Metropolitan of Riga and All Latvia Alexander Kudryashov: biography, achievements and interesting facts

In 1992, after the proclamation of the state independence of the Republic of Latvia, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to grant self-government to the Latvian Orthodox Church. Her leadership had to work hard. One of those whose merits in the establishment of the Orthodox Church of independent Latvia can not be overemphasized is Alexander Kudryashov, whose biography and achievements are devoted to this article.

early years

The future Metropolitan of Riga and All Latvia Alexander (Kudryashov) was born in 1939 in the village of Rudzata, Preil district in a religious family.

In 1964, he received a diploma of the Pedagogical Institute of Daugavpils, where he studied at the Faculty of History and Philology. Then, for several years, the lord taught in Russian secondary schools, teaching Russian language and literature.

A difficult path to vocation

In the late 1970s, Alexander Kudryashov decided to fulfill his long-standing desire and become an Orthodox priest.

In the Soviet period, although the church was officially separated from the state, it was under its most severe control. In connection with this, the then Metropolitan of Riga and Latvian Leonid had to apply to the Council for Religious Affairs, acting under the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR, with the question of the possibility of Kudryashov's ordination to the holy dignity. The response to the request was negative, since officials found it unacceptable to ordain a school teacher. However, the future metropolitan of the Latvian church was not one of those who can be forced to change his decision.

Ordination

Seeing the desire of Alexander Kudryashov to devote himself to the church ministry, Metropolitan Leonid blessed him to resign from his former place of work and leave for a time from the Latvian SSR. As it turned out later, this decision was correct. Kudryashov Alexander went to Moscow and entered the theological seminary.

After studying in 1982, he was ordained a deacon, and a few months later - to the presbyter of the Holy Ilinsk church, located in the village of Ust-Siny Perm diocese.

Homecoming

At that time in the Orthodox churches of the Riga diocese there was a great shortage of priests. In 1983, Metropolitan Leonid appealed to the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR. This time, he managed to obtain permission to appoint Alexander Kudryashov the rector of the Transfiguration Church in Riga, with the elevation to the rank of archpriest.

A year later the priest became dean in the temples of Madona and Valmiera districts.

Further activities in the church

In 1985, Alexander Kudryashov was appointed editor of the Orthodox church calendar, which was published in Russian and Latvian.

Since 1986, he was a member of the diocesan council. In addition, since 1989, Vladyka carried obedience as editor of the Vestnik of the Riga-Latvian Diocese, and also dealt with issues related to the publication of the Russian-Latvian church calendar for the flock of the Latvian diocese. Among his achievements of the secular period is the publication of the first Orthodox bilingual Orthodox prayer in post-war Latvia.

Despite his great employment, Kudryashov constantly improved his theological knowledge. To this end, he enrolled in an extramural study at the Moscow Theological Seminary, which received his diploma in 1989.

Ordination to the rank of bishop

In 1989, Metropolitan Leonid applied to the Holy Synod and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In it, he referred to his advanced age and asked to identify Alexander Ivanovich Kudryashov as bishop of Daugavpils and vicar of the Riga diocese. The petition was accepted and satisfied.

On July 10 of the same year A. Kudryashova was tonsured into monks, and the next day was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

At the end of July 1989, the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral of the Russian capital held a consecration. It was headed by Metropolitan Yuvenaly. Metropolitans of Rostov and Novocherkassk, Novosibirsk and Barnaul, Tula and Belevsky, Archbishop of Chuvash and Cheboksary, bishops of Kaluga and Borovsk, Tashkent and Central Asia, Orel and Bryansk, Kalinin and Kashin, Kishinev and Moldavian participated in the solemn service.

After granting self-management of the Latvian orthodox church

On September 8, 1990 Metropolitan Leonid passed away. In connection with this sad event, Alexander Kudryashov was appointed interim administrator of the diocese, and after a due date he became Bishop of Riga and Latvia.

In August 1992, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church made a historic decision. According to Tomos, signed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, the name of the Latvian Orthodox Church (LPRC) was restored, and it became independent. Self-management concerned administrative, educational and economic issues, relations with the state power of Latvia, etc. At the same time, the Latvian Church remained in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate in canonical matters. At the same time, Alexander Kudryashov remained the leader of the LPRC and received the title of "Riga and All Latvia".

Achievements

The self-governing LPRC had to tackle many problems. First of all, it was required to restore the temples and parishes, as well as to overcome the spiritual devastation of the unbelieving population. Among the most difficult issues were the shortage of priests and the return of church real estate.

Primate of the Church of Latvia, Alexander Kudryashov, did a great job. His work in 1994 in Riga began to operate the Theological Seminary and began the process of returning property, which the LPRC had until 1940. On his instructions and under his supervision, thousands of documents were raised from the archives and negotiations were held with the authorities.

In addition, the Riga Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ and the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral of the city of Liepaja was reborn, and the Orthodox church of the holy righteous Simeon and Anna Yelgava was restored from the ruins.

Now you know who Metropolitan Alexander Kudryashov is. In the biography of this man there is no description of heroic exploits. However, the results of his writings are already evident today and will surely be highly appreciated by future generations of Orthodox residents of Latvia.