Difference between revisions of "Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York"

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His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York''' led the North American diocese of the [[Church of Russia]] twice, the first time before World War I and the second time afterwards. In 1907 he was transferred to head the diocese, after Archbishop Tikhon returned to Russia. Archbishop Platon was again transferred this time to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin in 1914. After the Russian Revolutions and Civil War he was forced to flee from Odessa, and he again arrived in the United States in 1921, to a diocese in financial trouble and weak leadership. The then diocesan bishop, Archbishop Alexander, asked Archbishop Platon to re-assume leadership of the diocese as he returned to Europe. Patriarch Tikhon, on [[September 29]], 1923, approved the election by the All-American Council. Metropolitan Platon continued to lead the diocese until his death on [[April 20]], 1934.
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His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York''' led the North American diocese of the [[Church of Russia]] twice, the first time before World War I and the second time afterwards. In 1907 he was transferred to head the diocese, after Archbishop Tikhon returned to Russia. Archbishop Platon was again transferred this time to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin in 1914. After the Russian Revolutions and Civil War he was forced to flee from Odessa, and he again arrived in the United States in 1921, to a diocese in financial trouble and weak leadership. The then diocesan bishop, Archbishop Alexander, asked Archbishop Platon to re-assume leadership of the diocese as he returned to Europe. Patriarch Tikhon, on [[September 29]], 1923, approved his election by the All-American Council. Metropolitan Platon continued to lead the diocese until his death on [[April 20]], 1934.
  
 
== Life ==
 
== Life ==

Revision as of 20:11, July 3, 2005

His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York led the North American diocese of the Church of Russia twice, the first time before World War I and the second time afterwards. In 1907 he was transferred to head the diocese, after Archbishop Tikhon returned to Russia. Archbishop Platon was again transferred this time to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin in 1914. After the Russian Revolutions and Civil War he was forced to flee from Odessa, and he again arrived in the United States in 1921, to a diocese in financial trouble and weak leadership. The then diocesan bishop, Archbishop Alexander, asked Archbishop Platon to re-assume leadership of the diocese as he returned to Europe. Patriarch Tikhon, on September 29, 1923, approved his election by the All-American Council. Metropolitan Platon continued to lead the diocese until his death on April 20, 1934.

Life

Metropolitan Platon was born Porphyry Theodorovich Rozhdestvensky on February 23, 1866, the son of a parish priest in the Kursk Eparchy of Russia. He attended the Kursk Theological Seminary and married. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1887 and was assigned as a village priest in Lukashevsky. Shortly his wife gave birth to a daughter, but within five years he had become a widower.

He then entered the Kiev Theological Academy, graduating in 1895. He took his monastic vows in 1894, receiving the name Platon. He served as an assistant professor and instructor of Moral Theology while he continued his studies. In 1898, he received a Master of Theology degree. Father Platon was named inspector at the Kiev Academy and was raised to the rank of archmandrite. He was named rector of the Kiev Academy in 1902 and, additionally, was consecrated bishop, serving as second vicar of the Kiev diocese.

In 1907, he was transferred to the North American diocese, arriving September 5, 1907. Reacting to the needs of the diocese he welcomed more Carpatho-Russian Uniates back to Orthodoxy and addressed social services by founding the Russian Immigrants Home and an orphanage in New York City. He, also, transferred the Seminary from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Tenefly, New Jersey to bring it closer to main source of students and to the Church Administration.

In 1914, he was transferred to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin, leaving leaving America on May 20, 1914, but shortly thereafter he became exarch of Georgia and a member of the Holy Synod. He served in 1915 in the Second State Duma, and before the Revolution of 1917, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kherson and Odessa. With the defeat of the White Forces he was forced to leave Odessa for Europe and America.

With Metropolitan Platon’s return to the United States in 1921 and Archbishop Alexander’s return to Europe, the Third All-American Church Sobor (Council) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in September 1923 elected Metropolitan Platon as the ruling bishop of the North American diocese. Although this election was confirmed by the Russian Church, Metropolitan Platon would spend over the next decade great effort maintaining the unity of the diocese, particularly against attacks by the “Living Church