Isidore (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg

Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg and Novgorod led the Eparchy of St. Petersburg and Novgorod in Russia from 1860 to 1892. He was a noted personality in Russia both as a religious figure and as a member of the science community, having been made an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Life

Born in 1799, Iakov Sergeevich Nikolsky took monastic vows upon his graduation from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy in 1825, taking the name Isidor. After graduation he continued at the academy as a teacher and librarian. He became a member of the monastic community at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg and was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood

In 1829, he was raised to the dignity of archimandrite and installed as abbot of the Ss Peter and Paul Monastery of Mtsensk as well as appointed president of the Orel Theological Seminary. In 1833, Archimandrite Isidor was named president of the Moscow Theological Seminary.

In 1834, Isidor was consecrated Bishop of Dmitrov, vicar to the Moscow Eparchy, Three years later, in 1837, Isidor was installed as Bishop of Polotsk and Vilno, and then in 1840, he became Bishop of Mogilev. In 1841, he became an Archbishop. In 1844, he was assigned as Exarch of Georgia and appointed a member of the Holy Synod. In 1858, Isidor was elected Metropolitan of Kiev, and then in 1860, he became the Metropolitan of Novgorod, St Petersburg and Finland with the added position of abbot of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. As Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, Isidor became the presiding member of the Holy Synod.

Metr. Isidor was active in St. Petersburg, both as an ecclesiastic leader and among the civic organizations. He led in the effort of making a complete translation of the Bible into Russian, including making his own personal contributions. In 1869, he founded the Alexander Nevsky House for Care of Impoverished Clergy. He established the Diocesan School for Women and took the initiative in the development of ecclesiastical education and charity in the city. The result of his efforts was the popular reference to many of these educational and almshouse facilities as Isidor’s Institutions. In the civil arena, he was a member of the Russian Geographic Society, the Russian Archeological Society, and other scientific organizations.

Metr. Isidor reposed in 1892 and was buried in the St. Isidor Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. In 1932, his relics were moved to the Nikolskoe cemetery. In 1988, his grave was marked with a cross.

Succession box: Isidore (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Dmitrov (vicar) 1834-1837	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Polotsk and Vilno 1837-1840	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Archbishop of Mogilev 1840-1844	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Eugene (Baganov)	Exarch of Georgia 1844-1858	Succeeded by: Evsevi (Ilinsky)
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Kiev 1858-1860	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Gregory (Postnikov)	Metropolitan of Novgorod, St Petersburg and Finland 1860-1892	Succeeded by: Palladius (Rayev-Pisarev)

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Sources

• Isidor (Nikolsky)
• http://www.georgianweb.com/history/plist.html List of the Katholicos-Patriarchs of Georgia]