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, St 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.