Mitrofan (Krasnopolsky)

He was born on October 22, 1869 in a poor family - his father was a bricklayer, and his mother was a daughter of a village landowner. He was the best student in a rural school. Thanks to the petition of the rural teacher, he was assigned to the Biryuchenskoe Theological School , where he was kept at the expense of the same benefactor.

In 1884 he graduated from the Biryuchenskoe Theological School, after which he entered the Voronezh Theological Seminary , from which he graduated in 1890 .

In 1890 he got married and was ordained deacon to the Kazan Church of the suburban suburb of the city of Korotoyak of the Voronezh diocese ..

In 1893, his wife died, after which he chose the monastic way and entered the Theological Academy.

In 1896 he became a monk , ordained a deacon , from June 15, 1897 - a hieromonk .

In 1898 he graduated from the Kiev Theological Academy with the degree of candidate of theology .

From 1898 - inspector of the Irkutsk Theological Seminary .

Since 1902 - Archimandrite , rector of the Mogilyov Theological Seminary .

Bishop of Gomel

February 11, 1907 in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was consecrated Bishop of Gomel , Vicar of the Mogilev Diocese . The consecration was performed by the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, Anthony (Vadkovsky) , the Metropolitan of Moscow, Vladimir (Epiphany) , the Metropolitan of Kiev, Flavian (Gorodetsky), and other hierarchs.

In 1907–1912 , he was a member of the III State Duma of the Mogilev Province, was the chairman of the anti-alcohol commission, a member of the commissions: resettlement, church, for public education. A member of the right-wing faction made speeches in defense of the interests of the Orthodox Church, including its role as a preeminent denomination.

In 1908 he became one of the founding members of the Russian outlying society . ^[one]

Bishop of Minsk and Turov

From November 3, 1912 - Bishop of Minsk and Turov .

The clergy of the city of Minsk called him a "steadfast fighter for the Orthodox cause."

During the First World War, he often went to the front to maintain the morale of soldiers, repeatedly came under fire. He launched a broad charity to help civilians left homeless from places occupied by the enemy, as well as organizing diocesan hospitals for wounded soldiers. For this activity in 1916 he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky .

Bishop of Astrakhan and Tsarevsky

From July 11, 1916 - Bishop of Astrakhan and Tsarevsky .

He proved himself an energetic archpastor, organized a diocesan infirmary, a school for refugee children. The Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood was entrusted with the task of caring for the material support of the families in need, for which their breadwinners were called up to the active army. He fought against sectarianism, in January 1917 he founded courses for teaching missionary work in Astrakhan and in the village of Prishib of Tsarevsky district. In a very short time he managed to drive around the Astrakhan diocese and visit even those parishes in which none of the Astrakhan sovereigns had visited before.

In the spring of 1917, the liberal part of the clergy tried to remove the lord from the management of the diocese. However, the Astrakhan Diocesan Congress expressed, in essence, full confidence in the bishop and gave him the opportunity to quietly continue his archpastoral work.

Activities at the Local Council

He took an active part in the All-Russian Local Council of 1917-1918. Even before it began, he painstakingly researched and compared historical and canonical testimonies about the institution of the patriarchate , which later formed the basis of his report to the Council on the restoration of the Patriarchate.

He was elected chairman of the cathedral department of higher church administration. On October 11, 1917, he delivered a report at the Council, in which he justified the need to restore the institution of the Patriarchate:

The establishment of the patriarchate achieved the fullness of the church structure, and the fullness of government. The abolition of the patriarchate by Peter I was an anti-canonical act, the Russian Church became headless, aphalic. The synod turned out to be an institution alien to Russia, devoid of solid ground here. The idea of ​​patriarchy continued to glow in the minds of the Russian people as a “golden dream”. We need the Patriarch as a spiritual leader and leader who would inspire the heart of the Russian people, call for a correction of life and for deed and the first to go ahead.

The report of Vladyka Mitrofan played a significant role in the fact that on October 28, 1917, the Council passed a decision on the restoration of the Patriarchate.

On his initiative, the Local Council canonized the martyr Joseph, Metropolitan of Astrakhan , killed by razintsy in 1671 , gave a report to the Council on this issue. The cathedral issued a special act, which was later announced in all the churches of the city of Astrakhan. The glorification took place in Astrakhan in May 1919, shortly before the lord's arrest.

In April 1918, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop .

Last year in Astrakhan

On February 18, at the initiative of Bishop Mitrofan in Astrakhan , a procession was held throughout the city center. In the former provincial garden he served a litia at the mass grave of the Red Army soldiers who were killed during the recent battles. By this, the archpastor showed that the church applies to all victims of the civil war with the same grief, regardless of whether they belonged to the camp — red or white. According to an eyewitness: "It was the triumph of faith, the triumph of Orthodoxy, which the creators of new ideas were so afraid of."

In 1918-1919, the lord's conflict continued with the liberal part of the clergy and flock, led by vicar bishop Leonty (von Wimpfen) , who was worshiped by believers for his righteous life and asceticism. Vladyka Mitrofan opposed any cooperation with the Soviet organizations and in this connection, against the creation in the diocese of the “Spiritual Union of Orthodox Christians”, which was to receive official registration: “It’s better,” he said, “to lose churches and hold worship in the open sky, than sacrificing Christian freedom and Christian truth, seeking registration of the union in commissariats. " The conflict escalated, and as a result, Vladyka Leonty was dismissed from his post as Vicar by Patriarch Tikhon and the Council of Bishops.

On March 25 ( April 7 ), 1919, on the feast day of the Annunciation, Vladyka served in the Annunciation Monastery, where during the sermon he touched "those who died as a result of unnecessary and useless actions of civilian authorities." After the liturgy, they were served a requiem for the innocently murdered. After this, the clergy of the diocese, realizing that the sovereign was in danger, began to persuade him to leave Astrakhan immediately. This archbishop replied:

“You are offering me an escape, and this is the very time when our innocent brothers are shot in front of us. No, I'm not going anywhere from my flock; on my chest is the Cross of the Savior, and he will reproach me in my cowardice. I want to ask you: why don't you run? So you value your honor more than I should value my apostolic dignity? Know, I am absolutely pure and in no way guilty before my homeland and people. ”

Arrest and death of martyrs

On the night of May 26 ( June 8 ), 1919, he was arrested by the Chekists (at the same time Bishop Leonty was also arrested) by order of S. M. Kirov ^[2] . The bishops were accused of conspiracy against the Soviet authorities. Believers of Astrakhan tried to achieve their release, but were refused by the head of the Cheka Atarbekov . Archbishop Mitrofan was very confident during all interrogations, not yielding to any threats and persuasion to give an accusatory statement against himself and other persons involved. He was sentenced to death.

When the archbishop was brought to execution, he blessed the firing squad. After that, the soldiers refused to shoot him. The lord was shot by the Chekists, and one of them tore out a shred of his beard. Eyewitnesses said that before his death, Archbishop Mitrofan was able to see and make peace with his vicar - Bishop Leonty, who was shot after him.

In the Astrakhan diocese there was a veneration of the dead. Believers prayed at the supposed grave of the bishops in the Pokrovo-Boldinsky monastery.

In 1981, by the decision of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, was canonized in the face of a martyr with the inclusion of the Council of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia with the establishment of memory on June 23 ^[3] .

On December 26-27, 2001, a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church was held in Moscow, at which it was decided to include the Holy Martyr Mitrofan (Krasnopolsky) in the Council of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the 20th Century. April 14, 2002 in the Pokrovsky Cathedral of Astrakhan held its solemn glorification.

After the shooting of Archbishop Mitrofan and Bishop Leonty, the believers managed to take away the bodies of the murdered bishops and make a burial. A brick monument was erected at the burial site, which in 1930 was destroyed due to pilgrimages of believers.

Place of burial is known fairly accurately:

Now this place is located on the territory of the city’s tuberculosis hospital No. 1 (using the preserved buildings of the Pokrovo-Boldinsky monastery), inside its fence (already a modern building). This place is a wasteland without any buildings. If the need arises to search for the remains of Archbishop Mitrofan, then we can rely on these guidelines: perhaps the remains of the foundations of the monument on the grave; buried shortly after the burial of the bishops to the half-meter depth of the bottle with notes enclosed in them, telling about the circumstances of the death of the bishops. And, finally, to the pectoral cross, dressed by Archbishop Mitrofan, Fr. Dmitry Stefanovsky, an iron box with a similar record was attached to the chain ^[4] .

- Hegumen Joseph (Marjan)

However, in our time, Igumen Joseph (Marjan) undertook a number of excavations on the territory of the former Pokrovo-Boldinsky Monastery ^[5] , and now it can be considered proven that there are no graves of bishops in this territory.

After the war, there was a rumor about the reburial of Archbishop Mitrofan and Bishop Leonty in the city cemetery, where the believers put a wooden cross. Local authorities regularly exterminated him, but he reappeared at this place.

At first glance, His Grace was harsh and even strict, but his harsh austerity was only external and remained on his face due to the difficult feelings of childhood. In fact, Vladyka was affectionate, simple and hospitable. He had a very kind heart, ready to respond to any misfortune. He also had a natural memory and, most importantly, accessibility, which made no distinction between ranks and positions. Vladyka did not disdain any petitioners, especially from among the clergy. If he was the latest psalm-reader from a provincial village, the lord patiently listened to him. Vladyka could give needy wisdom and tried to help materially. It is known that Vladyka often sent money to poor families, and also maintained at his own expense seminary students from poor families who could not pay for their education. Vladyka prayed a lot, got up very early and every day was at the liturgy in the Cross Church. This non-hypocritical, pure, sincere faith attracted people to him no less than his kindness and charity. He firmly believed in the holiness and inviolability of the Church and its canons.

• Biography
• Mitrofan (Krasnopolsky) on the site "Russian Orthodoxy"
• The 3rd convocation of the State Duma: portraits, biographies, autographs. - St. Petersburg: edition N. N. Olshansko, 1910.
• Mystery of the Nameless Grave
• A brief overview of the political activities of Archbishop Mitrofan