Difference between revisions of "Alexis of Moscow"

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Saint '''Alexis''' ('''Alexius''' ''Алексий'' in Russian) (1296? – 1378) was a [[Metropolitan]] of Moscow (Kiev) and all [[Church of Russia|Russia]] (since 1354), who presided over Muscovite government during Dmitrii Donskoi's minority. He is remembered by the Church on [[February 12]].
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Our father among [[saint]]s '''Alexis''' ('''Alexius''' ''Алексий'' in Russian) (1296? – 1378) was a [[Metropolitan]] of Moscow (Kiev) and all [[Church of Russia|Russia]] (since 1354), who presided over Muscovite government during Dmitrii Donskoi's minority. He is remembered by the Church on [[February 12]].
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
 
Alexius, whose birth  name was Elephtherios, was a son of Fyodor (Theodore) Biakont, a boyar from Chernigov who settled in Moscow and founded the great Pleshcheev boyar family.  
 
Alexius, whose birth  name was Elephtherios, was a son of Fyodor (Theodore) Biakont, a boyar from Chernigov who settled in Moscow and founded the great Pleshcheev boyar family.  

Revision as of 19:06, April 18, 2007

Our father among saints Alexis (Alexius Алексий in Russian) (1296? – 1378) was a Metropolitan of Moscow (Kiev) and all Russia (since 1354), who presided over Muscovite government during Dmitrii Donskoi's minority. He is remembered by the Church on February 12.

Life

Alexius, whose birth name was Elephtherios, was a son of Fyodor (Theodore) Biakont, a boyar from Chernigov who settled in Moscow and founded the great Pleshcheev boyar family.

The Lord revealed to the future saint his lofty destiny from early childhood. At twelve years of age Eleutherius went to a field and set nets to ensnare birds. He dozed off and suddenly he heard a voice: "Alexis! Why do you toil in vain? You are to be a catcher of people."

He took monastic vows at the Epiphany Monastery of Moscow around 1313. The renowned ascetics of the monastery, the Elders Gerontius and St Stephen (July 14), brother of St Sergius of Radonezh, were guides for him and his companions.

In 1333 or so, he moved to the residence of Metropolitan Theognostus. The Metropolitan, who had taken notice of the virtuous life and spiritual gifts of St Alexis, asked the future saint to leave the monastery and manage the ecclesiastical courts. The saint fulfilled this office for twelve years.

In 1340, Alexis was appointed Metropolitan's deputy in Vladimir and 12 years later would become the Bishop of Vladimir.

By the will of Semeon of Russia (Symeon the Proud), Alexis was appointed adviser to his brothers - Ivan II and Andrew. After visiting Constantinople, he was chosen to become the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Russia in 1354. When Dmitrii Donskoi and Vladimir the Bold were young, Alexius was their spiritual tutor and a regent at the same time. He took the side of Dmitrii Donskoi in his struggle against Tver and Nizhny Novgorod, where he once sent St. Sergius of Radonezh to suspend divine service in churches and monasteries, until the political strife was over.

In 1360s, Alexis founded the Andronikov, Chudov, and Alekseyevsky monasteries. He promoted Metropolitan Peter's canonization by the Russian Orthodox Church. Shortly before his death, Alexis fruitlessly tried to convince Sergius of Radonezh to become his successor.

St Alexis reached the advanced age of seventy-eight, having spent twenty-four years upon the metropolitan cathedra. He reposed on February 12, 1378 and was buried in accord with his last wishes at the Chudov monastery. His relics were uncovered in a miraculous manner fifty years later, after which the memory of the great holy hierarch and man of prayer began to be celebrated.


Alexis was also an author of sermons and epistles. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1448 and has been revered as one of the patron saints of Moscow. His relics were venerated in the Chudov Monastery that he had founded.

St Alexis is also commemorated on May 20 (uncovering of his relics), and on October 5.

Hymn

Troparion (Tone 4)

The fervent protector of Apostolic dogmas,
The pastor and teacher of the Russian Church:
By celebrating the memory of the blessed bishop Alexis
We glorify with our songs Christ our God.
He has given us a faithful worker
And a fountain of healing grace,
The praise and confirmation of Orthodox Christians!

Source

External link


Succession box:
Alexis of Moscow
Preceded by:
?
Metropolitan of Novgorod
134?-1354
Succeeded by:
?
Preceded by:
Theognostus
Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia
1354-1378
Succeeded by:
Cyprian
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