Cloud of Witnesses
Hierarch14th century

Moses Archbishop of Novgorod

d. 1362

Archbishop of Novgorod who built many churches and monasteries and cared for his city in difficult times.

Feast Day
January 25
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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Moses, Archbishop of Novgorod

Life

Saint Moses was Archbishop of Novgorod in the fourteenth century, serving the see across two separate terms (1325-1330 and 1352-1359). Born in Novgorod and named Metrophanes (also recorded as Mitrophan) in worldly life, he left home secretly in his youth to enter Tver's Otroch (Christ-Child) monastery, where he was tonsured a monk. At his parents' insistence he later transferred to a monastery near Novgorod, where he was ordained a hieromonk and eventually appointed archimandrite of the Yuriev monastery.

After the death of Archbishop David of Novgorod, Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, consecrated Moses as Archbishop of Novgorod in 1325 -- recorded as the first episcopal consecration performed in Moscow. The civic strife, factional quarrels, and repeated fires of the city weighed heavily on him, and after four years he petitioned to retire. He withdrew in 1330 to the Kolmov monastery and afterward to Derevyanitsa, where he built a stone church of the Resurrection of Christ and lived in asceticism for more than twenty years. He returned to the archiepiscopal throne in 1352 at the people's request, and is remembered above all for the many churches and monasteries he raised in Novgorod and its environs. He reposed on January 25, 1362; his incorrupt relics were uncovered in 1686.

Timeline10 momentsReadHide
  1. 1325Consecrated Archbishop of NovgorodConsecrated by Saint Peter following the death of Archbishop David -- recorded as the first episcopal consecration performed in Moscow. First term: 1325-1330.
  2. 1330Retirement to monastic lifeBurdened by the city's quarrels, fires, and misfortunes, he petitioned to retire and withdrew to the Kolmov monastery, later relocating to Derevyanitsa.
  3. c. 1330s-1352Asceticism at DerevyanitsaBuilt a stone church of the Resurrection of Christ at Derevyanitsa and spent over twenty years in monastic asceticism.
  4. 1352Return to the archiepiscopal throneAt the request of the people of Novgorod he resumed the office of archbishop, beginning his second term (1352-1359), and built the Dormition church at Volotova.
  5. 1354Granted the polystavrionPatriarch Philotheus of Constantinople permitted him to wear polystavrion vestments ('many crosses') and sent him a set.
  6. 1355Skovorodka monasteryEstablished the Archangel Michael monastery at Skovorodka with its stone church.
  7. 1357Further church buildingBuilt additional churches at Radogovitsa, the Holy Spirit monastery, and a women's monastery.
  8. 1359Final withdrawalWithdrew to the Archangel Michael monastery at Skovorodsk.
  9. January 25, 1362ReposeReposed and was buried at the cathedral church of Novgorod.
  10. 1686Uncovering of relicsHis incorrupt relics were uncovered, and a further commemoration was established on April 19.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Church Building and Legacy

Saint Moses is remembered chiefly as a builder of churches and monasteries in and around Novgorod. During his second term he raised the Dormition church at Volotova (1352), the Archangel Michael monastery at Skovorodka with its stone church (1355), and in 1357 further churches at Radogovitsa, the Holy Spirit monastery, and a women's monastery. Even during his years of withdrawal he had built the stone church of the Resurrection of Christ at Derevyanitsa.

In 1354 the Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople granted him the right to wear the polystavrion -- vestments marked with 'many crosses' -- and sent him a set, a mark of honor for the see of Novgorod.

Relics

Saint Moses reposed on January 25, 1362, and was buried at the cathedral church of Novgorod. His relics were found incorrupt when they were uncovered in 1686, and a second commemoration of the saint was established on April 19.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 25