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Archbishop AlexyBishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom
Date of Birth: 17.12.1672
Country:  Operator |
Content:
- A Bishop's Journey: Alexey Titov, Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom
- A New Assignment
- Service in St. Petersburg and Moscow
- Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom
- Passing and Legacy
A Bishop's Journey: Alexey Titov, Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom
Early Life and OrdinationBishop Alexey Titov was born into the Titov family in 1667. He was the son of Vasily Afanasevich Titov, a Moscow resident, and Anna Ivanovna Kazimerova. He first gained attention in 1708 when he became the archimandrite of the Znamensky Monastery in Moscow. Five years later, in 1713, he was consecrated as Bishop of Tver.
A New Assignment
In 1714, Alexey Titov was appointed Bishop of Sarsk and Podonsk. This position, which often involved residing in Moscow, was a prominent one. However, in 1719, he was reassigned as Bishop of Vyatka and Velikoparm. This move, based on false accusations, deeply saddened Bishop Alexey.
Over time, he reconciled himself to his new role. He became the first bishop to focus on the conversion of the Udmurt people to Christianity. Though initial efforts were limited by a lack of clergy fluent in the Udmurt language, his efforts resulted in the baptism of 57 individuals.
Service in St. Petersburg and Moscow
In 1724, Bishop Alexey was summoned to St. Petersburg for clerical service. He participated in the somber funeral of Emperor Peter I in 1725. Two years later, he witnessed the coronation of Emperor Peter II in Moscow.
During his time in Vyatka, Bishop Alexey attended the Third All-Russian Missionaries' Congress. In 1731, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom
On September 26, 1733, Alexey Titov became Archbishop of Ryazan and Murom. With this appointment, he received instructions to counsel Old Believers, who were known as schismatics at the time. Archbishop Alexey responded that his efforts had been largely unsuccessful, as the schismatics "stopped their ears like the deaf asp." He suggested more severe measures, such as fasting and whipping. The Synod, however, reaffirmed its previous instructions to approach the schismatics in a pastoral manner.
Passing and Legacy
Archbishop Alexey Titov passed away on September 17, 1750, and was buried in the Dormition Cathedral in Ryazan. In 1799, his remains were transferred to the Arkhangelsky Cathedral, the burial place of Ryazan archbishops. In 1998, his relics were found together with those of other Ryazan saints. They were later interred in the Ryazan Trinity Monastery, alongside the relics of Saint Misael and Saint Theodore of Ryazan.
After Archbishop Alexey's death, Ural Old Believers who had lost their priests sent a representative to Moscow and St. Petersburg to seek information about Russian archbishops. The representative obtained a document that identified Alexey Titov as a bishop ordained by Ion, Metropolitan of Novgorod. As a result, Ural Old Believers recognized the authority of priests ordained by Archbishop Titov.
