Chapel Dedicated to St. John of San Francisco Consecrated at Simonov Monastery in Moscow

Moscow, January 30, 2025

Photo: tihchurch.ru

A new chapel was dedicated to the Wonderworker and Holy Hierarch St. John (Maximovitch) of San Francisco at a Moscow church earlier this week.

His Eminence Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira and a host of local clergy celebrated the service during which the chapel was consecrated at the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, a Patriarchal Metochion of the Simonov Monastery in Moscow, the parish reports.

Parishioners of the Simonov Monastery came to share in this important and joyous event. The service was accompanied by sign language interpretation.

Photo: tihchurch.ru

After the Liturgy, Met. Theognost addressed the faithful with a sermon, drawing attention to the spiritual feat and heavenly patronage of St. John:

His entire life was dedicated to serving God and people. He visited prisons, hospitals, and was always with people. He was great during his life, and he remains great after his departure to the Lord. St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco continues to serve us from Heaven, those of us living on earth. There are many examples of effective help from him, and some we may not even know about. And glory to God that we have such a great intercessor before the Lord and protector of us all.

St. John is especially venerated by parishioners of the Tikhvin Church. A moleben to this great ascetic of the 20th century is held every second Sunday, and the church has icons containing particles of his relics.

The Holy Hierarch is greatly beloved not only at the Tikhvin Icon Church, but throughout Russia, America, and the entire Orthodox world. A parish dedicated to him recently formed Parish named for St. John (Maximovitch) forms in southwestern FranceThe new parish is currently working to secure a location for regular services.

“>in France, and a new Church of St. John PA: Parish of St. John (Maximovitch) begins services in newly built churchA cross was erected on the future site of the church in June 2021, and the groundbreaking was celebrated in October 2023.”>in Pennsylvania recently began holding services.