Archbishop Alexei (Panteleyev)
Archbishop Alexei (Panteleyev) (1874-1948)
Alexander may be spelt Aleksander.
Alexei may be spelt Alexis, Alexius, Alexey, Alexy, Aleksy, Aleksey.
Early life of Alexander Apollosovich Panteleyev
Alexander Apollosovich Panteleyev was born into a peasant family on 27 October, 1874, in the village of Novodvorsk, in the Solvychegodsk county of the Vologda Province, in northwest Russia.
Higher education
In 1895, Alexander graduated from the Archangelsk Seminary at the top of his class, and he was sent on to the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy on a scholarship in June, 1895. He studied at the academy for a year. However, he then petitioned to be released due to family hardship, and he went to assist his family in October, 1896.
As a result, in November, 1896, Alexander Apollosovich was assigned to be an instructor of geography and church singing in the Ustiug Diocesan Women’s College in (Ustiug, Vologda), where he taught church singing until August, 1899, and geography until February, 1903. He also taught church singing in the diocesan school from October, 1897, until February, 1903. At the same time, he taught church singing courses for students in the parish schools of the Veliki Ustiug vicariate in the summers of 1898, 1899, 1902 and 1903, and in the Veliki Ustiug spiritual school from August, 1898, until December, 1900.
On 1 October 1901, Alexander Apollosovich Panteleyev married Sofia Petrovna Pyatlinoy.
Ordinations, 1901
On 22 October, 1901, Alexander Panteleyev was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.
On 23 October, 1901, Deacon Alexander Panteleyev was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
Pastoral service, 1901-1927
The Priest Alexander was then assigned to serve at the Saint Mitrofan prison church in Veliki Ustiug.
In December, 1902, the Priest Alexander Panteleyev was assigned to serve first as a priest, and then as the rector of the Temple of the Resurrection in Veliki Ustiug. There, he also directed church choirs, and he taught church singing.
From January, 1903 to May, 1909, Father Alexander served as a member of the Veliki Ustiug spiritual court.
Transfer to North America, 1909
Later in 1909, he was transferred by the Most Holy Synod, and he was assigned to serve in the Diocese of the Aleutians and North America.
Upon his arrival in North America, Father Alexander Panteleyev was assigned by Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) to the Temple of the Holy Ascension in Unalaska, the port city of Unalaska Island, which is one of the Aleutian Islands. The Temple of the Holy Ascension was constructed in Unalaska in 1825 under the direction of Saint Innocent (Veniaminov) of Alaska.
Holy Ascension Sobor, Unalaska
In 1912, Father Alexander was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. In October, 1912, he was appointed to serve as assistant dean of the Pittsburgh Deanery.
In August, 1913, he was transferred to the Holy Ghost Temple in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
In March, 1914, he was assigned to be the dean of the parish in Bridgeport.
In November of 1914, he founded the Temple of Saint Spiridon in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and he was assigned to be the rector.
In February, 1916, he was assigned to be the head of the Russian Emigré Home in New York City. He was a Russian language teacher in the Russian Women’s College in Brooklyn from the beginning of July, 1916, and he also taught dogmatic and moral theology at the New York Theological Seminary.
In December, 1916, the Priest Alexander Panteleyev was elevated to the dignity of archpriest.
In April, 1917, the Archpriest Alexander Panteleyev was transferred back to Alaska. This time, he was assigned to Sitka, where he served at the Cathedral of Saint Michael.
Saint Michael's Cathedral, Sitka
Bereavement, 1921
In 1921, Matushka Sofia Panteleyev fell asleep in the Lord, and she was interred at Sitka.
Meanwhile in 1921, because of the financial and other difficulties within the Russian Orthodox Diocese of the Aleutians and North America, Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) had sent Bishop Antony (Dashkevich, +1934) to North America to conduct an audit of the diocese. Bishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) of the Diocese of the Aleutians and North America objected strenuously.
Move to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), 1921
After the audit was sent on to Patriarch Tikhon, Bishop Alexander, who had by this time recognised the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) over the diocese, left North America.
Acting on the recommendation of the “Supreme Church Administration Outside of Russia”, Patriarch Tikhon confirmed Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky) as the new head of the diocese, when Mr. Colton of the YMCA, acting as Vladyka Platon’s representative, visited Patriarch Tikhon in Moscow.
As a parenthetical detail, in February, 1923, Bishop Apollinary (Koshevoy), who was at that time overseeing the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem on behalf of the ROCOR, was transferred to North America.
In February, 1924, Vladyka Apollinary (Koshevoy) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
In December, 1924, Vladyka Apollinary (Koshevoy) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of San Francisco, California. In both assignments, he was serving as a Vicar-Bishop to Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky).
During the period after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 until after World War II, the bishops who found themselves in exile from their fatherland and were deprived of reliable communication with their Mother Church formed a Synod of Bishops in Exile, which was headquartered in Karlovtsi, Serbia. The bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) suffered from differing opinions about how to cope with the situation. Those who had no intention ever to try to return to their fatherland were sometimes organised as a separate entity, and sometimes as a part of the ROCOR throughout this period (these unities and separations occurred for various reasons).
The Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America perceived itself as having being rooted in North America principally as a missionary Church. In contrast with other groups of new-arrivals in North America, the former North American Diocese (or "Russian Mission") had already been on the continent for more than a century, always with a specific missionary purpose, and always with a view to the permanent state of this mission. Others often considered themselves to be living in exile in North America, and they hoped eventually to return to their homeland. Some others were in North America for the purpose of improving their economic condition, again with a hope to return to their homeland.
Monastic tonsure, 1925
In 1925, the Archpriest Alexander A Panteleyev was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Alexei. He was also elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.
Bishop Apollinary (Koshevoy) was invited to attend a meeting of the Council of Bishops of the North American Diocese which was held on 31 January, 1927. During this meeting, an “appeal” to the North American flock was issued, which declared the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) to be uncanonical. That is, in the opinion of the bishops of the North American Diocese, the ROCOR was functioning outside or beyond the blessing that Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) had given for bishops living in exile beyond the borders of the former Russian Empire. The patriarch had blessed bishops to organise a temporary administration of Church life amongst the exiles, since communication between the patriarch and the exiles had become effectually impossible.
Bishop Apollinary remarked that
all the hierarchs approved this ‘appeal’ to the American flock. I alone did not agree with them. I declared that I did and do acknowledge the Synod of Bishops [of the ROCOR] as canonical, both in origin, and its present form ; that I did and do submit to it as a judicial administrative authority ; that I deny the right of the American diocese to 'ecclesiastical self-determination’.
When Bishop Apollinary would not change his mind, he was removed from his position as Vicar-Bishop of San Francisco, and as rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco. Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky) was subsequently suspended by the ROCOR.
Episcopal ordination, 1927
On 6 February, 1927, Archimandrite Alexei (Panteleyev) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by the Holy Synod of the ROCOR.
Episcopal service
Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) was assigned to be the Bishop of San Francisco (California). He was to replace Bishop Apollinary (Koshevoy).
On 10 June, 1928, Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) sanctified the Temple of Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker in Seattle, Washington.
In 1929 he sanctified the Temple of the Holy Myrrhbearers in Sacramento, California.
In November, 1934, Bishop Alexei was assigned to be the Bishop of the Aleutians and Alaska by Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky), who succeeded Metropolitan Platon after his repose on 20 April, 1934.
In 1935, Patriarch Varnava (Rosić) of Belgrade and Serbia invited the heads of the dioceses who had left the ROCOR in 1926 (Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky) of Paris and Western Europe, and Metropolitan Theophilus (Feofil) (Pashkovsky) of America and Canada), to travel to Belgrade and attempt to reunite them with the ROCOR. As a result, the 4 metropolitan districts (the Near East, the Far East, Western Europe, North America) returned to unity. All the hierarchs involved signed a Statute, according to which, “The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, consisting of the dioceses, missions, and churches located outside the borders of Russia is an inseparable part of the Russian Orthodox Church, temporarily existing on autonomous principles” ; and that “the highest legislative, judicial and administrative organ of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad is the Council of Bishops who gather yearly, and its executive organ is the Holy Synod of Bishops”.
At the Council of Bishops meeting of the ROCOR (December, 1937-January, 1938), Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) delivered a report on various articles from Russian Orthodox newspapers in America. The articles had suggested adopting the New Calendar, and the partial introduction of the Russian language into the Divine Services. Bishop Alexei stated unambiguously that he did not support either of these. The Council decided to refuse to allow any such changes. Bishop Alexei was named as member, and representative of the North American Metropolitan District on the Synod of Bishops until the next Council of Bishops was convened.
In 1939, at the session of the Council of Bishops of the North American Metropolitan District of the ROCOR, which met in New York, Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) placed on the agenda the “question of the canonisation of Father Herman [of Alaska]. The report of Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) of the Aleutians and Alaska was read. After discussion it was decreed :
To approve the report of Bishop Alexei concerning the canonisation of Father Herman ; To entrust a committee, composed of three : Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky), Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev), and Bishop Leonty (Turkevich) ; the investigation of the life and miracles of Father Herman, inviting, at their discretion, laymen to participate on this committee ; to issue a Life of Father Herman ; and, to publish in the Church periodical press material on Father Herman and his miracles.
In the same year, a discussion of the canonisation of Father Herman was held in Sremtsi-Karlovtsy under the presidency of Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky).
According to Archimandrite Gerasim (Schmaltz), Bishop Alexei collected much very valuable information concerning Father Herman’s life, and wrote down many testimonies of miraculous signs from him.
Vladyka Alexei (Panteleyev) using an abacus to calculate
In 1942, Bishop Alexei accepted the assignment to serve as the assistant dean of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.
In late 1944, the North American Metropolia decided to send representatives to the enthronement of the new Patriarch of Moscow, Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow, which took place on 4 February, 1945. Subsequently, “Bishop Alexei of Alaska, 2 archpriests, and a legal expert were dispatched to Moscow”. Due to the fact that World War II was still underway at the time, the delegation of the North American Metropolia, which was also to take part in the Local Council of the Russian Church held at the same time, due to travel difficulties, arrived too late for the enthronement and the Council.
Bishop Alexei, however, did deliver a report on the situation in North America to the newly enthroned Patriarch Alexei I. This report resulted in an “Ukaz” (decree) from Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) outlining conditions for the North American Metropolia to “unite with the Mother Russian Church”. The North American Metropolia refused these conditions. The main reason for the refusal was that (under the pressure and demands of the USSR authorities), the conditions included not only acceptance, but also approbation of and co-operation with the Soviet government.
Retirement, 1944 ; teaching
At the end of 1944, Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) retired. He then lived in Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, where he taught also at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.
In 1945, upon Archbishop Arseny’s repose, Bishop Alexei succeeded Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsov) as Dean of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.
Move to the Russian Exarchate, 1946
In January, 1946, Bishop Makary (Ilyinsky) of Brooklyn, and Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) of Alaska, joined the Moscow Patriarchate, “which was met with an anathema by the North American Metropolia”. The Moscow Patriarchate had established an exarchate in the USA in 1933.
Move to the USSR, 1946
In October, 1946, Bishop Alexei (Panteleyev) emigrated to the Soviet Union.
On 28 November, 1946, he was elevated to the dignity of archbishop by Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky).
Archbishop Alexei (Panteleyev) was then assigned to the Diocese of Omsk and Tarsk.
On 13 May, 1947, the parishes of the Tyumen Oblast (province) were added to the diocese, which resulted in a change of the name of the diocese. His title was changed to “Archbishop of Omsk and Tyumen”.
It was reported that while he was serving in Omsk, Archbishop Alexei was “constantly watched by the NKVD”.
Repose, 1948
On 11 September, 1948, Archbishop Alexei (Panteleyev) fell asleep in the Lord in Omsk.
On 15 September, 1948, the funeral service was served Archbishop Bartholomew (Gorodtsov) of Novosibirsk and Barnaul in the Omsk Dormition Cathedral. A large crowd of believers was in the cathedral.
Dormition Cathedral, Omsk
Following the funeral services, the body of Archbishop Alexei (Panteleyev) was interred in the Old Cemetery in North Omsk.
— Bishop of San Francisco 1927-1934. Preceded by : Bishop Apollinary (Koshevoy). Succeeded by : Archbishop Theophilus (Pashkovsky).
— Bishop of the Aleutians and Alaska 1934-1944. Preceded by Bishop Antonin (Pokrovsky). Succeeded by : Bishop John (Zlobin).
— Archbishop of Omsk and Tarsk 1946-1947. Preceded by Bishop Antonin (Pokrovsky). Succeeded by : (diocese name change).
— Archbishop of Omsk and Tyumen 1947-1948. Preceded by : (diocese name change). Succeeded by : Archbishop Palladius (Sherstennikov).
References
“The Russian Mission in North America”
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Russian Leaders Abroad biography
Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography
Additional information :
Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).
Alexandrov, E A, “Russians in North America : A biographical Dictionary” (Hamden, CT, San Francisco, CA, St. Petersburg : Congress of Russian Americans, 2005), p. 19.
Kireev, Protodeacon Alexander, “Dioceses and Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church 1943-2002” (Moscow, 2002), pp. 202-203.
(Lemeshevsky), Metropolitan Manuel, “Russian Orthodox Hierarchs from the Period from 1893 to 1965” (inclusive) (Erlangen, 1987)
US National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form for Holy Ascension Cathedral, Unalaska. Available here
Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)
Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)
Orthodoxwiki article about Holy Ascension Cathedral, Unalaska
Orthodoxwiki article about the ROCOR and the Metropolia/OCA
Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia (Patriarchate of Moscow)
OCA article about the "Metropolia"
Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America