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From among the saints commemorated on the 24th of January, we especially remember the life and works of the Martyr John of Kazan.
The Martyr John of Kazan suffered for Christ in the city of Kazan on
January 24, 1529. During the reign of Great Prince Basil the Tatars swooped down upon Nizhni Novgorod. Many of the inhabitants
were taken into captivity and brought to Kazan. Also among their number was the fearless John. When the captives were distributed to their new owners, he was given to Alei-Shnura, who
was related to the Khan. By day John honestly served his master, but at night he went without sleep and prayed, patiently
enduring insults and abuse. The master resolved to force his servant to become a Moslem, but John firmly declared that he
worshiped Jesus Christ as God. In the winter the Tatars tied him
up and led him to a Russian cemetery, mortally wounded him with swords, and threw him into the snow. That night, Saint John
reached the door of some Russians living in Kazan, and he asked them to summon a priest. He received the Holy Mysteries and
prayed all night, then died the following morning.
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