Philip (Stavitsky) of Alaska

His Grace Philip (Stavitsky) of Alaska was Bishop of Alaska of the Russian North American Mission of the Church of Russia from 1916 to 1917. Upon his arrival in the United States in 1915 he was appointed rector of St. Platon's Seminary.

Life

Born on April 14, 1884 in Novgorod, Russia, Vitaly Stephanovich Stavitsky, was the son of a priest. He attended the local theological seminary before entering the Moscow Theological Academy. After graduating from the academy in 1910, Vitaly entered the monastic life in Chernigov and was given the name Philip. He was then ordained into the Holy Orders.

Father Philip immediately became a missionary in the Chernigov area combating sectarianism and, after a year, in 1911 he was transferred in the same capacity to Kiev. There, he lived in the Monastery of the Kiev Caves. In 1914, Fr. Philip was assigned as a hospital chaplain in the Russian Imperial Army.

In 1915, Fr. Philip was transferred to the Russian Mission in the United States where, upon his arrival, he was appointed rector of St. Platon's Theological Seminary in Tenafly, New Jersey.

On August 19, 1916, Archimandrite Philip was consecrated Bishop of Alaska, succeeding Bp. Alexander who had been transferred to Winnipeg, Canada as Bishop of Canada. Bp. Archbishop Evdokim, Bp. Alexander, and Metropolitan German of Selevkiyslaj officiated at Bp. Philip's consecration.

In 1917, Bp. Philip returned to Russia "on vacation" , but did not return to the United States. Subsequently, he became Bishop of Smolensk. Abp. Philip died on December 12, 1952, as Archbishop of Astrakhan and Saratov.

Reference

Succession box: Philip (Stavitsky) of Alaska
Preceded by: Alexander (Nemolovsky)	Bishop of Alaska 1916-1917	Succeeded by: Amphilokhy (Vakulsky)
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Smolensk 1917-?	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: ?	Archbishop of Astrakhan and Saratov ?-1952	Succeeded by: ?

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Sources

• Orthodox America 1794-1976 Development of the Orthodox Church in America, C. J. Tarasar, Gen. Ed. 1975, The Orthodox Church in America, Syosett, New York, p131, 333.
• Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)