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[[Image:AnastasyGribanovsky.jpg|left|frame|Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky), First Hierarch of ROCOR]]
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Metropolitan '''Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev and Khotin''' (1873-1965) was a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and the second First Hierarch of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]].
==Life==
After completing the Tambov Religious School and then the Theological Seminary, he enrolled in the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]], then under the rectorship of Archimandrite [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev|Anthony (Khrapovitsky)]], the future Metropolitan and First Hierarch of the [[ROCOR]]. After completing the Academy, in April 1898, he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] by [[Bishop]] Alexander of Tambov with the name Anastasy for St Anastasy of Sinai. On [[April 23]], 1898, he was ordained [[hierodeacon]], and shortly thereafter [[hieromonk]].
In 1900, hieromonk Anastasy was appointed inspector of the Bethany Theological Seminary, near [[Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra|Trinity - St. Sergius Lavra]]. In 1901 he became inspector of the Moscow Theological Seminary, with elevation to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. On [[June 29]], 1906, he was [[ordination|ordained]] Bishop of Serpukhov, vicar of the Moscow [[diocese]]. At his ordination, he pronounced a remarkable homily "The True Way of Christ's Pastoral Work," in which he proficied prophesied the upcoming turmoil and persecutions.
In the position of vicar of the Moscow diocese, Bishop Anastasy's responsibilities included daily services in the [[Dormition Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin)|Dormition Cathedral]], the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and other Muscovite churches and monasteries, as well as visitations of [[parish]]es, direction of institutions of theological learning, and direction of a committee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.
In May 1914, Bishop Anastasy was appointed to the Kholm and Liublin [[cathedra]]. A month and a half later, the First World War began, and, in addition to his diocesan duties, Bishop Anastasy served soldiers on the front, for which he was decorated with the Order of St Vladimir, and, later, the order of St Alexander Nevsky. In 1915, he was forced to evacuate from the front to into the interior, and lived in Moscow at the [[Chudov Monastery]]. In the end of 1915, he was appointed to the Kishinev cathedra and in 1916 elevated to the rank of [[archbishop]]. With the opening of the Romanian front, Archbishop Anastasy once again found himself in the area of military operations.
In August 1917 he left Bessarabia for Moscow to participate in the [[All-Russian Church Council of 1917-1918]]. During voting, his candidacy received 77 votes for the patriarchy; he then participated in the preparation of the enthronment [[enthronement]] of Patriarch St [[Tikhon of Moscow]], which he described in his article "Election and Enthronment of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon, his personality and work." Archbishop Anastasy was elected a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops.
In October 1918, he departed from Moscow headed for Odessa with the hope of being able to return to the Kishinev cathedra, which was under Romanian occupation. He was not able, however, to return to Bessarabia because of pressure from Romanian authorities to leave the Russian Church and enter into the jurisdiction of the Romanian Patriarchate. He categorically refused schism and was forced to remain in Odessa. With the Bolshevik invasion, he was forced to leave for [[Constantinople]] in 1919. Briefly returning to Russia, he visited Novorosiisk, Rostov, and Novocherkassk, where he made contacts with the Supreme Church Authority of South-East Russia, under the leadership of Metropolitan [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev]]. He then once again left Russia for Constantinople through Odessa.
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Serpukhov]]
[[Category:Bishops of Lublin]]
