Russia, Siberia Folder and its rivers.kmz

Russia, Siberia Folder and its rivers

Siberia
Siberia; Siberia Federal District; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye; Siberia; Passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas, Commemorated on July 17; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Zosimas of Tuman, Commemorated August 8 ; St Theodore the Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, Commemorated September 19 ; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Hieromartyr and Metropolitan of Moscow and Krutitsy, Peter Polyansky, Commemorated on October 10 ; St Joasaph the Bishop of Belgorod, Commemorated on December 10 ; Repose of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated December 13 ; Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on December 18 ; St Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on January 29 ; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated January 29 ; Icon of the Mother of God ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Âœthe Rescuer of the DrowningÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, Commemorated on February 5; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk; Uncovering of the relics of St Innocent the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on February 9 ; Venerable Polycarp of Briansk, Commemorated February 23 ; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Icon of the Mother of God ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂœThe Word was made FleshÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Icon of the Mother of God of St Theodore, Commemorated on March 14; Righteous Basil of Mangazea in Siberia, Commemorated on March 23; Martyr Peter of Kazan, Commemorated on March 24; Martyr Stephen of Kazan, Commemorated on March 24; St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on March 30; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk, Commemorated on May 27 ; St John Maximovitch the Metropolitan of Tobolsk, Commemorated on June 10; Translation of the relics of St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on June 30;

Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia
Ural Mountains; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated September 12 ; St Theodore the Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, Commemorated September 19; Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on December 18 ; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Central Siberian Plateau
Central Siberian Plateau;

Vogul aka Mansi People, Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia
Vogul aka Mansi People, Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia; Ural Mountains; Mansi aka Vogul People; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Samoyedic people, Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia
Samoyedic people, Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia ; Vogul aka Mansi People, Ural Mountains, Siberia, Russia; Ural Mountains; Mansi aka Vogul People; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Russia, Siberia 1370-2000's History Folder

Russia, Siberia, 1370-1507, Timurid Empire, Tamurlane's Dynasty
Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Tamurlane's Dynasty, founded by Tamur the Lame or Tamurlane; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Russia, Siberia, 1370-1507, Timurid Empire, Sunni, Persia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afganistan
Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Sunni, Persia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afganistan ; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Russia, Siberia, 1603-1671, Hierotheus Khabarov, Frontier Leader 1603-1671
Hierotheus Khabarov 1603-1671; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made Flesh , Commemorated on March 9;

Russia, Siberia, 1627-1642, , Simeon of Verkhoturye, Kazakhstan, Siberia, nobleman, beggar, appearances miracles after death
Russia, Siberia,1627-1642, , Simeon of Verkhoturye, Kazakhstan, Siberia, nobleman, beggar, sewed clothes, failed to sew something, appearances miracles after death; Verkhoturye (Tura River) ; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated September 12 ; Simeon of Verkhoturye was a nobleman, but he concealed his origin and led the life of a beggar. He walked through the villages and for free sewed half-coats and other clothes, primarily for the poor. While doing this he deliberately failed to sew something, either a glove, or a scarf, for which he endured abuse from his customers. ascetic wandered much, but most often he lived at a churchyard of the village of Merkushinsk not far from the city of Verkhoturye (on the outskirts of Perm). Saint Simeon loved nature in the Urals, and while joyfully contemplated its majestic beauty, he would raise up a thoughtful glance towards the Creator of the world. In his free time, the saint loved to go fishing in the tranquility of solitude. This reminded him of the disciples of Christ, whose work he continued, guiding the local people in the true Faith. His conversations were a seed of grace, from which gradually grew the abundant fruits of the Spirit in the Urals and in Siberia, where the saint is especially revered. Simeon of Verkhoturye died in 1642, when he was 35 years of age. He was buried in the Merkushinsk graveyard by the church of the Archangel Michael. September 12, 1704, with the blessing of Metropolitan Philotheus of Tobolsk, the holy relics of Saint Simeon were transferred from the church of the Archangel Michael to the Verkhoturye monastery in the name of Saint Nicholas. Simeon worked many miracles after his death. He frequently appeared to the sick in dreams and healed them, and he brought to their senses those fallen into the disease of drunkenness. A peculiarity of the saint’s appearances was that with the healing of bodily infirmities, he also gave instruction and guidance for the soul. memory of Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye is celebrated also on December 18, on the day of his glorification (1694). Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on December 18 ; Simeon of Verkhoturye was a nobleman, he concealed his origin and led the life of a beggar. He walked through the villages and for free sewed half-coats and other clothes, primarily for the poor. doing this he deliberately failed to sew something, either a glove, or a scarf, for which he endured abuse from his customers. ascetic wandered much, but most often he lived at a churchyard of the village of Merkushinsk not far from the city of Verkhoturye (on the outskirts of Perm). Simeon loved nature in the Urals, and while joyfully contemplated its majestic beauty, he would raise up a thoughtful glance towards the Creator of the world. his free time, the saint loved to go fishing in the tranquility of solitude. This reminded him of the disciples of Christ, whose work he continued, guiding the local people in the true Faith. conversations were a seed of grace, from which gradually grew the abundant fruits of the Spirit in the Urals and in Siberia, where the saint is especially revered. Simeon of Verkhoturye died in 1642, when he was 35 years of age. He was buried in the Merkushinsk graveyard by the church of the Archangel Michael. September 12, 1704, with the blessing of Metropolitan Philotheus of Tobolsk, the holy relics of Saint Simeon were transferred from the church of the Archangel Michael to the Verkhoturye monastery in the name of Saint Nicholas. Simeon worked many miracles after his death. He frequently appeared to the sick in dreams and healed them, and he brought to their senses those fallen into the disease of drunkenness. A peculiarity of the saint’s appearances was that with the healing of bodily infirmities, he also gave instruction and guidance for the soul. memory of Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye is celebrated also on September 12, on the day of the translation of his relics (1704).

Russia, Siberia, 1652-1695, Russia China War of the Amur Region
Siberia, Russia China War of the Amur Region (1652-1695) ; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made Flesh, Commemorated on March 9;

Russia, Siberia, 1671-1727, Philotheos oTobolsk, enlightener oSiberia, great admin &successful apostle, 400,000 conversions
Russia, Siberia, 1671-1727, Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, K., Capital of Siberia (Tobol Mouth at Irtysh River 11), enlightener oSiberia, 1702 Met oS, more extensive tToday, 1st centures example Spiritual Council, pastoral rules&instructions, more churches&pastors wBetter living conditions, widespread education, he funded Slavic-Russian school at Bishoprick, progenitor all Tobolsk schools, fOnly 160C t448 Churches&37Monasteries, renovations fBeauty, stopped supporting congregational Churches, cathedral choir fExiled Little Russians, pastoral success after he quit Met job & focused apostolic, began fKamchatka 1705, mObstacles, 1707 Ostyaks oBerezovsky, then Mongolia high priest Buddhists aKhalkhas, successful among Ostyaks, Voguls, other Siberian aliens, constant journeys among savages, teaching Samoyeds, Voguls, Ostyaks, far north churches Kyrgyz iAltai, Siberian outskirts Laplanders&Chukchi, baptized 400k foreigners, churches, parishes, cornerstones, not easy, traveling difficulties, muslim resistance, missionaries fled, Met P left alone on shore, bullet through clothing without touching, & danger at Konda, deceived Vogulsky Prince Satyga intended to kill Met P, warmly received S envoys who revealid plot, he sailed to S's camp, some fled but remaining baptized, other benefits to converts-protection, freedom, no head tax, no cart obligation, yasak payment benefits, no insults, Bread &Money distriution, so they loved him, 1711 illness, retired to Tyumen HT Monastery, received schema, as Theodore, even more difficult missionary feats nort of Siberia-1712 tBerezovsky T along Irtysh Ob &Sosve Rivers, supplied by Met John employees, by Prince Gagarin ship, rowers, interpreters, guard, 2000 Rubles, &gifts fNewly-baptized, Peter 1 wanted to destroy idols, proving them worthless, but Met P convinced Ostyaks to do it. 1715 replaced Tobolsk Siberian Met, attention to overseas Beijing Mission from 1714, sent Bishop to Beijing, retured second time 1726, visited Nizovsky T &Obdorsk, retired 1720 and 1726, died 1726, incorrupt relics Tobolsk; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31; Most Reverend hierarch, the renowned Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk, was from a noble, but poor family and received a theological degree at the then famous Kiev Theological Academy. the end of the course, he was ordained as a priest for one of the rural churches, but he was soon widowed. He was tonsured as a monk with the name Philotheos, and joined the brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Siberia Christianity began to spread among the native pagans and Mohammedans from the very conquest of this country by the Russian state (in 1581), conversions of the Siberian non-Russians to faith in Christ were generally insignificant and mostly individual. newly-baptized aliens left their former places of residence and their compatriots and, settling in Russian cities and villages, they entered into the Russian population, their conversion did not influence the masses, who still remained solid pagans or Mohammedans. this was known to the great converter of Russia, Tsar Peter I, who decided to take measures to enlighten the Siberian aliens with the light of Christianity with them their neighbors, the Mongols and Chinese. implement this wise plan, by a decree of June 18, 1700, the Sovereign commanded Metropolitan Barlaam Yasinsky of Kiev to “find” in the Russian cities and monasteries Archimandrites, Igumens, and other monks to occupy the cathedra of Tobolsk, which had remained vacant after Metropolitan Ignatius. He wanted “Pastors who are not only good and adorned with a blameless life, but also scholars who would take with them to Siberia any educated monks who were capable of learning the local languages. God’s help, and with their help, the Metropolitan of Tobolsk could gradually lead the blind inhabitants of Siberia, Mongolia and China, who were stagnating in idolatry, to the knowledge of the true God. ” Barlaam’s choice fell on the Novgorod-Seversk Archimandrite Demetrios Tuptalo, later Saint Demetrios, the wonderworker of Rostov, who was summoned to Moscow in early 1700. On March 23, at the age of 50, he was consecrated as the Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk. Saint Demetrios ruled his Siberian flock for only nine months, but he did not live in Siberia. Saint Demetrios of Rostov was appointed to the Siberian Diocese, primarily for missionary purposes, he refused to go to Siberia for good and was transferred to the cathedra of Rostov. Archimandrite Philotheos Leschinsky was appointed as someone who was well-known for his pious life, high education and energy. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk on January 4, 1702. Diocese of Tobolsk and Siberia is extensive today; but in the 17th and early 18th centuries it was incomparably more extensive; borders were then in the north - the Arctic Sea, in the east - the Pacific Ocean, in the south - lands under the Chinese emperor, i.e. Dauria and so on, and the Kirghiz-kaysati steppe, in the west - the Urals and even part of European Russia, to the fortress of Beerskaya and Achitskaya. general, the diocese occupied more than 300,000 square miles, a space in which there are currently more than nine independent dioceses with several vicariates. difficulty of administering such a huge diocese was increased by its complete lack of organization. the new bishop of Siberia, Metropolitan Philotheos, energetically set to work. the very first year of his stay in Siberia he followed the example of the pastors of the first centuries of Christianity, decided to assemble a spiritual council from representatives of the Siberian clergy for the improvement of the Siberian Church. a council took place in Tobolsk in December 1702. It developed a number of rules and instructions to the clergy regarding the streamlining of their pastoral work. the new Metropolitan of Siberia occupied himself with the Tobolsk episcopal residence, multiplying churches in Siberia, increasing the number of clergy, improving their condition, etc. They paid great attention to widespread education, and he first set an example by teaching foreign children in the religious schools he established. order to provide the diocese with good pastors, Metropolitan Philotheos started a “Slavic-Russian” school in the episcopal residence, and paid for it with his own money. became the progenitor of all educational institutions in the city of Tobolsk. also got several learned monks from Kiev as teachers for the school. Metropolitan Philotheos took over the administration of the Tobolsk diocese, there were only 160 churches throughout its vast area. The saint made tremendous efforts to multiply of the churches of God in Siberia, and the Lord blessed these works with success. By the time he left the diocese there were already up to 448 churches and 37 monasteries. new churches, he also took care of maintaining their well-being and beauty: asked the government for permission to renovate some of the monasteries; stopped issuing “wax, incense, and red wine” to the congregational and unpaid churches. the cathedral, permission was given to form a choir of singers from the exiled Little Russians. missionary activity of Metropolitan Philotheos among the Siberian pagans was the main subject of his cares and labors and was crowned with good success, which the archpastor achieved, not during his administration of the diocese, but after his release from it, when he devoted himself entirely to the apostolic ministry. hierarch began his educational activity from Kamchatka, where in 1705 he sent a missionary, Archimandrite Martinian, and after him the missionary monk Ignatius Kozyrevsky, but the preaching of these missionaries was not particularly successful, since the missionaries had to experience many obstacles. hierarch’s second mission was sent in 1707 to the Ostyaks of the Berezovsky Territory, the third to Mongolia, to the Kutuhta (high priest) of the Buddhists, to the town of Khalkhas. preaching of the Tobolsk Metropolitan among the Ostyaks, Voguls and other Siberian aliens was particularly successful. by an insignificant retinue, with the then impossible ways of communication, the ever-memorable missionary spent most of his archpastoral ministry in Siberia in c,onstant journeys among savages, the Samoyeds, Voguls, Ostyaks, building churches in the far north, in the Kyrgyz territory in the Altai, then enlightening the distant sons of the outskirts of Siberia, Laplanders and Chukchi, helping them spiritually and materially. all the time of his archpastoral ministry, he enlightened and baptized up to 400,000 foreigners, to mention how many churches this great architect built across Siberia, how many parishes he founded, how many cornerstones he laid, so to speak, for the spread of Christianity among the pagans. It was not easy for Metropolitan Philotheos. Not to mention the incredible difficulties traveling along the wild outskirts, across steppes and marshes, taiga and northern tundra; not to mention all sorts of hardships associated with traveling under such conditions; the very life of the Metropolitan was repeatedly endangered. he came to the Ostyaks of Burinsky. Those who were invited to be baptized that they were Muslims and no one had the right to baptize them. left him and locked themselves in one large yurt.1 His Eminence nevertheless remained in their territory and from time to time he sent them missionaries who were with him to summon the Ostyaks. same savages, in order to put an end to the matter all at once, according to the suggestion of the Tatar preacher hiding from them, seized their weapons, and fiercely rushed at the Orthodox missionaries. of them was wounded in the head with an arrow, the other in the shoulder, and the third was punctured through and through by their hands. fright, the unarmed Russians all fled from the shore onto the ships. Metropolitan, who was then praying for the restraint of his enemies, was left alone on the shore. the Ostyak foreman Uman fired a rifle at the Metropolitan, but God preserved His Apostle-Preacher. The bullet passed through his clothing without touching his body. another occasion, the Metropolitan was threatened with danger in Konda. he stayed in the Katyshev yurts to rest, a messenger came to him from Vogulsky Prince Satyga inviting him to hasten to the nomad camp because a lot of people had gathered there, desiring to be baptized. fact, as it turned out, Satyga was deceived by a Tatar from Tobolsk, as though the Tsar himself wanted the Metropolitan’s death, and that there would be no punishment for the murderers. intended to kill Philotheos and all those with him. But for now, the Metropolitan avoided danger. ’s envoys were received kindly by the Metropolitan, and after receiving generous gifts, they informed Philotheos of the danger that threatened him. overtook the missionaries, and many advised him to flee to Tobolsk. Some, however, argued that such cowardice would impair the future work of preaching the Word of God. Metropolitan agreed with those who wished to stay, and it was decided to sail down to the nomad camp. was frightened when he learned that his plans were known to the Metropolitan. The intruders fled into the forest, and the remaining Voguls were willingly baptized. Philotheos not only cared about the spiritual enlightenment of the pagans who converted, but he also tried to deliver those or other benefits to the converts in civil matters. his request, those who were persecuted by the unbaptized were protected from being chased by guards; slaves were given their freedom, those who were included in the head tax were exempted from it. was relieved of the obligation to supply carts, received benefits in the payment of the yasak, they were protected from insults and harassment by the Cossacks and minor officials. Metropolitan distributed a significant amount of bread and money to the newly-baptized poor, and, in general, he helped as much as he could, anyway. newly-baptized loved the Metropolitan as a father. When he visited them, they immediately went out to meet him and greeted him with cordiality and pleasure clearly written on their faces; willingly they heeded his instructions, and gave a firm promise to put his advice into practice. general, they accepted the Metropolitan as their benefactor and their protector, as a man sent from God. memory of Metropolitan Philotheos still lives among the aliens who were enlightened by him. For example, the Ostyaks, when they were asked about him, usually said: “He was a kindly old man; the people did not give offense; he loved the Ostyaks very, very much.... ” 1711, Metropolitan Philotheos was relieved of the administration of the diocese “due to illness,” and retired to the Tyumen Holy Trinity Monastery, he received the schema and the name Theodore. Metropolitan did not give up his archiepiscopal cathedra for rest and peace, now that he was burdened with age and illnesses, but for even more difficult feats of missionary work in the harsh north of Siberia. June 1712, Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore, the blessing of the then Siberian archpastor, Metropolitan John Maximovitch (June 10), by his own desire and inclination, and at the suggestion of Prince M. Gagarin, who was then the governor of Siberia, who fulfilled the command of Peter I to begin preaching the Gospel among Siberians, and entered into this apostolic spiritual exploit. that year, the hierarch made his first missionary journey to Berezovsky territory along the rivers Irtysh, Ob and Sosve. John, who ruled the diocese, gave him capable employees, Prince Gagarin supplied him from the treasury with a vessel for sailing, rowers, interpreters of the native languages, a guard for preserving the mission, the sum of 2000 rubles, and various gifts for newly-baptized. to the ukaz of Peter the Great, the evangelizer of Siberia wished to prepare the ground of this field on his previous journey; is, to destroy the pagan places of worship with their idols, and to show the pagans how powerless their imaginary gods are to protect even themselves. the help of God, Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore managed to convince the Ostyaks, who lived near Samarov and in the yurts of Sherkal, to destroy the idols which were especially honored in those districts. June 10, 1715, Metropolitan John Maximovich of Tobolsk reposed, and the aged Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore was again entrusted with the administration of the Siberian Diocese, he did not stop his favorite missionary activity. Schema-monk Theodore was so fond of the enlightened Ostyaks that, a year before his death, being retired and ill for the second time, the patient visited Nizovsky territory again in 1726 and even reached far off Obdorsk. this was to be the last journey of the ever-memorable hierarch. his second administration of the diocese, Metropolitan Theodore paid attention to the overseas Beijing mission, which from 1714 was headed by Archimandrite Hilarion of Lezhaysk, who was sent to the capital of China by imperial command, under Metropolitan John Maximovich. the death of this Archimandrite, his successor Anthony Platkovsky was appointed head of the mission, and returned to Russia in 1721, according to the suggestion of the Most Reverend Theodore and the Siberian governor, as well as the highest levels of government, it was decided to send a bishop to Beijing. during his first administration of the Tobolsk diocese, he had a vicar bishop, Barlaam Kossovsky, the Bishop of Irkutsk from 1706. He lived in Irkutsk until 1714, when he returned to Moscow, and he was soon appointed to the archiepiscopal cathedra of Tver. Theodore’s second tenure in the Siberian Diocese lasted for five years. 1720, at his own request, Tsar Peter I sent him a letter granting him retirement, in which he gave thanks to the holy hierarch of God for his zealous pastoral service, especially for his tireless and successful work in the missionary field. addition, the archpastor received a retirement pension: 200 rubles in cash, 50 quarters of bread (3000 bushels of grain) per year. exhausted hierarch settled in the Tyumen monastery which he himself had built. May 31, 1727, he reposed at the age of 76, among the brethren and children of the newly-baptized. by his portraits, Metropolitan Philotheos was tall, lean, with a long nose, and gray hair. to his character, in the words of the Siberian Chronicle of Cherepanov, “he was quiet, very indulgent to all, and had very little vanity.” life was most active and simple; in the summertime, he often used to go on foot to Tobolsk to the Ivanov monastery and fished there in the Shantalyne River. alone, he taught the children of the newly-baptized to read, write, and sing in his leisure hours. of them lived in his cell. he composed Church hymns; example - the Troparion and Kontakion of the wonderworker Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye (December 18), a Canon to the martyr Basil of Mangazea (March 23),2 and others, as well as poems of religious content. his own hand, he wrote many of the documents which he issued, especially those concerning the newly-baptized, or pertaining to the episcopal estates. only the residents of Tyumen, but also those from other places in Siberia, visit the grave of the pious archpastor with reverence and offer memorial services for him.3 the Russian Revolution, his relics were secretly reburied. On October 21, 2006, the incorrupt relics of Saint Philotheos were found in Tyumen in the Ascension-Saint George Church. Philotheos is commemorated on May 31, and also on June 10, the Synaxis of Siberian saints. 1 A yurt was a sort of tepee made from animal skins. 2 See Orthodox Life # 2, 1972. 3 Source: The Russian Pilgrim, 1900 (Русский Паломник, 1900 г.)

Russia, Siberia, 1684-1686, Chinese Invasions of Albazin and Amur River
Siberia, Chinese Invasions of Albazin (1684-1686) ; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made Flesh, Commemorated on March 9; Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, 1685-1686, Defense of Albazin
Defense of Albazin (1685-1686); Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, 1700-1731, Priest, Innocent of Irkutsk
Moscow, 1700-1731, Priest, Innocent of Irkutsk; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on November 26; Uncovering of the relics of St Innocent the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on February 9;

Russia, Siberia, 1724-1771, Sophronius, Irkutsk, Siberian Wonderworker, trustworthy workers from Ukraine. stable S culture
Russia, Siberia, 1724-1771, Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk and Wonderworker of all Siberia, Siberia (Angara River 1, Lake Baikal, Trans-Siberian Road 14), from Little Russia aka Ukraine, Pereyaslavl, U, Kiev T A, Krasnogorsk M, heard voice, build All Saints Church, Bishop of Irkutsk but back to Kiev to get trustworthy workers, developed stable local culture ; Irkutsk; St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on March 30; Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk and Wonderworker of all Siberia, whose family name was Kristalevsky, was born in Malorussia in the Chernigov region in 1704. His father, Nazarius, was “a common man in his affairs,” and the saint was named Stephen, in honor of the protomartyr Saint Stephen. He had two brothers and a sister, Pelagia. The name of one brother was Paul. The name of the other older brother is unknown, but it is said that he was head of the Krasnogorsk Zolotonosh monastery. ’s childhood years were spent in the settlement of Berezan in the Pereyaslavl district of the Poltava governance, where the family settled after the father was discharged from service. he came of age, Stephen entered the Kiev Theological Academy, where two other future hierarchs were studying: Joasaph, future Bishop of Belgorod (September 4 and December 10), and Paul, future Metropolitan of Tobolsk (June 10 and November 4). completing his religious education, Stephen entered the Krasnogorsk Transfiguration monastery [later renamed the Protection monastery. In 1789, it was transformed into a women’s monastery], where his elder brother already labored in asceticism. On April 23, 1730 he received monastic tonsure with the name of Sophronius, in honor of Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem (March 11). the night after his monastic tonsure, Saint Sophronius heard a Voice in the Protection church predicting his future service: “When you become bishop, build a church dedicated to All Saints.” 1732, he was summoned to Kiev. There he was ordained hierodeacon, and then hieromonk in the cathedral of Holy Wisdom. After Saint Sophronius had been a monk for two years, he became treasurer of the Zolotonosh monastery for two years, and then His Grace Bishop Arsenius (Berlov) of the Pereyaslavl diocese sent him into the house of his archbishop, where he was steward for eight years. facts testify to the connections of the saint with his original Protection monastery. During his obedience under the presiding hierarch at Pereyaslavl, he often visited his monastery, spending the day in quiet contemplation and work, serving as an example to the brethren. Hieromonk Sophronius traveled to the Holy Synod on behalf of his bishop, they paid close attention to him. In January 1742, the future saint was transferred to the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Peterburg, the foremost monastery of the capital. A year later he was appointed treasurer of the monastery, and in 1746 he was appointed as Superior of the monastery. summoned his fellow countryman, the hieromonk Sinesios (Ivanoff), a native of the city of Priluki, and made him igumen of the Saint Sergius Hermitage, a dependancy of Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra. From this time the friendship of the two ascetics, hieromonk Sophronius and hieromonk Sinesios, was strengthened by their joint pastoral effort, and they were inseparable until they died in Siberia. these years Saint Sophronius worked hard at managing the monastery and improvement of teaching at the seminary located nearby. He and Archbishop Theodosius made it their task to acquire more books for the monastic library. Sophronius built a two storey church: the upper church was dedicated to Saint Theodore, the older brother of Saint Alexander Nevsky; and the lower to Saint John Chrysostom. Innocent II (Nerunovich) of Irkutsk died in 1747. For six years afterwards, the Irkutsk diocese remained without a spiritual head. on February 23, 1753, the empress Elizabeth (1741-1761) recommended the pious Igumen Sophronius of the Alexander Nevsky monastery to the Holy Synod as “a person, not only worthy of episcopal rank, but also someone completely able to fulfill the wishes and the hopes of the state and the Synod, and take up the burden of episcopal service on the far frontier and satisfy the needs of his flock in that harsh land, among wild primitives and lawless people.” April 18, 1753, Thomas Sunday, Hieromonk Sophronius was consecrated Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk in the Dormition cathedral. difficult service on the distant Siberian frontier, the new bishop did not immediately travel to the Irkutsk eparchy, but rather began to gather educated and spiritually experienced co-workers. During this period Saint Sophronius visited at his original Krasnogorsk monastery. At the holy places of Kiev, he also sought the blessings of the Kiev Caves Saints for his service. The constant companion of the saint, as had been before, was the hieromonk Sinesios, sharing in his friend’s work. Moscow, Archbishop Platon of Moscow and Sevsk provided him with further assistance. He gave him fatherly advice for his task, since he was quite familiar with the peculiarities of the Siberian religious life. He forewarned him about the self-willed local authorities, and advised him to surround himself with trustworthy helpers. March 20, 1754 the saint arrived at Irkutsk. He went first to the Ascension monastery, his predecessor’s residence, and prayed at the grave of Bishop Innocent (Kulchitz), asking his blessing as he took up his assignment. himself with the state of affairs in the diocese, the saint began the reorganization of the Spiritual consistory, monasteries and parishes, and appealed to the Holy Synod to send worthy men to the Irkutsk eparchy for priestly service. the arrival of Saint Sophronius, the Irkutsk monasteries had already a century-old history. The founders of these monasteries were motivated by a fervent desire for monastic life. The wise hierarch appointed people of piety, wisdom, virtue, and with great experience both of life and spiritual matters as heads of the monastic communities. In 1754, Bishop Sophronius elevated his friend and companion Hieromonk Sinesios to be Archimandrite of Ascension monastery. He served the monastery for thirty-three years until his blessed repose. September 1754, the bishop issued a decree in which he expressed concern for the education and upbringing of the children of the clergy. He wanted them to learn the HOROLOGION, the PSALTER, singing and letters, and this instruction “ought to be conducted with all industriousness and the utmost diligence, so that the children might be able to fulfill the responsibilities of sacristan and deacon.” both people and circumstances, the bishop in his sermons and conversations exhorted all to a higher moral ideal. He devoted particular attention to the reverent and correct performance of the divine services and the Holy Mysteries, and he also looked after the moral purity of laymen. He was concerned about the position of women in the family, and defended them against their unjust inequality. The bishop attempted to set straight the Rule of divine services, and so he summoned priests, deacons, subdeacons and sacristans, and those who sang in the choir during services. about the diocese, the saint noticed that censing and the ringing of bells were not being done properly in all places, and therefore he issued a decree restoring the proper way of censing and bell-ringing. to apostolic service in this frontier region, Saint Sophronius realized that his duty was to enlighten the Christians of the area, and also to convert the idol-worshippers, who were very numerous in Siberia. was difficult to bring pagans to the Church of Christ, especially because sometimes there was no one to serve in the churches, and to borrow priests for missionary activity only made matters worse. Knowing that the Church services would have a salutary effect on non-Russians, the saint not only served with reverence himself, but also required it of all his clergy. Sophronius also contributed to the development of a stable culture among the local people. He offered them monastic lands for settlements and in every way he endeavored to isolate them from the influence of paganism. A constant throng of visitors came from faraway places for his blessing. with his many cares, he did not forget his own spiritual life and eternity. He also led an ascetical life. His cell-attendant said that the saint “used simple food in small quantities. He served often, spent the greater part of the night at prayer, sleeping on the floor under a sheepskin or a fur, a deerskin or bear hide, and a small simple pillow.” spirit of his ascetic life fit in with the general uplifting of the Christian spirit in Russia after the glorification of Saint Demetrius of Rostov (September 21), Theodosius of Chernigov (September 9), and the uncovering of the incorrupt relics of his predecessor, Saint Innocent of Irkutsk (February 9). This event inspired Saint Sophronius to greater efforts and encouraged him to ask for the help of Saint Innocent in his task of building up the diocese. the end of his days Saint Sophronius kept his love for the Krasnogor Zolotonosh monastery, which had nurtured him in the days of his youth. He constantly contributed support for its upkeep, sending the necessary means for this. a deterioration in his health, Saint Sophronius petitioned the Holy Synod to let him retire. The answer from Peterburg did not come right away, since it was difficult to choose a worthy successor. final days of Saint Sophronius’s life were spent in asceticism and prayer. light, which shone on the good deeds of Saint Sophronius, continues to the present time to testify to the glory of the Heavenly Father, “Who mercifully strengthens His saints.” Now the holy memory of Saint Sophronius is reverently preserved not only in Siberia at the place of his final deeds, but also at the place of his first deeds. Sophronius is also commemorated on June 30 (his glorification in 1918).

Russia, Serbia, 1804-1840, Meletius oKharkov, interest in Iinstitutions of spiritual learning &clergy education &Siberia
Mongol, Scythia, 1804-1840, Meletius, Archbishop Kharkov, Scythia (High Point, Source of 3 Rivers, Seversky Donets River1), from Poltava, 1808 top student in Ekaterinoslav Seminary, to Nevsky Spiritual Academy, 1814 Greek Professor, 1817 Sec Academy Building Committee and transferred to Kiev Religious Seminary, inspector, Greek & C History P, 1819 Kiev Spiritual Academy first inspector, 1820 tonsured Monk Meletios, deacon, Hiermnk, 1821 rector Mogilevsk Seminary & head Khutynsk Orshansk M & Archimandrite. 1823 rector Pskov Seminary, 1824 rector Kiev S Academy, 1826 Bishop oChigrinsk, vicar Kiev Diocese, & head Zlatoverkh Mikhailov Monastery. True ascetic, 1828 Perm Cathedral, strict, Ordinand's Catechism, 1831 Archbishop oIrkutsk, all over Siberia, tTungus, tBuryats, tKamchadali, tKurile&Aleutian Islands, 1835 health transfer to Kharkov, 1840 repose; Kharkov governance; Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk, Commemorated on February 12; Meletios, Archbishop of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk (in the world Michael Ivanovich Leontovich), was born on November 6, 1784 in the village of Stara Stanzhara in the Poltava district. 1808 Michael Leontovich successfully completed the Ekaterinoslav religious Seminary. Since he was the best student, Archbishop Platon of Ekterinoslav sent him to Peterburg, to the Saint Alexander Nevsky Spiritual Academy.1 Graduating in 1814 with a Master's Degree, he was appointed as adjunct professor of Greek. March 11, 1817 they appointed Michael Leontovich as Secretary of the Academy Building Committee. July 30, 1817 he was transferred to the Kiev religious Seminary, serving in the position of Inspector, as well as Professor of Church History and Greek. When the Kiev Spiritual Academy opened on September 28, 1819, Michael became its first Inspector. February 11, 1820, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Meletios of Antioch, he was tonsured as a monk with the name Meletios, in the kathoikon of the Kiev-Bratsk Monastery, tonsure was done by Metropolitan Eugene (Bolkhovitnikov). of Kiev. On February 22, 1820 the Monk Meletios was ordained to the diaconate by Metropolitan Eugene, and then as a Hieromonk on February 25. August 9, 1821 Hieromonk Meletios was appointed as Rector of the Mogilevsk religious Seminary and head of the Khutynsk Orshansk Monastery, and raised to the dignity of Archimandrite. August 1823 he was appointed as Rector of the Pskov religious Seminary. January 24,1824 Archimandrite Meletios was appointed as Rector of the Kiev Spiritual Academy. October 1826 the Holy Synod decided to name Archimandrite Meletios as Bishop of Chigirinsk, a vicar of the Kiev Diocese, and head of the Zlatoverkh Mikhailov Monastery. October 19, 1826 he was elected as bishop, and on October 21, 1826 his consecration took place at Kiev's Holy Wisdom cathedral. paternal love, the Saint concerned himself with young foster-children, raising them in a spirit of devotion to the Church of Christ. paid particular attention to the needy, widows, and orphans. often visited those in prison and provided them the consolation of Divine Services in the prison churches. was also concerned about the spiritual nourishment of the brethren of the Mikhailov Monastery. his edifying discourses and personal example, he inspired the monks with the spirit of true asceticism. Meletios said: "Humility is a protective sword, by which we pass over earth and Hades, to reach Heaven." April 1828 Saint Meletios was transferred to the cathedral in Perm. with himself, the Saint was also strict with others. To prepare candidates for accepting of the dignity of the priesthood, Saint Meletios himself wrote the so‑called "Ordinand's Catechism". 1831 Vladika was transferred to the See of Irkutsk, and elevated to the rank of Archbishop. Meletios devoted much attention to the enlightenment of the lesser nations of Russia with the light of the Gospel. founded churches in the north of Kamchatka, in the northeast parts of the Irkutsk Diocese and along the Aldan River, on the tract from Yakutsk to Okhotsk. often reviewed his wide-spread Diocese, going to the shores of the Okhotsk and Arctic Seas, to the boundaries of North America, where Father John Veniaminov, the reknowned Apostle of Siberia (later known as Saint Innocent), the Apostle to America was.2 through Siberia and along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Saint Meletios frequently interacted with the native peoples who professed Lamaism. Gently, he urged them to abandon their errors, and explained the Gospel truths to these pagan peoples: Tungus, the Buryats, the Kamchadali, and also the inhabitants of the Kurile and Aleutian Islands. of his tireless labors, Vladika's health began to deteriorate, and they transferred him to the Slobodsk-Ukraine See (later the See of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk) in 1835. Meletios showed great interest in the institutions of spiritual learning, concerning himself with the life and education of the clergy. Archbishop raised questions about reopening the monasteries and spiritual schools which Empress Catherine II had closed. He also devoted much labor to the struggle with the schismatics. July 2, 1839 Saint Meletios led the service in the city of Akhtyrsk for the tenth anniversary of the appearance of the wonderworking Akhtyrsk Icon of the Mother of God. Saint's blessed repose occurred on the night of February 29, 1840. After receiving Holy Communion, he made the Sign of the Cross, and then he turned to everyone to say, "Forgive me." With those words, he departed to the Lord. March 4, 1840 Saint Meletios was buried by Bishop Iliodore of Kursk, in a crypt beneath the Church of the Cross at the Protection Monastery. after his death, believers had great faith in the powerful intercession of Saint Meletios with God, and they received healing in sicknesses, comfort in sorrows, and deliverance from difficult circumstances. Believers in Khar'kov placed their trust in Saint Meletios during the terrible days of World War II. With miraculous advice, the Saint foretold the impending deliverance of the city from the enemy. 1948, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexei, the coffin with the relics of Saint Meletios was transferred to the cathedral of the Annunciation. February 21, 1978, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church "approved and blessed a Church Service and an Akathist to Saint Meletios, Archbishop of Khar'kov and Akhtyrsk," for use in all churches of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Service and Akathist to the holy Archpastor was composed by Archbishop Νikόdēmos of Khar'kov (later Metropolitan of Leningrad). shrine containing the Saint's relics, from which believers receive grace-filled help, the healing of ailments of the soul and body is located in the left (northern) aisle of the cathedral. Meletios is commemorated on February 12 (his Name Day) and on February 29 (the day of his repose).3

Russia, Siberia, 1805, Innocent Incorrupt Relics, Irkutsk, Siberia, body discovered 1764, many miracles, glorified 1800
Russia, Siberia, 1805, Innocent Incorrupt Relics, Irkutsk, Siberia, incorrupt body discovered 1764, many miracles, glorified 1800, uncovered 1805; Irkutsk; Uncovering of the relics of St Innocent the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on February 9; 1764, the body of Saint Innocent of Irkutsk was discovered incorrupt during restoration work on the Ascension monastery’s Tikhvin church. Many miracles occurred not only at Irkutsk, but also in remote places of Siberia, for those who flocked to the saint with prayer. This moved the Most Holy Synod to uncover the relics and to glorify the saint in the year 1800. 1804, a feastday was established to celebrate his memory throughout all Russia on November 26, since the Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” is commemorated on the actual day of his repose (November 27). Today we commemorate the uncovering of his relics in 1805.

Russia, Siberia, 1817-1879, St Innocent, Moscow Metropolitan of Moscow& Aleut Enlightener, Apostle to t Americas, m more
Russia, Siberia, 1817-1879, St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Irkutsk, Siberia (Angara River 1, Lake Baikal, Trans-Siberian Road 14), early age mastery studies, from 1823 45 yrs missionary, 10,000 baptized, endless travels, geography, ethnography, linguistics, Aleut alphabet & grammar for catechism, Gospel & prayers, indication of way into heaven, 1840 became monk Innocent and Bishop, 1850 archbishop, 1868 Metropolitan of Moscow, organized missionary service, 1870 Japanese Spiritual Mission, Moscow Spiritual Academy; Irkutsk; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on October 6 ; Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to America (in the world John Popov-Veniaminov), born on August 26, 1797 in the village of Anginsk in the Irkutsk diocese, into the family of a sacristan. boy mastered his studies at an early age and by age seven, he was reading the Epistle in church. 1806 they sent him to the Irkutsk seminary. 1814, the new rector thought it proper to change the surnames of some of the students. John Popov received the surname Veniaminov in honor of the deceased Archbishop Benjamin of Irkutsk (+ July 8, 1814). May 13, 1817 he was ordained deacon for the Irkutsk Annunciation church, and on May 18, 1821, he was ordained priest. missionary service of the future Apostle of America and Siberia began with the year 1823. John spent 45 years laboring for the enlightenment of the peoples of Kamchatka, the Aleutian Islands, North America, Yakutsk, the Khabarov frontier, his apostolic exploit in severe conditions and at great risks to life. Innocent baptized ten thousand people, and built churches, beside which he founded schools and he himself taught the fundamentals of the Christian life. knowledge of various crafts and arts aided him in his work. John was a remarkable preacher. During the celebration of the Liturgy, memorial services and the all-night Vigil, he incessantly guided his flock. his time of endless travels, Father John studied the languages, customs and habits of the peoples, among whom he preached. work in geography, ethnography and linguistics received worldwide acclaim. composed an alphabet and grammar for the Aleut language and translated the Catechism, the Gospel and many prayers into that language. of the finest of his works was the Indication of the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven (1833), translated into the various languages of the peoples of Siberia and appearing in more than 40 editions. to the toil of Father John, the Yakut people in 1859 first heard the Word of God and divine services in their own native language. November 29, 1840, after the death of his wife, Father John was tonsured a monk with the name Innocent by Saint Philaret, the Metropolitan of Moscow, in honor of Saint Innocent of Irkutsk. December 15, Archimandrite Innocent was consecrated Bishop of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutian Islands. April 21, 1850 Bishop Innocent was elevated to the rank of archbishop. the Providence of God on January 5, 1868, Saint Innocent succeeded Metropolitan Philaret on the Moscow cathedra. the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Innocent consolidated the secular missionary efforts of the Russian Church (already in 1839 he had proposed a project for improving the organization of missionary service). the care of Metropolitan Innocent a Missionary Society was created, the Protection monastery was reorganized for missionary work. 1870 the Japanese Orthodox Spiritual Mission headed by Archimandrite Nicholas Kasatkin [afterwards Saint Nicholas of Japan, (February 3)] was set up, with whom Saint Innocent had shared much of his own spiritual experience. guidance by Saint Innocent of the Moscow diocese was also fruitful, his efforts, the church of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos was built up into the Moscow Spiritual Academy. Innocent fell asleep in the Lord on March 31, 1879, on Holy Saturday, was buried at the Holy Spirit Church of the Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra. October 6, 1977, Saint Innocent was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church. memory is celebrated three times during the year: on March 31, the day of his blessed repose, on October 5 (Synaxis of the Moscow Hierarchs), and on October 6, the day of his glorification.

Russia, Siberia, 1820-1872, Domna oTomsk, fool fC, tears, continuous prayer, poverty, heat&cold, clairvoyance
Russia, Siberia, 1820-1872, Domna oTomsk (Tom River Mouth, Ob River 5), fool fC, tears, continuous prayer, poverty, heat&cold, clairvoyance; Tomsk; Saint Domna of Tomsk, Commemorated on October 16; holy fool Saint Domna (Karpovna) was born into a noble family the central Ukraine around the beginning of the nineteenth century. at an early age, Saint Domna grew up in her aunt’s house. received an excellent education, and was able to speak several languages. was a beautiful girl, and therefore she had many suitors who hoped to marry her. righteous one, however, desired to preserve her virginity for the Lord’s sake. she discovered that her relatives wished to force her to be married, she left the house in secret, dressed in plain clothing, and she went on pilgrimage to the holy places. Since she had no documents to prove her identity, she was arrested and exiled to Siberia, where she settled in the city of Tomsk. There she undertook the exploit of foolishness for the sake of Christ. Domna had no permanent home, and she often spent her days and nights in the open air. Her clothes consisted of various items in different sizes, which hung from her almost naked body. Bags of all sorts hung from her body, filled with bits of glass, incense, bread, sugar, shoes, ropes, stones, and other things. Saint Domna often counted them instead of the knots on a prayer rope, thereby concealing her unceasing prayer from human sight. When compassionate people gave her coats during the severe winters, she accepted them with gratitude, but a few hours later she would give them to some other beggar, while she continued to suffer from the cold. about the difficult stay of the prisoners in the Tomsk police station, Domna began to walk among them and sing spiritual songs, for which she herself was detained. learning of this, the Tomsk merchants, who revered Domna, carried her loads of cakes, bliny, tea and sugar, which she meted out to the distressed prisoners. the words of Holy Scripture: “A righteous man pities the lives of his animals” (Proverbs 12:10, Septuagint), the saint also took care of stray animals and watchdogs. She often fed them, and she was fond of the dogs, about whom the owners did not care, turning them loose at will. Animals also loved the righteous one and by night a multitude of them surrounded her. But even among dumb animals Domna Karpovna did not forget about God. The residents of Tomsk, amid the howling of dogs, often heard her prayer in the darkness: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” blessed one prayed intensely and fervently in the temple, but only when there were just a few people present. One eyewitness described her prayer: “Once I glanced into the side chapel of the church, and there I saw Domna Karpovna, kneeling, and praying. Oh, how she prayed! And the tears, the tears! They flowed from her eyes in two streams.” But as soon as she noticed someone was looking at her, she began to behave like a fool again, moving from place to place, talking, and extinguishing candles. her exploit of foolishness Saint Domna preserved her virginity, voluntarily enduring poverty, suffering from the heat and cold, and putting the sinful passions to death. At the end of her life she received the gift of clairvoyance from the Lord, which served for the spiritual benefit of others. She surrendered her soul to God on October 16, 1872, and she was buried in the convent of Saint John the Baptist in Tomsk. Church of Russia glorified Saint Domna in 1984. She is also commemorated on June 10, the Synaxis of All Saints of Siberia. Some sources give December 16 as the day of her repose. Today, not far from Saint Domna’s burial place, a chapel was built and dedicated to her.

Russia, Serbia, 1855-1900, Meletios, Siberian Missionary Bishop, Translator, Muslim converter gRelics, Great Story
Russia, Ryazan, 1855-1900, Meletios, Bishop of Ryazan (Oka River 9), 35 yrs missionary in Eastern Siberia before Ryazan, Buryats, Tungus, and Yakuts, 1896 Bishop Ryazan, c missionary w, from Viatka D, b 1835, PKid, father died, destitute, but top student, but attracted to solitude, wanted acceptance as monk (tonsure) but appointed teacher, 1858 Kazan Academy, 1859 finally tonsured as Melitos, 1859 Deacon, 1862 tPosolsk M at Baikal by Synod directive, Baptism of many natives, building of churches, establishing villages (most of them were nomadic or semi-nomadic), 1862 Priesthood, 1873 friend Archbishop Benjamin t Irkutsk mission, 1874 tArchimandrite otNilov Hermitage itSayansk Mountains, important translation work at Kazan till 1875, 1888-1896 Bishop of Ikursk &Misionary territories East LBaikal, 1896 Bisho oRyazan, Writer, Converted Moslems Ryazan; Saint Meletios, Bishop of Ryazan, Commemorated on January 14; Meletios, one of the last preachers of the Holy Gospel to the people of Siberia with all the self-denial of a true missionary, reposed on January 14, 1900. spent nearly thirty-five years of ascetic labors in eastern Siberia, spreading the light of Christ among the native Buryats, Tungus, and Yakuts. 1896, he was consecrated as Bishop of Ryazan, where he continued his missionary work until the last days of his truly ascetical life. Meletios (Michael Koz’mich Yakimov in the world) was from the Viatka Diocese, and he was born on October 29, 1835, the son of a village priest. His father died when Michael was just a year old, leaving his wife to take care of the children in great poverty. the family’s destitution and Michael’s poor health, he successfully completed his primary and secondary schooling, and as one of the best students in the seminary, he was able to continue his education at the Academy. then, his soul was attracted to solitude. graduating from seminary, Michael spoke to the rector, Archimandrite Ambrose, the Igoumen of the Dormition Monastery, asking to be accepted into the monastery, and to be tonsured. request was not fully granted, however. He was received into the monastery, but was not tonsured. Here, he fulfilled the obediences of preaching and working in the library. Later, he was appointed as a teacher of Church History and Church singing in the primary school in Viatka. later, he was asked to supervise the students who lived in the monastery. He remained in the humble position of a young novice for a year. August of 1858 he entered the Kazan Academy, and on February 1, 1859 he was tonsured with the name Meletios in honor of Saint Meletios of Antioch (February 12). On March 16, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Νikόdēmos. a Synodal ukaz, he was sent to the Posol’sk Monastery of the Savior at Lake Baikal in the Diocese of Irkutsk (southeastern Siberia). arrived at the monastery on June 23, 1862 and began his beneficial work among the Buryats at once. resulted in the Baptism of many natives, the building of churches, and establishing villages for the newly-baptized (most of them were nomadic or semi-nomadic). In December of that same year, Deacon Meletios was ordained to the holy priesthood. this time Father Meletios became the close friend of Vicar Bishop Benjamin of Selengin (later Archbishop of Irkutsk), and this friendship endured for the rest of their lives. Meletios’s work took him from place to place on the very borders of Mongolia. did not remain there long, however. On August 30, 1873 Archbishop Benjamin placed him in charge of the Irkutsk mission, on February 2, 1874 he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite of the Nilov Hermitage in the Sayansk Mountains. that time, his missionary work expanded a great deal, and even more so when he went to Kazan to learn the methods for translating Christian books into the native languages. his stay outside the mission, he visited his family in Viatka Province, visiting his mother and his brother, who was a priest in the village of Verkhovskoy, Nolinsky district, and made a pilgrimage in Moscow and Kiev. lived in Kazan until May 1875. his relationship with Professor Nicholas I. Il’minsky (1822-1891) and his assistants had great significance for the Saint’s future missionary work. the work of translating Christian teachings into spoken Buryat, Father Meletios was helped by the Buryat Jacob Chistokhin, his cell attendant (later a missionary of the Tunkinsky Territory). first book in the Buryat language was published at Kazan: “Teaching the newly-baptized about the Holy Christian Faith” (Поучение к новокрещёным о святой христианской вере). was a very important step, which led to the success of the work of evangelizing the natives during the five years that Archimandrite Meletios was in charge of the mission, and 11,000 natives were baptized. labors increased after his consecration as Vicar Bishop of the Irkutsk Diocese (1888-1896), and he was appointed to oversee the missionary territory east of Lake Baikal. regional city of Chita (Чита) became the center from which the missionary bishop went all around Lake Baikal, in 1881 (which was the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Trans-Baikal mission by the missionaries Theodosios and Makarios). went around preaching the Word of God throughout Trans-Baikal, enlightening his flock and shaping the churchly and secular lives of the newly- baptized in order to integrate them into the permanent Russian population. Meletios founded the Church Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodios, and of Saint Innocent of Irkutsk in Chita, in order to reinforce the spread of Christianity in his flock. did everything possible to strengthen his spiritual children by starting church schools. result of these measures while he was the head of the Eastern Baikal Mission was the conversion of some 4000 natives to Christianity from shamanism, and Lamaites.1 July 5, 1889 he was appointed Bishop of Yakutsk and arrived there on September 16. Diocese of Yakutsk previously had a worthy missionary bishop named Dionysios, who later became Bishop of Ufa. He may certainly be called the Apostle to the Yakuts. the first year in his new Diocese, Saint Meletios employed the methods he had learned from experience in his new territory. year he would inspect different sections of his vast Diocese. Although there were no roads, he covered tens of thousands of miles in one trip. built churches, and found generous donors for this purpose. his journeys he consecrated many of these churches himself, and organized church schools for them. the end of 1889, there were 77 churches in his Diocese, and 118 chapels. 1895, there were nine stone churches, 214 wooden churches, chapels, and houses of prayer. Later, the number of churches and schools increased. looking for ways to support the schools, Bishop Meletios requested and obtained an annual allowance of 6000 rubles, paid to him by the Department of Revenue. 1892, he organized the Church Brotherhood of Christ the Savior. was another aspect to his missionary work at Yakutsk, he was the first person to reduce and help to eradicate leprosy among his flock. 1890 there was an article in the Yakutsk Diocesan Journal # 17, entitled “Leprosy in the Vilyusk Region.” The following year, Miss Marsden, who was an English nurse, came to the region, and worked very hard to help those who were sick. Meletios was so energetic in his efforts to help her that he received a letter of thanks from the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury. to say, his flock was most grateful to him for this. Therefore, when he left to go to the Diocese of Riazan, his farewell was exceptionally warm. Seldom has a bishop received such a farewell. October 14, 1896 he was named Bishop of Ryazan and Zaraysk. On November 27, he left Yakutsk and arrived in Ryazan on February 17, 1897. was no wonder that his flock at Riazan awaited their new Archpastor with great enthusiasm and expectation, since they knew of his past life of asceticism and missionary activity, and they were not disappointed in their expectations. This kindly hierarch, who demanded much of himself, yet was condescending to the weakness of others, was an excellent preacher and a true missionary. He left behind a vast legacy of good deeds which caused him to be remembered by the people of Ryazan. Also in 1897, he was made an honorary member of the Kazan Theological Academy. missionary activities in Siberia had a profound influence on his labors in his new Diocese. In the Diocese of Ryazan there were many Old Ritualists, and even Moslems. Bishop Meletios revived the mission to the Mohammedans, he also wrote a great deal. He published many of his sermons, missionary notes, and reports about the Eastern Baikal and Irkutsk missions. He also contributed many historical articles to various Orthodox journals, all for the sake of his missionary work, and not for personal gain. All of his articles came from his apostolic spirit and his character, which were revealed in all the places where he labored for the glory of God. his thirty-five years of missionary work, he was known as the “Apostle to the Yakuts, and Enlightener of the Gentiles in Siberia and Asia.” Meletios reposed on January 14, 1900, and was buried in the Cathedral of the Ryazan Kremlin. Saint Meletios was included in the Synaxis of the Siberian Saints in 1983. Lord Himself decided to glorify the relics of His saint: almost a hundred years after his repose his holy relics were found on June 18, 1998 in the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of the Ryazan Kremlin, on the eve of the celebration of the Synaxis of the Ryazan Saints and the Synaxis of the Siberian Saints, and the eve of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the Ryazan Diocese. On September 18, 1998, his relics were transferred to Ryazan’s Trinity Monastery. the course of 35 years of work in this field, he was called “The Apostle of the Yakuts and the Enlightener of the Pagans in Siberia and Asia.“ These were natives from southeastern Siberia, in the area near Tibet, who acknowledged the spiritual authority of the Dalai Lama.

Russia, Siberia, 1889-1916, Grigori Rasputin
Russia, Moscow, 1889-1916, Grigori Rasputin; St. Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and Gallich, Commemorated on January 25;

Russia, Siberia, 1904, 1905, Russo-Japanese War of 1904, 1905
Siberia, Russo-Japanese war in 1904, 1905; Liaodong Peninsula; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Siberia, 1904-1905, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905
Siberia, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905; Port Arthur (Lushunkou District) ; Liaodong Peninsula; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan Folder

Kazakhastan (Polovetsia)
Kazakhastan; Kazakh Steppe; Polovets, first encounter with the Mongol-Tartan Horde; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Zosimas of Tuman, Commemorated August 8 ; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on September 12; Blessed David IV the King of Georgia, Commemorated January 26 ; Right-believing George the Great Prince of Vladimir, Commemorated on February 4; Venerable Polycarp of Briansk, Commemorated February 23 ; Right-believing Prince Basil (Vasilko) of Rostov, Commemorated on March 4; In 1223 the first Tatars (Mongols) appeared on the southern steppes, ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Âœan unknown peopleÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, coming out of Asia. Their first victims were the Polovetsians allied with Rus. The Russian princes, with the Polovetsian khans (many of whom had accepted Holy Baptism), decided to resist the plunderers of the steppes before they reached the Russian Land. St Basil headed an auxiliary detachment, sent by Great Prince Yuri to participate in the Russian steppe campaign. The enemy showed up sooner than they expected. And the centuries-old division of appenage principalities proved incapable of effective action in a large scale war. The detachment of Basil was not in time for the decisive battle, and from Chernigov came the sad news of the destruction of the Russian forces at the River Kalka on June 16, 1223. This was a bad omen, and the storm loomed on the east. Basil and his company returned to Rostov.; Martyr Peter of Kazan, Commemorated on March 24; Martyr Stephen of Kazan, Commemorated on March 24; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk, Commemorated on May 27 ; St Jonah the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on June 6;

Kazak Steppe
Kazak Steppe; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on September 12; Right-believing Prince Basil (Vasilko) of Rostov, Commemorated on March 4;

Kazakhastan, Land of the Seljuk Turks (Kazakhstan)
Land of the Seljuk Turks ; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on September 12;

Russia, Siberia, Kazakhastan History

Mongol Horde, 1225-1241 (Mongol Origins of the Golden Horde)
Mongol Horde, 1225-1241 (Mongol Origins of the Golden Horde); Right-believing Prince Basil of Yaroslavl, Commemorated on July 3;

Tokhtamysh Invasions of Russia 1382
Invasions of Russia 1382 by Tokhtamysh , ally and foe of Tammerlane (Timur) ; St Eudokia, in Monasticism Euphrosyne, the Grand Duchess of Moscow, Commemorated on July 7 ;

Russia, Siberia, Kazakhastan, 1671-1727, Philotheos oTobolsk, enlightener oSiberia, great admin &successful apostle, 400,000 C
Russia, Siberia, 1671-1727, Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, K., Capital of Siberia (Tobol Mouth at Irtysh River 11), enlightener oSiberia, 1702 Met oS, more extensive tToday, 1st centures example Spiritual Council, pastoral rules&instructions, more churches&pastors wBetter living conditions, widespread education, he funded Slavic-Russian school at Bishoprick, progenitor all Tobolsk schools, fOnly 160C t448 Churches&37Monasteries, renovations fBeauty, stopped supporting congregational Churches, cathedral choir fExiled Little Russians, pastoral success after he quit Met job & focused apostolic, began fKamchatka 1705, mObstacles, 1707 Ostyaks oBerezovsky, then Mongolia high priest Buddhists aKhalkhas, successful among Ostyaks, Voguls, other Siberian aliens, constant journeys among savages, teaching Samoyeds, Voguls, Ostyaks, far north churches Kyrgyz iAltai, Siberian outskirts Laplanders&Chukchi, baptized 400k foreigners, churches, parishes, cornerstones, not easy, traveling difficulties, muslim resistance, missionaries fled, Met P left alone on shore, bullet through clothing without touching, & danger at Konda, deceived Vogulsky Prince Satyga intended to kill Met P, warmly received S envoys who revealid plot, he sailed to S's camp, some fled but remaining baptized, other benefits to converts-protection, freedom, no head tax, no cart obligation, yasak payment benefits, no insults, Bread &Money distriution, so they loved him, 1711 illness, retired to Tyumen HT Monastery, received schema, as Theodore, even more difficult missionary feats nort of Siberia-1712 tBerezovsky T along Irtysh Ob &Sosve Rivers, supplied by Met John employees, by Prince Gagarin ship, rowers, interpreters, guard, 2000 Rubles, &gifts fNewly-baptized, Peter 1 wanted to destroy idols, proving them worthless, but Met P convinced Ostyaks to do it. 1715 replaced Tobolsk Siberian Met, attention to overseas Beijing Mission from 1714, sent Bishop to Beijing, retured second time 1726, visited Nizovsky T &Obdorsk, retired 1720 and 1726, died 1726, incorrupt relics Tobolsk; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31; Most Reverend hierarch, the renowned Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk, was from a noble, but poor family and received a theological degree at the then famous Kiev Theological Academy. the end of the course, he was ordained as a priest for one of the rural churches, but he was soon widowed. He was tonsured as a monk with the name Philotheos, and joined the brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Siberia Christianity began to spread among the native pagans and Mohammedans from the very conquest of this country by the Russian state (in 1581), conversions of the Siberian non-Russians to faith in Christ were generally insignificant and mostly individual. newly-baptized aliens left their former places of residence and their compatriots and, settling in Russian cities and villages, they entered into the Russian population, their conversion did not influence the masses, who still remained solid pagans or Mohammedans. this was known to the great converter of Russia, Tsar Peter I, who decided to take measures to enlighten the Siberian aliens with the light of Christianity with them their neighbors, the Mongols and Chinese. implement this wise plan, by a decree of June 18, 1700, the Sovereign commanded Metropolitan Barlaam Yasinsky of Kiev to “find” in the Russian cities and monasteries Archimandrites, Igumens, and other monks to occupy the cathedra of Tobolsk, which had remained vacant after Metropolitan Ignatius. He wanted “Pastors who are not only good and adorned with a blameless life, but also scholars who would take with them to Siberia any educated monks who were capable of learning the local languages. God’s help, and with their help, the Metropolitan of Tobolsk could gradually lead the blind inhabitants of Siberia, Mongolia and China, who were stagnating in idolatry, to the knowledge of the true God. ” Barlaam’s choice fell on the Novgorod-Seversk Archimandrite Demetrios Tuptalo, later Saint Demetrios, the wonderworker of Rostov, who was summoned to Moscow in early 1700. On March 23, at the age of 50, he was consecrated as the Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk. Saint Demetrios ruled his Siberian flock for only nine months, but he did not live in Siberia. Saint Demetrios of Rostov was appointed to the Siberian Diocese, primarily for missionary purposes, he refused to go to Siberia for good and was transferred to the cathedra of Rostov. Archimandrite Philotheos Leschinsky was appointed as someone who was well-known for his pious life, high education and energy. He was consecrated as Metropolitan of Siberia and Tobolsk on January 4, 1702. Diocese of Tobolsk and Siberia is extensive today; but in the 17th and early 18th centuries it was incomparably more extensive; borders were then in the north - the Arctic Sea, in the east - the Pacific Ocean, in the south - lands under the Chinese emperor, i.e. Dauria and so on, and the Kirghiz-kaysati steppe, in the west - the Urals and even part of European Russia, to the fortress of Beerskaya and Achitskaya. general, the diocese occupied more than 300,000 square miles, a space in which there are currently more than nine independent dioceses with several vicariates. difficulty of administering such a huge diocese was increased by its complete lack of organization. the new bishop of Siberia, Metropolitan Philotheos, energetically set to work. the very first year of his stay in Siberia he followed the example of the pastors of the first centuries of Christianity, decided to assemble a spiritual council from representatives of the Siberian clergy for the improvement of the Siberian Church. a council took place in Tobolsk in December 1702. It developed a number of rules and instructions to the clergy regarding the streamlining of their pastoral work. the new Metropolitan of Siberia occupied himself with the Tobolsk episcopal residence, multiplying churches in Siberia, increasing the number of clergy, improving their condition, etc. They paid great attention to widespread education, and he first set an example by teaching foreign children in the religious schools he established. order to provide the diocese with good pastors, Metropolitan Philotheos started a “Slavic-Russian” school in the episcopal residence, and paid for it with his own money. became the progenitor of all educational institutions in the city of Tobolsk. also got several learned monks from Kiev as teachers for the school. Metropolitan Philotheos took over the administration of the Tobolsk diocese, there were only 160 churches throughout its vast area. The saint made tremendous efforts to multiply of the churches of God in Siberia, and the Lord blessed these works with success. By the time he left the diocese there were already up to 448 churches and 37 monasteries. new churches, he also took care of maintaining their well-being and beauty: asked the government for permission to renovate some of the monasteries; stopped issuing “wax, incense, and red wine” to the congregational and unpaid churches. the cathedral, permission was given to form a choir of singers from the exiled Little Russians. missionary activity of Metropolitan Philotheos among the Siberian pagans was the main subject of his cares and labors and was crowned with good success, which the archpastor achieved, not during his administration of the diocese, but after his release from it, when he devoted himself entirely to the apostolic ministry. hierarch began his educational activity from Kamchatka, where in 1705 he sent a missionary, Archimandrite Martinian, and after him the missionary monk Ignatius Kozyrevsky, but the preaching of these missionaries was not particularly successful, since the missionaries had to experience many obstacles. hierarch’s second mission was sent in 1707 to the Ostyaks of the Berezovsky Territory, the third to Mongolia, to the Kutuhta (high priest) of the Buddhists, to the town of Khalkhas. preaching of the Tobolsk Metropolitan among the Ostyaks, Voguls and other Siberian aliens was particularly successful. by an insignificant retinue, with the then impossible ways of communication, the ever-memorable missionary spent most of his archpastoral ministry in Siberia in c,onstant journeys among savages, the Samoyeds, Voguls, Ostyaks, building churches in the far north, in the Kyrgyz territory in the Altai, then enlightening the distant sons of the outskirts of Siberia, Laplanders and Chukchi, helping them spiritually and materially. all the time of his archpastoral ministry, he enlightened and baptized up to 400,000 foreigners, to mention how many churches this great architect built across Siberia, how many parishes he founded, how many cornerstones he laid, so to speak, for the spread of Christianity among the pagans. It was not easy for Metropolitan Philotheos. Not to mention the incredible difficulties traveling along the wild outskirts, across steppes and marshes, taiga and northern tundra; not to mention all sorts of hardships associated with traveling under such conditions; the very life of the Metropolitan was repeatedly endangered. he came to the Ostyaks of Burinsky. Those who were invited to be baptized that they were Muslims and no one had the right to baptize them. left him and locked themselves in one large yurt.1 His Eminence nevertheless remained in their territory and from time to time he sent them missionaries who were with him to summon the Ostyaks. same savages, in order to put an end to the matter all at once, according to the suggestion of the Tatar preacher hiding from them, seized their weapons, and fiercely rushed at the Orthodox missionaries. of them was wounded in the head with an arrow, the other in the shoulder, and the third was punctured through and through by their hands. fright, the unarmed Russians all fled from the shore onto the ships. Metropolitan, who was then praying for the restraint of his enemies, was left alone on the shore. the Ostyak foreman Uman fired a rifle at the Metropolitan, but God preserved His Apostle-Preacher. The bullet passed through his clothing without touching his body. another occasion, the Metropolitan was threatened with danger in Konda. he stayed in the Katyshev yurts to rest, a messenger came to him from Vogulsky Prince Satyga inviting him to hasten to the nomad camp because a lot of people had gathered there, desiring to be baptized. fact, as it turned out, Satyga was deceived by a Tatar from Tobolsk, as though the Tsar himself wanted the Metropolitan’s death, and that there would be no punishment for the murderers. intended to kill Philotheos and all those with him. But for now, the Metropolitan avoided danger. ’s envoys were received kindly by the Metropolitan, and after receiving generous gifts, they informed Philotheos of the danger that threatened him. overtook the missionaries, and many advised him to flee to Tobolsk. Some, however, argued that such cowardice would impair the future work of preaching the Word of God. Metropolitan agreed with those who wished to stay, and it was decided to sail down to the nomad camp. was frightened when he learned that his plans were known to the Metropolitan. The intruders fled into the forest, and the remaining Voguls were willingly baptized. Philotheos not only cared about the spiritual enlightenment of the pagans who converted, but he also tried to deliver those or other benefits to the converts in civil matters. his request, those who were persecuted by the unbaptized were protected from being chased by guards; slaves were given their freedom, those who were included in the head tax were exempted from it. was relieved of the obligation to supply carts, received benefits in the payment of the yasak, they were protected from insults and harassment by the Cossacks and minor officials. Metropolitan distributed a significant amount of bread and money to the newly-baptized poor, and, in general, he helped as much as he could, anyway. newly-baptized loved the Metropolitan as a father. When he visited them, they immediately went out to meet him and greeted him with cordiality and pleasure clearly written on their faces; willingly they heeded his instructions, and gave a firm promise to put his advice into practice. general, they accepted the Metropolitan as their benefactor and their protector, as a man sent from God. memory of Metropolitan Philotheos still lives among the aliens who were enlightened by him. For example, the Ostyaks, when they were asked about him, usually said: “He was a kindly old man; the people did not give offense; he loved the Ostyaks very, very much.... ” 1711, Metropolitan Philotheos was relieved of the administration of the diocese “due to illness,” and retired to the Tyumen Holy Trinity Monastery, he received the schema and the name Theodore. Metropolitan did not give up his archiepiscopal cathedra for rest and peace, now that he was burdened with age and illnesses, but for even more difficult feats of missionary work in the harsh north of Siberia. June 1712, Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore, the blessing of the then Siberian archpastor, Metropolitan John Maximovitch (June 10), by his own desire and inclination, and at the suggestion of Prince M. Gagarin, who was then the governor of Siberia, who fulfilled the command of Peter I to begin preaching the Gospel among Siberians, and entered into this apostolic spiritual exploit. that year, the hierarch made his first missionary journey to Berezovsky territory along the rivers Irtysh, Ob and Sosve. John, who ruled the diocese, gave him capable employees, Prince Gagarin supplied him from the treasury with a vessel for sailing, rowers, interpreters of the native languages, a guard for preserving the mission, the sum of 2000 rubles, and various gifts for newly-baptized. to the ukaz of Peter the Great, the evangelizer of Siberia wished to prepare the ground of this field on his previous journey; is, to destroy the pagan places of worship with their idols, and to show the pagans how powerless their imaginary gods are to protect even themselves. the help of God, Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore managed to convince the Ostyaks, who lived near Samarov and in the yurts of Sherkal, to destroy the idols which were especially honored in those districts. June 10, 1715, Metropolitan John Maximovich of Tobolsk reposed, and the aged Metropolitan Schema-monk Theodore was again entrusted with the administration of the Siberian Diocese, he did not stop his favorite missionary activity. Schema-monk Theodore was so fond of the enlightened Ostyaks that, a year before his death, being retired and ill for the second time, the patient visited Nizovsky territory again in 1726 and even reached far off Obdorsk. this was to be the last journey of the ever-memorable hierarch. his second administration of the diocese, Metropolitan Theodore paid attention to the overseas Beijing mission, which from 1714 was headed by Archimandrite Hilarion of Lezhaysk, who was sent to the capital of China by imperial command, under Metropolitan John Maximovich. the death of this Archimandrite, his successor Anthony Platkovsky was appointed head of the mission, and returned to Russia in 1721, according to the suggestion of the Most Reverend Theodore and the Siberian governor, as well as the highest levels of government, it was decided to send a bishop to Beijing. during his first administration of the Tobolsk diocese, he had a vicar bishop, Barlaam Kossovsky, the Bishop of Irkutsk from 1706. He lived in Irkutsk until 1714, when he returned to Moscow, and he was soon appointed to the archiepiscopal cathedra of Tver. Theodore’s second tenure in the Siberian Diocese lasted for five years. 1720, at his own request, Tsar Peter I sent him a letter granting him retirement, in which he gave thanks to the holy hierarch of God for his zealous pastoral service, especially for his tireless and successful work in the missionary field. addition, the archpastor received a retirement pension: 200 rubles in cash, 50 quarters of bread (3000 bushels of grain) per year. exhausted hierarch settled in the Tyumen monastery which he himself had built. May 31, 1727, he reposed at the age of 76, among the brethren and children of the newly-baptized. by his portraits, Metropolitan Philotheos was tall, lean, with a long nose, and gray hair. to his character, in the words of the Siberian Chronicle of Cherepanov, “he was quiet, very indulgent to all, and had very little vanity.” life was most active and simple; in the summertime, he often used to go on foot to Tobolsk to the Ivanov monastery and fished there in the Shantalyne River. alone, he taught the children of the newly-baptized to read, write, and sing in his leisure hours. of them lived in his cell. he composed Church hymns; example - the Troparion and Kontakion of the wonderworker Saint Simeon of Verkhoturye (December 18), a Canon to the martyr Basil of Mangazea (March 23),2 and others, as well as poems of religious content. his own hand, he wrote many of the documents which he issued, especially those concerning the newly-baptized, or pertaining to the episcopal estates. only the residents of Tyumen, but also those from other places in Siberia, visit the grave of the pious archpastor with reverence and offer memorial services for him.3 the Russian Revolution, his relics were secretly reburied. On October 21, 2006, the incorrupt relics of Saint Philotheos were found in Tyumen in the Ascension-Saint George Church. Philotheos is commemorated on May 31, and also on June 10, the Synaxis of Siberian saints. 1 A yurt was a sort of tepee made from animal skins. 2 See Orthodox Life # 2, 1972. 3 Source: The Russian Pilgrim, 1900 (Русский Паломник, 1900 г.)

Russia, Siberia, Kazakhastan, 1820-1872, Domna oTomsk, fool fC, tears, continuous prayer, poverty, heat&cold, clairvoyance
Russia, Siberia, 1820-1872, Domna oTomsk (Tom River Mouth, Ob River 5), fool fC, tears, continuous prayer, poverty, heat&cold, clairvoyance; Tomsk; Saint Domna of Tomsk, Commemorated on October 16; holy fool Saint Domna (Karpovna) was born into a noble family the central Ukraine around the beginning of the nineteenth century. at an early age, Saint Domna grew up in her aunt’s house. received an excellent education, and was able to speak several languages. was a beautiful girl, and therefore she had many suitors who hoped to marry her. righteous one, however, desired to preserve her virginity for the Lord’s sake. she discovered that her relatives wished to force her to be married, she left the house in secret, dressed in plain clothing, and she went on pilgrimage to the holy places. Since she had no documents to prove her identity, she was arrested and exiled to Siberia, where she settled in the city of Tomsk. There she undertook the exploit of foolishness for the sake of Christ. Domna had no permanent home, and she often spent her days and nights in the open air. Her clothes consisted of various items in different sizes, which hung from her almost naked body. Bags of all sorts hung from her body, filled with bits of glass, incense, bread, sugar, shoes, ropes, stones, and other things. Saint Domna often counted them instead of the knots on a prayer rope, thereby concealing her unceasing prayer from human sight. When compassionate people gave her coats during the severe winters, she accepted them with gratitude, but a few hours later she would give them to some other beggar, while she continued to suffer from the cold. about the difficult stay of the prisoners in the Tomsk police station, Domna began to walk among them and sing spiritual songs, for which she herself was detained. learning of this, the Tomsk merchants, who revered Domna, carried her loads of cakes, bliny, tea and sugar, which she meted out to the distressed prisoners. the words of Holy Scripture: “A righteous man pities the lives of his animals” (Proverbs 12:10, Septuagint), the saint also took care of stray animals and watchdogs. She often fed them, and she was fond of the dogs, about whom the owners did not care, turning them loose at will. Animals also loved the righteous one and by night a multitude of them surrounded her. But even among dumb animals Domna Karpovna did not forget about God. The residents of Tomsk, amid the howling of dogs, often heard her prayer in the darkness: “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” blessed one prayed intensely and fervently in the temple, but only when there were just a few people present. One eyewitness described her prayer: “Once I glanced into the side chapel of the church, and there I saw Domna Karpovna, kneeling, and praying. Oh, how she prayed! And the tears, the tears! They flowed from her eyes in two streams.” But as soon as she noticed someone was looking at her, she began to behave like a fool again, moving from place to place, talking, and extinguishing candles. her exploit of foolishness Saint Domna preserved her virginity, voluntarily enduring poverty, suffering from the heat and cold, and putting the sinful passions to death. At the end of her life she received the gift of clairvoyance from the Lord, which served for the spiritual benefit of others. She surrendered her soul to God on October 16, 1872, and she was buried in the convent of Saint John the Baptist in Tomsk. Church of Russia glorified Saint Domna in 1984. She is also commemorated on June 10, the Synaxis of All Saints of Siberia. Some sources give December 16 as the day of her repose. Today, not far from Saint Domna’s burial place, a chapel was built and dedicated to her.

Russia, Siberia, 1885-1918, Hieromartyr Basil, Dalmatovo, Dalmation Monastery, Western Siberia (Iset River 1)
Dalmation Monastery, Dalmatovo, Western Siberia (Iset River 1); Hieromartyr Basil, Commemorated on June 28; Hieromartyr Basil (Sitnikov) was a deacon of the Dalmatov - Saint Nicholas Church in the province of Perm. graduated from the three classes of the religious school, and beginning in 1885, he served as a Reader. 1898, he was ordained as a deacon, first at Saint John the Baptist Church in the village of Izyeduga in the Shadrinsk district of the Yekaterinburg diocese. he served in the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the village of Baklanskoye in that same district. November 5, 1913, he was transferred to the Saint Nicholas Church in the city of Dalmatov, he was put to death by the atheists who had come to power. 1918, after the priests Vladimir Sergeiev and Alexander Sidorov were arrested, Deacon Basil began to reproach the atheists for plundering the property of these arrested shepherds. took note of this and got their revenge. Basil Sitnikov was killed on the day after the priests with whom he served, on June 28, 1918.

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River Folder

Irtysh River

Irtysh River Source (Altay mountains in Xinjiang, China)
From its origins as the Kara-Irtysh (Black Irtysh) in the Mongolian Altay mountains in Xinjiang, China; Irtysh River;

Irtysh River 1 (Lake Zaysan)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Zyryan Folder (Upper Eastside Irtysh River)

Zyryan, Kazakhastan (Upper Irtysh River)
Zyryan; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Zosimas of Tuman, Commemorated August 8 ; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on August 19; St Tarasius of Glushetsa, Commemorated October 12 ; St Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated January 24 ; St Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on January 29 ; St Stephen the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on April 26 ; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk, Commemorated on May 27 ; St Jonah the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on June 6;

Zyryan District (East Kazakhastan)
Zyryan District; Komi-Zyrani People from the rivers: Vychegda, Pechora, and Kama; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on August 19; St Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated January 24 ; St Jonah the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on June 6;

Zyryani people, Komi-Zyrians, Komi People (Upper Eastside Irtysh River, Kazakhastan)
Zyryani people, Komi-Zyrians, Komi People; St. Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on August 19; St. Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on January 24;

Irtysh River 2

Irtysh River 3

Maiuma District Kazakhstan, Westside of Irtysh River
Maiuma is May May District, Kazakhstan; St Cosmas the Hymnographer the Bishop of Maiuma

Irtysh River 4

Irtysh River 6 (Omsk, Trans-Siberian Road)

Omsk (Irtysh River 6)
Omsk;

Liubimsk District, Kazakhstan
Liubimsk District; Venerable Simon the Abbot of Soiga Monastery, Vologda, Commemorated November 24 ;

Irtysh River 11 (Tobolsk, Tobol River Mouth)

Abalak, Siberia (Irtysh River 11, Tobol River Mouth)
Abalak, Siberia (Irtysh River 11, Tobol River Mouth); Hieromartyr and Metropolitan of Moscow and Krutitsy, Peter Polyansky, Commemorated on October 10;

Raphael (Tobolsk)
Raphael (Tobolsk);

Ostyak Khanty People, Irtysh River 11, Tobolsk, Kazakhastan, Siberia
Ostyak Khanty People, Irtysh River 11, Tobolsk, Kazakhastan, Siberia ; Venerable Tryphon the Abbot of Vyatka, Commemorated on October 8;

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River 11, Tobol River Folder

Tobol (Iset) River

Tobol (Iset) River Source (along the border)

Tobol River 1 (Lisakovsk)

Tobol River 2 (Rudniy)

Tobol River 3 (Kostanay)

Tobol River 4

Uy River Mouth (Tobol River 4)

Ubagan River Mouth (Tobol River 4)

Tobal River 5 (Kurgan)

Tobol River 6 (Yalutorovsk)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River 11, Tobol River 6, Iset River Folder

Iset River

Iset River Source (Ekaterinburg, Western Siberia)

Ekaterinburg, Western Siberia (Iset River Source)
Ekaterinburg; Passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas, Commemorated on July 17; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18;

Iset River 1 (Dalmatovo)

Dalmation Monastery, Dalmatovo, Western Siberia (Iset River 1)
Dalmation Monastery, Dalmatovo, Western Siberia (Iset River 1); Icon of the Mother of God of Dalmatia, Commemorated on February 15; Hieromartyr Basil, Commemorated on June 28;

Dalmatovo, Dalmation Monastery, Western Siberia (Iset River 1)
Dalmation Monastery, Dalmatovo, Western Siberia (Iset River 1); Icon of the Mother of God of Dalmatia, Commemorated on February 15; Hieromartyr Basil, Commemorated on June 28;

Iset River Mouth (Tobol River 6)

Tobol River 7 (Tura and Tavada Rivers)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River 11, Tobol River 7, Tavada River Folder

Tavda River

Tavda River Source (Ural Mountains, Sosve River)

Lozva River

Lozva River Source

Lozva River Mouth

Sosve River (Northern Urals, Tavda River Source)
Sosve River (Northern Urals); Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Sosve River

Tavada River 1

Tavada River Mouth (Tobol River 7)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River 11, Tobol River 7, Tura River Folder

Tura River

Tura River Source (Ural Mountains)

Tura River 1 (Verkhoturye)

Verkhoturye, Kazakhstan, Siberia (Tura River 1)
Verkhoturye (Tura River) ; Translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, Commemorated September 12 ; Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on December 18 ;

Tura River 2

Tura River 3

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Irtysh River 11, Tobol River 7, Tura River 3, Nevya River Folder

Nevya River

Neyva River Source (Ural Mountains)

Berezovsk, Belsk district, Smolensk diocese (Neyva River Source)
St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan;

Nevya River 1 (Abalaka)

Abalaka, Kazakhstan, Siberia (Alopaevsk River Mouth, Neyva River 1)
Abalaka, Kazakhstan, Siberia (Alopaevsk River Mouth, Neyva River) ; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18; Icon of the Mother of God of Abalaka, Commemorated on November 27 ;

Alapaikha River Mouth (Alopaevsk, Neyva River 1)

Tura River 4 (Tuman)

Tuman, Kazakhstan, Siberia (Tyumen, Tiumen.Tura River 4)
Tuman, Kazakhstan, Siberia (Tiumen.Tura River 4) ; Venerable Zosimas of Tuman, Commemorated August 8 ; Venerable Polycarp of Briansk, Commemorated February 23 ;

Tura River 5

Tura River Mouth (Tobol River 7)

Tobol River Mouth (Tobolsk, Irtysh River 11)

Tobolsk, K., Capital of Siberia (Tobol Mouth at Irtysh River 11)
Tobolsk; Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Commemorated on July 18; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26; Hieromartyr and Metropolitan of Moscow and Krutitsy, Peter Polyansky, Commemorated on October 10 ; St Demetrius (Dimitri), Metropolitan of Rostov, Commemorated on October 28 ; Righteous Simeon the Wonderworker of Verkhoturye, Commemorated on December 18 ; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska; Icon of the Mother of God of Abalaka, Commemorated on November 27 ; Venerable Polycarp of Briansk, Commemorated February 23 ; St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on March 30; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk, Commemorated on May 27 ; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31; St John Maximovitch the Metropolitan of Tobolsk, Commemorated on June 10;

Irtysh River 14 (Overview)

Kondia People, Konda River (Irtysh River 14.5) a Mansi People
Kondia People, Konda River (Irtysh River 14.5) Mansi People; Konda River (Irtysh River 14.5); Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31

Irtysh River Mouth (Ob River 13)
Irtysh River, land of the Polovetsians first to be attacked by the Asians (Mongols or Tartars); The Irtysh is actually longer than the Ob at their confluence, so seeing the two rivers together is a better view of the Irtysh: Ob River; Right-believing Prince Basil (Vasilko) of Rostov, Commemorated on March 4;

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Ural River Folder

Ural River

Orenburg, Kazakhstan (Ural River 4)
Orenburg ; Orenburg Cossacks; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Kholmogor, Kzakhstan, Siberia, 52ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â° 43' 0" North, 55ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â° 46' 0" East (Ural River 3, near Orenburg)
Kholmogor, Kzakhstan, Siberia 52ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â° 43' 0" North, 55ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â° 46' 0" East; Saint Metrophanes (in schema Macarius), Bishop of Voronezh, Commemorated on November 23;

Ural River Source (Southern Ural Mountains)

Ural River Mouth (Caspian Sea)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Lake Balkhash Folder

Kazakhastan, Capital of the White Horde - Lake Balkhash
Capital of the White Horde - Lake Balkhash; St Eudokia, in Monasticism Euphrosyne, the Grand Duchess of Moscow, Commemorated on July 7 ;

Ili River

Ili Rive Source

Alma-Atu, Silk Road North 7, Turkestan, Kazakistan
Alma-Atu, Silk Road North 7, Turkestan, Kazakistan; Hieromartyr Hilarion, Archbishop of Vereiya, Commemorated on December 15;

Ili River Mouth (Lake Balkhash)

Karatal River

Karatal River Mouth (Lake Balkhash)

Asku River

Aksu River Mouth (Lake Balkhash)

Qapal River

Lepsi River

Lepsi River Mouth (Lake Balkhash)

Alakol River

Dzungarian Gate (a pass for invasion)
Dzungarian Gate (a pass for invasion);

Dzungarian Basin
Dzungarian Basin;

Dzungarian Alatau Mountains
Dzungarian Alatau Mountains;

Alakol River Mouth (Lake Balkhash)

Russia, Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhastan, Turkestan Folder

Turkestan, Kazakhstan
Turkestan literally means land of the Turks; Turks; Icon of the Mother of God of Damascus, Commemorated on December 4 ; Blessed John the King of Serbia and his parents, Commemorated December 10 ; New-martyr John of Thasos, Commemorated December 20 ; Right-believing George the Great Prince of Vladimir, Commemorated on February 4; Martyr Avakum the Deacon of Serbia; Holy Queen Tamara, Commemorated on May 8;

Polovets, Kazakhstan (Polotsians)
Polovetsian ; Repose of St Alexander Nevsky, Commemorated on November 23; Venerable Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated October 27 ;

Syr Darya River

Syr Darya Source ( confluence of Naryn and Kara Darya Rivers)

Syr Darya River Mouth (Aral Sea)

Russia, Siberia, Southwestern Siberia, Uzbekistan Folder

Uzbekistan (from Syr Darya River to Oxus River)
Uzbekistan ; Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; Holy Queen Tamara, Commemorated on May 8; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Uzbekistan History Folder

Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Tamurlane's Dynasty
Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Tamurlane's Dynasty, founded by Tamur the Lame or Tamurlane; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Russia, Siberia, Uzbekistan, Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Sunni, Persia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afganistan
Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Sunni, Persia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afganistan ; Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Timurid Emperor, 1370-1405, Tammerlane aka Timur
Timurid Emperor, 1370-1405, Tammerlane aka Timur ; Timurid Empire, 1370-1507, Sunni, Persia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afganistan ; Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17;

Russia, Siberia, Uzbekistan, 1395, Tammerlane retreats after Dream, Vladimir Icon Mother of God (Don River 1, Kulikovo Pole)
Kulikovo Pole (Kulikovo Field); Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26 ; Tamerlane was sleeping in his tent. Suddenly, he saw in a dream a great mountain, at the summit of which were the holy hierarchs with golden staffs coming towards him. Above them, in a brilliant radiance, was a Majestic Woman. She commanded him to leave the domains of Russia. Awakening in fright, Tamerlane asked the meaning of the vision. The experts answered that the Radiant Lady was the Mother of God, the great Protectress of Christians. Tamerlane then gave the order for his troops to retreat.

Oxus River from Second Source

Oxus River Mouth (South Aral Sea)

Khwarazm Oasis Region
100,000 Martyrs of Tbilisi by the Mongols;

Syr Darya Mouth (Aral Sea)

Naryn River

Naryn River Source (Tian Shan Mountains)

Naryn River Mouth (Syr Darya River Source)

Kara Darya River

Kara Darya River Source (a confluence)

Kara Darya River Mouth (Syr Darya River Source)

Fergana Valley
Fergana Valley; Fergana Range; Tar River (Kyrgystan); Kara Darya River; Naryn River; Syr Darya River;

Tar River

Tar River (Kyrgyzstan) Source (Kegart River)

Tar River (Kyrgyzstan) Mouth (Kara Darya River Source)

Russia, Siberia, Westcentral Siberia, Ob River Folder

Ob River

Ob River Source (Biya and Katun River Confluence)

Russia, Siberia, Westcentral Siberia, Orb River Source, Katun and Biya Rivers Folder

Katun River

Biya River

Katun River Source (Mt. Belukha Glacier)
Katun River Source (Mt. Belukha Glacier);

Altai Mountains
Altai Mountains;

Biya River Source (Lake Teletskoye )

Katun River Mouth (Ob River Source)

Biya River Mouth (Ob River Source)

Ob River 1 (Altai Krai)

Altai Krai (near Ob River 1)
Altai Krai;

Ob River 2

Ob River 3

Ob River 4 (Novosibirsk and Sibirsk Crossing of the RWY)

Sibirsk (Siberian Federal District, Ob River 4)
Sibirsk (Siberian Federal District); Translation of the relics of the Venerable Nilus of Stolbensk, Commemorated on May 27 ;

Novosibirsk (Ob River 4), Siberia
Novosibirsk; Translation of the relics of St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on June 30;

Ob River 5 (near Tomsk on Tomsk River)

Russia, Siberia, Westcentral Siberia, Ob River 5, Tom River Folder

Tom River

Abakan Range

Tom River Source (Abakan Range)

Tom River 1

Tom River 2

Tom River 3

Tom River Mouth (Ob River 5)

Tomsk (Tom River Mouth, Ob River 5)
Tomsk; Saint Domna of Tomsk, Commemorated on October 16;

Ob River 6 (Chulym River)

Russia, Siberia, Westentral Siberia, Ob River 6, Chulym River Folder

Chulym River

Chulym River Source (Abakan Range)

Chulym River 1 (Nazarovo, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Trans-Siberian Road)

Achinsk (Chulym River 1, Ob River)
Achinsk;

Chulym River 2

Chulym River 3 (Asino)

Chulym River 4

Chulym River Mouth (Ob River 6)

Ob River 7

Surgut, Siberia (Ob River 11.5)
Surgut, Siberia; New Hieromartyr Elias (Gromoglasov) of Tver, Commemorated on November 22;

Ob River 12 (Vogul District, near Asyka)

Ob River 13 (Irtysh River Mouth)

Ob River 14 (Vogul District)

Asyka, Vogul District (Ob River 14)
Asyka, Vogul District (Ob River 14); Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Yugra or Iuhra (Old Russian ÃƒÂÂÂÂÃ‚Â®ÃƒÂÂÂÂÃ‚Â³ÃƒÂ‘Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂÂÂÂÃ‚Â°, c.f. Byzantine Greek ÃƒÂŽÃ‚ÂŸÃƒÂ¡Ã‚Â½Ã‚Â”ÃƒÂŽÃ‚Â³ÃƒÂŽÃ‚Â³ÃƒÂÂÂÂÃ‚ÂÂÂÂÃƒÂŽÃ‚Â¿ÃƒÂŽÃ‚Â¹[clarification needed]) was the name of the lands between the Pechora River and Northern Urals in the Russian annals of the 12thÃƒÂ¢Ã‚Â€Ã‚Â“17th centuries, as well as the name of the Khanty and partly Mansi tribes inhabiting these territories, later known as Voguls. The KhantyÃƒÂ¢Ã‚Â€Ã‚Â“Mansi Autonomous Okrug of Russia is also called Yugra. The name Yugra also gave rise to the modern adjective Ugric.; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on August 19 ;

Vogul District, Ob River, Siberia (Land of the Vogulians)
Mansi people; Voguls; Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on August 19; Venerable Tryphon the Abbot of Vyatka, Commemorated on October 8; St Gerasimus the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated on January 29 ; St Pitirim the Bishop of Perm, Commemorated January 29 ;

Ob River 16 (Vogul District)

Ob River Mouth (Gulf of Ob, Artic Ocean)
Ob River ;

Khe on the mouth of the Ob
Khe on the mouth of the Ob; Hieromartyr and Metropolitan of Moscow and Krutitsy, Peter Polyansky, Commemorated on October 10 ;

Russia, Siberia, Southern Siberia, Kyrgyzstan Folder, Tarim Basin

Tarim Basin
Tarim Basin;

Kyrgyzstan (Kegart and Toshkan Rivers Drainage)
Kyrgyzstan (Kegart and Toshkan Rivers Drainage); Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Kyrgyz people
Kyrgyz people; Kyrgyzstan (Kegart and Toshkan Rivers Drainage); Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Kalmyks People in Kyrgyzstan, Tarim Basin
Kalmyks People in Kyrgyzstan; Icon of the Mother of God of Dalmatia, Commemorated on February 15;

Toshkan River Mouth (Asku River)

Toshkan River

Yarkand River Mouth (Tarim River Source)

Yarkund River

Hotan River (Summer Only)

Hotan River Mouth (Terin River, Summer Only)

Torugart Pass

Chatyrkol Lake
Chatyrkol Lake;

a River to Kashgar Oasis, China

Kegart River Source (southwest slope of Fergana Range)

Kegart River 1

Fergana Range
Fergana Range;

Tian Shan Mountains
Tian Shan Mountains;

Aksu River Source (Tian Shan Mountains)

Asku River 1

Aksu River (Xinjiang) Mouth (Tarim River Source)

Aksu River

Tarim River Source ( a confluence)

Tarim River Mouth (Tarim Lake)

Tarim River

Russia, Siberia, Northcentral Siberia, Taz River Folder

Ostyaks-Ket People (Taz River between Yenesi and Ob Rivers)
Ostyaks-Ket People;

Taz River

Taz River Source (along the border)

Taz River 1

Taz River 2

Taz River 3 (Mangazeya)

Mangazeya, Siberia (Taz River 3)
Mangazea; Icon of the Mother of God of Abalaka, Commemorated November 26 ; Righteous Basil of Mangazea in Siberia, Commemorated on March 23 ;

Taz River 4

Taz River Mouth (Taz Estuary)

Caselka River

Russia, Siberia, Central Siberia, Yenisei River Folder

Yenisei or Tungus River

Ostyak Ket People (Yenisei River, Siberia)
Ostyak Ket People (Yenisei River, Siberia) ; Venerable Tryphon the Abbot of Vyatka, Commemorated on October 8;

Yenisei (Tungsa) River Source (Mungaragyin-Gol Ridge, Mongolia)

Yenisei River 1

Kyzyl (Yenisei River 1)
Kyzyl

Shagonar (Yenisei River 2)
Shagonar;

Yenisei River 2

Sayanogorsk (Yenisei River 3)
Sayanogorsk;

Yenisei River 3 (Chernogorsk and Abakan)

Chernogorsk, Siberia (Yenisei River 3)
Chernogorsk (Yenisei River 3) ; Icon of the Mother of God of Georgia, Commemorated on August 22 ;

Chernogorsk monastery in the Arkhangelsk diocese
Chernogorsk monastery in the Arkhangelsk diocese Icon of the Mother of God of Georgia, Commemorated August 22 ; Near the dvina (a common word for river) When Stephen returned home in 1629 and showed the icon to George Lytkin, he remembered his vision and he set off to the Dvina outskirts to the Chernogorsk monastery (so called because it was built on a hilly and somber place. From of old it had been named "Black Hill", but afterwards the monastery changed the name to "Pretty Hill".

Black Hill or Pretty Hill, Siberia (Yenisei River 3)
Chernogorsk monastery in the Arkhangelsk diocese Icon of the Mother of God of Georgia, Commemorated August 22 ;

Abakan (Yenisei River 3)
Abakan;

Yenisei River 4 (Trans-Siberian Road, Krasnoyarsk)

Divnogorsk, Siberia (Yenisei River 4)
Divnogorsk, Siberia (Yenisei River 4) ; Icon of the Mother of God œthe Rescuer of the DrowningÂ, Commemorated on February 5;

Krasnoyarsk (Yenisei River 4)
Krasnoyarsk;

Yenisei (Tungus) River 5 (Angora River Mouth)

Russia, Siberia, Central Siberia South, Yenisei River 5, Angara River Folder

Angara River

Baikal Region, Lake Baikal, Siberia
Lake Baikal; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 2;

Angara River Source (Lake Baikal)

Posolskiy monastery on Lake Baikal 52°1'3"N 106°10'41"E
Posolskiy monastery on Lake Baikal; Saint Meletios, Bishop of Ryazan, Commemorated on January 14;

Selengin, Lake Baikal (Selenga River Mouth)
Selengin, Lake Baikal; Saint Meletios, Bishop of Ryazan, Commemorated on January 14;

Nilov Hermitage, Sayansk Mountains, home Meletios' friend Vicar Bishop Benjamin of Selengin
Nilov Hermitage, Sayansk Mountains; Saint Meletios, Bishop of Ryazan, Commemorated on January 14;

Russia, Siberia, Central Siberia South, Yenisei River 5, Angara River Source, Selenga River Folder

Selenga River

Selenga River Delgermoron or Ider headwaters 2

Selenga River Delgermoron or Ider headwaters 1

Selenga River headwaters Khovsgol River

Selenga River Source (Confluence Delgermoron and Ider Rivers)

Selenga River 1

Selenga River 2

Selenga River 3

Selenga River 10 (Orkhon River Mouth)

Selenga River 30 (Buryatia, Trans-Siberian Road)

Buryatia, Siberia (Selenga River 30)
Buryatia; Buryats; Lake Baikal Region; (Upper and Lower) Angara River St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28;

Buryats, Land of the Buryats
Buryats; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28;

Selenga River Mouth (Lake Baikal, Angara River Source)

Russia, Siberia, Central Siberia South, Yenisei River 5, Angara River Source, Barguzin River Folder, Buryatia

Barguzin River

Buryatia, Siberia (Land of the Buryats)
Buryatia; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ; St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 29;

Daurian peoples, Buryatia, Siberia (Land of the Buryats)
Buryatia; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ; St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 29;

Barguzin Nature Reserve, Siberia
Barguzin Nature Reserve;

Barguzin River Mouth (Lake Baikal, Angara River Source

Upper Angara River

Upper Angara River 1

Upper Angara River 2 (Novy Uoyan)

Upper Angara River Source (Barguzin, Buryatia)

Upper Angara River Mouth (Lake Baikal)

Angara River 1 (Irkutsk)

Irkutsk, Siberia (Angara River 1, Lake Baikal, Trans-Siberian Road 14)
Irkutsk; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated July 26 ; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on October 6 ; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ; Uncovering of the relics of St Innocent the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on February 9; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9 ; St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on March 30; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Translation of the relics of St Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on June 30; Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk and All Siberia, reposed on March 30, 1771, the second day of Holy Pascha. While they awaited a decision of the Holy Synod concerning the burial, his body remained unburied for six months, and during this time it was not subject to decay. Then, in view of this circumstance, and also knowing about the strict ascetic life of Saint Sophronius, the flock began to venerate him as a saint of God. (in 1833, 1854, 1870, 1909) his relics were seen to be incorrupt, and a source of grace-filled miracles. A fire occurring on April 18, 1917 at the Theophany Cathedral at Irkutsk left only the bones of the holy bishop. This did not diminish, but on the contrary, it increased the reverent veneration of the saint by the faithful of the nation. local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in its deliberations of April 10/23, 1918 decided to glorify Bishop Sophronius, numbering him among the holy saints of God. This solemnity of adding Saint Sophronius to the list of the saints was done on June 30. At a second session of this Council under the presidency of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon (now Saint Tikhon) a Service to Saint Sophronius was approved, with a Troparion composed by Archbishop John, who at that time guided the Irkutsk diocese, so that all believers would have the possibility of adding prayer to the holy saint into the voice of the Siberian churches, deeply venerating the memory of their illuminator and intercessor. at the present time believers turn for help to Saint Sophronius. Prayers witness to this, having been composed on the day of the 40th year celebration of the glorification of the holy hierarch on July 13,1958, by Metropolitan Nestor (Anisimov), then Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Barnaulsk, and a solemn feast of the 200 year anniversary of the day of death of Saint Sophronius took place at the Zolotonoshsk Krasnogorsk women’s monastery and in the Irkutsk diocese (Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1971, No. 9), and he is venerated by all believers of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Siberian Ukrainian Baroque Churches, St. Sophronius, 1790's
Siberian Ukrainian Baroque Churches, St. Sophronius, 1790's; St. Sophronius the Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on March 30;

Tungusk, Land of the Tunguska People - Angara River 1, Siberia
The Tunguska Rivers including the Angara are the Eastern tributaries of the north flowing Yenisei River. The people of the Tunguska Language are the people of the land of these Tunguska rivers. The Tunguska settlers were moved down to Zeya River that flows south into the Amur River. Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Angara River 2

Angara River 3

Angara River 4 (Bratsk)

Bratsk, Siberia (Angara River 4)
Bratsk; Icon of the Mother of God of Kiev-Bratsk, not Bratsk, Siberia, Commemorated September 6 ; St Joasaph the Bishop of Belgorod, Commemorated December 10 ;

Angara River 5

Russia, Siberia, Central Siberia South, Yenisei River 5, Angara River 5, Ilim River Folder

Ilim River

Ilim River Source (Irkutskaya)

Ilimsk, Siberia (flooded 1970 by Ilim River Reservoir)
Ilimsk; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated on November 26 ;

Ilim River Mouth (Angara River 5)

Angara River Mouth (Yenisei River 5)

Lesosibirsk (Yenisei River 6)
Lesosibirsk;

Yeniseysk (Yenisei River 6)
Yeniseysk;

Yenisei River 6

Stony Tunguska River Mouth (Yenisei River 8)

Tungus People, Siberia (3 Tunguska Rivers: Angara, Stony and Lower Tanguska (Yenisei River)
Tungus People (3 Tunguska Rivers: Angara, Stony and Lower Tanguska rivers: Tributaries of the Yeniesei in Eastern Siberia) ; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31;

Turuhan region, Siberia (Yenisei River 10)
Turuhan region; Glorification of the Priestmartyr Alexander Hotovitzky, Commemorated December 4 ;

Tunguska People - From Right Tributaries of the Yenisei (Tunguska) River to Pacific Ocean
Tunguska People - From Right Tributaries of the Yenisei River to Pacific Ocean; St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 29;

Lower Tunguska River Mouth (Yenisei River 11)

Igarka (Yenisei River 13)
Igarka;

Dudinka (Yenisei River 14)
Dudinka;

Yenisei (Tungsa) River Mouth (Artic Ocean)

Russia, Siberia, Far Nortcentral Siberia, Mikhailov Folder

River Sii

Mikhailov Island, Siberia
Mikhailov Island, Siberia ; Venerable Anthony the Abbot of Siya, Novgorod, Commemorated December 7 ;

Mikhailov Penninsula, Siberia
Mikhailov Penninsula ; Venerable Anthony the Abbot of Siya, Novgorod, Commemorated December 7 ;

Russia, Siberia, Eastcentral Siberia, Lena River Folder

Lena River

Verkhoyansk Range
Verkhoyansk Range;

Lena River Source (above Lake Baikal)

Lena River 1

Lena River 2 (Kirensk)

Kirensk, Siberia (Lena River 2)
Kirensk Holy Trinity monastery; Kirensk ; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Lena River 3

Lena River 4

Lena River 9 (Yakutsk, Aldan River Mouth)

Yakutsk, Siberia (Lena River 9, Tract from Y to Okhotsk)
Yakutsk; Glorification of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated on August 9 ; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated October 6 ; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20 ;

Yakut People
Yakut People; Yakutsk; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated October 6 ; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ;

Tract from Yakutsk to Okhotsk
St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28;

Lena River 11 (Aldan River Mouth)

Russia, Siberia, Eastcentral Siberia, Lena River 11, Aldan River Folder

Aldan River

Aldan River Source (Stanovoy Range)

Stanovoy Range (seperates Artic from Pacific drainage)
Stanovoy Range;

Aldan River 1 (Aldan, Russia)

Aldan River 2 (Tommot, Russia)

Aldan River 3 (Ust-Maya, Russia)

Aldan River 4 (Eldikan, Russia)

Aldan River 5 (Khandyga, Russia)

Aldan River Mouth (Lena River 11)
Aldan River; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28;

Lena River 12 (Overview)

Vilyuy River Mouth (Lena River 12)

Lena River Mouth (Lena Delta Artic Ocean)

Artic Sea (Artic Ocean)
Artic Sea (Artic Ocean); St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 29;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk Sea Region Folder

Okhotsk (Okhotska River, Sea of Okhotsk, Siberia)
Okhotsk, on the Okhotsa River; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Glorification of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated on August 9; Repose of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated December 13 ; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1; JOHN MUIR and HUDSON STUCK, NATURALIST & WRITER, 1914; PRIEST & ENVIRONMENTALIST, 1920, Commemorated April 21 ; Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Tungusian peoples, Okhotsk Region
Tungusian peoples, Okhotsk Region; Okhotsk, on the Okhotsa River; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Glorification of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated on August 9; Repose of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated December 13 ; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Icon of the Mother of God ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂœThe Word was made FleshÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1; JOHN MUIR and HUDSON STUCK, NATURALIST & WRITER, 1914; PRIEST & ENVIRONMENTALIST, 1920, Commemorated April 21 ; Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk History Folder

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia,Okhotsk, 1603-1671, Hierotheus Khabarov
Hierotheus Khabarov 1603-1671; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, 1652-1695, China War of the Amur Region
Russia China War of the Amur Region (1652-1695) ; Icon of the Mother of God ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂœThe Word was made FleshÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, 1684-1686, Chinese Invasions of Albazin
Chinese Invasions of Albazin (1684-1686) ; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, 1685-1686, Defense of Albazin
Defense of Albazin (1685-1686); Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Russo-Japanese War of 1904, 1905
Siberia, Okhotsk, Russo-Japanese war in 1904, 1905; Liaodong Peninsula; Appearance of the Mother of God to St Sergius of Radonezh, Commemorated on August 24; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905
Okhotsk, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905; Port Arthur (Lushunkou District) ; Liaodong Peninsula; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk River Folder, with Ulya River

Left Okhota River

Left Okhota River Source

Right Okhota River

Right Okhota River Source

Okhaota River

Okhota River Source

Okhota River Mouth (Sea of Okhotsk)

Ulya River

Ulya River Mouth (Sea of Okhotsk)

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk Sea Region, Amur River Folder

Okhotsk Sea
Sea of Okhotsk; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 29;

Chukchei People (Chukchei Penninsula)
Chukchei People (Chukchei Penninsula) ; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk, Enlightener of Siberia, Commemorated on May 31;

Koryak People (Kamchatka Penninsula)
Koryak People (Kamchatka Penninsula, Southeast Siberia); Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31;

Amur (Argun) River

Amur River

Amur River Primary Source (Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area)
Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area;

Amur River Second Source (Hentiyn Mountains)
Hentiyn Mountains

Armur River A

Armur River B

Armur River C

Armur River D

Armur River E

Armur River F (Selingin)

Selingin, Okhotsk, Siberia (Armur River F) China border
The saint was compelled to spend three years at Selingin on the Chinese border. Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ;

Armur River G

Armur River H

Argun River (Asia) Mouth (Amur River Source)
Russia China Border;

Amur River 1

Albazin, Okhotsk, Siberia (Amur River 1) 1651, Cossacks, 1655 Chernigovsky the Pole, Jaxa
Albazin; is a village (selo) in Skovorodinsky District of Amur Oblast, Russia, noted as the site of Albazin, the first Russian settlement on the Amur River. the arrival of Russians, Albazino belonged to the Daur people, the Mongolic peoples indigenous to this area. The town was originated by prince Albaz as the capital of Solon Khanate. in the 17th century, the town was center of a petty kingdom known as Yagsi. the late 1640s, a team of Russian Cossacks under Yerofey Khabarov arrived to explore Dauria. They were keen to gain a foothold in the proximity of the Amur River and, after several clashes with the Daurs under Prince Albaza or Albaasi, established a Russian fort of Albazin in 1651. The Russians were defeated here by Qing China in 1686 (see below). By the Treaty of Nerchinsk the area was assigned to China. the Treaty of Aigun in 1858 a new Amur Cossack stanitsa appeared on the site. A municipal museum is sited among the remains of the 17th-century Russian fort. 1 The History of Albazin 1.1 Foundation of Jaxa 1.2 The Russian–Chinese conflict over Albazin 2 See also 3 References 4 External links History of Albazin[edit] also: Sino-Russian border conflicts late 1650 Albazin was built as winter quarters by Yerofei Khabarov on the northernmost part of the Amur River, 125 miles downstream from the junction of the Argun and Shilka. Thereafter it was little used as the Russians concentrated on the richer grain-growing lands downriver. In 1652 the Manchus drove the Russians out of the Amur country and the land was left to outlaws and adventurers. of Jaxa[edit] 1655 Nikifor Chernigovsky, a Pole who had been exiled to Siberia after an unsuccessful attempt to run away from the Russian's custody, murdered the voyevoda of Ilimsk in retaliation for the rape of his daughter, and fled to the Amur where he reoccupied the ruins of Albazin and gathered a band of supporters. Chernigovsky soon gained the support of the local Tungusic population, whom he treated with respect, in contrast to several assaults they had suffered under Russian (Cossack) sovereignty. He made a great stronghold on the ruins of Albazin, giving it the name of Jaxa. the coming years, Siberian governors made several failed attempts to regain control over Albazin; however, Chernigovsky was able to keep his position by playing the Russians against the Chinese, and vice versa. From 1669, the Russian tsar received a tribute from the Jaxa country (Albazin and surrounding villages), which impacted the tsar's decision to formally acknowledge Chernigovsky as the lord of Jaxa in 1674. The Chinese government, for its part, communicated with Chernigovsky using Polish as the main language. In 1675, he raided Chinese lands with the help of the local population. This remains the last recorded reference to Chernigovsky in history.[1][2] Russian–Chinese conflict over Albazin[edit] is on the northern loop of the Amur. Nerchinsk is on the lower Shilka' Qing did little about Albazin because their forces were tied up in southern China and because they were concerned about possible Russian backing for their enemies in Mongolia. With the southern problem nearly solved (Taiwan was conquered in 1683), in the spring of 1682 the Kangxi Emperor made a tour through Manchuria and began preparations to deal with the Amur problem. His plan was to build up such a large force that the Russians would withdraw without fighting, for, as he said "The use of force is not a good thing. We use it only under compulsion." Troops were moved up to Aigun and crops were planted to feed them. An attack was delayed due to disagreements among the planners and the difficulty of moving supplies northward. 1681 there were Qing threats against Albazin, talks were held on the Nun River and minor Russian forts were destroyed along the Zeya. By the end of 1683 all Russian bases except Albazin had been eliminated. Moscow responded by making Ivan Vlasov voyevoda of Nerchinsk and appointing Akeksey Tolbuzin to a new voyevodstvo at Albazin (July 1684). An attempt to move men and supplies east failed due to shortages and inefficiency. The siege began on June 23, 1685. On the 26th there was an indecisive day-long battle. The Qing army thereupon piled dry wood along the fort's wooden walls and when they began to light it, Tolbuzin surrendered (exact date uncertain). The 600 or so defenders were allowed to withdraw to Nerchinsk. About 45 opted to go with the Qing army where they joined the Russian colony in Peking. The Qing army burned the fort and withdrew, but did not destroy the crops. When news of the defeat reached Moscow in November it was decided to abandon the Amur and send an ambassador to Peking. The Qing troops constituted of former Southern Ming marines from Taiwan, renowned for their knowledge of nautical warfare.[3][4][5][6][7][8] One day after leaving Albazin, the retreating Russians met a group of reinforcements who brought word that an even larger group under Baiton had reached Nerchinsk. Since the fort was lost they continued their withdrawal. Some time after July 10, 1685, scouts reported that the Qing were gone and the crops still standing. Vlasov sent 669 well-armed men under Tolbuzin to gather the harvest. The crops were gathered, Albazin was refortified with earthen walls and efforts were made to bring the natives back into subjection. The Qing arrived on July 18, 1686, and began a tight siege and a steady cannonade. On the fifth day of the siege Tolbuzin was killed by a cannon ball and replaced by Afanasii Baiton.[9] The Russians had enough food to last until Easter, but were short of water. The siege continued until early winter. In late October messengers arrived in Peking announcing Moscow's desire to negotiate. An order was issued to relax the siege. At this time less than 66 men, out of an original 826, were left alive (most had died of disease, especially scurvy). On December 25 Baiton sent one of his men to request provisions. A few more than twenty men remained in the fort, all ill and undernourished. When, in August 1687, Kangxi heard (incorrectly) that the Russian ambassador had reached Mongolia, he ordered the Qing troops withdrawn. the treaty of Nerchinsk (1689), Albazin was abandoned and destroyed. Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Albazin Icon of the Mother of God “the Word made Fleshâ€ is of great religious significance in the Amur River region. It received its name from the Russian fortress of Albazin (now the village of Albazino) along the Amur river, founded in the year 1650 by the famous Russian frontier ataman Hierotheus Khabarov on the site of a settlement of the Daurian prince Albaza. hue and cry over the Amur Albazinsk fortress became an object of enmity for the Chinese emperor and his generals, who then already dreamed of expanding their influence over all of Russian Siberia. the eve of the Feast of the Annunciation, on March 24, 1652, the first military clash of the Russians with the Chinese occurred at the Amur. Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos the pagans were scattered and fled to their own territory. This victory seemed like a portent for the Russians. But the struggle had only just begun. Many sons of Holy Russia died in the struggle for the Amur, and for the triumph of Orthodoxy in the Far East. June of 1658 an Albazin military detachment, 270 Cossacks under the leadership of Onuphrius Stepanov, fell into an ambush and in a heroic fight they were completely annihilated by the Chinese. enemy burned Albazin, overran Russian lands, and carried off the local population into China. They wanted to turn the fertile cultivated area back into wilderness. these difficult years the Most Holy Theotokos showed signs of Her mercy to the land of Amur. In 1665, when Russians returned and rebuilt Albazin, together with a priest there came to the Amur the Elder Hermogenes from the Kirensk Holy Trinity monastery. He carried with him a wonderworking icon of the Mother of God “the Word made Fleshâ€, called the Albazinsk Icon since that time. In 1671 the holy Elder built a small monastery on the boundary mark of the Brusyan Stone (one and a half kilometers from Albazin near the Amur), where the holy icon was later kept. was built up. At two churches in the city, the Ascension of the Lord and Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Albazin priests offered the Bloodless Sacrifice. Not far from the city (along the Amur) another monastery was built, the Spassky. The fertile soil produced bread for Eastern Siberia. The local populace adapted itself to Russian Orthodox culture, peacefully entering into the multi-national Russian state, and found Russian protection from the plundering raids of Chinese feudal war-lords. Moscow they did not forget the needs of the far-away Amur frontier. They strengthened military defenses and improved regional government. In 1682 the Albazin Military-Provincial Government was formed. They concerned themselves about the spiritual nourishment of the Amur region peoples. A local Council of the Russian Church in 1681 adopted a resolution to send “archimandrites, igumens, or priests, both learned and good, to enlighten unbelievers with the law of Christ.â€ The Daurian and Tungusian peoples as a whole accepted Holy Baptism. Of great significance was the conversion of the Daurian prince Hantimur (renamed Peter) and his eldest son Katana (renamed Paul) to Orthodoxy. servants of the Chinese emperor planned for a new attack. After several unsuccessful forays, on July 10, 1685, they marched against Albazin with an army of 15,000 and encircled the fortress. In it were 450 Russian soldiers and three cannon. The first assault was repulsed. The Chinese then from all sides piled up firewood and kindling against the wooden walls of the fortress and set it on fire. Further resistance proved impossible. With its military standards and holy things, among which was the wonderworking Albazin Icon, the soldiers abandoned the fortress. Mother of God did not withhold Her intercession from Her chosen city. Scouts soon reported that the Chinese suddenly began to withdraw from Albazin, ignoring the Chinese emperor’s command to destroy the crops in the Russian fields. The miraculous intervention of the Heavenly Protectress not only drove the enemy from Russian territories, but also preserved the grain which sustained the city for the winter months. On August 20, 1685 Russians were in Albazin again. year went by, and the fortress was again besieged by Chinese. There began a five-month defense of Albazin, which occupies a most honored place in Russian military history. Three times, in July, in September, and in October, the forces of the Chinese emperor made an assault on the wooden fortifications. A hail of fiery arrows and red-hot cannon balls fell on the town. Neither the city nor its defenders could be seen in the smoke and fire. And all three times, the Mother of God defended the inhabitants of Albazin from their fierce enemy. December 1686, when the Chinese lifted the siege of Albazin, of the city’s 826 defenders only 150 men remained alive. forces were inadequate to continue the war against the Chinese emperor. In August 1690 the last of the Cossacks departed from Albazin under the leadership of Basil Smirenikov. Neither the fortress, nor its holy things, fell into the hands of the enemy. The fortifications were razed and leveled by the Cossacks, and the Albazin Icon of the Mother of God was taken to Sretensk, a city on the river Shilka, which flows into the Amur. even after the destruction of Albazin, God destined its inhabitants to do another service for the good of the Church. By divine Providence the end of the military campaign contributed to the increase of the influence of the grace of Orthodoxy among the peoples of the Far East. During the years of war, a company of about a hundred Russian cossacks and peasants from Albazin and its environs were taken captive and sent to Peking. Chinese emperor even gave orders to give one of the Buddhist temples in the Chinese capital for an Orthodox church dedicated to Sophia, the Wisdom of God. In 1695 Metropolitan Ignatius of Tobolsk sent an antimension, chrism, service books, and church vessels to the Sophia church. In a letter to the captive priest Maximus, 'the Preacher of the Holy Gospel to the Chinese Empire,' Metropolitan Ignatius wrote: 'Be not troubled, nor troubled in soul for yourself and the captives with you, for who is able to oppose the will of God? Your captivity is not without purpose for the Chinese people, so that you may reveal to them the light of Christ’s Orthodox Faith.' preaching of the Gospel in the Chinese Empire soon bore fruit and resulted in the first baptisms of Chinese. The Russian Church zealously looked after the new flock. In 1715 the Metropolitan of Tobolsk, Saint Philotheus “the Apostle to Siberiaâ€ (+ May 31, 1727), wrote a letter to the Peking clergy and the faithful living under the Peking Spiritual Mission, who continued with the Christian work of enlightening pagans. years went by, and the new epoch brought the Russian deliverance of the Amur. On August 1, 1850, the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Giving Cross, Captain G. I. Nevelsky raised up the Russian Andreev flag at the mouth of the Amur River and founded the city of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. Through the efforts of the Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, N. N. Muraviev-Amursky (+ 1881), and Saint Innocent, Archbishop of Kamchatka (March 31), and through the spiritual nourishment which obtained in the Amur and coastal regions, in several years the left bank of the Amur was built up with Russian cities, villages and Cossack settlements. year brought important advances in the development of the liberated territory, its Christian enlightenment and welfare. In the year 1857 on the bank of the Amur fifteen way-stations and settlements were established (the Albazin on the site of the old fortress and the Innokentiev, named in honor of Saint Innocent). In a single year, 1858, there were more than thirty settlements, among which were three cities: Khabarovsk, Blagoveschensk and Sophiisk. May 9, 1858, on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, N. N. Muraviev-Amursky and Archbishop Innocent of Kamchatka arrived in the Cossack post at Ust’-Zeisk. Saint Innocent was there to dedicate a temple in honor of the Annunciation of the Mother of God (Blagoveschenie, in Slavonic), the first building in the new city. Because of the name of the temple, the city was also called Blagoveschensk, in memory of the first victory over the Chinese on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1652, and in memory of the Annunciation church at Irkutsk, in which Saint Innocent began his own priestly service. It was also a sign that “from that place proceeded the blessed news of the reintegration of the Amur region territory under Russian sovereignty.â€ New settlers on the way to the Amur, journeying through Sretensk, fervently offered up their prayers to the Holy Protectress of the Amur region before her Wonderworking Albazin Icon. Their prayers were heard: the Aigunsk (1858) and Peking (1860) treaties decisively secured the left bank of the Amur and coastal regions for Russia. 1868 the Bishop of Kamchatka, Benjamin Blagonravov, the successor to Saint Innocent, transferred the holy icon from Sretensk to Blagoveschensk, thereby returning the famous holy icon to the Amur territory. In 1885, a new period began in the veneration of the Albazin Icon of the Mother of God and is associated with the name of the Kamchatka bishop Gurias, who established an annual commemoration on March 9 and a weekly Akathist. the summer of 1900, during the “Boxer Rebellionâ€ in China, the waves of insurrection reached all the way to the Russian border. Chinese troops suddenly appeared on the banks of the Amur before Blagoveschensk. For nineteen days the enemy stood before the undefended city, raining artillery fire down upon it, and menacing the Russian bank with invasion. shallows of the Amur afforded passage to the adversary. In the Annunciation church services were celebrated continuously, and Akathists were read before the Wonderworking Albazin Icon. The Protection of the Mother of God was again extended over the city, just as it had been in earlier times. Not daring to cross the Amur, the enemy departed from Blagoveschensk. According to the accounts of the Chinese themselves, they often saw a Radiant Woman over the bank of the Amur, inspiring them with fear and rendering their missiles ineffective. more than 300 years the Wonderworking Albazin Icon of the Mother of God watched over the Amur frontier of Russia. Orthodox people venerate it not only as Protectress of Russian soldiers, but also as a Patroness of mothers. Believers pray for mothers before the icon during their pregnancy and during childbirth, 'so that the Mother of God might bestow the gift of abundant health from the Albazin Icon’s inexhaustible well-spring of holiness.' icon depicts Christ as a child standing in a mandorla before His Mother’s breast. Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 1, Shilka River Folder

Shilka River

Shilka River Source (Chita)

Shilka River 1 (Sretensk and Nerchinsk)

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 1, Shilka River 1, Nercha River Folder

Nercha River

Nercha River Source (Barguzin, Buryatia)

Nercha River Mouth (Nerchinsk, Shilka River 1)

Nerchinsk, Okhotsk, Siberia (Nercha Mouth at Shilka River 1)
Nerchinsk, Siberia (Nercha River Mouth at Shilka River1); Martyr Juvenal of Alaska, Commemorated on September 24 ; Russia China Border; Repose of St Innocent the first Bishop of Irkutsk, Commemorated November 26 ;

Sretensk, Okhotsk, Siberia (Shila River 1)
Sretensk; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Shilka River 2

Shilka River 3

Shilka River Mouth (Amur River 1)
Russia China Border;

Amur River 2

Amur Oblast (Amur River Region)
Amur Oblast (Amur River Region); Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31;

Amur River 3

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 3, Zeya River Folder

Zeya River

Zeya River Source (Tokiysky Stanovik Range)

Zeya River 1

Zeya River 2

Zeya River 3

Zeya River 6 (Zeya)

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 3, Zeya River 6, Gilyuy River Folder

Gilyuy River

Gilyuy River Upper Gilyuy

Gilyuy River (Tynda)

Gilyuy River Mouth (Zeya River 6)

Zeya River 7 (Svobodny)

Zeya, Zea River Valley
Zea River Valley Blessed Dovmont (Timothy) the Prince of Pskov, Commemorated on May 20;

Zeya River 8 (Blagoveshchensk)

Zeya River Mouth (Amur River 3)

Blagoveschensk (Ust-Zeisk), Okhotsk (Zeya River Mouth, Amur River 3)
Blagoveschensk (Ust-Zeisk), Okhotsk, Siberia (Zeya River, Aur River 3); Icon of the Mother of God ÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂœThe Word was made FleshÃƒÂƒÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚Â€ÃƒÂ‚Ã‚ÂÂÂÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Innokentiev (Amur River 3.9)
Innokentiev (Amur River 3.9); Icon of the Mother of God, œAlbazinÂ or œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Amur River 5 (Manchuria, Black Dragon River)

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 5, Black Dragon River Folder, Manchuria

Port Arthur, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905
Siberia, Russo-Japanese War over Port Arthur 1904-1905; Port Arthur (Lushunkou District) ; Liaodong Peninsula; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, Commemorated on April 1;

Black Dragon River (Heilongjiang or Amur)

Black Dragon River Source (along the border)

Manchuria, Eastern Siberia (Black Dragon River, Amur Region)
Manchuria or Northeast China; Harbin on the railway to Vladivostok. Glorification of the Priestmartyr Alexander Hotovitzky; Appearance of the Mother of God to St Sergius of Radonezh, Commemorated on August 24;

Black Diamond River Mouth (Amur River 5)

Amur River 6 (Amur Crossing at Khabarovsk)

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk, Amur River 6, Ussuri River Folder

Ussuri River

Ussuri River Source (near the coast)

Ussuriysk, Siberia (Ussuri River Source, near Vladivostok, Trans-Siberian RWY)
Ussuriysk; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31;

Ussuri River 1

Ussuri River 2

Ussuri River 3

Ussuri River Mouth (Khabarovsk, Amur river 6)

Khabarovsk (Ussuri River Mouth, Amur River 6)
Khabarovsk (Amur River 6) ; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Khabarov frontier, Okhotsk Sea (Vladivostok, Khabarovsk River, Amur River 6, Trans-Siberian Road 17)
Khabarovsky District; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated October 6 ;

Amur River 8 (Komsomolsk-on-Amur)

Amur River Mouth (Tartary Strait, Sea of Oskosh)

Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Okhotsk, Siberia
Nikolayevsk-on-Amur; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9;

Lake Orel
Venerable Macarius of Optina;

Strait of Tartary
Strait of Tartary;

Russia, Siberia, Eastern Siberia, Okhotsk Sea Region, Kamchatka Penninsula and Kurile Islands Folder

Kurile Islands, Okhotsk Region, Siberia
Kurile Islands; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated October 6 ; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28;

Kamchatka Penninsula, Okhotsk Sea, Siberia
Kamchatka Penninsula; Repose of St Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska, Commemorated on July 26 ; Glorification of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated on August 9 ; Glorification of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow and Enlightener of the Aleuts, Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated October 6 ; Repose of the Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America, Commemorated December 13 ; St Nicholas, Equal of the Apostles and Archbishop of Japan, Commemorated on February 16; St Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov and Akhtyr, Commemorated on February 28; Icon of the Mother of God œThe Word was made FleshÂ, Commemorated on March 9; Repose of St Innocent the Metropolitan of Moscow the Enlightener of the Aleuts and Apostle to the Americas, Commemorated on March 31; Hudson Stuck of JOHN MUIR and HUDSON STUCK, NATURALIST & WRITER, 1914; PRIEST & ENVIRONMENTALIST, 1920, Commemorated April 21 ;