Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi (Apr 2014)

THE BISHOP OF NOLINSK ALEXANDER (MALININ): FOGOTTEN CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH

  • A. KOSTRYUKOV

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15382/sturII201457.82-89
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 57
pp. 82 – 89

Abstract

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The article describes life of Vyatka diocese vicar bishop of Nolinsk Alexander (Malinin). Currently fates of hierarch who was ordained in 1920–1930 isn’t investigated. One of the problems in biography of bishop Alexander is mistake of Metropolitan Elevfery (Bogoyavlensky). He called this hierarch John in his book “A week in Patriarhiya”. As a result, bishop Alexander was mentioned twice in all directories — under his own name and under name “bishop John of Glazov”. Life of bishop Alexander was almost unknown. But his biography was managed to establish. According to an investigative case he was arrested two weeks later, after bishop’s ordination in the night from 10-th to 11-th of December. He was arrested because he said reckless statement during his ordination. In his speech he spoke about persecution of the Church and bishop’ arrests. This speech was pronounced in the in the presence of foreign hierarch — Elevfery (Bogoyavlensky). Bishop Alexander was blamed of trying to transmit information abroad about persecution of the Orthodox Church. He was senteneed to three years in camps. He died when he arrived of the place. In the article is concluded that we should approach to source (such as “A week in Patriarhiya”) with precautions. Moreover, author pay attention that until recently name of bishop Alexander absented in passionless of casualties of Communist repressions. So, we must explore feats of Martyrs and Russian confessors more actively.

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