Sophronius Bishop of Irkutsk
c. 1703 – 1771
Eighteenth-century bishop of Irkutsk, born in the Chernigov region, who labored as a missionary and pastor across Siberia and is honored as a wonderworker.
Our Father among the Saints Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk, Wonderworker of All Siberia
Life
Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk, was an eighteenth-century Russian hierarch and missionary, honored as a wonderworker of all Siberia. His family name was Kristalevsky, and he was born around 1703-1704 in the Chernigov region of Little Russia. He is commemorated on March 30, the day of his repose, and on June 30, the day of the uncovering of his relics.
He studied at the Kiev Theological Academy and entered the Krasnogorsk Transfiguration monastery, where an elder brother already served, receiving monastic tonsure on April 23, 1730, and taking the name Sophronius in honor of Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem. After ordination he served as treasurer of the Zolotonosh monastery and as steward to a bishop, and was then called to the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Petersburg, where he rose to be treasurer and afterward Superior.
On April 18, 1753 he was consecrated Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk, arriving in his vast Siberian diocese the following year. As bishop he reorganized the diocesan administration, monasteries, and parishes, issued decrees for the education of the clergy and the right order of the services, and gave himself to the conversion of the pagan peoples and the strengthening of the Christians of Siberia. He was known for his personal asceticism, eating sparingly and passing much of the night in prayer.
Saint Sophronius reposed on March 30, 1771. His body was found to remain incorrupt in the period before his burial, and this, together with miracles recorded at his tomb, gave rise to his veneration. He was glorified by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1918.
Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
Let us glorify with love the Hierarch and namesake of sobriety,
O faithful, the special adornment of the Church of Irkutsk, our Father and Hierarch Sophronios,
for he is the guardian of that city and land, and an intercessor for our souls.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed Sophronios,
and you governed monastic communities well;
and being honored with the rank of Hierarch, you kept watch over the flock of Irkutsk.
Thus, after your repose, you received the gift of miracles from God,
and now entreat Christ God to deliver us from misfortunes, and to save our souls.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Timeline4 momentsReadHide
- 1730Monastic tonsureTonsured at the Krasnogorsk Transfiguration monastery on April 23, taking the name Sophronius.
- 1753Consecrated Bishop of IrkutskConsecrated Bishop of Irkutsk and Nerchinsk on April 18, arriving in Siberia the next year.
- 1771ReposeReposed on March 30; his body was found incorrupt before burial.
- 1918GlorificationGlorified by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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