Philaret of Moscow, a modern Russian prelate of much celebrity, was born of pious parentage at Kolomna in 1782. Kis lay name was Vasilj Drosdotc. He received his education in the Theological Seminary nt' Muscowr. He commenced his public career as tutor of the Greek and Latin languages. His oratorical gifts VIIL— F
being soon observed, he was appointed preacher in 180G at the Sergian monastery of Troizka, and after having removed to St. Petersburg, entered the monastic life, in order to open to himself the higher avenues of the Church, which only the white clergy can enter. In 1810 he was translated to the Academy of Alexander Newskj as bachelor of theological science ; in 181 1 he was made archimandrite, and in 1812 became rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. In 1817 he was raised to the bishopric, and was appointed successively bishop of Twer, Iaroslaw, and Moscow. In the episco- pal see of Moscow, to which he was appointed in 1821, he remained until his death, Nov. 19, 18(57. As the sen- ior Russian prelate, the eminent orator and professor, the theologian justly renowned in the Christ ian world, the strict supporter of the Church, and the true states- man, Philaret, from his tenderest youth until the last day of his prolonged life, was animated by a burning ami constant love for Russia. In the fulfilment of the mission which fell to his lot, he elevated himself by his spirit above the time, and did not allow himself to be captivated by any narrowness of mind. All that knew him know likewise that in the height of his intelligence he considered the relative importance of all the mani- festations in the Christian world, whether within or without the orthodox Church. He would not permit the appellation of heretics to such of the Christian dis- senters as had come into existence since the oecumeni- cal councils, and consequently had not been condemned by them. He was exempt from fanaticism in his ad- ministrations, and yet he knew the limits and measures of that which stood below. His inexhaustible intellect, sound counsels, and thorough acquaintance with the re- ligious and social life of the people made him the friend of the crowned heads of Russia; and he was by them selected as confidential adviser in all important ques- tions concerning the good of the empire. Alexander I even told him who was to be the successor to his throne before the future emperor knew of it. In the late Crimean war his words and sacrificing example re- vived a patriotic feeling throughout the land; and to him is ascribed the manifesto which led to the abolish- ment of the anti-Christian serfdom. For over twenty- five years he was not present at the Holy Synod, yet all important documents concerning spiritual affairs were submitted to him; and his vivid words called out sym- pathy with the poor co-religionists in the island of Crete. In 1813 Philaret received a decoration from the emperor Alexander I for his oratory. Sermons, lect- ures, etc., of his have been printed in large numbers and translated into foreign languages. The synodial printing establishment at Moscow alone printed 360 of his compositions to the number of 2,0(1(1.22:5 copies. Metropolitan Philaret was really one of the greatest scholars of his Church. Almost all the now living communicants of the orthodox Russo- Greek Church have learned its doctrines from the Catechism arranged by him. His greatest work is his History qftfa Rus- sian i hurrh, of which a German translation was brought out in 1872. This history was really the first work of importance in Russian ecclesiastical annals. It was published from 1850 to 1859, and, by order of the Holy Synod, was introduced into the ecclesiastical seminaries (institutions ranking between the ecclesiastical schools and ecclesiastical academies). Within ten years four editions were published. The author divides the his- tory of the. Russian Church into five periods: the first closes with the inroads of the Mongolians in 1237; the second embraces the time of the subjection of Russia by the Mongolians, 1238 to 1409; the third extends to the establishment of a patriarchate, 1587; the fourth to the abolition of the patriarchate in 1719: the fifth com- prises the administration of the Church of the Holy Synod. (The value of the German translation is con- siderably enhanced by an appendix containing l'hila- rct's treatise on the Liturgy of the Oriental Grt i /.' ( lunch and the Catechism of the Orthodox Christian Doctrine.)
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PHILEMON
Philarel published, besides this history of the Russian Church, the following works: .1 System of Christian Doctrines (2 vols.): I Work on tin Saints of Russia: - Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles of tht Slavi: !/>■ Liturgy ofth Russian Church before the Invasion of the Mongolians: - .1 Work on >/<> Church Fathers (3 vols., and ;ni extract from it as a text-1 k) : .1 Commen- tary to tin Epistlt in tin Galatians: AnOutlim of tin Theological Literaturt of Russia (2 vols.): Sermons, Homilies, and Addresses | l vols.), of which a detailed ac- count is given bj ' M to in his Russian I. it* raturt . I M his persona] appearance and kindness of heart dean Stanley makes mention in his East. Ch. Lectures, p. 525. \- a preacher, the dean describes Philarel as one of the first of the present Cluireli of Russia, "whose striking man- ner renders bis sermons impressive even to those who cannot follow the language." See Meth. Qu. Rev. July, 1873, p. 498 sq.; Union Rev. .March. L869; Appleton's Annual Cyclop. 1867, art. Moscow : '/'/>< <>/,,</;.„■//,.< I it, m- turblatt (Bonn, 1873, Jan. and April); Ziorts Herald \pril 2, 1868; Otto, Russian Literature, p. 324 sq.: Dixon, /■',,, Russia, p. 29 sq. (J.H.W.)