Patriarch Sergius I of Moscow
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Sergius I was the 12th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, from September 8, 1943 until his death. He was also the de facto head of the Russian Orthodox Church
as Patriarchal locum tenens in 1925-1943.
near Nizhny Novgorod
in a deeply religious family of an archpriest
. Named Sergius after becoming a monk
he studied in Nizhny Novgorod seminary
and later in Saint Petersburg Theological Academy
. In 1890 Sergius was sent with an Orthodox Christian mission to Japan
and became fluent in Japanese (he already knew Greek, Latin and Hebrew languages). In 1899 he returned to Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy and was appointed its rector
. In 1901 Sergius was appointed archbishop
of Finland
and Vyborg
, and in 1911 he became member of the Russian Holy Synod
. On August 10, 1917 he was transferred to the see of Vladimir
and Shuya
and on November 28 of the same year, Patriarch Tikhon
elevated him to the rank of Metropolitan Bishop
. Bolsheviks arrested Metropolitan Sergius in January 1921, after months in jail he was exiled from Moscow
to Nizhny Novgorod. From June 16, 1922 to August 27, 1923, Sergius participated in the so-called Living Church
(or Renovationist schism
), but later publicly repented of his actions and was forgiven by Patriarch Tikhon. He was appointed the Metropolitan
of Nizhny Novgorod on March 18, 1924.
and Kolomna was elected as the Patriarchal Locum Tenens (Местоблюститель Патриаршего Престола). However, only 8 months later, on December 10, 1925 he was arrested. Foreseeing his imminent arrest, he followed Tikhon's example, likewise appointing three candidates to succeed him. After Peter's arrest, Sergius of Nizhny Novgorod was the only bishop from Peter's "list" who was not in prison or exile at the time. He assumed leadership of the Church with the title Acting Patriarchal Locum Tenens (Заместитель Патриаршего Местоблюстителя), which presupposed that Peter of Krutitsy
remained the de jure locum tenens and would return to his duties upon his release (which never happened). However, Sergius himself also was again in prison from November 30, 1926 till March 27, 1927.
, Sergius tried to look for ways of peaceful reconciliation with the government. On July 29, 1927, he issued his famous Declaration where he professed absolute loyalty of the Russian Orthodox Church to Soviet Union
and to its government's interests. The Declaration, albeit well-intended, sparked an immediate controversy among the Russian churchmen, many of whom (including many notable and respected bishop
s in prisons and exile) broke communion
with Sergius. Later, some of these bishops reconciled with Sergius, but many still remained in opposition to the "official Church" until the election of Patriarch
Alexius I in 1945.
Sergius also formed the Temporary Patriarchal Council (later called Synod) which received recognition from Soviet government. In 1934, Sergius assumed a more elevated title of "His Beatitude, Metropolitan
of Moscow
and Kolomna
" and in 1936, following a false report of Metropolitan Peter of Krutitsy
's death in prison (in fact, he was still alive until his execution in 1937), Sergius assumed the position of Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Despite his pledges that ROC would not interfere in secular affairs and would be loyal to the state, the arrests and executions of Orthodox clergy by GPU and later NKVD
, destruction of Orthodox cathedrals, churches, icons, seminaries and so on were commonplace throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Before the beginning of the German-Soviet War, in the entire USSR, only 4 bishop
s remained who were not imprisoned or exiled. Likewise, of the 50,000 Russian Orthodox priests in 1918, only 500 remained by 1935.
Only after the German invasion of the Soviet Union
in 1941, did Joseph Stalin
finally started to scale back the anti-religious campaign
, needing the moral support
of the Church during the war. On September 4, 1943, Stalin met with the three chief hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church
and promised some concessions to religion in exchange for their loyalty and assistance. Among the concessions were the permission to open the Moscow
Theological Seminary and Academy, the release of imprisoned clerics, the return of some church property, including the famous Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
. In return, the Soviet government put the Church under the control of its secret services; so much so that the remaining priests and bishops became de facto agents of the KGB.
However, the most important concession was the permission to gather the episcopal council and to elect a new Patriarch. On September 8, 1943, at a formal meeting of bishops, Sergius was elected unopposed to the see of the Patriarch of Moscow. He was enthroned on September 12 of the same year, already being advanced in age (76 years old) and with declining health. He died in Moscow eight months later, on May 15, 1944.
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
as Patriarchal locum tenens in 1925-1943.
Early life
Ivan Stragorodsky was born in the town of ArzamasArzamas
Arzamas is a city in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Tyosha River , east of Moscow. Population: -History:Arzamas was founded in 1578 by Ivan the Terrible in the lands populated at the time by the Mordvin people...
near Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
in a deeply religious family of an archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
. Named Sergius after becoming a monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
he studied in Nizhny Novgorod seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
and later in Saint Petersburg Theological Academy
Saint Petersburg Theological Academy
The Saint Petersburg Theological Academy is a theological seminary in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The academy grants master and doctorate degrees preparing theologians and priests for the Eastern Orthodox Church. It was founded in 1797 by Gabriel , Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg, as part of the...
. In 1890 Sergius was sent with an Orthodox Christian mission to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and became fluent in Japanese (he already knew Greek, Latin and Hebrew languages). In 1899 he returned to Saint-Petersburg Theological Academy and was appointed its rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. In 1901 Sergius was appointed archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Vyborg
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
, and in 1911 he became member of the Russian Holy Synod
Holy Synod
In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod...
. On August 10, 1917 he was transferred to the see of Vladimir
Vladimir
Vladimir is a city and the administrative center of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located on the Klyazma River, to the east of Moscow along the M7 motorway. Population:...
and Shuya
Shuya
Shuya is the third largest town in Ivanovo Oblast, Russia; located on the Teza River. Population: -History:The first record of Shuya is dated by 1393. Since 1403, the area was held by a branch of the House of Suzdal, which got their name "Shuysky" after the town. In 1539, the town was sacked by...
and on November 28 of the same year, Patriarch Tikhon
Tikhon of Moscow
Saint Tikhon of Moscow , born Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin , was the 11th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia of the Russian Orthodox Church during the early years of the Soviet Union, 1917 through 1925.-Early life:...
elevated him to the rank of Metropolitan Bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. Bolsheviks arrested Metropolitan Sergius in January 1921, after months in jail he was exiled from Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to Nizhny Novgorod. From June 16, 1922 to August 27, 1923, Sergius participated in the so-called Living Church
Living Church
The Living Church , also called Renovationist Church or Renovationism was a schism in the Russian Orthodox Church in 1922–1946...
(or Renovationist schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
), but later publicly repented of his actions and was forgiven by Patriarch Tikhon. He was appointed the Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Nizhny Novgorod on March 18, 1924.
Election
Knowing that it would not be possible to conduct proper elections of the Patriarch upon his death, Patriarch Tikhon made a will where he appointed three candidates, one of whom would assume the leadership of the Church after Tikhon's own death. On April 12, 1925, one of the candidates, Metropolitan Peter of KrutitsyPeter of Krutitsy
St. Hieromartyr Peter of Krutitsy , born Petr Fyodorovich Polyansky , was a Russian Orthodox bishop and martyr. From April 12 till December 9, 1925 he was the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, serving as the Patriarchal locum tenens...
and Kolomna was elected as the Patriarchal Locum Tenens (Местоблюститель Патриаршего Престола). However, only 8 months later, on December 10, 1925 he was arrested. Foreseeing his imminent arrest, he followed Tikhon's example, likewise appointing three candidates to succeed him. After Peter's arrest, Sergius of Nizhny Novgorod was the only bishop from Peter's "list" who was not in prison or exile at the time. He assumed leadership of the Church with the title Acting Patriarchal Locum Tenens (Заместитель Патриаршего Местоблюстителя), which presupposed that Peter of Krutitsy
Peter of Krutitsy
St. Hieromartyr Peter of Krutitsy , born Petr Fyodorovich Polyansky , was a Russian Orthodox bishop and martyr. From April 12 till December 9, 1925 he was the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, serving as the Patriarchal locum tenens...
remained the de jure locum tenens and would return to his duties upon his release (which never happened). However, Sergius himself also was again in prison from November 30, 1926 till March 27, 1927.
Patriarchate
Seeking to convince Soviet authorities to stop the campaign of terror and persecution against the ChurchPersecution of Christians in the Soviet Union
The history of Christianity in the Soviet Union was not limited to repression and secularization. Soviet policy toward religion was based on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, which made atheism the official doctrine of the Soviet Union...
, Sergius tried to look for ways of peaceful reconciliation with the government. On July 29, 1927, he issued his famous Declaration where he professed absolute loyalty of the Russian Orthodox Church to Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and to its government's interests. The Declaration, albeit well-intended, sparked an immediate controversy among the Russian churchmen, many of whom (including many notable and respected bishop
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...
s in prisons and exile) broke communion
Communion (Christian)
The term communion is derived from Latin communio . The corresponding term in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as "fellowship". In Christianity, the basic meaning of the term communion is an especially close relationship of Christians, as individuals or as a Church, with God and with...
with Sergius. Later, some of these bishops reconciled with Sergius, but many still remained in opposition to the "official Church" until the election of Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
Alexius I in 1945.
Sergius also formed the Temporary Patriarchal Council (later called Synod) which received recognition from Soviet government. In 1934, Sergius assumed a more elevated title of "His Beatitude, Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Kolomna
Kolomna
Kolomna is an ancient city and the administrative center of Kolomensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Moskva and Oka Rivers, southeast of Moscow. The area of the city is about . The city was founded in 1177...
" and in 1936, following a false report of Metropolitan Peter of Krutitsy
Peter of Krutitsy
St. Hieromartyr Peter of Krutitsy , born Petr Fyodorovich Polyansky , was a Russian Orthodox bishop and martyr. From April 12 till December 9, 1925 he was the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, serving as the Patriarchal locum tenens...
's death in prison (in fact, he was still alive until his execution in 1937), Sergius assumed the position of Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Despite his pledges that ROC would not interfere in secular affairs and would be loyal to the state, the arrests and executions of Orthodox clergy by GPU and later NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
, destruction of Orthodox cathedrals, churches, icons, seminaries and so on were commonplace throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Before the beginning of the German-Soviet War, in the entire USSR, only 4 bishop
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...
s remained who were not imprisoned or exiled. Likewise, of the 50,000 Russian Orthodox priests in 1918, only 500 remained by 1935.
Only after the German invasion of the Soviet Union
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
in 1941, did Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
finally started to scale back the anti-religious campaign
USSR Anti-Religious Campaign (1928–1941)
The USSR anti-religious campaign of 1928–1941 was a new phase of anti-religious persecution in the Soviet Union The campaign began in 1929, with the drafting of new legislation that severely prohibited religious activities and called for a heightened attack on religion in order to further...
, needing the moral support
Moral support
Moral support is a way of giving support to a person or cause, or to one side in a conflict, without making any contribution beyond the emotional or psychological value of the encouragement....
of the Church during the war. On September 4, 1943, Stalin met with the three chief hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
and promised some concessions to religion in exchange for their loyalty and assistance. Among the concessions were the permission to open the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Theological Seminary and Academy, the release of imprisoned clerics, the return of some church property, including the famous Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery is situated in the town of Sergiyev Posad, about 70 km to the north-east from Moscow by the road leading to Yaroslavl, and currently is home to...
. In return, the Soviet government put the Church under the control of its secret services; so much so that the remaining priests and bishops became de facto agents of the KGB.
However, the most important concession was the permission to gather the episcopal council and to elect a new Patriarch. On September 8, 1943, at a formal meeting of bishops, Sergius was elected unopposed to the see of the Patriarch of Moscow. He was enthroned on September 12 of the same year, already being advanced in age (76 years old) and with declining health. He died in Moscow eight months later, on May 15, 1944.