View source for Isidore (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg

Metropolitan '''Isidor (Nikolsky) of St. Petersburg and Novgorod''' led the [[Eparchy of St. Petersburg]] and Novgorod in Russia from 1860 to 1892. He was a noted personality in Russia both as a religious figure and as a member of the science community, having been made an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

==Life== 
Born in 1799, Iakov Sergeevich Nikolsky took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows upon his graduation from the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy]] in 1825, taking the name Isidor. After graduation he continued at the academy as a teacher and librarian. He became a member of the monastic community at the [[Alexander Nevsky Lavra]] in St. Petersburg and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[diaconate]] and [[priest]]hood

In 1829, he was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] and installed as [[abbot]] of the Ss Peter and Paul Monastery of Mtsensk as well as appointed president of the Orel Theological [[Seminary]]. In 1833, Archimandrite Isidor was named president of the [[Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary|Moscow Theological Seminary]].

In 1834, Isidor was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[Bishop]] of Dmitrov, [[vicar]] to the Moscow Eparchy, Three years later, in 1837, Isidor was installed as Bishop of Polotsk and Vilno, and then in 1840, he became Bishop of Mogilev. In 1841, he became an [[Archbishop]]. In 1844, he was assigned as Exarch of Georgia and appointed a member of the [[Holy Synod]]. In 1858, Isidor was elected Metropolitan of Kiev, and then in 1860, he became the Metropolitan of Novgorod, St Petersburg and Finland with the added position of abbot of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg. As Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, Isidor became the presiding member of the [[Apostolic Governing Synod|Holy Synod]].

Metr. Isidor was active in St. Petersburg, both as an ecclesiastic leader and among the civic organizations. He led in the effort of making a complete translation of the Bible into Russian, including making his own personal contributions. In 1869, he founded the Alexander Nevsky House for Care of Impoverished [[Clergy]]. He established the Diocesan School for Women and took the initiative in the development of ecclesiastical education and charity in the city. The result of his efforts was the popular reference to many of these educational and almshouse facilities as ''Isidor’s Institutions''. In the civil arena, he was a member of the Russian Geographic Society, the Russian Archeological Society, and other scientific organizations.

Metr. Isidor reposed in 1892 and was buried in the St. Isidor Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. In 1932, his [[relics]] were moved to the Nikolskoe cemetery. In 1988, his grave was marked with a cross.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Dmitrov (vicar)|
years=1834-1837|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Bishop of Polotsk and Vilno|
years=1837-1840|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Archbishop of Mogilev|
years=1840-1844|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Exarch of Georgia|
years=1844-1858|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=?|
title=Metropolitan of Kiev|
years=1858-1860|
after=?}}
{{succession|
before=Grigory (Postnikov)|
title=[[Eparchy of St. Petersburg|Metropolitan of Novgorod, St Petersburg and Finland]]|
years=1860-1892|
after=[[Pallady (Raev-Pisarev) of St. Petersburg|Pallady (Raev-Pisarev)]]}}
{{end box}} 

==Source==
*[http://www.encspb.ru/en/article.php?kod=2804009520 Isidor (Nikolsky)]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category: St. Petersburg Academy Graduates]]