Voronezh bishop who challenged the tsar: the history of the canonization of Mitrophan and the dispute over the schema
August 20in the church calendar is listed as the day of the discovery of the remains of the first head of the Voronezh diocese — Bishop Mitrophan. His official enrollment as a saint took place in 1832, but the path to this decision took more than a century and was accompanied by a number of unexpected circumstances.
The life of the hierarch began in 1623 in the Vladimir region. Until the age of forty, he served as an ordinary priest, raising his son. Having lost his wife, he went to a monastery near Suzdal, where he received a monastic name. Further career developed rapidly: the rector of two monasteries, a confidant of the patriarch and the tsar, a participant in disputes with the Old Believers in the Faceted Chamber. In 1682 he was appointed bishop of the newly created Voronezh Cathedral.
Relations with the young Peter I developed respectfully, but without servitude. Funding the construction of ships, the bishop nevertheless categorically refused to cross the threshold of the royal residence, where there were marble statues of ancient gods. Hearing the threat of execution, he began to prepare for death. The emperor withdrew the claims and ordered the sculptures to be carried out.
A few months before his death in 1703, Vladyka accepted a great schema named Macarius. The burial took place at a huge confluence of people, the king personally participated in the procession. Immediately after the funeral, memorial services began to serve at the tomb — so bequeathed the deceased himself.
The first opening of the burial took place in 1718 during the dismantling of the old cathedral. The body was untouched by smoldering. A similar result was recorded again in 1735. By the 1820s, the flow of pilgrims increased many times, cases of miraculous recovery began to be recorded in the temple. Local bishop Anthony II regularly sent reports to the capital, seeking official recognition of holiness.
Before the examination itself, an episode occurred that determined the further tradition. Vladyka Anthony wanted to dress the remains in the ceremonial episcopal robe. However, according to the testimony, in the cell he heard a warning not to violate the will of the deceased. Soon a schema was discovered, transmitted the day before by an unknown nun with the words that it was about to come in handy. It was decided to leave the relics in the monastic robe.
The Synodal Commission with the participation of the Yaroslavl Archbishop Eugene and Archimandrite Hermogen confirmed the facts of incorruptibility and recorded healings. After canonization in Voronezh, Mitrofanov monastery was established. In addition to the main date, the diocese celebrates three more memorable days associated with the name of the saint.
Memorial Day
August 20
Charity foundHoly Land.
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