View source for Theodosius (Nagashima) of Japan

{{orthodoxyinjapan}}
His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Metropolitan]] '''Theodosius (Nagashima) of Japan''' was the first Japanese man to be the ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Church of Japan]].

==Life==
He was born Nagashima Shinji on [[April 3]], 1935, in Tokyo. He was attracted to the [[Orthodox Church]] through hearing the choir singing in [[Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan)|Nicolai-do]] when he passed the [[cathedral]] during his student days. In the event, as he learned more about Orthodox Christianity he was [[baptize]]d and became a member of the choir, that was led by [[Victor Pokrovsky|Victor A. Pokrovsky]], and began attending the [[Tokyo Orthodox Seminary (Tokyo, Japan)|Tokyo seminary]]. He graduated from the seminary in April 1963.

[[Image:MetThoedosiusJapanGrave.jpg|thumb|left|175pxl|Grave of Metr. Theodosius in the Yanaka Cemetery, Tokyo, Japan]]
He was ordained a [[deacon]] in 1964 and a [[priest]] in 1965. Continuing his education, he studied at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] for a year before returning to Japan. Upon returning he took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows in October 1969 before [[Archbishop]] Vladimir, then the ruling bishop of the Church of Japan, receiving the name of Theodosius. In November, he was raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] and nominated for bishop. On [[November 18]], 1969, Archbishops [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco]] ([[OCA|Metropolia]]) and [[Vladimir (Nagosky) of Tokyo]] consecrated Theodosius bishop of Kyoto. With his appointment as bishop of Kyoto he established his residence in Osaka which is near the old imperial city of Kyoto.

In 1972, Archbishop Vladimir, wishing to retire, had submitted his resignation. At a council Theodosius was elected the successor to Metropolitan Vladimir. [[Patriarch]] Pimen of Moscow, as the Church of Japan had become autonomous under the [[Church of Russia]] in 1970, approved the election on [[March 22]], 1972. Thus, Theodosius became the first native Japanese ruling bishop of the [[Church of Japan]] as ''Archbishop of Tokyo and Metropolitan of All Japan''.

Under the guidance of Metropolitan Theodosius, the Church of Japan continued its course of stabilization and growth through the rest of the twentieth century. He died on [[May 9]], 1999, to be succeeded by Metropolitan [[Daniel (Nushiro) of Japan]][http://www.cnewa.us/default.aspx?ID=31&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=US&pageno=1]. 

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Vladimir (Nagosky) of San Francisco|Vladimir (Nagosky)]]|
title=Bishop of Kyoto|
years=1969-1972?|
after=[[Daniel (Nushiro) of Japan|Daniel (Nushiro)]]}}
{{succession|
before=Vladimir (Nagosky)|
title=[[Church of Japan|Archbishop of Tokyo]]|
years=1972-1999|
after=Daniel (Nushiro)}}
{{end box}}

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Metropolitans of Japan]]
[[Category:Bishops of Kyoto]]
[[Category:Bishops of Tokyo]]
[[Category:20th-century bishops]]