Elias Wen
Encyclopedia
Fr. Elias Wen was the oldest clergyman of the Orthodox Church when he died at the age of 110 in San Francisco, California
.
Fr. Elias converted to the Orthodox Christian Faith at the age of 7, in Beijing
. From 1905 to 1916 he studied at the Russian Orthodox Mission school in Beijing, and then at the Seminary there from 1916 until 1925. He was ordained a deacon
in 1924, and a priest in 1925. In 24 June 1935, he became one of the founding members of the Shanghai China Orthodox Association; he served as one of three vice-chairmen of the association under chairman Yu Qiaqing (虞洽卿). In 1946 he became the rector of the Surety of Sinners Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Shanghai
, and served under St. John (Maximovitch)
. In 1949, he fled China to Hong Kong
, as the Communists took over the mainland, and in 1957 he was transferred to the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, where he again served under St. John. He was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter in 1981. He remained at this cathedral for the remainder of his life. Fr. Elias is survived by five sons, one daughter, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Fr. Elias converted to the Orthodox Christian Faith at the age of 7, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. From 1905 to 1916 he studied at the Russian Orthodox Mission school in Beijing, and then at the Seminary there from 1916 until 1925. He was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1924, and a priest in 1925. In 24 June 1935, he became one of the founding members of the Shanghai China Orthodox Association; he served as one of three vice-chairmen of the association under chairman Yu Qiaqing (虞洽卿). In 1946 he became the rector of the Surety of Sinners Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and served under St. John (Maximovitch)
John of Shanghai and San Francisco
Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco also John the Wonderworker was a noted Eastern Orthodox ascetic and hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia who was active in the mid-20th century...
. In 1949, he fled China to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, as the Communists took over the mainland, and in 1957 he was transferred to the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, where he again served under St. John. He was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter in 1981. He remained at this cathedral for the remainder of his life. Fr. Elias is survived by five sons, one daughter, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
External links
- Holy Virgin Cathedral, San Francisco
- Surety of Sinners Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Shanghai