Aleksei Zerchaninov

Biography

Born on March 9, 1848 in the village of Borisov, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast in the family of an Orthodox priest. In June 1871 Aleksei graduated from Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary with a right to enter the Theological Academy. Deliberately not used this right, that they might become a priest and to pastoral work, which felt a calling. On September 10, 1871, he is married and 15 October takes ordination to the priesthood. Served as rector in his native village, then became dean of Arzamas district and lawyers in several educational institutions. He was engaged in missionary work of the Synodal Church of the Old Believers, which scrutinize the Church Fathers and ecclesiastical history. More thorough study of patristics led him to the conviction of the truth of the Catholic faith. On January 9, 1896 he was admitted to existing rank in the Catholic Church. Zerchaninov was arrested on July 3, 1898 and placed in Suzdal jailed religious criminals. Released at the request of Natalia Ushakova on February 21, 1901, with the living conditions without a break on a farm, which he bought in the Nizhny Novgorod region shortly before his arrest. He was joined by the eldest son Julius, as a priest and abbot, after Father Aleksei Zerchaninov's union to Catholic Church. At your farm began to write books. His first work, "The Kingdom of God in the world," he wrote during his imprisonment. Another great essay was " Nepokladnye People" published in 1904 in Krakow under the pseudonym A.N. Zvezdina. According to the author, it almost photographically depicts the life of the Russian Orthodox clergy and what it brings to the secular power. The manuscript of the book was taken out of Russia Polish Jesuit Father Henry Podynkovskim. Following the publication of the manifesto of Toleration was able to settle in Saint Petersburg. In 1905, Zerchaninov became, along with Ivan Deubner and Eustachios Susalev, a priest of his native church united with Rome celebrating Mass in Saint Petersburg .In the spring of 1907 in Rome, was accepted by Pope Pius X. He was deeply moved and impressed kindness and good humor with which he was received by the successor of Peter, before it was unlike his familiar attitude of the Russian Orthodox bishops to the clergy. In Rome, he also met with the future Exarch Leonid Fyodorov. Also traveled to Lourdes and Lviv. On June 29, 1907 Zerchaninov was appointed governor by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky to Kamenetsekoy diocese. In November 1907, he returned to Saint Petersburg, where he created the Russian Greek-Catholic community, and he served on the apartment. On May 21, 1908 he was appointed head of mission for the Russian Catholics of the Eastern rite. Since 1912 was the vicar of the church of Saint Catherine in Saint Petersburg. After the establishment of the Exarchate of Russian Greek Catholic Church in Russia Father Aleksei became the secretary of the Exarch of Russian Catholics Father Leonid Fyodorov. In 1917 he took part in the Council of the Greek Catholic clergy. On May 1, 1919 he was arrested together with Metropolitan Ropp, released a month later. From 1917 to 1920 was secretary of the Exarch Fyodorov. He was arrested on April 12, 1920, but released after 4 days. In February 1920, was awarded an honorary prelate. Since March 1923 headed the northern part of the Russian Greek Catholic Church Exarchate. He was arrested on November 19, 1923 and in December released after signing on not to leave. On May 19, 1924 Zerchaninov was sentenced to 10 years in prison, because of advanced age punishment to three years in exile. Initially sent to Yekaterinburg, after to Tobolsk. On May 28, 1926 arrested in Tobolsk and sent to Obdorsk. On May 9, 1927 he was released of the links to the ban to stay in six major cities of the USSR. He lived in Smolensk, in 1929 he moved to Nizhny Novgorod, where he died on September 23, 1933.