Irina Aleksandrovna Ustinova,
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Holy Russian Bishops of the 17th Century: From Feat to Canonization
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2026-2-2
The article examines the history of the canonization of representatives of the Russian episcopate in the 17th century. Based on the thesis about the strengthening of the socio-cultural role of the Russian bishop during this period, the causes and stages of the formation of the cult of veneration and the subsequent official glorification of Russian bishops as saints are analyzed. Two groups of saints are distinguished: those glorified as hierarchs and hieromartyrs at the all-Russian level (Hieromartyrs Hermogenes, Misael of Ryazan, Joseph of Astrakhan, St. Job, Mitrofan of Voronezh, Pitirim of Tambov, Marcellus of Vologda), and those venerated locally in diocesan saints’ synaxes (St. Arseny of Elasson, Affonius of Novgorod, Nectarius of Siberia, Serapion of Krutitsy, Theodoret of Ryazan, Hieromartyr Theoktist of Tver). The article also examines cases where the cult of veneration for bishops existed, but their official canonization has not yet taken place (Patriarch Nikon, Metropolitan Korniliy of Novgorod, and several others). The article notes that various external circumstances played a significant role in the emergence of the cult of veneration for bishops in the 17th century − active work in the diocese, the martyrdom of the bishop, the participation of the tsar in his burial, natural disasters, and a special burial rite (translation of the body). The development of the cult and the decision to canonize were influenced by the political context of the state and the church (for example, the canonization of Mitrofan of Voronezh, Patriarch Hermogenes, and others). The significant role of local diocesan authorities in canonization is noted. It has been suggested that the significant number of cults of veneration of Russian bishops in the 17th century can be explained, among other things, by their high ecclesiastical status, which was a prerequisite for the formation of a cult, “augmenting” the holiness of the capital of the diocese.
Publishing: 28/04/2026
The article has been received by the editor on 02/02/2026
How to cite: Ustinova I.A. Holy Russian Bishops of the 17th Century: From Feat to Canonization // Historical Courier, 2026, No. 2 (46), pp. 35−48. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2026/ISTKURIER-2026-2-02.pdf]
Links: Issue 2 2026
Keywords: Russian Orthodox Church; episcopate; 17th century; canonization; saint; holy martyr