Saint Innocent of Kulchitsky, first bishop of Irkutsk

Innokenty (Kulchitsky)

Innocent (Ivan Kulchitsky; 1680 or 1682, Chernigov province - November 27, 1731, Irkutsk) - bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church; from January 15, 1727, Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk, the first ruling Orthodox bishop of Eastern Siberia (the Irkutsk bishops who preceded him had the status of vicars of the Tobolsk Metropolis). Canonized by the Russian Church as a saint on December 1, 1804 (the third in time - after the glorification of Demetrius of Rostov and Theodosius of Totem; commemorated on November 26 according to the Julian calendar and in the third week of Pentecost (the Council of Galician saints) and St. Petersburg saints.

Biography of Innocent (Kulchitsky)

A native of Ukraine, he comes from the noble Kulchitsky family. Born into an eminent family, whose members played a prominent role in the history of Galicia, Lithuania, Volyn, and Trans-Dnieper Ukraine. He spent his childhood in the Chernigov province, studied at the Kiev Theological School, which during Innocent Kulchitsky's stay there was transformed into an academy (September 1700).

Innocent Kulchitsky spent the years there from 1695 to 1706. There is an assumption that Kulchitsky’s parents died before he completed his studies and that this circumstance, as well as a penchant for monastic life, prompted him to take monasticism (1706). Innokenty Kulchitsky stayed in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra until 1710.

From 1714 to 1718 he taught at the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, prefect of the academy.

note

In 1719 he was transferred to St. Petersburg and appointed a cathedral hieromonk to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Appointed to the post of ship's hieromonk on the ship "Samson", stationed in Reval, then - chief hieromonk of the fleet, stationed in the city of Abo.

On March 5, 1721, by order of Peter I, he was ordained Bishop of Pereyaslavl and appointed head of the Russian spiritual mission in Beijing. At the beginning of March 1722 he arrived in Irkutsk, then in Selenginsk, but met resistance from the Chinese side.

Its representatives stated that Innokenty Kulchitsky was called “great master” in official papers, and this is what they call a kutukhta (ruler), so “Bogdykhan is not pleased” with such a figure.

Negotiations dragged on for three years, Innokenty Kulchitsky lived for three years in Selenginsk, in the Trinity-Selenginsky Monastery, where he painted several icons for the Selenginsky Monastery. He opened a theological school in Selenginsk. After which he returned to Irkutsk and lived in the Ascension Monastery.

On January 15, 1727, the Holy Governing Synod appointed him to be the Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk. The date is considered the founding day of the independent Irkutsk diocese.

In the spring of 1728, a drought began in the Baikal region. The diocese was threatened with famine due to the shortage of bread, which began back in 1727.

With the blessing of the saint, from May in the churches of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Tithe they began to add a prayer service to each liturgy for the end of the drought, on Saturdays they sang an akathist to the Mother of God, and on Sundays they served a cathedral prayer service.

“Prayers,” said the saint, “must end on Elijah’s day.” On July 20, a storm broke out in Irkutsk with such heavy rain that water stood knee-deep in the streets of the city - the drought ended.

He ruled the Irkutsk and Nerchinsk diocese for 4 years and 3 months until his death in 1731, living permanently in the Ascension Monastery near Irkutsk. Provided assistance to the 1st Kamchatka expedition of V. Bering.

Important

Died as a result of a serious illness. He reposed in the Ascension Monastery on Saturday November 27, 1731 at seven o'clock in the morning.

Being a deeply religious, highly educated, active man, Innokenty Kulchitsky did a lot to strengthen Orthodoxy in Eastern Siberia and for the religious and moral education of his flock.

On the day of his assumption of office, there were only 43 churches and 4 monasteries in the vast area.

In a short period of time, churches arose in the Nerchinsky Zavod, Balagansky fort, Selenginsk, Irkutsk (Vladimirskaya), Chita, Troitskosavsk, many churches were restored and repaired. Author of published sermons.

Praise and Honor

Popular veneration of the remains of the saint began at the end of the 18th century as a result of the discovery of their incorruptibility.

In the last days of September 1800, Bishop of Irkutsk Benjamin (Bagryansky) received a letter signed by 389 people outlining a request for the discovery of the holy relics of the saint for national honor.

The Right Reverend gave the senators who were then in Irkutsk a letter for the Emperor and attached to it an extract about cases of miracles from the relics of the saint, numbering more than a hundred. The Emperor demanded that the Holy Synod consider the case.

By order of the Synod, Kazan Vicar Bishop Justin arrived in Irkutsk, who personally examined the relics of the saint, questioned under oath some witnesses to the miracles, and, together with Bishop Benjamin, reported to the Synod on March 5, 1801. On December 1, 1804, the Holy Synod, with the Highest permission, announced:

“The body of the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Innocent, should be declared as a completely holy relic and, with due reverence, the Irkutsk Bishop Benjamin and the rest of the clergy should be placed in the church of the Irkutsk Ascension Monastery at the top, or in another worthy place, with the establishment of its celebration on November 26, the day of remembrance of the repose of this saint.”

The relics of the saint were discovered on January 19, 1805; On February 16 of the same year, they were transferred to the cathedral church of the Ascension Monastery and openly rested there in a silver shrine. The relics were opened in 1921 and later taken out of the temple. The relics were found again in 1990 in one of the utility rooms of the Yaroslavl Church of St. Nicholas Nadein and since that time have been located in the Znamensky Monastery in Irkutsk.

The memory of the saint and wonderworker Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, is celebrated several times a year:

October 10/23 - the day of remembrance of the Synaxis of Volyn Saints;
November 26/December 9—death;
February 9/22 - acquisition of relics;
June 10/23 - the day of remembrance of the Council of Siberian Saints;
Third week after Pentecost - Council of Galician and St. Petersburg saints.

Read on Irkipedia:

Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church:

Literature

Life of St. Innocent, 1st Bishop of Irkutsk. - Tomsk, 1876.
Naumova O. E. Irkutsk diocese XVIII – 1st half. XIX century – Irkutsk, 1996.
Innocent (Ioann Kulchitsky) // Irkutsk. Historical and local history dictionary. - Irkutsk, 2011.
Chupalov N. S. Miracles of St. Innocent. - Irkutsk, 1805.
Jerome, Hieromonk: The Legend of the Life of Our Father Innocent, the First Bishop of Irkutsk, the Wonderworker. - Irkutsk, 1807.
Strelbitsky Modest. About the preaching of St. Innocent 1st Bishop of Irkutsk the Wonderworker. - Irkutsk, 1873.
Gromov P. Archpriest of Irkutsk. - Irkutsk, 1868.
It's him. The Legend of Saint Innocent. - Irkutsk, 1800.
John Drozdov. Saint Innocent Bishop of Irkutsk. - Irkutsk, 1903.
Kalinina I., Medvedev S. Spiritual heliport of Siberia // Irkutsk Land. - 2000. - No. 14. - P. 8–10.

Source: https://irkipedia.ru/content/innokentiy_kulchickiy

Literature

Irkutsk Diocesan Gazette, 1863, Addendum, Nos. 3-12:
Kuzmichev I., Life of Saint Innocent, the first bishop of Irkutsk and wonderworker / Comp. Ioann Kuzmichev. — Moscow: type. Wilde, 1894:
Filaret (Gumilevsky), archbishop. Russian saints, revered by the whole church or locally: An experience in describing their lives / Op. Philareta, Archbishop. Chernig. — 2nd ed., with add. [Department 1]. — Chernigov: type. Ilyin. monastery, 1865:
Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia or Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary: edition ed. prof. A. P. Lopukhina: with illustrations and maps. - Petrograd: T. A. P. Lopukhin, T. 5: Don Diocese - Ifika. - 1904. - VIII p., stb. 942-944, 1027-128:
Lives of Siberian Saints: Siberian Patericon / Under the general. ed. Rev. Sergius, Bishop of Novosibirsk. and Berdsk., Novosibirsk, 1999.

Saint Innocent (Kulchitsky), first Bishop of Irkutsk (+ AUDIO)

The head of the missionary department of the Annunciation diocese, Viktor Selivanovsky, about the life and feat of the first bishop of the Irkutsk diocese. The word was delivered during the Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral on February 22, 2015.

Dear brothers and sisters, a few words before communion. Today the Church celebrates the memory - two hundred and ten years since the glorification of the relics - of St. Innocent of Kulchitsky, Bishop of Irkutsk.

He was glorified in 1805. His life was full of unfulfilled expectations, in particular, he was sent to serve in China, where he never got there, waiting for a long time to be transported across the border.

This is a story of constant moving and a very short administration of his Irkutsk diocese, only four years.

Advice

And yet, he is a great saint, the patron saint of Siberia, the Far East and, in a special way, the Chinese Orthodox Church.

He comes from a Polish family of Kulchi nobles who moved to Little Russia, to the Chernigov region, where he is from. Born in 1680, he graduated from the Theological Academy in Kyiv, and there he was tonsured into the monastic order at the Pechersky Monastery.

Since childhood, he wanted to be a preacher, so he paid attention to those subjects where literature and rhetoric were studied.

As a learned monk and academician, he was first transferred to Moscow, where he taught moral theology and philosophy at the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, then after a short time he was transferred to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, and appointed naval chief hieromonk to the ship "Samson", which was based in Reval (this is present-day Tallinn), and later headed all the hieromonks of the Finnish squadron on the Baltic Sea. But also a very short time.

After this, he was elevated to the rank of bishop, with the title of Pereyaslavl, and as part of the embassy, a spiritual mission, which in addition to him also included two hieromonks, two hierodeacons and five choristers, was sent to Beijing.

For a whole year they traveled to Irkutsk, then to Selemdzhinsk and there they waited for a long time to be sent to China.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 3

O most radiant lamp of the Church, / illuminating this country with the rays of your goodness, / and with the many healings of those who flow to you with faith, / glorifying God, / we pray to you, Holy Hierarch Father Innocent, / protect this city with your prayers / from all troubles and sorrow.

Kontakion, tone 4

Let us praise the integrity of the same-named shepherd, preacher of faith in the Mongolian pagans, the glory and adornment of the Irkutsk flock, with all faith: he is the guardian of the Siberian Country and the prayer book for our souls.

Saint Innocent (Kulchitsky), Bishop of Irkutsk

On February 22, the Church honors the memory of St. Innocent, the first bishop of Irkutsk, glorified among the saints, marvelous in miracles.

Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, in the world John, came from the noble family of the Kulchitskys. His exact date of birth is unknown, it was 1680 or 1682. John received his primary education at home, then continued his studies at the Kyiv Theological Academy. John studied with great success. By the time he graduated from the academy, he was tonsured a monk with the name Innocent.

After graduating from the academy, around 1706-1708, the pious monk was summoned to Moscow to the position of teacher and prefect at the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, and from here he was taken to St. Petersburg, where at that time the Nevsky Monastery, the future Lavra, was just being founded. to serve here as an example of good monastic life.

The educated monk was noticed by Emperor Peter I, who wanted to form a Russian Orthodox spiritual mission in Beijing, which, according to the emperor’s plan, was to be headed by a bishop.

On February 14, 1721, Hieromonk Innocent was ordained a bishop and assigned to the Beijing spiritual mission to China.

Immediately after Easter, Bishop Innocent, accompanied by several ministers, left St. Petersburg. It took them almost a year to get to Irkutsk, from there they moved further, beyond Lake Baikal, and stopped in Selenginsk, bordering China. Here the mission had to wait for the decision of Beijing officials on the right to enter.

But the Chinese government refused a visa to “the spiritual person, the great lord,” as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee carelessly described him. Among the Chinese, the address “great” was adopted only for the emperor, and therefore it is impossible for two great persons to be in China at the same time.

Advice

The saint was forced to spend three years in Selenginsk near the Chinese border, enduring many hardships due to the uncertainty of his position. In order not to die of hunger, the Mission was engaged in fishing and hired out work for local residents. The bishop found consolation in prayers and divine services.

It was not without the Providence of God that the Chinese refused entry to the ruler. His forced stay in Selenginsk turned out to be very important for preaching the Word of God among the local Mongol tribes.

Using his episcopal right to ordain, the saint thereby made up for the lack of clergy beyond Baikal and spared his proteges from a long trip to take orders to the capital of Siberia - Tobolsk.

The diplomatic blunders of the Russian ambassador to China, Count Raguzinsky, and the intrigues of Irkutsk Archimandrite Anthony Platkovsky led to the fact that Archimandrite Anthony was appointed to China, and Saint Innocent, by decree of the Holy Synod in 1727, was named Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk and began to administer the newly formed diocese.

The proximity of the Chinese border, the vastness and sparse population of the diocese, a large number of different nationalities (Buryats, Mongols, etc.) not enlightened by the faith of Christ, impassability and poverty - all this made the pastoral work of St. Innocent difficult and his life full of hardships.

Due to a strange oversight of the Senate, he did not receive a salary until his death and suffered an extreme lack of funds. In these difficult conditions, the meager funds of the Irkutsk Ascension Monastery still supported two schools opened there - Mongolian and Russian.

The saint's tireless concerns were directed towards their organization - the selection of worthy teachers, providing students with the necessary books, clothing, and food.

The saint worked tirelessly to organize the diocese and strengthen its spiritual life, as evidenced by his numerous sermons, pastoral letters and instructions. In labors and hardships, Saint Innocent acquired spiritual strength, humility, and insight.

For a little over four years he cared for the Irkutsk flock, but he used this short time with great benefit for salvation.

Vladyka Innokenty was not distinguished by good health, he especially suffered from headaches, but he did not give up his exploits, neither prayer nor humility of the flesh.

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The saint loved to pray in a cave behind the monastery fence, which was dug by the founder of the Ascension Monastery, Elder Gerasim. The saint also had a custom of walking around the Ascension Church at night and praying at it from four sides.

Physical infirmities could not stop his inexhaustible love for God, which he was in a hurry to share with everyone. Following Christ was not just a call for him, but the meaning of life. He was guided by this principle in every matter.

Saint Innocent loved to serve the Divine Liturgy. Until the last days of his life, he tried not to miss the opportunity here on earth to unite with Christ.

In the spring of 1728, a drought began in the Baikal region. The diocese was threatened with famine due to the shortage of bread, which began back in 1727.

With the blessing of the saint, starting from May, in the churches of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk Tithe, a prayer service for the end of the drought began to be added to each Liturgy, an akathist to the Mother of God was sung on Saturdays, and a cathedral prayer service was served on Sundays.

Through the labors of Saint Innocent, the construction of a stone church in the Ascension Monastery began to replace the wooden one, and the borders of the diocese were expanded to include not only the Selenginsky, but also the Yakut and Ilimsky districts.

The saint, who was not distinguished by good health, under the influence of the harsh climate and adversity, went to the Lord early. He reposed on the morning of November 27, 1731.

Saint Innocent of Kulchitsky, first bishop of Irkutsk

Saint Innocent (Kulchitsky), first Bishop of Irkutsk

Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk (Irkutsk, early 19th century. Salary 1808) Innocent, the first bishop of Irkutsk, was born at the end of the 17th century.

(1680) in Little Russia, in the Chernigov province in the family of the priest Kolchitsky (Kulchitsky), a descendant of an ancient Polish family. The ancestors of the future saint received the surname along with the nobility from the Polish king Boleslav the Brave.

At baptism the boy was named John and was raised in the spirit of piety. Polish King Boleslaw the Brave

Kiev Theological Academy Anthony's Caves Having received his primary education at home, from 1690 to 1706. , he continued his studies at the Kyiv Theological Academy, where he completed the entire course of science. By the time he graduated from the academy, Ivan was tonsured a monk with the name Innocent in the Anthony Cave near Kiev.

Advice

In 1710 he was sent to Moscow, and then transferred to St. Petersburg, to Alexandro. Nevsky Lavra, and appointed chief hieromonk to the fleet at the city of Abo in Finland. Alexander Nevsky Lavra Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy Afterwards he taught literature at the Moscow Slavonic-Greek Academy, where he held the position of teacher until 1719.

The Holy Trinity Selenga Monastery Peter I noticed the hieromonk, and ordained a bishop, Innocent went on a spiritual mission to China. It was not possible to go straight to China, because at that time negotiations were taking place regarding disagreements between Russia and China.

Negotiations lasted about 5 years, all this time St. Innocent lived without a livelihood in Trinity. Selenginsky monastery in Buryatia, living on alms. During the wait, Peter I died, and Catherine I, by her decree, appointed Innokenty Kulchitsky as Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk.

Peter I Catherine I

Innokenty Kulchitsky settled in the Ascension Monastery (Zhilkinskoye suburb of Irkutsk) and immediately began to educate the inhabitants of his diocese. Cathedral Church of the Ascension Monastery. 1895

“Mungal school” He opened a Mongolian school, learned the Buryat language and translated the texts of Christian prayers into Buryat in order to convert non-believers to Christianity.

Under him, 2 stone churches and 6 wooden ones were built, schools were opened for children of all classes, and the boundaries of the diocese were expanded to include not only the Selenginsky, but also the Yakut and Ilimsky districts.

Tikhvin Church The main chapel of the Tikhvin Church is the first place where the shrine with the remains of St. Innocent was installed. Photo. Ser. XIX century Innokenty Kulchitsky died on November 27, 1731, 4 years after his arrival in Irkutsk at the age of 50. The burial of the saint took place on December 5.

A coffin made of pine wood, upholstered in black velvet, was placed in a stone crypt under the altar of the Tikhvin wooden church. But it was after his death that real fame came to him. Soon after his death.

The inhabitants of Irkutsk witnessed numerous miracles and healings that occurred from his relics.

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Tikhvin Church One of the miracles is described in the chronicle of Irkutsk by witnesses of the fire: “On the Sunday of All Saints (June 11), 1783, at four o’clock in the afternoon, the Ascension Monastery burned down, namely all the cells, three churches - two stone outside and inside without a trace; Moreover, two bells were broken and the others were damaged. There was great fear! Moreover, the weather was great. And the holy images and what was in the churches: books, vestments, etc., the entire fence and two bishop’s cedars burned without a trace. There was only one wooden church of the Tikhvin Mother of God left, where the bishop was buried.”

33 years after the death of the Saint, renovations were started in the Tikhvin church, during which it was discovered that Innocent’s corpse had not rotted, but had only shrunk a little.

The robe and even the velvet on the coffin were untouched by decay, although the burial place itself was damp and musty. The monastery ministers declared that “the body of the saint of God is incorruptible and healing.”

Pilgrimages from all over Russia to Irkutsk began to visit the relics.

Kulchitsky was promoted to the rank of saint, and Alexander I sent a brocade coverlet with gold fringe as a gift to the Ascension Monastery to be placed on the relics of the saint. The decree on the opening of the relics arrived in Irkutsk on January 19, 1805; on February 9, the relics were transferred from the Tikhvin Church to the Ascension Church. Reliquary with the relics of St. Innocent in the Cathedral Church of the Ascension of Christ. Photo. 1910s

Nativity of the Virgin Mary Ascension of the Lord In 1921, in a telegram signed by Kalinin, there was an order to remove from the monastery all things of artistic and historical significance.

Among them were two icons - the Ascension and the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, each decorated with 1,750 diamonds. The icon frames contained 45 pounds of red gold.

There was also a silver shrine of St. Innocent, weighing five pounds, and a silver lamp, donated by Tsarevich Nicholas, weighing 6 pounds - 96 kg.

Stages of opening the shrine. Photo. January 24, 1921. Red Army soldiers discovered something in cancer. On January 24, 1921, by resolution of the Irkutsk Provincial Congress of Soviets of Workers', Peasants' and Red Army Deputies, the relics of St. Innocent were opened. The incorrupt relics were kept in Yaroslavl under the name “Siberian Mummy”.

Important

Relics of St. Innocent The main iconostasis of the Znamensky Cathedral Church of Cancer with the relics of Innocent Kulchitsky On August 30, 1990, the relics were transported from Yaroslavl to Irkutsk. The shrine was installed in the Znamensky Cathedral. Every Sunday, during the evening akathist, the window of the shrine opens, and parishioners have the opportunity to venerate the relics in vestments.

Cancer with the relics of Innocent Kulchitsky in the Ascension Church Cancer with the relics of Innokenty Kulchitsky in the Znamensky Monastery

Chapel in the name of Innocent Kulchitsky The dilapidated Assumption Church (1783) is being restored. At the end of the 90s, on the territory of the destroyed Ascension Monastery, the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God began to be revived. The rector of the temple, Father Dionysius, says that this miracle could only happen thanks to Saint Innocent. A chapel in the name of Innocent Kulchitsky was also built near the temple.

Saint Innocent Kulchitsky continues to work miracles...

7 “B”: 1. In what year and where was the first Bishop of Irkutsk born, what was his name? 2. What did Alexander I send as a gift to the Ascension Monastery? 3. At what year of life did Innokenty Kulchitsky die and where was he buried? 4. Who was Innokenty Kulchitsky named at baptism and where was he brought up? 5.

What ancient family was the descendant of the first Bishop of Irkutsk? 6. What was the first education received by Innokenty Kulchitsky? 7. What was done by Innokenty Kulchitsky during his lifetime? 8. What event occurred after the bishop's death on February 9, 1805? 9. Who was Innokenty Kulchitsky appointed during his lifetime? 10.

In what year were the relics of St. Innocent of Kulchitsky discovered, and what did the people who opened the relics see?

7 “Q”: 1. What language did Innokenty Kulchitsky translate Christian prayers into and why? 2. How did Innocent Kulchitsky become a bishop? 3. At what year of life did Innokenty Kulchitsky die and where was he buried? 4. What did Innokenty Kulchitsky do to convert people of other faiths to Christianity? 5.

Links[ | ]

Innocent (Kulchitsky), St. On the Russian Orthodoxy
Saint Innocent (Kulchitsky), first bishop of Irkutsk // Orthodoxy.Ru
Saint Innocent (Kulchitsky), bishop On the website of the Orthodox portal ABC of Faith
Akathist to Saint Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, wonderworker On the website of Orthodox canons and akathists Akathist.ru
Prayers to Saint Innocent, the Wonderworker of Irkutsk On the website of the public Orthodox portal Belfry
HOLY HOLY INNOCENT. (Website of Irina Paraviychuk, a student of the women’s Orthodox gymnasium) On the website of the Irkutsk Diocese