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Our father among the saints[[saint]]s, the holy [[martyr ]] '''John of Riga ''' (Latvian: Svētais svētmoceklis Rīgas Jānis; Russian: Святой Священномученик Иоанн Рижский) was Archbishop of Riga and Latvia (1921-1934). ==Life==He was born Jānis Pommers in 1876 to a Latvian peasant family in the area of Lazdona, a village in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, near the town of Madona. St. John was a highly energetic pastor whose service as Archbishop of Riga and Latvia often bridged Latvia's ethnic divisions, particularly those between Russians and Latvians, and included political engagement even to the extent that he became a Member of Parliament in Latvia's national assembly, the Saeima.

St. John was a highly energetic pastor whose service as Archbishop martyred brutally in the night of [[October 12]], 1934, at the archbishop's residence at Kish Lake (Latvian: Ķīšezers) outside Riga and Latvia often bridged Latvia's ethnic divisionscity center. Although his assassins were never apprehended, particularly those between Russians and Latviansthey have widely been assumed to be agents of the Bolshevik regime in neighboring Soviet Union, and included political engagement even to whose persecutions of the Orthodox Church the extent that he became saint had already suffered earlier during a Member turbulent period of Parliament in Latvia's national assemblyservice as auxiliary Bishop of Minsk (1911-1912), the SaeimaBishop of Priazovye (1913-1917) and Archbishop of Penza and Saransk (1918-1921).

In 1921, the year St. John was martyred brutally in the night moved from Penza to Riga, St. [[Tikhon of October 12Moscow]], 1934then Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, at granted independence to the Latvian Orthodox Church. Therefore he was the first Latvian [[archbishop]]. Jurisdictional difficulties followed St. John's residence at Kish Lake (martyrdom, lasting from 1936 to 1940, and the suffering of the Latvian: Ķīšezers) outside RigaOrthodox Church increased again during Latvia's city center. Although his assassins were never apprehendedSoviet occupation, they have widely been assumed to be agents of which lasted from the Bolshevik regime in neighboring RussiaSecond World War until 1991. In 1992, whose persecutions of the Latvian Orthodox Church the saint had already suffered earlier during became semi-autonomous, with a turbulent period high degree of service as auxiliary Bishop of Minsk (1911-1912)independence but lacking autocephaly. Thus, Bishop the contemporary pastoral successor to St. John of Priazovye (1913-1917) and Archbishop of Penza and Saransk (1918-1921)Riga bears the title [[Metropolitan]].

In 1921, the year St. John moved from Penza to Riga, St. Tikhon of Moscow, then Patriarch The day of the Russian Orthodox Churchsaint's martyrdom is his[[ feast day]], granted independence to the Latvian Orthodox ChurchOctober 12. Therefore he was the first Latvian archbishop. Jurisdictional difficulties followed St. John's martyrdomcanonization occurred locally in 2001, lasting from 1936 to 1940, and having been recognized already many years before by the suffering of the Latvian Orthodox Church increased again during Latvia's Soviet occupation, which lasted from the Second World War until 1991. In 1992, the Latvian Russian Orthodox Church became semi-autonomous, with a high degree of independence but lacking autocephaly. Thus, the contemporary pastoral successor to St. John of Riga bears the title MetropolitanOutside Russia.

The day Despite the terrible nature of the saint's martyrdom is his feast day, October 12. during which he suffered both bullet wounds and burning, St. John's canonization occurred locally body was found intact in 2001, having been recognized already many years before by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia2003.

Despite the terrible nature [[Category: Bishops]][[Category: Saints]][[Category: Bishops of the saint's martyrdom, during which he suffered both bullet wounds and burning, St. John's body was found intact in 2003.Riga]]