In 1992, after the proclamation of stateIndependence of the Republic of Latvia, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decided to provide self-government of the Latvian Orthodox Church. Her leadership had serious work to do. One of those whose merits in the development of the Orthodox Church of independent Latvia cannot be overestimated is Alexander Kudryashov, whose article is dedicated to his biographies and achievements.
early years
The future Metropolitan of Riga and All Latvia, Alexander (Kudryashov), was born in 1939 in the village of Rudzaty, Preili District, into a religious family.
В 1964 году он получил диплом Педагогического Institute of the city of Daugavpils, where he studied at the Faculty of History and Philology. Then, for several years, Vladyka was a teacher in Russian secondary schools, engaged in teaching Russian language and literature.
Difficult path to vocation
In the late 1970s, Alexander Kudryashov decided to fulfill his long-standing desire and become an Orthodox priest.
In the Soviet period, although the church was officiallyseparated from the state, it was under its most severe control. In connection with this, the then Metropolitan of Riga and Latvia, Leonid, had to apply to the Council for Religious Affairs, acting under the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR, with the question of the possibility of ordaining Kudryashov to holy orders. The answer to the request was negative, as the officials considered inadmissible ordination as a school teacher. However, the future Metropolitan of the Latvian Church was not one of those who could be forced to change his mind.
Ordination
Seeing the aspiration of Alexander Kudryashov to devotehimself to the church ministry, Metropolitan Leonid blessed him to quit his former job and leave for a time from the Latvian SSR. As it turned out later, this decision was correct. Alexander Kudryashov went to Moscow and entered the seminary.
After studying in 1982, he was ordained a deacon, and a few months later - a presbyter to the St. Elias Church, located in the village of Ust-Sons of the Perm diocese.
Homecoming
At that time in the Orthodox churches of RigaThe diocese was a great shortage of priests. In 1983, Metropolitan Leonid appealed to the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR. This time he managed to get permission to appoint Alexander Kudryashov as the head of the Preobrazhensky Church of Riga with the elevation of the archpriest.
A year later, the priest became a dean in the temples of Madona and Valmiera districts.
Further activities in the church arena
In 1985, Kudryashov Alexander was appointed editor of the Orthodox Church calendar, which was published in Russian and Latvian languages.
Since 1986, he has been a member of the diocesanadvice. In addition, since 1989, Vladyka carried obedience as editor of the "Bulletin of the Riga-Latvian Diocese", and also dealt with issues related to the publication of the Russian-Latvian church calendar for the flock of the Latvian Diocese. Among the achievements of the secular period is also the publication of the first Orthodox bilingual prayer book in post-war Latvia.
Despite the big employment, Kudryashov constantlyperfected his theological knowledge. To this end, he entered the correspondence school at the Moscow Theological Seminary, a diploma which he received in 1989.
Hierotonia as bishop
In 1989, Metropolitan Leonid turnedpetition to the Holy Synod and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In it, he referred to his old age and asked Alexander Kudryashov to be appointed Bishop of Daugavpils and Vicar of the Riga Diocese. The petition was accepted and granted.
On July 10 of the same year, A. Kudryashov was tonsured as a monk, and the next day he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
В конце июля 1989 года в Богоявленском патриаршем The Cathedral of the Russian capital held christianity. It was headed by Metropolitan Juvenalius. The solemn service was attended by Metropolitan of Rostov and Novocherkassk, Novosibirsk and Barnaul, Tula and Belev, and Archbishop Chuvash Cheboksary, the bishops of Kaluga and Borovsk, Tashkent and Central Asia, Orel and Bryansk, Kalinin and Kashin, Chisinau and Moldova.
After the granting of self-government by the Latvian Orthodox Church
September 8, 1990 Metropolitan diedLeonid. In connection with this sad event, Alexander Kudryashov was appointed temporary diocesan governor, and after a fixed deadline, he became bishop of Riga and Latvia.
In August 1992, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church wasmade a historic decision. According to Tomos, signed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, the name of the Latvian Orthodox Church (LPRTS) was restored, and it became independent. The self-government concerned administrative, educational and economic issues, relations with the state power of Latvia, etc. At the same time, the Church of Latvia on canonical issues remained in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. At the same time, Alexander Kudryashov remained head of the LPRTS and received the title "Riga and All Latvia".
Achievements
Self-guided LPRTS to deal withmany problems. First of all, it was necessary to carry out the restoration of temples and parishes, as well as to overcome the spiritual emptiness of the unbelieving population. Among the most difficult issues were the lack of priests and the return of church property.
Primate of the Church of Latvia Alexander Kudryashovdid a great job. The Theological Seminary began to operate in Riga in 1994, and the process of returning the property that the LPRC had until 1940 began. On his instructions and under his supervision, thousands of documents were raised from the archives and negotiations were held with the authorities.
In addition, the Riga Nativity of Christ and St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral of Liepāja was revived, and the Orthodox church of the holy Simeon and Anna Jelgava was restored from the ruins.
Now you know who is Metropolitan AlexanderKudryashov. In the biography of this person there is no description of heroic deeds. However, the results of his works are obvious today and will certainly be highly appreciated by future generations of Orthodox residents of Latvia.
