Anthony Metropolit of Moscow Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' (1572–early 1581). Date of Birth: 01.01.1501

1. Early Life and Monastic Career
2. Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia
3. Troubled Tenure and Controversy
4. Legacy and Death

Early Life and Monastic Career

Antonius was a married man with a son before he embraced monasticism. He likely began his monastic journey at the Novospassky Monastery, where Archimandrite Galaktion served as abbot. Antonius became Bishop of Sarsk in 1565, assuming the role of abbot at the monastery. In 1568, he was elevated to Bishop of Polotsk and Velikie Luki.

Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

In May 1572, Antonius was elected Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. His election was preceded by an ecclesiastical council that granted permission to Tsar Ivan the Terrible to marry for a fourth time. During his time as metropolitan, he presided over a council in 1573 that addressed the issue of monastery estates. The council decreed that large monasteries with ample estates should no longer receive additional land, while smaller monasteries with limited resources could acquire estates with the sovereign's approval.

Antonius played a significant role in various ecclesiastical matters. In 1577, he sent a letter to the Solovetsky Monastery, imploring the monks to pray for victory in the Livonian campaign. He also issued letters to monasteries exempting them from paying certain fees. In 1580, a council ruling forbade the Church from acquiring or accepting land donations.

Troubled Tenure and Controversy

Antonius's tenure was marked by turmoil. The Osipiv Prikaz archives held a "search case against Metropolitan Antonius and Bishop Tarasii of Krutitsy" dating from 1583-1584. During the renewed executions in Moscow in 1575, the heads of those executed were thrown into the metropolitan's courtyard.

Despite these challenges, Antonius oversaw the canonization of Saint Euphrosyne of Suzdal during his episcopacy. In 1578, the relics of Saint Prince Michael and Saint Boyar Theodore of Chernigov were transferred from Chernigov to Moscow, leading to the establishment of a feast day on February 14th. Tsar Ivan and the metropolitan sent a prayerful "epistle" to the Chernigov miracle workers seeking their consent for the transfer of their relics.

Legacy and Death

In 1579, Tsarevich Ivan Ioannovich wrote the life of Saint Antonius of Siya, who was canonized the same year. That same year witnessed the appearance of the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

It is believed that Antonius was buried in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. However, it is more likely that he retired to the Novospassky Monastery in 1581 and was buried there after his death.