Jackson, New Jersey, October 23, 2025
Photo: eadiocese.org
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia celebrated the feast of the Uncovering of the Relics of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker John of Shanghai and San Francisco with newly composed hymns for the first time earlier this month.
St. John’s relics were uncovered in the Holy Virgin Cathedral “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in San Francisco on September 30, 1993. The 30th anniversary was festively celebrated in 2023, and in May 2024, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church officially proclaimed the uncovering of his relics as a Churchwide feast.
And over the weekend of October 11-12, new hymns for the feast were reverently sung for the first time during the celebration of the feast at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, New Jersey. The services were led by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, the First Hierarch of ROCOR, joined by clerics from America and Europe, reports the Eastern American Diocese.
Photo: eadiocese.org
The wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, before which St. John reposed in 1966, was also present for the celebration.
The service, composed by Fr. Andre Papkov and other collaborators, including His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, was sung by the international participants of the 32nd Russian Orthodox Church Musicians’ Conference that was held the same weekend.
“The principal goal [of the conference] is to sing the weekend services with dignity and beauty, celebrating the Resurrection and the appointed saint of the day, as prescribed in the Menaion. This year, [the conference] coincided with the 32nd anniversary of the revelation of St. John’s incorrupt relics, and our Church deemed it fitting to commemorate the occasion,” the diocese explains.
Photo: eadiocese.org
Met. Nicholas announced during the celebrations that the ROCOR Synod hopes that in December it will be able to bless the publication of the full new service for parish use.
Watch the Vigil for the feast of the Uncovering of St. John’s Relics:
And the Liturgy:
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