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==History==
Orthodox Christianity made its appearance in the lands of the Golden Horde as early as the thirteenth century under the leadership of the diocese of Sarsk and Podolsk with the bishop’s residence located in the Horde’s capital Sarai. It wasn’t until the sixteenth century before a diocese was formed in the area of Kazan. The Diocese of Kazan was initially established on [[April 3]], 1555 by Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow, during the time of 99Ivan [[Ivan IV of Russia|Ivan IV]] (the Terrible), as the diocese of Kazan and Sviyazhsk. The first ruling bishop was Bishop [[Gury of Kazan|Gury (Rugotin)]], who had been the heguman ([[abbot]]) of the [[Monastery]] of Selizharov in Tver.
Bp. Gury was accompanied in his new assigned by [[Archimandrite]]s Varsonofy and Herman, with instructions to evangelize the inhabitants and not to compel baptism. Organizationally, the Kazan diocese was subordinated to the Moscow metropolitanate and joined as the third diocese with the metropolitanate of Moscow and the archdiocese of Novgorod.
On [[December 11]], 1988, Archimandrite Anastasy (Metkin), [[rector]] of St. Nicholas Cathedral, was consecrated bishop in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow to fill the [[cathedra]] of the Diocese of Kazan. In 1989, the Cathedral of the Apostles [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] was returned to the diocese, the start of a stream of churches that gradually were returned to the Kazan diocese over the following years. In succession, the [[Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God|Raifa Monastery]] was returned in 1991, St. Barbara’s and St. Sophia Churches were returned in 1994. In 1996, Makaryev Monastery (of St. Makaius Zheltovodsky) and the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God led the return of many churches and monasteries that year.
The Diocese of Kazan, in more recent years, has opened some 176 active parishes, divided into 22 deaneries. The diocese has been restoring six male and two female monasteries. In 2005, 25 deacons and 22 priests have been [[ordination|ordained]]. In September 1997, the Kazan Theological School was re-organized as the [[Kazan Theological Academy|Kazan Theological Seminary]], and church schools have been steadily opened in many of the parishes.
The 450th anniversary of the founding of the Kazan cathedra was held in 2005.
==See also==
[http://en.orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_bishops_of_the_Diocese_of_Kazan List of bishops of the Diocese of Kazan]
==Source==
