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Kazan bishopsThe Kazan territory long since had great value for all Russia that is why from the very foundation of the diocese it was always governed by bishops, who varied in wisdom, piety and preacher’s zeal.
Kazan Archbishops
1.St. Gury (Rugotin) 1555-1563
2.St. Herman (Sadyrev - Polevoy) 1564-1567
3.Lavrenty I 1568-1574
4.Vassian 1575
5.Tikhon I (Khvorostinin) 1575 - 1576
6.Jeremiah 1576-1581
7.Cosmas 1581-1583
8.Tikhon II 1589
The first teachers of Kazan city, dark before but nowadays enlightened, were St. Archbishops Gury (1555 - December 5, 1563) and St. Herman (on November 6, 1567). Their holy life and god-pleasing activity witnessed the God through the appearance of their wonder-working relics on October 4, 1595 and on July 23, 1594.
The holy relics of St. Gury rest in the Kazan Cathedral and those of St. Herman - in Sviyazhsk town, in the Dormition Monastery founded by him. The most assiduous fellow-worker of them was St. Varsonofy, the former Archimandrite of the Savior Monastery arranged by him, was buried in the rank of Bishop of Tver on April 11, 1576; his relics are kept now in the Savior Monastery.
Among the Kazan hierarchs during the period of patriarchate in Russia, two (Hermogen and Adrian) were patriarchs of All Russia. Many hierarchs had the title of Metropolitan of Kazan. Four Metropolitans (Gavriil II, Veniamin, Amvrosy I and Gregory) were Metropolitans of Novgorod and St. – Petersburg; three Metropolitans (Gavriil II, Serapion, Philaret) were Metropolitans of Kiev. The majority of them were permanent members of the Synod, actively participating in all church affairs.
The next after St. Herman was Archbishop Lavrenty I. He had been a hegumen of the Volokolamsky Monastery before he was consecrated a bishop. He died in the same Monastery in 1574, being on rest there.
The forth Archbishop of Kazan Vassian (one of the archimandrites of the Moscow New Savior Monastery) was only for four weeks in Kazan. He was buried in the Cathedral Church near the northern wall.
The fifth Archbishop of Kazan Tikhon I was one of the abbots of the Joseph Volokolamsk Monastery (he died in 1576). His body is in the grave under the main sanctuary of the Cathedral Church.
The sixth Archbishop Jerermiah was one of the archimandrites of the Savior – Transfiguration Monastery of Kazan. In his time was founded miracle-working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God on July 8, 1579. He died on the rest in the Joseph’s Monastery in 1581, where he began his monastic life.
The seventh Archbishop Cosmas was one of the father superiors of the Kyrillo- Belozersky Monastery. He governed the Kazan diocese not for a long time. He died on the rest in the same monastery, from which he arrived to Kazan.
The eighth Archbishop Tikhon II was famous defender of the Dormition Monastery of the Caves in Pskov against the attack of the Polish king Stephen Batory. He participated in election of the first Russian Patriarch Job, which was disciple of St. Herman. Then Kazan diocese was raised to the rank of Metropolitanate (1589), and Archbishop Tikhon became the first Metropolitan of Kazan.
Metropolitans of Kazan and Astrakhan
9. St. Hermogen (1589 - 1606)
Hermogen had the title of Metropolitan of Kazan and Astrakhan. As a humble bishop of the Gostinodvorskaya (Hotel Court) Church he participated in solemn celebration of portentous event of the finding of the holy wonder – working Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (1579). Being then an Archimandrite of the Savior – Transfiguration Monastery, he wrote down wonders, which were from it. On May 1589, he was consecrated to the rank of Metropolitan of Kazan and governed the Kazan diocese wisely for 17 years, paying especial attention to enlightening with Christian faith of the natives in Kazan land. In his time relics of St. German was transferred from Moscow to Sviyazhsk (1594) and there were found the relics of Sts. Gury and Varsonofy (1595), later on he compiled their lives.
Being in last years in Moscow, during negotiations about the marriage of Lzhedmitry with Marina Mnishek he demanded that she accepted the Orthodoxy. Owing to this, he was exiled from Moscow. In 1606, he became a Patriarch of All Russia, and during the time of Polish intervention courageously protected the Orthodoxy and nationality. Many Russian people owing to the termination of the House of Russian Tsars have sworn to Vladislav, the son of the Polish king. They threatened Hermogen with death for his blessing to all to take up arms for the Fatherland, but he answered: “I will forbid, if will see, that Vladislav the son of Orthdoxy. I order, if this won’t be”. The traitor Saltykov lifted a knife against the holy hierarch, but Hermogen raised against a knife the cross and said: “Here the sign against a knife, let ascend oath on your head”. By means of Lyapunov he dispatched every-where letters with the invitation of true sons of Russia on its protection against the Poles, trampling on the holy faith, destroyed temples and gave all to the desolation. They imprisoned St. Hermogen into a monastic cell of the Chudov Monastery and starving him with famine demanded that he forbad approaching to Moscow to gone on his call to liberate Moscow. The stead patriarch died as a martyr, because was starved. Moscow was released from Poles on October 22, 1613 by the national volunteer corps from Kazan and Nizhniy Novgorod, escorting of the wonder – working Kazan icon of the Mother of God. After that Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov (whose father was the successor of Patriarch Hermogen on patriarchate) was elected a tsar.
Metropolitans of Kazan and Sviyazhsk
10. St. Åphraim (1606 – 1613)
11. Ìàtthew (1615-1646)
12. Simon (1646-1649)
13. Êornily I (1650 – 1656)
14. Lavrenty II (1657 – 1672)
15. Êornily II (1673-1674)
The 10th Metropolitan of Kazan Åphraim had the title of Metropolitane of Kazan and Sviyazhsk as in 1602 in Astrakhan was founded the independent diocese. In 1606 he anathematized some inhabitants of Sviyazhsk town for the oath to the impostor; and during Time of Truobles he governed all Kazan land, then all Russian Church and on July 11, 1613 he crowned a pious Tsar Michael Feodorovich. Metropolitan Ephraim was buried ahead of an altar of the Cathedral temple of the Savior - Transfiguration Monastery.
The 11th Metropolitan Matthew (from abbots of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery) governed the Kazan flock for 31 years. At him were founded Sedmiyezernaya (“Of Seven Lakes”) and Raifa Pustyns (hermitages), which were of great importance for a spiritual life of the Kazan flock and education of foreigners. He was buried (+ 1646) in the Cathedral at north wall.
The 12th Metropolitan Simeon (from Serbs) operated the Kazan diocese for three years. He was buried (+1649) in the Cathedral at north wall.
The 13th Metropolitan Kornily I (from abbots of the Moscow Epiphany Monastery) operated the diocese for six years. He was buried (+1654) in the Cathedral at north wall.
The 14th Metropolitan Lavrenty II (from Archbishops of Tver) is known as a composer of canons in honour of St. Gury and St. Herman. Before the death (+ 1672 on November 11), he took the Great Schema with the name Levky (Leukius). His body rests in a crypt under the main cathedral’s altar.
The 15th Metropolitan Kornily II (from the Novgorod Archbishops) didn’t come to Kazan and, dismissed through illness on rest, died (+1698) in Zelenetskaya Pustyn (St. Petersburg province) where he began his monastic life.
Metropolitans of Kazan and Bulgaria
16. Ioasaph (1674-1686)
The 16th Metropolitan Joasaph (from Archimandrites of the Savior – St. Euphimius Monastery) had the title of Metropolitane of Kazan and Bulgaria (in memory of the Bulgarian Empire, situated on the territory of Kazan land). He governed the Kazan diocese for about 12 years. He was buried (+1686) in the Cathedral at the north wall.
Metropolitans of Kazan
17. Adrian 1686-1690
18. Markell 1690-1698
19. Tikhon III (Voinov) 1699 - 1724
20. Sylvester (Holmsky) 1725 - 1731
21. Archbishop Hilarion (Rogalevsky) 1732-1750
22. Archbishop Gavriil I (Russkoy) 1735 - 1738
23. Bishop Luke (Êonashevich) 1738-1755
24. Bishop Gavriil II (Kremenetsky) 1755 - 1762
25. Metropolitan Veniamin (Putsek-Grigorovich) 1762 - 1782
26. Archbishop Anthony I (Zybelin) 1782 - 1785
27. Archbishop Amvrosy I (Podobedov) 1785-1799
The 17th Metropolitan Adrian (from Archimandrites of the Chudov Monastery) wisely governed the Diocese for about five years. He was elevated in Patriarchs of All Russia during difficult time when the Russian Orthodox Church was faced on the one hand with ignorant Old - Ritualism, and on the other hand with foreign influence, which could strongly shake all former religious life of ancient Russia. Patriarch Adrian was the strict adherent of Orthodoxy that is why he consequently and zealously struggled with dissenters and protested against the western education.
The 18th Metropolitan Markell (from ambassadorial state judges) was transferred to Kazan from Pskov (1690). At him in Kazan was a great fire (1694), which has damaged relics of St. Varsonofy. His body rests (+1698) under the main Cathedral altar.
The 19th Metropolitan Tikhon III - the pupil of Patriarch Adrian – at first was Metropolitan of Sarsk and Podonsk and then was transferred to Kazan in 1695. At him was founded Slavonic – Latin School at Bishop’s House.
The 20th Metropolitan Sylvester (from pupils of the Kiev - Mogilyansk school) was at first Metropolitan of Nizhniy Novgorod and Smolensk, and then he was reduced in bishop. In Kazan (1727) rank of metropolitan was returned to him, but then, upon slander of Kazan Governor A.Volynsky, he was deposed from a post (1731) and as an ordinary monk died in an imprisonment.
The 21st Archbishop Hilarion (Rogalevsky) studied at the Kiev Academy, accompanied Volynsky to Persia. He was consecrated an Archbishop of Kazan (1732) from archimandrites of the Moscow Don Monastery. At him the Slavonic-Latin School was transformed into Seminary, which was transferred to the Zilantov Monastery, and then to a new building (in Voskresenskaja street), which has begun to build at Hilarion. In 1735 he was transferred to Chernigov, and then dismissed on rest and in 1742 was buried in Tver.
The 22nd Archbishop Gavriil (former Bishop of Suzdal), governed the Kazan diocese not for a long time. Appointed to Kazan in 1735, he was soon transferred to the Great Ustjug diocese. He died on rest in one of the monasteries of Ryazan province (1738).
The 23rd Bishop Luke (Kanashevich) studied at the Kiev Academy, was a teacher in the Moscow Academy and then in the Petersburg Cadet’s College. To Kazan was appointed from Great Ustyug. At him the Seminary, to which he gave the personal library, was resulted in such blossoming condition that didn’t concede to Academies. Bishop Luke cared of the conversion in Christianity of foreigners, involving them to belief by all measures, especially through organization for newly baptized schools with Church of Sts. Zechariah and Elizabeth (above Kaban lake where nowadays there is a new building of Teacher's Seminary). In 1755 Bishop Luke was transferred to Belgorod where he died.
The 24th Bishop Gavriil II (Kremenetsky), studied at the Moscow Academy, was as a teacher and rector of the Seminary of Alexander Nevsky. To Kazan he was transferred from Kolomna, and then he was appointed on a post of Metropolitan of Kiev (+1783).
The 25th Metropolitan Veniamin (Putsek - Grigorovich), studied at the Kiev Academy, devoted the most part of his life to Kazan, beginning as a teacher in Slavic-Latin School and ending as a rector of the seminary. Right Reverend Veniamin since 1748 in succession was the head of Nizhniy Novgorod, Tver, Pskov, Petersburg dioceses and in 1762 at his own request was transferred to Kazan, after crowning of Empress Catherine II. At him in 1771 Kazan was released by wonder – work from a fatal ulcer after religious processions around the city with the Icon of the Mother of God “Of the Seven Lakes”. In 1772 Pugachev, who set up for Emperor Peter III, attacked Kazan. Before his invasion Archbishop Veniamin sent out the message in which as the eyewitness, he proved that Emperor Peter III has died. During the siege of Kazan by Pugachev Archbishop Veniamin assiduously prayed in the Cathedral for saving of Kazan from the villain - impostor. In revenge for it, mutineers slandered him in the relations with Pugachev. After strict investigation, innocence of archbishop was proved. Empress presented to Veniamin a precious panagia and he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
Archbishops of Kazan and Simbirsk
28. Serapion (Alexandrovsky) 1799 - 1803
29. Pavel (Zernov) 1803-1815
30. Amvrosy II (Protasov) 1816 - 1826
31. Iona (Pavinsky) 1826 - 1828
32. Philaret (Amphitheaters) 1828-1836
Archbishops of Kazan and Sviyazhsk
33. Vladimir 1 (Uzhinsky) 1836 - 1848
34. Metropolitan Gregory (Postnikov) 1848 - 1856
35. Athanasy (Sokolov) 1856 - 1866
36. Anthony II (Amphitheaters) 1866 - 1879
37. Sergy (Lyapidevsky) 1880-1882
38. Pallady (Rajev) 1882 - 1887
39. Pavel II (Lebedev) 1887 - 1892
40. Vladimir II (Petrov) 1892 - 1897
41. Arseny 1897-1903
42. Dimitry 11903-1905
43. Dimitry II (Sambikin) 1905 - 1908
44. Nikanor (Kamensky) 1908-1910
45. Metropolitan Iacov (Pjatnitsky) 1910-1918
46. Metropolitan Kyrill (Smirnov) 1918 - 1922
47. Mitrophan (Polikarpov) 1925
48. Ioann (Shirokov) 1925-1930
49. Irinei (Shulmin) 1930
50. Àthanassy (Malinin) 1930 - 1933
51. Metropolitan Seraphim (Alexandrov) 1933-1936
52. Archbishop Venedikt (Plotnikov) 1936 - 1937
53. Nikon (Purlevsky) 1937
54. Andrei (Komarov) 1942 - 1944
55. Hilary (Iliin) 1944 - 1945
56. Germogen (Kozhin) 1946 - 1949
Bishops of Kazan and Chistopol
57. Bishop Iustin (Maltsev) 1949 - 1950
58. Archbishop Sergy Ï (Korolyov) 1950-1952
Bishops of Kazan and Mari
59. Archbishop Iov (Kresovich) 1953-1960
60. Archbishop Michail (Voskresensky) 1960 – 1975
61. Bishop Panteleimon (Mitryukovsky) 1975-1988
62. Archbishop Anastasy (Metkin) since 1988
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