Vilnius and Lithuanian Diocese

A. A. Soloviev reports that as early as 1317, Grand Duke Gediminus achieved a reduction in the Metropolitanate of the Grand Duchy of Moscow (Great Russia). At his request, the Patriarch John Glik (1315–1320) created the Lithuania with its capital in Maly Novgorod (Novogrudok) . Apparently, those dioceses that depended on Lithuania obeyed this metropolis: Turov, Polotsk, and then, probably, Kiev.

Lithuania was formerly the “diocese of Great Russia; its capital was Maly Novgorod. ”

- Solovyov A.V. Great, Small and White Russia // Questions of history, No. 7, 1947

In the Russian Empire

The Lithuanian Diocese of the Russian Church was established in 1839 , when a decision was made to reunite with the Orthodox Church at the Council of Uniate Bishops of the Polotsk and Vitebsk Dioceses in Polotsk . The boundaries of the diocese included the Vilna and Grodno provinces . The first Bishop of Lithuania was the former Uniate Bishop Joseph (Semashko) . The Department of the Diocese of Lithuania was originally located in the Zhirovitsky Assumption Monastery ( Grodno Province ). In 1845, the department was moved to Vilna . From March 7, 1898, it was headed by Archbishop Juvenal (Polovtsev) until his death in 1904.

Before the First World War, the Lithuanian diocese was made up of the deaneries of the Vilna and Koven Governorates: Vilna, Vilensky Uyezd, Trosk, Shumsky, Vilkomir, Koven, Viley, Glubokoe, Volozhin, Disnensky, Druysk, Lida, Molodechensky, Oyamelsky, Myadel’s, Myadel’s, Myadel’s , Radoshkovichskoe, Svyantsan, Schuchinskoe.

Lithuanian Orthodox Diocese

After the First World War and the incorporation of the Vilnius Region into Poland, the territory of the diocese was divided between the two warring countries. The Orthodox Church of Poland withdrew from the Moscow Patriarchate and received autocephaly from the Patriarch of Constantinople. The parishes of the former Vilnius province were included in the Vilnius and Lida diocese of the Orthodox Church of Poland, which was ruled by Archbishop Theodosius (Theodosiev) .

Vilensky Archbishop Eleutherius (Epiphany) resisted secession and was expelled from Poland; at the beginning of 1923 he arrived in Kaunas for the administration of the Orthodox of Lithuania, without renouncing the rights to parishes that appeared on the territory of Poland.

In the Republic of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Orthodox Diocese remained in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. According to the general census of 1923, 22.925 Orthodox, mainly Russian (78.6%), also Lithuanians (7.62%) and Belarusians (7.09%) lived in Lithuania. According to the states approved by the Sejm in 1925, salaries from the treasury were assigned to the archbishop, his secretary, members of the Diocesan Council and priests of 10 parishes, despite the fact that there were 31 parishes.

The loyalty of Archbishop Eleutherius to the Deputy Locum Tenens, controlled by the USSR authorities, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) (later the Moscow Patriarch ) created special conditions for him and the diocese: in 1928 , arriving in Moscow, Elevferi was elevated to the rank of metropolitan; On April 30, 1931, he was appointed manager of the Russian parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Western Europe (the few who were not under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Eulogius (Georgievsky) and the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad ( Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) ). Thus, the main and only official control center of the Moscow Patriarchate over foreign Russian Orthodoxy in that period was concentrated in Kaunas . There was also the only spiritual educational institution of the Moscow Patriarchate of the 1930s - pastoral courses.

Diocese of Vilnius (Polish Church)

The Vilnius diocese of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Poland , headed by the Archbishop of Vilna and Lida Theodosius (Feodosiev) , was formed by the deaneries of the Vilnius and Novogrudok voivodships:

• Vilenskoe
• Vilensko-Trok
• Braslavskoe
• Vileika
• Disney
• Molodechenskoye
• Oshmyany
• Postavy
• Volozhinskoe
• Lida
• Stolpetsk
• Schuchinskoe

In total there were 173 parishes.

In the Soviet period (1939-1941)

After the Vilnius region was handed over to the USSR by Lithuania, its parishes were reunited with the Lithuanian diocese; Metropolitan Eleutherius moved his residence to Vilna . With the inclusion of Lithuania in the USSR, the Lithuanian diocese lost its budgetary allocations, nationalized lands and buildings.

In January 1941 , upon the death of Metropolitan Eleutherius, Metropolitan of Lithuania and Vilensky (from February 24, 1941 also the exarch of Latvia and Estonia ) was appointed Archbishop, Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate Sergius (Voskresensky) .

World War II

After the occupation of Lithuania by German troops in July 1941 , the country, with the exception of a small part in the south, was included in the Ostland Reich Commissariat .

Metropolitan Sergius revived the Covenant Vicariate . In 1942, they opened pastoral courses at the Holy Spirit Monastery in Vilna, preparing priests for both the Baltic states and the “ Orthodox spiritual mission in the liberated regions of Russia ” (abolished by the Soviet authorities in March 1945 ) ^[1] .

Under circumstances not fully understood, on April 29, 1944 Metropolitan Sergius (Voskresensky) was killed; Coven of the Baltic exarchate was the coven vicar Archbishop Daniel (Yuzvyuk) .

Second Soviet period (1945-1991)

In January 1945, an authorized representative of the Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR began work in Vilnius . In March, the interim diocese administrator, Archbishop Vasily (Ratmirov), reorganized the administration of the diocese.

In July 1946, the relics of the Vilnius martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius were returned to the Spirits Monastery . The Orthodox Theological Seminary opened in October of the same year at the request of the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR was closed in August 1947.

As of 1949, there were 60 registered churches in the diocese, of which 44 were parish, 14 were registered, 2 were houses of worship; 48 priests, 6 deacons, and 15 psalmists served; In Vilnius, the Holy Spirit male monastery and the Mariinsky female monastery with their churches functioned.

In 1962, 52 churches functioned (according to the archbishop, they were visited by about 7045 believers), 33 priests, 3 deacons, 16 psalmists served. The Moscow Patriarchate was forbidden to provide material assistance to the Lithuanian diocese. Churches were closed in Kaunas (Voskresenskaya), Švenčioneliai and Jurbarkas (1962), in Vilnius (Alexander Nevskaya, Pyatnitskaya and St. Tikhon), in Pobyan (1963), in Karalishkiai and Marijampole (1964).

In 1987, the Orthodox Church returned to St. Tikhon in Vilnius. On May 19, 1989, the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR canceled the decision to close the Mariinsky Convent. On February 14, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR adopted the law “On the Return of Temples and Other Buildings to Religious Communities,” according to which the Alexander Nevskaya and Pyatnitskaya churches in Vilnius were returned to the Orthodox.

The diocese is divided into 5 deaneries: the cities of Vilnius, Vilnius district, Kaunas, Klaipeda and Visaginov.

As of January 1, 2005, there were 50 parishes and two monasteries (a male Holy Spirit and a female Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene). The service in the diocese is performed by 39 clergymen.

Cathedral - Prechistensky (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) Cathedral in Vilnius.

From December 24, 2010, the ruling bishop has been the Metropolitan (until November 20, 2016 - Archbishop) of Vilnius and Lithuania Innocent (Vasiliev) .

Vilenskoe (city)

• Prechistensky Cathedral Vilnius, ul. Mironyo , 14.
• Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit Monastery , st. Aushros Wartu, 10.
• Great Martyrs Paraskeva Fridays , ul. DJ, 2
• Transferring the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker , ul. DJ, 12.
• Saints Constantine and Michael (Romanovskaya) Vilnius on 27 Jono Basanavichiaus Street .
• The Signs of the Blessed Virgin on Zverinets St. Vytauto, 21.
• Rev. Euphrosyne (Euphrosyne) with the cemetery chapel of St. Tikhon Zadonsky in the Euphrosyne cemetery on the street. Lepcalne, 19.
• Church of St. Michael the Archangel Calvary, 65.
• Temple of Alexander Nevsky on the street Lyanka 1/17.
• Supreme Apostles Saints Peter and Paul in New Vilna St. Koyalavichiaus, 148
• Holy Great Martyr Catherine at the Menagerie ; Vilnius city, st. Birutes, 20.

Vilna County

• Church in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( Klaipeda )
• The temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" ( Druskininkai ) on the street. Vasaryo Sesheklitos, 2.
• Temple in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God ( Vievis )
• Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ( Rudamin )
• Temple in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" ( Mikhnovo )
• Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ( Semelyshki )
• Temple in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious ( Geisishki )
• Prayer house in the name of St. Tikhon ( Shalchininkai ), st. Jubilee, 1-a.
• Church in honor of the Nativity of Christ ( Bukiskis )
• Church in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh ( Pabrade )

Kaunas

• Annunciation Cathedral (Kaunas)
• Church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ ( Kaunas )
• Temple in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord ( Kedainiai )
• Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity ( Raseynayay )
• Temple in honor of the Apostles Peter and Paul ( Šiauliai )
• Temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Kazan" ( Tituvenai )
• Church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ ( Ukmerge )
• Temple in the name of the Right Prince Alexander Nevsky ( Uzhusalay )
• Church in honor of the Resurrection of Christ ( Jonava )
• Temple in honor of the Holy Trinity ( Mariampole )
• Temple in honor of the Protection of the Holy Virgin ( Kruonis )
• Temple in the Name of the Right Prince Alexander Nevsky ( Kibartay )
• Pokrovsky Parish ( Alytus )

Klaipeda

• The temple in honor of All Saints who shone in the Russian land (Klaipeda)
• Temple in the name of the holy martyrs Faith, Hope and Love and their mother Sophia (Klaipeda)
• The temple in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God and in the name of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra (Klaipeda)
• Temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Iverskaya" ( Palanga )
• Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ( Telsiai )
• Temple in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God ( Mazeikiai )
• Temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Smolenskaya" ( Kolaynai )
• Temple in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "All Who Sorrow Joy" ( Kovnatovo )
• Church in the name of the holy Vilnius martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius ( Taurage )
• Church in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh ( Vekshniai )
• Temple in the name of the Archangel Michael of God ( Silute )

Visagin

• The temple in honor of the Entry into the temple of the Mother of God and in the name of the great martyr Panteleimon ( Visaginas )
• Temple in honor of the Nativity of the Prophet and Forerunner and Baptist John ( Visaginas )
• Church of the Ascension ( Utena )
• Church in honor of the Resurrection ( Panevezys )
• Temple in honor of All Saints ( Zarasai )
• Church in the name of the Holy Right Prince Alexander Nevsky ( Anykščiai )
• Temple in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin ( Raguva )
• Church in the name of St. Nicholas ( Hegobrosts )
• Church of the Holy Martyr Nikander ( Lebenishki )
• Temple in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God ( Inturka )
• Church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ( Uzhpalyay )
• Church in the name of the Holy Right Prince Alexander Nevsky ( Rokiskis )
• Temple in honor of the Life-Giving Trinity ( Šventonis )

• Joseph (Semashko) (March 6, 1839 - November 23, 1868)
• Makarii (Bulgakov) (December 10, 1868 - April 8, 1879)
• Alexander (Dobrynin) (May 22, 1879 - April 28, 1885)
• Alexy (Lavrov-Platonov) (May 11, 1885 - November 9, 1890)
• Donat (Babinsky-Sokolov) (December 13, 1890 - April 30, 1894)
• Jerome (Instance) (April 30, 1894 - February 27, 1898)
• Yuvenaly (Polovtsev) (March 7, 1898 - April 12, 1904)
• Nikander (Molchanov) (April 23, 1904 - June 5, 1910)
• Agafangel (Preobrazhensky) (August 13, 1910 - December 22, 1913)
• Tikhon (Bellavin) (December 22, 1913 - June 23, 1917)
• Eleutherius (Epiphany) (August 13, 1917 - December 31, 1940; temporary manager until June 28, 1921)
• Sergius (Resurrection) (March 1941 - April 29, 1944)
• Daniel (Yuzvyuk) (April 29 - June 1944) high school , ep. Coven
• Vasily (Ratmirov) (February 12 - April 13, 1945) high school, archbishop. Minsk
• Cornelius (Popov) (April 13, 1945 - November 18, 1948)
• Photius (Topiro) (November 18, 1948 - December 27, 1951)
• Filaret (Lebedev) (February 1, 1952 - November 22, 1955) high school, ep. Archbishop of Riga
• Alexy (Dekhterev) (November 22, 1955 - April 19, 1959)
• Roman (Tang) (May 21, 1959 - July 18, 1963)
• Anthony (Varzhansky) (August 25, 1963 - May 28, 1971)
• Hermogenes (Orekhov) (June 18, 1971 - August 25, 1972)
• Anatoly (Kuznetsov) (September 3, 1972 - September 3, 1974)
• German (Timofeev) (September 3, 1974 - April 10, 1978)
• Quiz (Belyaev) (April 19, 1978 - April 10, 1989)
• Anthony (Cheremisov) (April 22, 1989 - January 25, 1990)
• Chrysostom (Martishkin) (January 26, 1990 - December 24, 2010)
• Innocent (Vasiliev) (since December 24, 2010)

• Braslavskoe (invalid)
• Brest (now an independent diocese)
• Kovenskoye (invalid)

• Maria Magdalenin Monastery (female; Vilnius)
• Виленский Свято-Духов монастырь (мужской; Вильнюс)

недействующие

• Сурдегский монастырь

• Виленская и Литовская епархия // Православная энциклопедия . — М. : Церковно-научный центр «Православная энциклопедия» , 2004. — Т. VIII. — С. 465-475. — 752 с. - 39,000 copies. — ISBN 5-89572-014-5 .
• Свитич А. К. Православная церковь в Польше и её автокефалия

• Виленско-Литовская епархия
• Православное Братство Литвы