Moscow Theological Academy honoured the memory of Hieromartyr Ignatius, Bishop of Skopinsk

On February 10, the Moscow Theological Academy honoured the memory of Hieromartyr Ignatius, Bishop of Skopinsk.

Hieromartyr Ignatius (Sadkovsky), his first name was Sergey, studied at the Moscow Theological Academy and was especially interested in works of St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Later Sergey took monastic vows with a name of Ignatius, which reminded him of the one who had called him to this ascetic path. From 1912 to 1917, he serviced as an assistant librarian to Konstantin Mikhailovich Popov. Three years later, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Belevsk, Vicar of the Tula diocese. There he opposed the Renovational movement and, because of that, was sent for three years to his first exile in a Solovetsk concentration camp. 

After the second arrest, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), Deputy of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, appointed him to Skopino as the Vicar of the Ryazan diocese. After that, he endured two more arrests on charges of anti-revolutionary activity. Finally, a great burden of imprisonment, interrogation, hard labor in the camp undermined his health. Bishop Ignatius died in the Arkhangelsk region in 1938.

In 2002, Bishop Ignatius was glorified as a saint, and his name was included in the List of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russia Church of the 20th century and in the Cathedral of Ryazan Saints.

On February 10, the Bishop of Zvenigorod Theodorite celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Academic Church co-served by teachers and students in the priesthood.

Today is also 85-anniversary since the death of Metropolitan Arseniy (Stadnitsky), Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. Starting from 1898, he was the Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy. In 1900 under his leadership a group of students and teachers undertook a pilgrimage to Palestine and the Middle East. This trip inspired a book "In the Land of Sacred Memories", which was published later. It contained 60 photographs, most of which were taken by Metropolitan Arseniy himself. 

During the Divine Liturgy at the funeral litany, they prayed for the repose of Metropolitan Arseniy.

After the service, the Rector and the clergy of the Academic Church performed the glorification with a prayer to St. Ignatius.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a female choir under the conduct of 3rd year students of the Chorister’s faculty Maria Shumsky and Kristina Krasnikova.

MThA Press Office