Difference between revisions of "Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York"

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His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York''' led the North American diocese of the [[Church of Russia]] twice, the first time before World War I and the second time afterwards. In 1907 he was transferred to head the diocese, after Archbishop Tikhon returned to Russia. Archbishop Platon was again transferred this time to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin in 1914. After the Russian Revolutions and Civil War he was forced to flee from Odessa, and he again arrived in the United States in 1921, to a diocese in financial trouble and weak leadership. The then diocesan bishop, Archbishop Alexander, asked Archbishop Platon to re-assume leadership of the diocese as he returned to Europe. Patriarch Tikhon, on [[September 29]], 1923, approved his election by the All-American Council. Metropolitan Platon continued to lead the diocese until his death on [[April 20]], 1934.
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[[Image:Platon Rozhdestvensky.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Metr. Platon]]
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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
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His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York''' was [[primate]] of the [[OCA|Russian Metropolia]] (the former name of the OCA) twice, from 1907 to 1914 and then from 1921 to his death on [[April 20]], 1934.  A controversial figure, he presided over the declaration of "temporary self-government" for the Metropolia in 1924 and over the creation of the short-lived [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]] in 1927.
  
 
== Life ==
 
== Life ==
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Metropolitan Platon was born Porphyry Theodorovich Rozhdestvensky on [[February 23]], 1866, the son of a parish priest in the Kursk Eparchy of Russia. He attended the Kursk Theological Seminary and married. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1887 and was assigned as a village priest in Lukashevsky. Shortly his wife gave birth to a daughter, but within five years he had become a widower.
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Platon was born Porphyry Theodorovich Rozhdestvensky on [[February 23]], 1866, the son of a [[parish]] [[priest]] in the Kursk Eparchy of Russia. He attended the Kursk Theological Seminary and married. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1887 and was assigned as a village priest in Lukashevsky. His wife soon gave birth to a daughter, but within five years he became a widower.
  
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He then entered the Kiev Theological Academy, graduating in 1895. He took his monastic vows in 1894, receiving the name Platon. He served as an assistant professor and instructor of Moral Theology while he continued his studies. In 1898, he received a Master of Theology degree. Father Platon was named inspector at the Kiev Academy and was raised to the rank of archmandrite. He was named rector of the Kiev Academy in 1902 and, additionally, was consecrated bishop, serving as second vicar of the Kiev diocese.
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He then entered the Kiev Theological Academy, graduating in 1895. He took monastic vows in 1894, receiving the name Platon. He served as an assistant professor and instructor of Moral Theology while he continued his studies, and in 1898, he received a Master of Theology degree. [[Hieromonk]] Platon was named inspector at the Kiev Academy and was raised to the rank of [[archimandrite]]. He was named rector of the Kiev Academy in 1902 and was consecrated [[bishop]], serving as second [[auxiliary bishop|vicar]] of the Kiev diocese.
  
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In 1907, he was transferred to the North American diocese, arriving [[September 5]], 1907. Reacting to the needs of the diocese he welcomed more Carpatho-Russian [[Uniate]]s back to Orthodoxy and addressed social services by founding the Russian Immigrants Home and an orphanage in New York City. He, also, transferred the Seminary from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Tenefly, New Jersey to bring it closer to main source of students and to the Church Administration.  
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In 1907, he was transferred to the North American diocese, arriving on [[September 5]], 1907. Reacting to the needs of the diocese he welcomed more Carpatho-Russian [[Uniate]]s back to Orthodoxy and addressed social services by founding the Russian Immigrants Home and an orphanage in New York City. He also transferred the Metropolia seminary from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Tenefly, New Jersey to bring it closer to main source of students and to the church administration.  
  
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In 1914, he was transferred to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin, leaving leaving America on [[May 20]], 1914, but shortly thereafter he became exarch of Georgia and a member of the Holy Synod. He served in 1915 in the Second State Duma, and before the Revolution of 1917, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kherson and Odessa. With the defeat of the White Forces he was forced to leave Odessa for Europe and America.
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In 1914, he was transferred to the [[diocese]] of Kishniece and Khotin, leaving America on [[May 20]], 1914, but shortly thereafter he became [[exarch]] of Georgia and a member of the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Russia]]. He served in 1915 in the Second State Duma, and before the revolution of 1917, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kherson and Odessa. With the defeat of the White Army by the Bolsheviks he was forced to leave Odessa for Europe and eventually America.
  
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With Metropolitan Platon’s return to the United States in 1921 and Archbishop Alexander’s return to Europe, the Third All-American Church Sobor (Council) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in September 1923 elected Metropolitan Platon as the ruling bishop of the North American diocese.  Although this election was confirmed by the Russian Church, Metropolitan Platon would spend over the next decade great effort maintaining the unity of the diocese, particularly against attacks by the “Living Church
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With Metr. Platon's return to the United States in 1921 and Abp. [[Alexander (Nemolovsky) of the Aleutians|Alexander]]'s return to Europe, the Third All-American Sobor (Council) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in September 1923 elected Metr. Platon as the ruling bishop of the North American diocese.  Although this election was confirmed by the Russian Church, Metr. Platon would spend over the next decade great effort maintaining the unity of the diocese, particularly against attacks by the [[Living Church]] and fending off the financial crisis. With the breakdown in communications with the Church in Russia, he felt compelled to declare the North America diocese temporarily autonomy. This was done by the Fourth All-American Council held in Detroit, Michigan in February 1924. At this council Metropolitan Platon also received the title ''Metropolitan of All America and Canada''.
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In 1931, Metropolitan Platon rejected the request by Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow to pledge "loyalty" to the Soviet regime.  After his death in 1934, he was buried at the cemetery at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]].
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==See also==
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*[[ROCOR and OCA]]
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{{start box}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin)]]|
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title=Archbishop of New York|
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years=1907-1914|
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after=Evdokim}}
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{{succession|
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before=?|
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title=Archbishop of Kishniece & Khotin|
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years=1914-?|
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after=?}}
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{{succession|
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before=?|
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title=Metropolitan of Kherson & Odessa|
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years=?-1921|
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after=?}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Alexander (Nemolovsky) of the Aleutians|Alexander (Nemolovsky)]]|
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title=Metropolitan of All America and Canada<br>(Metropolia)|
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years=1923-1934|
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after=[[Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco|Theophilus (Pashkovsky)]]}}
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{{end box}}
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[[Category:Bishops]]

Revision as of 23:07, July 3, 2005

Metr. Platon
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His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York was primate of the Russian Metropolia (the former name of the OCA) twice, from 1907 to 1914 and then from 1921 to his death on April 20, 1934. A controversial figure, he presided over the declaration of "temporary self-government" for the Metropolia in 1924 and over the creation of the short-lived American Orthodox Catholic Church in 1927.

Life

Platon was born Porphyry Theodorovich Rozhdestvensky on February 23, 1866, the son of a parish priest in the Kursk Eparchy of Russia. He attended the Kursk Theological Seminary and married. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1887 and was assigned as a village priest in Lukashevsky. His wife soon gave birth to a daughter, but within five years he became a widower.

He then entered the Kiev Theological Academy, graduating in 1895. He took monastic vows in 1894, receiving the name Platon. He served as an assistant professor and instructor of Moral Theology while he continued his studies, and in 1898, he received a Master of Theology degree. Hieromonk Platon was named inspector at the Kiev Academy and was raised to the rank of archimandrite. He was named rector of the Kiev Academy in 1902 and was consecrated bishop, serving as second vicar of the Kiev diocese.

In 1907, he was transferred to the North American diocese, arriving on September 5, 1907. Reacting to the needs of the diocese he welcomed more Carpatho-Russian Uniates back to Orthodoxy and addressed social services by founding the Russian Immigrants Home and an orphanage in New York City. He also transferred the Metropolia seminary from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Tenefly, New Jersey to bring it closer to main source of students and to the church administration.

In 1914, he was transferred to the diocese of Kishniece and Khotin, leaving America on May 20, 1914, but shortly thereafter he became exarch of Georgia and a member of the Holy Synod of the Church of Russia. He served in 1915 in the Second State Duma, and before the revolution of 1917, he was appointed Metropolitan of Kherson and Odessa. With the defeat of the White Army by the Bolsheviks he was forced to leave Odessa for Europe and eventually America.

With Metr. Platon's return to the United States in 1921 and Abp. Alexander's return to Europe, the Third All-American Sobor (Council) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in September 1923 elected Metr. Platon as the ruling bishop of the North American diocese. Although this election was confirmed by the Russian Church, Metr. Platon would spend over the next decade great effort maintaining the unity of the diocese, particularly against attacks by the Living Church and fending off the financial crisis. With the breakdown in communications with the Church in Russia, he felt compelled to declare the North America diocese temporarily autonomy. This was done by the Fourth All-American Council held in Detroit, Michigan in February 1924. At this council Metropolitan Platon also received the title Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

In 1931, Metropolitan Platon rejected the request by Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow to pledge "loyalty" to the Soviet regime. After his death in 1934, he was buried at the cemetery at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery (South Canaan, Pennsylvania).

See also

Succession box:
Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York
Preceded by:
Tikhon (Belavin) 		Archbishop of New York
1907-1914 		Succeeded by:
Evdokim
Preceded by:
? 		Archbishop of Kishniece & Khotin
1914-? 		Succeeded by:
?
Preceded by:
? 		Metropolitan of Kherson & Odessa
?-1921 		Succeeded by:
?
Preceded by:
Alexander (Nemolovsky) 		Metropolitan of All America and Canada
(Metropolia)
1923-1934 		Succeeded by:
Theophilus (Pashkovsky)
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