Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky)

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) (1873-1965)

Aleksandr may be spelt Alexandr, Alexander, Aleksander, Alexandros.

Anastasy may be spelt Anastassy, Anastasi, Anastasiy, Anastasios, Anastasius.

Early life of Aleksandr Alexeyevitch Gribanovsky

Aleksandr Alexeyevitch Gribanovsky was born 6 August, 1873 (Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ), in Bratki village, Borisoglebsk County of the Tambov Province, in the Russian Empire, to the Priest Aleksey Gribanovsky and his wife Anna (born Karmazina).

In this village, both his maternal grandfather and his father were parish priests.

Aleksandr Alexeyevitch was formed as an Orthodox Christian within his family, and he grew up in the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Aleksandr Alexeyevitch received his primary and secondary education at the Tambov Church School.

Higher education

After completing his primary and secondary education, Aleksandr Alexeyevitch entered the Tambov Theological Seminary, from which he graduated.

Aleksandr Alekseyevitch then enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy, which was at that time under the rectorship of Archimandrite Antony (Khrapovitsky). He was enabled to study there with a subsidy from the government. He completed the course of studies in the academy in 1897. He received the degree Candidate of Theology.

Archimandrite Antony (Khrapovitsky) was such a person that he warmed students with his love, and he inflamed in them a desire for the monastic life, and for a life of service in the Church.

At this time, Archimandrite Sergiy (Stragorodsky) was also teaching at the Moscow Theological Academy.

Monastic tonsure, 1898

In April 1898, Aleksandr Alexeyevitch Gribanovsky was tonsured to be a monk by Bishop Alexander (Bogdanov) of Tambov. He was given the name Anastasy, in honour of Saint Anastasius of Sinai.

Diaconal ordination, 1898

On 23 April, 1898, Monk Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Alexander (Bogdanov) of Tambov.

Presbyteral ordination, 1898

Later, in 1898, Hierodeacon Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Alexander (Bogdanov) of Tambov.

Pastoral-monastic service

In August, 1898, Archimandrite Arseny (Stadnitsky) (rector of the Moscow Theological Academy) invited Hieromonk Anastasy (Gribanovsky) to serve in the position of assistant inspector of the academy. He remained there for 2 years.

In 1900, Hieromonk Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was assigned to be the Inspector of the Bethany Theological Seminary, near the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra.

In 1901, he was assigned to be the Inspector of the Moscow Theological Seminary. Later in the same year, he was assigned to serve as the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy (after the episcopal ordination of his predecessor, Archimandrite Tryphon (Turkestanov)).

In July, 1901, Hieromonk Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

During the years of his paedagogical service, Father Anastasy was guided and mentored by his uncle, Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) (later a hieromartyr).

In 1906, Archimandrite Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was elected by the Most Holy Synod to become a bishop.

Episcopal ordination, 1906

On 29 June, 1906, in the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, Archimandrite Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate.

Bishop Anastasy of Serpukhov

Episcopal service

At his ordination, Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) pronounced a remarkable homily : “The True Way of Christ’s Pastoral Work”, in which he seemed to prophesy the turmoil and persecutions which would soon arrive :

 [...] The time of persecution for the ministers of the Church has not passed : the shepherds of Christ 
 have always been like sheep among wolves, and now, perhaps, there are such days when we will again see
 grievances, threats, looting and destruction of estates, Temples stained with blood, and made into cemeteries.

He may well have understood in his heart what might come, particularly following the violence and bloodshed of the 1905 uprising (often called a revolution) which caused much suffering.

Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was assigned to be the Bishop of Serpukhov, and Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese. He was assigned to reside in the Danilovsky (Saint Daniel) Monastery in Moscow.

In 1907, Bishop Anastasy was assigned to serve as co-chairman of the Moscow Department of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society.

As a Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese, Bishop Anastasy's responsibilities included daily services in the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin (the official cathedral of the Patriarch of Moscow). His duties further included serving in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and other Muscovite Temples and monasteries, as well as visitations to parishes of the diocese on behalf of the metropolitan. He also was responsible for the direction of institutions of theological learning, which included supervising the teaching of the Law of God in secular schools of the Zamoskvoretsky district.

He chaired the missionary Brotherhood of Metropolitan Peter.

He took part in the first All-Zemstvo Assembly about Public Education in Moscow, in the charitable work of various Church and public organisations. He also headed the commission of readings for workers and its publishing house.

During his years in Moscow, Vladyka Anastasy's natural curiosity and respect for science brought him closer to most cultural circles of Moscow society. He was close to such philosophers as E N Trubetskoy and S N Trubetskoy ; to the descendants of the Slavophiles : D A Hamyakov ; F D Samarin and A D Samarin. He was deeply respected by the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (for whom he later arranged a tomb in Jerusalem). At the same time, Vladyka Anastasy respected the Orthodox merchants of Moscow, and Moscow in general, since the city tended to live a Churchly life.

He was known to the people as an ascetic and a man of prayer ; moreover, not only did he serve the Divine Liturgy correctly, but he also did so with musical beauty. Vladyka Anastasy was entrusted with the leadership of the solemn glorification of Saint Germogen of Moscow. Vladyka Anastasy was also assigned to supervise the work of a committee in charge of the Church's part of the celebrations in Moscow on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812 (Battle of Borodino), and also the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov.

Word War I, 1914

In May, 1914, Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was released from his duties in Moscow, and he was transferred to serve as the Bishop of the Diocese of Kholm (Chełm) and Lublin in Poland. Within 2 months of this assignment, Word War I broke out. From that time, in addition to his diocesan duties, Bishop Anastasy served soldiers on the front. There was in addition a time when Vladyka remained the lone authority in Chełm, already abandoned by the military and civilian authorities. On his shoulders lay the care of refugees and the needy.

He led prayer-services and memorial services for the soldiers in their distress, and he gave his house to serve as an infirmary for the wounded. His activity was marked by his being given the Order of Saint Vladimir, 2nd degree, and also the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky with swords.

In 1915, Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was forced to evacuate from the front to the interior, to Moscow, and he lived for a time in Moscow at the Chudov Monastery in the Moscow Kremlin.

At the end of 1915, Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was assigned to the Diocese of Kishinev (Chișinău) in Bessarabia.

In 1916, Bishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

At the request of Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky), monks and nuns from Russian monasteries in central Russia were invited to Bessarabia in order to strengthen the life of the ascetics in Bessarabia.

Here, with the opening of the Romanian front, he again found himself in the immediate vicinity of military operations, and again he often visited military units.

All-Russian Sobor, 1917-1918 ; Bolshevik Revolution, 1917

In August, 1917, Archbishop Anastasy left Bessarabia for Moscow, in order to participate in the All-Russian Church Council of 1917-1918. During this Sobor, his name was proposed as a candidate to become the patriarch, when the Church of Russia decided to restore the patriarchate. During the voting, his candidacy received 77 votes for the patriarchy, although the choice finally fell on Saint Tikhon (Belavin). Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) then participated in the preparation for the enthronement (installation) of Patriarch Saint Tikhon of Moscow, which he described in his article : “Election and Enthronement of Patriarch Tikhon, his Personality and Work”.

During the time of the Council, he served as a member of the Judicial Commission at a meeting of bishops ; as chairman of the 16h division ; as deputy chairman of the 6th division ; and as a member of the 2nd, 4th and 7th divisions.

Afterwards, Archbishop Anastasy was elected to be a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops and of the Supreme Council.

In March, 1918, Vladyka Anastasy was awarded the right to wear a diamond cross on the klobuk.

All-Russian Sobor session

After the conclusion of the sobor, in October, 1918, Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) departed from Moscow, and headed for Odessa with the intention of returning to the Kishinev (Chișinău) diocese.

However, by this time, Bessarabia had again become a part of Romania. Because of this, the condition for his return there to stay was that he leave the Russian Orthodox Church and become part of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He was unwilling to leave the Church of Russia, but he did remain in Kishinev (Chișinău) in 1919 long enough to help Bishop Nicodim (Munteanu) of the Church of Romania with the re-organisation and adjustment of the diocese as it entered the Church of Romania. He then went to Odessa, where he remained for a time.

Revolution ; exile ; return ; exile : Constantinople, 1919

In 1919, after the Bolshevik Revolution and in the press of the southward Bolshevik invasion, Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) found himself having to leave Odessa for Constantinople. He later briefly managed to return to Russia, but only to the areas controlled by the White Movement. He visited Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don, and Novocherkassk, where he made contacts with the Supreme Church Authority of South-East Russia, under the leadership of Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev. He once again departed from Russia for Constantinople, through Odessa.

On 15 October, 1920, the Supreme Authority of the Church in South-East Russia assigned Vladyka Anastasy to serve as a diocesan bishop and to manage the Russian Orthodox parishes of the Constantinople District, the number of which was growing rapidly. On 22 November, 1920, he was included in the Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad, whose meetings were held in Constantinople, and he was elected to serve as assistant to Metropolitan Antony.

While he was living in Constantinople, he resided in Galata, in the Representation Temple of the Russian Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. He continued to be known by his former title of Kishinev (Chișinău).

Vladyka Anastasy headed the Russian Committee in Constantinople, which united up to 35 organisations. He organised communities ; he distributed the arrived clergy to serve these communities ; he found help for the needy ; and he developed fruitful and multilateral pastoral activities amongst the Russian refugees, which began to number up to 175,000. He was repeatedly invited to serve in Greek-speaking Temples.

Archpastoral visitation to the Holy Mountain and to the Holy Land, 1921

In 1921, by decree of the Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad, Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) visited Mount Athos and the Holy Land. He was to become familiar with the state of the Russian monasteries after the war, and was to be concerned especially with the state of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, whose economic affairs were completely disrupted by military upheavals.

First All-Diaspora Council, 1921

First All-Diaspora Council in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia (Yugoslavia)

From 13 September, 1921, Vladyka Anastasy participated in the First All-Diaspora Council in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia. This council was convoked by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky). Archbishop Anastasy participated in this council as the administrator of the Russian parishes in the Constantinopolitan district. The terms used to describe the various ways of administering the multitude of Russian Orthodox believers who had fled the war and the revolution indicate clearly that hopes remained high that they might soon return home. This hope was not to be fulfilled ; in time, the temporary structures had to take on a longer-term character. The focus of the higher administration was the Synod of Bishops (which of necessity became a more permanent structure) sometimes called the Synod of Bishops in Exile. Sometimes, the administration would also be called either the "Russian Orthodox Church Abroad" or the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile". Thus, the "Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad" became the "Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia" (ROCOR).

In the context of the All-Diaspora Council, Vladyka Anastasy headed the Department of Spiritual Revival of Russia, and on 30 November, he made a report about the restoration of the monarchy in Russia (a strong hope of many of those in exile). After the debate, the Council adopted an appeal to pray for the restoration of the monarchy and for the reigning House of the Romanovs in Russia. Nevertheless, along with 34 other members of the Council, Vladyka Anastasy made the following clarifying written statement :

 We, the undersigned, declare that the statement of the question of the monarchy given by the majority 
 of the department of the 'Spiritual Revival of Russia' with the mention of the dynasty is of a political
 nature and, as such, is not subject to discussion of the Church Council ; therefore, we do not consider 
 it possible to take part in the solution of this issue and the vote.

On 5 May, 1922, Patriarch Tikhon, under great duress by the Communists, abolished the All-Union Centre for Health. The Synod of Bishops in Karlovci, in which Vladyka Anastasy participated, obeyed this decree. On 13 September, 1922, the All-Russian Central Synod of Bishops was dissolved. Instead, however, the bishops formed a Temporary Synod of Bishops and the Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, to which all the powers of the All-Russian Orthodox Church were transferred. On this day, Archbishop Anastasy became part of the Temporary Synod of Bishops (outside the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate) which had been created by the Council of Bishops in Sremski Karlovtsy, and which became the legal successor of "Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad".

"Pan-Orthodox Assembly", 1923

In May-June, 1923, at the invitation of Patriarch Meletius (Metaxakis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Anastasy participated in the so-called “Pan-Orthodox Assembly” in Constantinople. He was doing so, however, not as a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He attended the first 6 sessions.

It was at just this time that the Patriarchate of Constantinople had abandoned Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) and supported instead the "renovationist" movement in the Soviet Union. The Church of Constantinople continued this support for about 20 years. That the Church of Constantinople would in this way support a clearly anti-canonical entity over against the greatly suffering and clearly canonical Russian Orthodox Church left a lingering sense of wariness on the part of the Russian Church (not unforgiveness).

The “assembly” discussed : adopting the new calendar ; allowing remarriage for clergy ; having married bishops ; shortening services ; eliminating fasts ; simplifying ecclesiastical robes. There were some proposals prepared.

Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) voiced his objections to such decisions, which he deemed to be uncanonical. Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) wrote letters of protest to the heads of the various Orthodox Churches. Of the proposals, only the Revised Julian Calendar was accepted, and it was then imposed by force by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Imposition by force caused considerable resistance.

By 1924, the Ecumenical Patriarchate had forbidden the commemoration of Patriarch Saint Tikhon at services in Russian parishes on the territory of the Patriarch of Constantinople. In that year, the same patriarchate demanded the submission of any refugee bishops on its territory to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the submission of all the Russian-speaking parishes on its territory. As a consequence, Archbishop Anastasy understood that he was compelled to leave Constantinople for Bulgaria. However, because of the situation, he had to travel there via France.

Bulgaria, Serbia

In September, 1924, Archbishop Anastasy took part in the new sanctification of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. This was the first case of concelebration of a Russian bishop with the Bulgarian clergy who were under schism (since 1872). Afterwards, he departed for Serbia.

Jerusalem, 1924

In 1924, Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was assigned to be the administrator of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and departed for the Holy Land, where he spent the next 10 years.

Vladyka Anastasy first visited London, England, in advance, for negotiations with representatives of the British government, which had a League of Nations mandate to administer Palestine. He arrived in the Holy Land in December, 1924.

Vladyka Anastasy accepted the 1925 "Testament" of Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) as being authentic. However, he disagreed with some of the contents, and he was unwelcoming of any co-operation with the Soviet powers.

Along with other bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, Archbishop Anastasy rejected the 1927 Declaration of Metropolitan Sergiy (Stragorodsky) regarding the recognition of the Soviet government and loyalty to that government by the Church of Russia.

Vladyka Anastasy put in order the property affairs of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission by leasing some plots, and by erecting several buildings with the help of loans. Both the British and the Greeks respected Vladyka Anastasy, and they co-operated with him. From his residence in Palestine, Vladyka travelled annually to Sremski Karlovci in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia for meetings of the Synod of Bishops. He also sometimes travelled to Damascus, Syria, to visit Patriarch Gregory IV (Haddad) and his successor Patriarch Alexander III (Tahan).

From Syria, he travelled to France for negotiations with Metropolitan Evlogiy (Georgievsky), after his withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the Synod of Bishops Abroad. From Palestine, he also made a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai and to Saint Catherine's Monastery.

ROCOR Sobor, 1935

In 1935, Archbishop Anastasy participated in a council called by Patriarch Varnava (Rosic) of Serbia with the aim of restoring unity in the Russian Church abroad. The Council was attended by Metropolitan Eulogius (Georgievsky), who headed the Western European Metropolitanate (the predecessor to the Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe), Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) of San Francisco, who headed the North American Metropolitanate (the predecessor to the OCA), and Bishop Dimitry (Voznesensky), who represented the Far East Metropolis.

At this meeting, the unity of the Russian Church abroad was restored (albeit temporarily), and the bishops signed the Temporary Statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which became the charter governing the ROCOR.

At that time, in 1935, Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan.

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was assigned to be an assistant to Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), whose health was weakening, and who was suffering considerable pain.

First Hierarch of the ROCOR, 1936

On 10 August, 1936, Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) reposed in Christ, in Sremski Karlovtsi, Serbia.

On 10 August, 1936 (as the oldest bishop by episcopal ordination and as first assistant to the newly-departed metropolitan) Archbishop Anastasy was unanimously elected first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, chairman of the Synod of Bishops and of the assembly of the ROCOR.

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky)

The first act of Metropolitan Anastasy was the reorganisation of the Russian Church Abroad. The administration was divided into 4 metropolitan districts : the Near East ; the Far East ; Western Europe ; North-South America. Central Europe was added during World War II.

In August, 1938, the Second All-Diaspora Council of bishops, clergy and laity was convened in Sremski Karlovcy.

With the transfer of the Synod of Bishops of the Church Abroad from Karlovtsy to Belgrade, its chairman, Metropolitan Anastasy, who at the same time cared for the Russian parish communities in Yugoslavia as a diocesan bishop, also moved there.

Every day, Vladyka Metropolitan Anastasy (who lived a strictly monastic life) attended the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity Temple, and he was engaged in Church affairs until late at night. On all Sundays and holidays, he himself served the Divine Liturgy, and he invariably preached. His sermons captured listeners with their artistry of style, their fine finishing of thought and their versatile content. Being a connoisseur of science, Vladyka Anastasy united around himself scientists, public figures, and the most enlightened servants of the Church. He gathered them periodically at conferences ; and at the Synod of Bishops he established a special Scientific Committee headed by the Master of Theology Archbishop Tikhon (Lyashchenko). Vladyka Anastasy's personal example contributed to the flourishing of the spiritual life of Russians in Belgrade.

During these years, Nazi Germany, which was gaining strength, began to show signs of attention to the Church Abroad, with the intention of using it in order to mobilise Russians in the fight against the USSR (Soviet Union).

In 1938, the German authorities assisted in the repair of 19 Russian Orthodox Temples in Germany. In response to this, on 12 June, 1938, Metropolitan Anastasy addressed Mr. A Hitler with a note of gratitude.

World War II, 1939

In Belgrade, not far from the Russian Holy Trinity Temple (which served as his cathedral), Vladyka Anastasy spent the first years of World War II, which involved the German occupation of Yugoslavia.

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia on the territory of the Church of Serbia, with the blessing of Patriarch Gavrilo (Dožić) of Serbia, existed as a non-territorial diocese under the protection of the Church of Serbia.

Invasion of Serbia by Nazi Germany, 1941

For Yugoslavia, World War II began on 6 April, 1941, when the Nazi Germans unexpectedly invaded the country and soon captured it. The unexpected bombing of Belgrade on 6 April pressed the majority of the population to flee, and the Russians were left almost alone in the ruins in the city. Despite the falling bombs, Metropolitan Anastasy remained in his episcopal place during the raid : in the Altar. He and the clergy served a moleben in front of the wonder-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, "The Sign". He also served on 7 April (the Feast of the Annunciation), at a time when there was a particularly heavy bombardment. A week later, the Nazi Germans entered the city. From then, the metropolitan shared the deprivations of his Belgrade flock, and the troubles on the part of the occupying German authorities. Thus, Metropolitan Anastasy found himself once again in a zone of hostilities.

Soon after the occupation, the Gestapo carried out a thorough search in the chambers of Vladyka Metropolitan Anastasy, and then they seized the minutes of the meetings of the Synod of Bishops. A little later, Vladyka was asked to appeal to the Russian people to assist the Germans in the campaign against the Bolsheviks. However, despite the fact that at the beginning of the war many Russian people trusted the Nazis, the metropolitan rejected this proposal. The metropolitan refrained from direct statements in support of Nazi Germany, but he remained true to his anti-communist stance. In September, 1941, Metropolitan Anastasy gave his blessing to the Russian patriots for the formation of the Russian Corps, which, however, was not allowed by the Germans on the Eastern Front. In his Paschal Pastoral Letter of 1942, Metropolitan Anastasy wrote about "deliverance, as it were, from the very hell of hell" of the Russian lands occupied by the Germans.

The Nazi German invasion of the Soviet Union in June, 1941, prompted Joseph Stalin to reconsider the state policies vis-à-vis the Russian Church. Mr. Stalin released bishops from prison, and he allowed Temples to be re-opened. On 8 September, 1943, with Mr. J Stalin’s permission, hierarchs in the Soviet Union elected Metropolitan Sergiy (Stragorodsky) of Nizhny Novgorod to be the new Patriarch of Russia.

Election of Patriarch Sergiy (Stragorodsky) in Moscow

After the election of Metropolitan Sergiy (Stragorodsky) as Patriarch of Moscow, many Russian emigrants joyfully welcomed this event ; but on 21 October, 1943, Metropolitan Anastasy convened a conference of 8 bishops in exile in Vienna, Austria, and the bishops declared the election to be non-canonical.

After the Feast of Pascha, 1944, almost daily raids on Belgrade by Anglo-American bombers began, which killed many people. However, despite the obvious threat to life, the metropolitan did not interfere with his usual way of life in any way. Rather, in addition to his other work, he visited the wounded, buried the dead and comforted the disadvantaged. Because of his inspiration, the clergy began to make rounds of houses with the miraculous Kursk-Root icon, from which abundant miracles began to occur.

Relocation to Vienna, 1944

With the approach of the Soviet Army towards Belgrade in September, 1944, the Synod of Bishops relocated to Vienna, Austria, and then, in the summer of 1945, to Munich (München), Germany.

From Vienna, the Metropolitan and the Synod moved first to Carlsbad, (now called Karlovy Vary), Czechoslovakia, and then, after the end of the war, in the summer of 1945 to Munich, which for a time became a major center of Russian church and social life. During this period, in April, 1945, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow appealed to the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to return to the bosom of the Mother Church, but he was not recognised by the Synod of which Metropolitan Anastasy was First Hierarch. At the same time, a resolution was adopted, which, in particular, spoke of "the establishment of prayers for God's help for the liberation of Russia from the Bolshevik-Communist yoke". In order to restore the war-torn connection with the scattered parts of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Anastasy obtained permission to travel to Switzerland where he stayed for about 7 months, and he quickly established relations with all countries from Geneva.

By the Feast of Pascha, 1946, he returned to Munich. On 6 May, he convened a meeting of the Synod of Bishops Abroad, in which the bishops of the Autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church and some bishops of the "Autocephalous Belarusian Orthodox Church", who joined the Church Abroad, took part. Thus, the previously-dissolved Synod of Bishops was restored : after the mass return of the bishops to the Moscow Patriarchate, the episcopate of the Church Abroad in Europe consisted only of Metropolitans Anastasy and Seraphim (Lyade), despite the fact that upon the latter (as a German), many sought to lay the blame for the compromise of the Church Abroad in Europe. The Council of 1946 decided to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ordination to the Holy Priesthood, the 40th anniversary of ordination to the Holy Episcopate of the First Hierarch, Metropolitan Anastasy. The bishops wished to give him the title of "His Beatitude", the right to wear 2 panagias and the right to be preceded in processions by the Primatial Processional Cross, but Vladyka categorically rejected these honours, and he avoided participation in the jubilee festivities. (His rejection of such honours may have been because they are given mostly to the First Hierarchs of autocephalous Orthodox Churches.)

At the end of the war, the main attention of Vladyka Metropolitan was directed to the arrangement of the departing Russians now settled in new places of dispersion, the organisation of new episcopal sees, and the installation of new bishops. He led the ordinations of Bishop Alexander (Lovchy) as Vicar-Bishop of Kissingen (summer, 1945) ; Bishop Seraphim (Ivanov) as Vicar-Bishop of Linz (during his stay in Switzerland) ; Bishop Nathaniel (Lvov) as Bishop of Brussels and Western Europe (10 March, 1946).

Starting in 1948, many Russian displaced persons began to relocate to the USA. This development prompted many to call for the Synod to relocate across the Atlantic Ocean, especially since the events of the 1946 Council of Cleveland, in which the American "Metropolia" (Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (ROGCCNA)) voted to break ties with the ROCOR Synod. There was a sharp difference of opinion about whether or not to communicate with the Moscow Patriarchate and whether or not to seek the restoration of communion with the patriarchate.

In September, 1950, the metropolitan undertook a trip to the Diocese of Western Europe, where he led another episcopal ordination, of Bishop Leonty (Bartoshevych) as Vicar-Bishop of Geneva. On 1 October, in Brussels, he sanctified the newly-built Temple-monument to the Tsar-Martyr and all Russian people who were killed in turmoil. Returning to Germany, on 8 October, he sanctified a new Temple in Frankfurt, which was named for the Resurrection of Christ.

Nevertheless, by this time Munich was empty of Russians ; camps and refugee parishes were closed. Finally, the metropolitan decided to follow the flock, and he departed by air for North America on 23 November, 1950.

Move to the USA, 1950

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky arrived in New York, USA. Immediately after his arrival in the USA, on 25 November, 1950, he travelled to Jordanville, New York, where he consecrated Holy Trinity Cathedral, the main church of Holy Trinity Monastery. The consecration was followed by the first meeting of the ROCOR Council of Bishops on American soil with the participation of 11 hierarchs.

There also, and for the first (and only) time in the history of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Anastasy officiated at the blessing of Holy Chrism. Prior to this, the ROCOR received Holy Chrism from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Once he was in the USA, Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) took up residence at the New Kursk-Root Hermitage in Mahopac, New York.

Despite his humble approach, Metropolitan Anastasy did not manage to bring about a reconciliation with most of the previously-arrived American Russian diaspora (which had previously established the self-governing "American Metropolia").

Despite his advanced years, beginning in 1951, every summer Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) would undertake a trip through the entire USA from New York to California, and he would spend a significant part of the summer in San Francisco. There, at his initiative, the Synod established the parish of All Saints of Russia in Burlingame, California. Moreover, on his archpastoral rounds, the metropolitan himself carried the Kursk-Root Icon of the Theotokos to parishes and even to private homes.

In February, 1952, the residence of the Metropolitan and the Synod moved to New York, and in the autumn of 1953, the Metropolitan convened the second General Assembly of Bishops in the USA, after which the Bishops' Assemblies were convened every 3 years : in 1956, 1959 and 1962.

Metropolitan Anastasy’s years of service saw the increased development of the ROCOR in America with the opening of about 100 new parishes and the ordination of 6 new bishops : Anthony (Sinkevich) of Los Angeles (19 August, 1951) ; Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse and Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville (25 May, 1953) ; Sava (Rayevsky) of Sydney (Australia) (24 January, 1954) ; Anthony (Medvedev) of San Francisco (18 November, 1956) ; Sava (Saracević) of Edmonton (28 September, 1958) ; and Nectary (Kontsevich) of Seattle (11 March, 1962).

During the years of his service as the First Hierarch of the ROCOR in the USA, there were periodic personal and private encounters with Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) of the Metropolia in New York. These encounters over tea did not have a published agenda, but they did keep avenues of communication open, even though the 2 bishops and ecclesiastical entities had very strongly differing views on some matters.

The final act of Vladyka Metropolitan Anastasy's episcopal service produced the glorification of Saint John of Kronstadt by the same Council of Bishops. The most active worker towards this glorification was Saint John (Maximovitch), Archbishop of San Francisco. The Russian Orthodox Church was not free to glorify Saint John of Kronstadt until 1990.

Retirement, 1964

In 1964, because of his ill health, Metropolitan Anastasy requested of the Holy Synod his own retirement and the election of a successor. For this purpose, the Synod of Bishops met on Wednesday, 27 May, 1964 (the eve of the Ascension of Christ), and they elected Bishop Philaret (Voznesensky) to be the new First Hierarch.

However, in retirement, Metropolitan Anastasy was to retain the honourary presidency of the Holy Synod. The Holy Synod (by unanimous decision of the Synod) gave him the title "His Beatitude", the right to wear 2 panagias, and the right to be preceded in processions by the Primatial Processional Cross (which he had previously resolutely refused).

Repose, 1965

On 22 May, 1965, in his chambers in the new Synodal House in New York, Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) reposed in the Lord at age 91.

On 23 May, 1965, in the Sign of the Theotokos Synodal Cathedral, the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky) with other bishops and clergy. Throughout that day, a series of Panikhidas (memorial services) were served at the coffin of the deceased metropolitan.

On 24 May, 1965, a Memorial Divine Liturgy was served in the Synodal Cathedral, at which 11 bishops and 16 priests served. This was followed by the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch.

On 25 May, 1965, there were served a series of memorial services at Holy Trinity Church in Holy Trinity Monastery at Jordanville, New York. After this, the body of Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) was entombed in the crypt of the Temple, under the Altar of the Temple. He rested next to the tomb of Archbishop Tikhon (Troitsky) of San Francisco and Western America.

— Bishop of Serpukhov (MP) 1906-1914. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.

— Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese (MP) 1906-1914. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.

— Bishop of Kholm and Lublin (MP) 1914-1915. Preceded by : Bishop Vladimir (Tikhonitsky). Succeeded by : Bishop Seraphim (Pozdeyev) of Smolensk.

— Bishop of Kishinev and Bessarabia (MP) 1915-1916. Preceded by : Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky). Succeeded by : ___.

— Archbishop of Kishinev and Bessarabia (MP) 1916-1918. Preceded by : Archbishop Platon (Rozhdestvensky). Succeeded by : Archbishop Alexiy (Sergeev).

— Administrator of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (MP) (ROCOR) 1924-1934. Preceded by : ___. Succeeded by : ___.

— First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) 1936-1964. Preceded by : Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev. Succeeded by : Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky).

— Former First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia 1964-1965.

Reflections

On 28 September, 2009, an official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) travelled from Moscow to the village of Bratki in the Voronezh Oblast. This village is the birth-place of Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky). The delegation was led by Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of New York and the Diocese of Eastern America. Accompanying the delegation was Metropolitan Sergiy (Fomin) of Voronezh.

In the village, at the Vvedenskaya (Meeting of the Lord) Temple, the metropolitans served a Panikhida (memorial service) for Metropolitan Anastasy and for his parents. After the service was completed, Metropolitan Sergiy (Fomin) blessed a memorial tablet about Metropolitan Anastasy. This tablet had been installed in advance in the Temple.

Awards

• Order of Saint Vladimir, 2nd degree

• Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky (with swords)

• Right to wear 2 panagias, and to be proceeded liturgically by a processional Cross (1964)

Writings

• “On the Providence of God (against the deists)”, 1897 (the Candidate essay).

• ‘Letter to V N Lvov’ in “RGIA”, F. 797, Op. 86, From. 3, Art. 4 D, 64, pp. 69-70.

• ‘Speech at the burial of Professor AP Smirnov’ in “Theological Bulletin”, no. 1 (1897).

• ‘About the book : V Sventsitsky "Antichrist"’ in “Way of Life” 1908. no. 3 (1908), p. 48.

• ‘Speech given at the Meeting in the Kholmsky Cathedral’ in “Additions to the ‘Church Gazette’”, no. 45 (1914).

• ‘Speech at the Burial of Soldiers killed in the War with Germany’ in “Spiritual Conversation”, no. 4 (1915).

• ‘Words at the Divine Liturgy : Epistle from His Grace Anastasius, Bishop Kholmsky and Lublinsky’ in “Additions to the ‘Church Gazette’”, no. 43 (1915), p. 44.

• ‘Words on New Years Day ; The Epistle of His Grace Anastasius’ in “Additions to the ‘Church Gazette’”, no. 1 (1917).

• ‘Appeal : Speech in the Cathedral ; Appeal to Pastors and Flock ; Sermon’ /in “Chisinau EB”, no. 8 (1916) ; no. 8 (1917), pp. 13-16.

• ‘Sermon’ in “Bessarabets”, 6 March, 1917).

• ‘Archpastoral Appeal for mutual Reconciliation’ in “News of the Kazan Diocese”, nos. 36/37 (1917).

• “To Orthodox Russian People staying within the Boundaries of Constantinople and its Environs” (Constantinople, 1922).

• “The Cry of the Russian people” (New Garden, 1924).

• “To the blessed Memory of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna” (Jerusalem, 1925) (Typ. Greek Orthodox Monastery) with illustrations and photos.

• ‘A Word on the seventh Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Emperor Nicholas II and the entire Royal Family’ in “Church Gazette” 1925. nos. 21/22 (1925).

• ‘Letter to Canon I A Douglas’ in “Church Gazette”, nos. 19/20 (1926).

• ‘A Pushkin's spiritual Insights in the Drama “Boris Godunov’” in “ARSKhD”, no. 12 (1926).

• ‘A Word of Praise to the new Martyrs of the Russian Church” (Wed Karlovtsy, 1926).

• “Conversations with your own Heart : Reflections and notes)” (Belgrade : b. and., 1935).

• “Conversations with your own Heart” (St. Petersburg : Bibliopolis, 2007). ISBN 978-5-74350262-2.

• “Message from the Russian Church Council Abroad to the Russian people, suffering in their Fatherland” (Belgrade, 1938).

• “Thoughts on Shepherding : from a Pastoral Diary” (Jerusalem, 1946).

• “Pushkin and his Relationship to Religion and the Orthodox Church” (Belgrade, 1939).

• “Pushkin in his Relation to Religion and the Orthodox Church” (Minsk : Christian Initiative, 2007).

• “A Collection of selected Works by His Eminence Metropolitan Anastassy with a Portrait and Biography of the Author on the Day of the 50th Anniversary of the Divine Service”, anniversary edition (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1948).

• “The moral Image of Pushkin” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1949).

• “Messages, Words and Speeches” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1952).

• “Metropolitan Anastassy's Speech at the Presentation of the Staff to the newly appointed Bishop Savva on January 11/24, 1954 at the Ascension Cathedral in New York” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1954).

• “Epistle to the Russian Orthodox People on the Occasion of the ‘Appeal of Patriarch Alexy to the Archpastors and Clergy of the so-called Karlovtsy Orientation’” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1956).

• “Archpastoral Epistles, Words and Speeches of His Eminence Metropolitan Anastassy, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Jubilee Collection for the 50th Anniversary of the Episcopal Ministry 1906-1956” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1956).

• “My Answer to all who honored me with their greetings on the 50th anniversary of my episcopal Ministry” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1956).

• ‘Election and Appointment of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon : The Nature of his Personality and Activities’ in “Orthodox Russia”, no. 6 (1975).

• “Words of Praise from His Beatitude Metropolitan Anastassy to the new Martyrs of the Russian Church” (Montreal, 1981).

• ‘Letters to Prince G N Trubetskoy’ in “ARHD”, no. 151 (1987).

• “A Defense of Monasticism” (Jordanville : Holy Trinity Monastery, 1989.

• ‘Easter message of 1940’ in “Orthodox Russia”, no. 7 (1997).

• ‘Letters to G P Fedotov’ in “VRKhD”, no. 187 (2004).

• ‘Letters’ in “Letters from prominent Church and secular Leaders of Russia to the Elders of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Athos” (Holy Mount Athos, 2015), pp. 657-680.

• ‘Letter from Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) to Archbishop Seraphim (Lada)’ in Materials for the History of Orthodoxy in Nazi Germany Publ. Priest George Orekhanov and G. Sommer’ in “Bulletin of PSTGU Background Theological Collection” no. 7 (Moscow, 2001), pp. 264-268.

References

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Wikipedia.ru biography (in Russian)

Azbuka.ru biography

Azbuka.ru biography (in Russian)

Additional information :

Firsov, Sergey Lvovich, "Time as Judge : Orthodox Churches of Russia and Constantinople in the 20th Century" (Moscow : Department of External Church Relations, 12 December 2018).

Kostryukov, A A, “The Russian Church Abroad in 1925-1938 : Jurisdictional conflicts and relations with the Moscow Church Authorities” (Moscow : Publishing House PSTGU, 2011). ISBN 978-5-7429-0639-1.

......, “The Russian Church Abroad in 1939-1964 : Administrative structure and relations with the Church in the Fatherland” (Moscow : Publishing House PSTGU, 2015). ISBN 978-5-7429-0931-6.

Shchukin, Archpriest Sergei, “A brief History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 1922-1972”.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

“Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) dies in New York”

Kishinev Diocese

Kholm and Lublin Diocese

Article Metropolitan Anastasy, the Nazis and the Soviets, by Vladimir Moss

Holy Trinity Publications, Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky)

All Russian Church Council of 1917-1918

Temporary Governing Statutes of the Russian Church Abroad, 1936

"History of the Creation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia" (in Russian)

Pravolslavie.ru articles

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Wikipedia article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia