Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Urmia

Formally, the mission covers only twenty years (1898–1918), but Russian interest in the region prior to its establishment lasted almost the entire 19th century.

They were received into the Russian Orthodox Church by confession of faith and vesting on the Feast of the Annunciation at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

[5] In 1918, renewed persecution by the Muslims resulted in a mass exodus of indigenous Christians (including Assyrians, Armenians and Georgians) from northern Persia.

Vladika Nikon noted that Bishop John spoke the same language as that spoken by Christ the Savior, and had been the translator at the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Urmia.

The Synod of Bishops, through Archbishop Gregory (Borishkevitch) of Chicago and Cleveland (later of Chicago, Detroit and Midwest America), Protopresbyter Arkadii Tsepuro, Protopresbyter George Grabbe (later Bishop Gregory of Washington & Florida), and Protopresbyter Adrian Rymarenko (later Archbishop Andrew of Novo Diveyevo) arranged for Bishop John to live in retirement at the Novo Diveyevo Convent in Spring Valley, New York.