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==Life==
Stephen Mitropolsky was born in Kaluga on [[September 27]], 1836. He was an uncle of the [[Archpriest]] Nicholas Mitropolsky. His father was a sexton. His early education included attendance at the Kaluga Seminary, followed by attending the [[Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy ]] from which he graduated in 1862. While a student at the academy he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] on [[August 29]], 1861, with the name of John. After his ordination as a deacon, John was ordained a [[priest]] on [[June 21]], 1862. The following September [[Hieromonk]] John received his Master's degree and was awarded a fellowship at the Academy initially in church archaeology and then in general church history.
On [[October 27]], 1868, he was raised to the rank of [[archimandrite]], followed by his consecration as [[bishop]] of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska. This was a new episcopal title that indicated that the Alaskan bishop was no longer an [[auxiliary bishop|auxiliary]] to a diocesan bishop but rather a ruling bishop with his own diocese.
