.
