Anthony Vadkovsky

Alexander Vadkovsky was born into a large family as the son of Vasily Yovlevich Vadkovsky, From the age of two, he lived with his family in the village of Matchurka. At ten years old, he began his education at the lower theological school in Tambov and, after graduating in 1860, continued his studies at the theological seminary in the same city. Subsequently, he was awarded the title of extraordinary professor, which was equivalent to the rank of State Councillor.'''' In 1872, he married Elizaveta Penkovskaya, who was already suffering from tuberculosis and died seven years later.' From this marriage, two children were born, who died of diphtheria in 1882. Following these personal losses, Alexander Vadkovsky decided to enter monastic life.' He was tonsured as a monk on March 4, 1883, by Archbishop Palladius of Kazan, and received the monastic name Anthony in honor of Bishop of Kazan. Two days later, he was ordained as a hieromonk.' He continued his academic and teaching duties at the Kazan Theological Academy, where he was one of the two clergy lecturers.' On 14 November 1883, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed as the superior of the . In 1884, he was appointed as the inspector of the Kazan Theological Academy. In 1885, Konstantin Pobedonostsev, the Ober-Procurator of the Most Holy Synod, visited Kazan and recognized Archimandrite Anthony as a devout monk, capable organizer, and educated theologian. With his support, Anthony was transferred to the position of inspector at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy.'''' == Bishop ==

Bishop of Vyborg On 3 May 1887, Anthony was consecrated as the Bishop of Vyborg, serving as a vicar of the . He was also appointed as the rector of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy. During his tenure, he played a significant role in enhancing the level of theological education at the academy and encouraged students to engage in practical church work, including pastoral and educational activities in Saint Petersburg parishes.'''' He established a student circle that conducted theological and moral meetings in prisons, shelters, and parishes. Additionally, he supported the creation of a Byzantine studies department at the academy and sought to increase the number of monks educated in theology. Anthony continued to support the Kazan Theological Academy by donating 287 books in 1891 and contributing 5,000 rubles in 1899 for student scholarships. Bishop of Finland and Vyborg In 1892, Bishop Anthony was transferred to the . Around this time, he was officially introduced to Empress Maria Feodorovna, who became his patroness.' In the Grand Duchy of Finland, Anthony focused on developing the missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church while striving to avoid associating the faith solely with the Russification efforts in the region.' He established 14 new parishes, facilitated the construction of 10 churches, and initiated Orthodox publications in both Finnish and Russian. Additionally, he founded the country’s first female monastery, began translating liturgical texts from Church Slavonic to Finnish, opened more parish schools, and engaged in various charitable activities. His efforts played a significant role in the future establishment of the Orthodox Church of Finland.'''' In 1893, he organized a congress of Finnish Orthodox clergy in Serdobol and frequently visited the parishes under his jurisdiction. In 1892, he also published a volume of his works on homiletics and church history in Saint Petersburg, titled On the History of Christian Preaching. He was awarded a Doctor of Theology degree in 1895.' In 1893, he became the head of a commission for dialogue with Old Catholics,' a position he held for five years. The commission aimed to facilitate the potential entry of some Old Catholics into the Orthodox Church. Bishop Anthony, valuing dialogue, advocated for the acceptance of the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church by Old Catholics, particularly in ecclesiology, where theological differences were most pronounced, and the abandonment of the Filioque clause in the creed. In 1897, as a leading hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, he made an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign. During this visit, he engaged in dialogue with Anglicans and received honorary doctorates from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.' He also traveled to Germany to meet with Old Catholic theologians. Upon returning to Russia, on 24 December 1898, he was appointed Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg, the highest-ranking hierarch in the Russian Orthodox Church, succeeding the late Palladius Rayev.' == Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg ==

Pastoral and charitable activities As Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg, Anthony regularly visited prisoners, adhering to the traditional Russian practice of church hierarchs advocating for their welfare to the authorities.'' In 1909, he founded an archaeological museum at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Excommunication of Leo Tolstoy On 22 February 1901, the Most Holy Synod declared the writer Leo Tolstoy an enemy of the church and excommunicated him. This decision was primarily prompted by the content of Tolstoy's novel Resurrection, which included a critical depiction of an Orthodox service in a prison chapel and challenged the Russian Orthodox Church's position on social issues in Russia. The excommunication also addressed Tolstoy's criticisms of the Russian church, his rejection of the sacraments, and his views on the salvation of the soul. Metropolitan Anthony was a principal initiator of the excommunication, although Konstantin Pobedonostsev had been advocating for this action for some time. In the face of changes in Russia On 22 March 1905, the Most Holy Synod, chaired by Metropolitan Anthony, presented a memorandum to Emperor Nicholas II. This document requested changes in the legal status of the Russian Orthodox Church, the convening of a Local Council, and the election of a Patriarch. He emphasized to Prime Minister Sergei Witte that to address the church's situation, four legal changes were essential: • Abolition of the Most Holy Synod; • Establishment of a collegial governing body composed of clergy; • Convening a Local Council; • Election of a Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. He permitted the Philosophical-Religious Assemblies organized by Dmitry Merezhkovsky and Zinaida Gippius and allowed Orthodox clergy to participate. Additionally, he initiated discussions within the church on various aspects of Orthodox monasticism, including the monks' roles in Russian society, their interactions with different social strata (particularly the intelligentsia), and potential operational changes in monasteries. Metropolitan Anthony opposed the involvement of Orthodox clergy in political organizations and deemed it inappropriate for clergy to run for the State Duma after 1905. He believed that direct political engagement by hierarchs, including the formation of a clerical party, would undermine the church's authority, which was already weakened. In a conversation with Dubrovin, he expressed his disapproval of right-wing parties, stating:I have no sympathy for your right-wing parties and consider you terrorists: left-wing terrorists throw bombs, and right-wing parties throw stones at everyone who disagrees with them. Anthony’s respected status among the clergy allowed him to maintain unity among church hierarchs during his lifetime, with no significant conflicts among bishops.' An exception was the 1905 attempt by conservative bishops , Anthony, Hermogenes, and Seraphim to remove him from the Synod. Despite his efforts to mobilize parish clergy and advocate for internal church reforms, his political views did not gain widespread support among most priests, who were elected to the Duma and aligned with various factions.' Illness and death After 1910, Metropolitan Anthony's declining health necessitated a reduction in his activities. His final meeting with the Synod occurred on October 16, 1912, and he died a few days later.'''' Anthony’s funeral took place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Petersburg. The service was led by Metropolitan Vladimir of Moscow, with 22 other bishops, 60 archimandrites and protopriests, and 150 hieromonks and white clergy in attendance.'''' == Notes ==