Patriarch Alexius I
Encyclopedia
Patriarch Alexy I ( – April 17, 1970) was the 13th Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church
(ROC) between 1945 and 1970.
Born in Moscow
to a noble family, his father was a Chamberlain
of the Russian Imperial Household
. In 1899 he graduated from Moscow Imperial University
with a law degree; was conscripted by the army and served in a grenadier regiment. In 1902 he enrolled at Moscow Theological Academy and by 1906 he had been elevated to the dignity of archimandrite
and was appointed rector
of the seminary
at Tula
.
After the Bolshevik Revolution he was arrested several times and in 1922 exiled to Kazakhstan
. In 1926 he returned to Saint Petersburg
(which had been renamed Leningrad) and was appointed Archbishop
of Khutyn, that is, the vicar
of the Diocese
of Novgorod. He ran the diocese for much of the next seven years while Metropolitan Arsenii was in prison or exile. In 1933 Alexius served briefly as Archbishop of Novgorod
(for several months) and then metropolitan
of Leningrad.
On September 4, 1943, Metropolitan Alexius together with Metropolitan Sergius
and Metropolitan Nikolay
met with Joseph Stalin
in the Kremlin
where a historic decision was made regarding the fate of the Church in the state ruled by the militantly atheist Communist party. In the midst of the second world war Stalin decided to allow the Russian Orthodox Church to legally function again after two decades of severe persecution
. Restrictions on the Patriarchate of Moscow were relaxed somewhat and many churches throughout the Soviet Union
were re-opened. Stalin tried to appeal to patriotic feelings of the Russian people especially the peasant
ry (backbone of the Red Army
), many of whom grew up in still deeply religious families.
On February 2, 1945, with Stalin's approval, Alexius I was elected Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia and enthroned on February 4, 1945. In 1946 Alexius I presided over the controversial "re-unification" of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
with ROC seen by many as a takeover forced by the Stalinist government. After 1958, Russian Christians had to endure a new wave of persecution, mostly carried out through the closing of churches by the new Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev
.
Supporters praise Alexius I for working hard to ensure the survival of the Christianity in Russia, advocating peace and inter-church unity, while opponents often accused him of complicity with the Soviet authorities.
Alexius died of a myocardial infarction
at the age of 92 in 1970 and was buried in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra at Sergiyev Posad
outside of Moscow.
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...
(ROC) between 1945 and 1970.
Born in 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 a noble family, his father was a Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
of the Russian Imperial Household
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
. In 1899 he graduated from Moscow Imperial University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
with a law degree; was conscripted by the army and served in a grenadier regiment. In 1902 he enrolled at Moscow Theological Academy and by 1906 he had been elevated to the dignity of archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
and was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the 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...
at Tula
Tula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
.
After the Bolshevik Revolution he was arrested several times and in 1922 exiled to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. In 1926 he returned to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
(which had been renamed Leningrad) and 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 Khutyn, that is, the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of the Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Novgorod. He ran the diocese for much of the next seven years while Metropolitan Arsenii was in prison or exile. In 1933 Alexius served briefly as Archbishop of Novgorod
Archbishop of Novgorod
The Archbishop of Novgorod is the head of the eparchy of Novgorod the Great and is one of the oldest offices in the Russian Orthodox Church. The archbishops have, in fact, been among the most important figures in medieval Russian history and culture and their successors continued to play...
(for several months) and then 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 Leningrad.
On September 4, 1943, Metropolitan Alexius together with Metropolitan Sergius
Patriarch Sergius I of Moscow
Patriarch Sergius I , – May 15, 1944) 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.-Early life:...
and Metropolitan Nikolay
Metropolitan Nikolay of Krutitsy
Metropolitan Nicholas , Kovno – December 13, 1961, Moscow), was a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church.He supported the controversial 1927 declaration of Metropolitan Sergius, pledging loyalty of the Church to the Soviet authorities against the will of the imprisoned Patriarchal locum tenens,...
met with 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...
in the Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin
The Moscow Kremlin , sometimes referred to as simply The Kremlin, is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River , Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square and the Alexander Garden...
where a historic decision was made regarding the fate of the Church in the state ruled by the militantly atheist Communist party. In the midst of the second world war Stalin decided to allow the Russian Orthodox Church to legally function again after two decades of severe persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
. Restrictions on the Patriarchate of Moscow were relaxed somewhat and many churches throughout the 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....
were re-opened. Stalin tried to appeal to patriotic feelings of the Russian people especially the peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
ry (backbone of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
), many of whom grew up in still deeply religious families.
On February 2, 1945, with Stalin's approval, Alexius I was elected Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia and enthroned on February 4, 1945. In 1946 Alexius I presided over the controversial "re-unification" of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
with ROC seen by many as a takeover forced by the Stalinist government. After 1958, Russian Christians had to endure a new wave of persecution, mostly carried out through the closing of churches by the new Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
.
Supporters praise Alexius I for working hard to ensure the survival of the Christianity in Russia, advocating peace and inter-church unity, while opponents often accused him of complicity with the Soviet authorities.
Alexius died of a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 92 in 1970 and was buried in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra at Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad
Sergiyev Posad is a city and the administrative center of Sergiyevo-Posadsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh. The town status was granted to it in 1742...
outside of Moscow.
See also
- USSR Anti-Religious Campaign (1958–1964)USSR Anti-Religious Campaign (1958–1964)During a more tolerant period towards religion from 1941 until the late 1950s in the Soviet Union, the church grew in stature and membership. This provoked concern by the Soviet government under Nikita Khrushchev, which decided in the late 1950s to undertake a new campaign to quell religion in...