Josef Alois Kessler
Encyclopedia
Joseph Kessler (August 12, 1862– December 10, 1933) was the last bishop
of the Diocese of Tiraspol (Russia) and the last Volga German
bishop.
. After he finished studies in the Saratov Priest Seminary, he was ordained in 1889. He graduated from Roman Catholic Theological Academy in St. Petersburg with the degree of Master of Theology
. In 1889 he became a vicar of a parish in Saratov, at the same time he taught in the Saratov
Seminary. After that, his life entered a period of transition. He took the following positions during the next 13 years: 1892 Simferopol
parish vicar, 1895 Sulz
parish priest, 1899 Chişinău
(today Moldova) parish priest, 1903 Saratov Seminary inspector, and in 1904 canon lawyer. He was appointed Bishop of Tiraspol on 1 April 1904 and was consecrated the 5th Bishop of Diocese of Tiraspol (Russia) on 28 October 1904 and took residence in the diocesan headquarters in Saratov. While Josef Kessler was Bishop of Tiraspol, the pastoral life of diocese became successful and vital. Bishop Kessler expanded the Seminary, founded a publishing house, supported work of male and female ordained persons, visited all parishes of the giant diocese, and conducted 75,000 confirmations.
On 14 of August 1918 before Bolsheviks entered the city of Saratov, Bishop Kessler left Saratov on foot, and went to Odessa
. When the new regiment entered the Seminary, they found a message from the Bishop, where he declared the power of Bolsheviks to be a power of Antichrist. The message warned people that, if they cooperate with this power, they will be excommunicated. The Bolsheviks conducted a Russia-wide manhunt for Bishop Kessler. The Bishop secretly left Russia for Bessarabia
(today Moldova), where he was a priest in the village of Krasnoe. In 1921, he visited Kansas. He made a trip to the United States to raise funds for the famine stricken among the German colonies along the Volga, as well as in the Black Sea area.
The rest of his life was spent in Zinnowitz
, Germany on the Baltic coast . He died 10 December 1933 and was buried in Ornbau
, Bavaria
, next to other Bishop of Tiraspol Franz Zottmann, who was born in Ornbau.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Tiraspol (Russia) and the last Volga German
Volga German
The Volga Germans were ethnic Germans living along the River Volga in the region of southern European Russia around Saratov and to the south. Recruited as immigrants to Russia in the 18th century, they were allowed to maintain German culture, language, traditions and churches: Lutherans, Reformed,...
bishop.
Biography
Joseph Kessler was born 12 of August 1862 in Louis (Ostrogovka) Government SamaraSamara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
. After he finished studies in the Saratov Priest Seminary, he was ordained in 1889. He graduated from Roman Catholic Theological Academy in St. Petersburg with the degree of Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
. In 1889 he became a vicar of a parish in Saratov, at the same time he taught in the Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
Seminary. After that, his life entered a period of transition. He took the following positions during the next 13 years: 1892 Simferopol
Simferopol
-Russian Empire and Civil War:The city was renamed Simferopol in 1784 after the annexation of the Crimean Khanate to the Russian Empire by Catherine II of Russia. The name Simferopol is derived from the Greek, Συμφερόπολις , translated as "the city of usefulness." In 1802, Simferopol became the...
parish vicar, 1895 Sulz
Sulz, Ukraine
Sulz was a village in the Mykolaiv Raion of the Mykolaiv Oblast in southern Ukraine. It was located along the east bank of the Berezan River just to the southeast of the village of Landau....
parish priest, 1899 Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
(today Moldova) parish priest, 1903 Saratov Seminary inspector, and in 1904 canon lawyer. He was appointed Bishop of Tiraspol on 1 April 1904 and was consecrated the 5th Bishop of Diocese of Tiraspol (Russia) on 28 October 1904 and took residence in the diocesan headquarters in Saratov. While Josef Kessler was Bishop of Tiraspol, the pastoral life of diocese became successful and vital. Bishop Kessler expanded the Seminary, founded a publishing house, supported work of male and female ordained persons, visited all parishes of the giant diocese, and conducted 75,000 confirmations.
On 14 of August 1918 before Bolsheviks entered the city of Saratov, Bishop Kessler left Saratov on foot, and went to Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
. When the new regiment entered the Seminary, they found a message from the Bishop, where he declared the power of Bolsheviks to be a power of Antichrist. The message warned people that, if they cooperate with this power, they will be excommunicated. The Bolsheviks conducted a Russia-wide manhunt for Bishop Kessler. The Bishop secretly left Russia for Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
(today Moldova), where he was a priest in the village of Krasnoe. In 1921, he visited Kansas. He made a trip to the United States to raise funds for the famine stricken among the German colonies along the Volga, as well as in the Black Sea area.
The rest of his life was spent in Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz
Zinnowitz is a spa town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the northern German island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea. The town has rail connections to Wolgast and Ahlbeck.-History:...
, Germany on the Baltic coast . He died 10 December 1933 and was buried in Ornbau
Ornbau
Ornbau is a walled city in the district of Ansbach, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Altmühl, 15 km southeast of Ansbach.-Smallest City in Bavaria:Ornbau is the smallest city in the German state of Bavaria...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, next to other Bishop of Tiraspol Franz Zottmann, who was born in Ornbau.
External links
- http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bkess.html
- http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/priests/joseph_aloysius_kessler.html
- http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/revolution_bishop_kessler.html