Hierarch14th century

Saint Theognostus Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia

died 1353

Also known as Theognostos

A Greek hierarch who succeeded Saint Peter as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, ruling the Russian Church from Moscow through the mid-14th century and strengthening its ties with the Church of Constantinople.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Theognostus, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia

Life

Theognostus was a hierarch of Byzantine Greek origin who governed the Church of Rus' as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia from the late 1320s until his death in 1353. Born in Constantinople and formed in the canonical traditions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he succeeded Saint Peter and continued the consolidation of the metropolitan see at Moscow, binding the rising Muscovite principality more closely to the central authority of the Russian Church.

His tenure spanned a period of political fragmentation among the Rus' principalities and of subjection to the Golden Horde. Sources credit him with defending the fiscal immunities of the Church before the Mongol khans, mediating between Novgorod and the prince of Moscow, and maintaining the dependence of the Russian Church on Constantinople. He was buried in the Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow and was glorified as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th century.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Theognostus,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

Before 1328Service under ConstantinopleBorn in Constantinople, Theognostus served as a bishop within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch before his appointment to the Russian metropolitan see.
c. 1327–1328Succession to Saint PeterHe succeeded Saint Peter as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, becoming the chief hierarch of the Church of the Rus' lands.
Mid-14th centurySeat established at MoscowAfter residing for several years at Vladimir (Volodymyr) in Volhynia, he made Moscow his primary residence, reinforcing the city's emergence as the ecclesiastical centre of the Rus' principalities.
1353Repose and successionAnticipating his death, he recommended Alexius (Alexis) of Moscow as his successor. He died in 1353 and was buried in the Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow.

Contributions & Legacy

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Defence of the Church before the Golden Horde

According to the tradition recorded in the synaxarion, Theognostus refused to collect tribute from the churches on behalf of the Golden Horde. Sources relate that he was subjected to torture by the Tatars for this resistance, but remained steadfast.

The khan is said eventually to have confirmed the existing privileges and fiscal immunities of the Russian Church, continuing the pattern of charters (yarlyks) by which the Mongol rulers exempted ecclesiastical property from taxation.

Relations with Constantinople and the Rus' principalities

Theognostus maintained the Russian Church's dependence on the Church of Constantinople. Through his influence the Grand Prince Simeon sent money to the Byzantine Emperor John Cantacuzene for repairs to the Great Church of Hagia Sophia.

Within the Rus' lands he acted as a mediator, reconciling Novgorod with the prince of Moscow during periods of conflict between them. After a fire in Moscow he undertook the restoration of churches.

Veneration

Theognostus was buried in the Cathedral of the Dormition (Assumption) in Moscow. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th century and is commemorated on March 14.

Related Saints2 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Predecessor; Theognostus succeeded him as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia and continued his work of consolidating the metropolitan see at Moscow.

Saint PeterMetropolitan of Moscow

Designated successor; anticipating his death, Theognostus recommended Alexis to succeed him as metropolitan.

Saint AlexisMetropolitan of Moscow

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints