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==Life==
Ivan Nikolayevich Stragorodsky was born in the town of Arzamas near Nizhny Novgorod on [[January 11]], 1867. His father, Nicholas, was an arch[[priest]]. After receiving the name Sergius when he was tonsured a [[monk]] he studied in the Nizhny Novgorod [[seminary]] followed by studies at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Sergius became proficient in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. He was then [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] and then to the priesthood. He was soon raised to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. In September 1890, he arrived in Japan to assist Bp. [[Nicholas (Kasatkin) of Japan|Nicholas of Japan]]. Here, while he taught at the [[Tokyo Orthodox Seminary]], he became fluent in Japanese before his return to Russia in 1898. Upon his return to the St. Petersburg Academy in 1899 he was appointed rector.
In 1901, Sergius was appointed [[Archbishop]] of Finland and Vyborg. In 1911, he was became a member of the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Russia]]. He was transferred to the diocese of Vladimir and Shuya on [[August 10]],1917. Subsequently, he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan on [[November 28]],1917 by Patr. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]]. With the Bolsheviks now ruling Russia, Sergius was arrested in January 1921 and spent several months in jail before being exiled to to Nizhny Novgorod. Between [[June 16]], 1922 and [[August 27]], 1923, Sergius became involved in the Renovationist schism, the so-called [[Living Church]], but repented his actions publicly and was forgiven by Patr. Tikhon. The Patriarch appointed him Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod on [[March 18]],1924.
