Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff

Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff (1868-1946)

and

Matushka Nadezha Gennadievna Prozoroff

Grigory may be spelt Grigoriy, Gregory, Gregor, Grigor.

Prozoroff may be spelt Prozorov, Prosorov, Prosoroff, Prozor.

Early life of Grigory Petrovich Prozoroff

In about 1868, Grigory Petrovich Prozoroff was born in Yaroslavl, of the Yaroslavl Governorate in the Russian Empire. Little information is available about his earlier life. Nevertheless, it is clear that he was raised in the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church, and that he was formed as a faithful Orthodox Christian.

During much of his early life, the Diocesan Bishop of the Yaroslavl Diocese was Archbishop Jonathan (Rudney), a very energetic pastor not unlike Saint Innocent (Veniaminov) in some ways. Vladyka Jonathan (it is written) established in the 20 poorest parishes (thanks to the donors he found) new Temples which were then built, with buildings for the parishes and schools. He constantly visited the diocese, where he sanctified new and renovated Temples. He served in remote parishes on their Altar Feast-days and holy days, gave homilies, and met with the congregations. This behaviour was both exceptional for his time, and a good example for clergy and seminarians under his omophor. He also set up a diocesan women's school in Yaroslavl. Moreover, he established the theological seminaries in Rostov and Uglich (both in the Yaroslavl Governorate), and he worked hard to restore and renovate the shrines and historical monuments of Rostov the Great.

Higher education

It is not known concretely where Grigory Petrovich received his theological education. However, it is likely that he did study at the Yaroslavl Theological Seminary of Saint Dmitri of Rostov. It was situated in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in the city.

Saint Dmitry of Rostov Seminary, Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Yaroslavl

1802 sketch of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Yaroslavl

View of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Yaroslavl

Marriage

During or after the completion of his theological education, Gregory Petrovich Prozoroff was married to Nadezhda Gennadievna (family name unknown at present).

Ordinations

It is evident that Grigory Petrovich Prozoroff was ordained both to the Holy Diaconate and to the Holy Priesthood, but no details are available at present.

Pastoral service

The first places of his pastoral service are unknown. However, if he were ordained to the Holy Priesthood even as late as 1898 (at the canonical age of 30), he would already have been serving for nearly 20 years by the time of the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917.

Revolutions of 1917 ; Civil War, 1917-1923

After the 2 revolutions of 1917, there followed the Russian Civil War, during 1917-1923. During this period, at an increasing rate, the new atheistic and communist government began to close monasteries, seminaries and Temples.

Exile

Very soon, Father Grigory Prozoroff and his family fled towards the east in exile. It is not known to what degree they suffered during their progress through Siberia, but everyone faced some level of suffering. The suffering of some was intense. The Civil War raged on throughout the whole territory of the former Russian Empire, including Siberia.

Well before 1922, Father Grigory Prozoroff and his family had arrived in Vladivostok (after having travelled 8,763 km/5,445 mi), in which were many White Movement refugees, as well as others. Although it was a port of possible exit, there were different difficulties yet to face.

There, military forces of many European countries were present (mostly from 1918-1920) in order “to defend their interests”. The Imperial Japanese Army was the last to withdraw. This occurred in October, 1922.

Although the easily accessible records refer only to the immigration of Father Grigory to the USA, it is evident that his family also travelled there.

Transfer to North America, 1924

In 1922, Father Grigory made his formal declaration that he wished to become a naturalised citizen of the USA. It is not indicated in the documents where the declaration was made, but it could have taken place in Vladivostok, or in Kobe, Japan. Kobe, Japan, had had a consulate of the USA since 1902.

According to the arrival documents, on 15 May, 1924, the Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff arrived in Seattle, Washington, USA, from Vladivostok, via Kobe, Japan. His departure from Japan may be explained by the 1922 withdrawal of Japanese forces from Vladivostok. Therefore, many refugees found themselves waiting for a time in Japan for determinations to be made regarding their future. Until 1922, Vladivostok had not yet been consolidated into the Soviet Union.

According to the landing documents, Father Grigory travelled across the Pacific Ocean on the RMS Empress of Asia (a Canadian Pacific Steamship).

RMS Empress of Asia

Reception into the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America, 1924

When Father Grigory Prozoroff arrived in North America, he was received into the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (ROGCCNA).

Father Gregory's landing documents indicated that he expected to travel to Sitka, Alaska. However, it is recorded in the passenger manifest that after landing in Seattle, he had continued onwards, and that he left the ship in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Sitka, Alaska

Serving in Sitka, Alaska, usually meant serving primarily at Saint Michael's Cathedral in the city (although there were other places in the Diocese of Alaska to which he might have been assigned).

Saint Michael's Cathedral, Sitka

Transfer to Holy Resurrection Church, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1930-1931

In 1930, the Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff was transferred from Alaska to Canada, to the omophor of Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov), and he was assigned to Holy Resurrection Temple in Vancouver, British Columbia.

He arrived in this parish only 5 years after its foundation. Archimandrite Antonin (Pokrovsky), who had overseen the establishment of the parish and the construction of the first Temple in Vancouver, had been transferred away to the USA.

Holy Resurrection Church, Vancouver, BC, in 1930

Father Grigory had arrived also just after the economic crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression. The parish was confronted with paying a large mortgage at a time when the people (who already were not well-paid in general) were having trouble finding work. Regardless, Father Grigory's efforts in the parish must have been encouraging and appreciated, since the parish history describes his time there as “rather short service at Holy Resurrection Church”. This phrase expresses a form of classical Canadian understatement. It clearly expresses regret that he was transferred away too soon.

In 1932, in Vancouver, Father Grigory was succeeded by Archpriest Alexander Kiziun (or "Kizhun").

Transfer to the USA, 1931

In 1931, the Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff was transferred south to the USA.

On 4 October, 1931, he crossed the border from British Columbia to the USA at Sumas, Washington. His crossing at this point indicates that he was probably travelling either by private automobile, or by bus. His entry document noted that his place of residence in Canada had been West Vancouver, British Columbia.

At first, Father Grigory served in the San Francisco area of California.

Transfer to Los Angeles, 1935

In 1935, the Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff was transferred from San Francisco, and he was assigned to serve as the Rector of the Holy Virgin Mary Temple (Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Rescuer of the Perishing”) on Micheltorena Street in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles. At the same time, he was assigned to serve as the Dean of the region (now known as the Pacific South West Deanery).

When Father Grigory arrived in the parish, he arrived at a very difficult moment. Upon his arrival, he was replacing the Mitred Archpriest Peter Popov who had arrived in the parish earlier that year, but who had perished in an automobile accident not long afterwards. Father Grigory came to a grieving parish, and also to a grieving Matushka Julia Nikolaevna Popov, who remained in the parish and who sang in the choir. Thus, the parish then had 2 experienced matushkas in their midst.

Under Father Grigory's pastorship, and with the active help and support of Matushka Nadezhda Gennadievna, the parish life became more stable.

The parishioners became freer from the stress of unemployment and poverty.

Father Grigory showed himself to be a talented administrator, and he wisely used the parish resources to pay off the debts of the parish. Besides this, he used these resources for the purpose of acquiring additional land for the parish. During his years of service, the parish purchased 2 parcels of land, one with a house, which then was used as the rectory of the parish.

In 1938-1939, the parish hall was constructed, in accordance with the plans of A A Tolubeyev and L G Vasian. Then, using the design of L G Vasian, the Temple itself was enlarged so as to provide for a choir, and a Crucifixion chapel with an alcove for panikhidas and lityas (short panikhida).

On 28 March, 1943, the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff fell asleeep in the Lord in Los Angeles, and his funeral services were presided over by Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff in the Holy Virgin Mary Temple on Micheltorena Street. There were panikhidas served on 28 and 29 March in the Temple. On 30 March, a Memorial Divine Liturgy was served in the Temple.

Funeral of Sergei Rachmaninoff, 1943

By 1944, the financial status of the parish was in excellent condition. All the debts had been retired, and all the property was held without any debt.

Father Grigory suggested the possible formation of a mutual-aid credit union.

In the context of all the activities of the parish, Matushka Nadezhda Gennadievna took a very active part.

Holy Virgin Mary Church, Los Angeles, California

Arrival of an assistant, 1946

In 1946, on Great and Holy Thursday, Archimandrite John (Shahovskoy) arrived in Los Angeles from Europe. He had been assigned to serve as second priest.

Repose, 1946

However, very soon after the arrival of Father John, on 11 May, 1946 (during the Paschal season), Father Grigory Prozoroff fell asleep in the Lord unexpectedly.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of Priest were offered in Holy Virgin Mary Temple in Los Angeles, California.

After the funeral services, the body of the Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff was interred in a city cemetery.

Reflections

When Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff reposed in the Lord, he left the Holy Virgin Mary Parish in Los Angles in what was described as an

 outstanding condition.  There was, finally, confidence among 
 parishioners about the future of their church, built with such 
 love and devotion.

The Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff is not to be confused with the Archimandrite Gregory (Prozeroff). He was born in 1857 in Yaroslavl ; he reposed in Christ in 1935 in San Francisco, California, and he was interred in the Serbian Cemetery at Jackson, California.

References

Russian Religious Persons Abroad biography

« 50-Tилетний Юбилей Свято-Богородицкого Прихода Иконы Божией Матери Bзыскание Погибших » [“Golden Jubilee – Holy Virgin Mary – Russian Orthodox Cathedral Parish”] (Los Angeles, California : Parish Council, 1973), pp. 23, 26-27.

Additional information :

Archpriest Grigory Prozoroff is mentioned in the book "Jubilee Collection in Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America" (Part 1, New York, 1944, p. 309).

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Archimandrite Antonin (Pokrovsky)

Archimandrite John (Shahovskoy)

Archpriest Alexander Kiziun (or "Kizhun")

List of clergy who served at Holy Resurrection Sobor in Vancouver, British Columbia (available also in Russian)

"Cathedral of Sergei Rachmaninoff Farewell, Los Angeles" (12 October, 2017)

Drevo Encyclopaedia article about the Saint Dmitri Yaroslavl Orthodox Theological Seminary

Report of the Funeral of S V Rachmaninoff, published in “The New Journal”, 2013

Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Cathedral in Sitka, Alaska

Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Cathedral in Sitka, Alaska