'Theognostus' (''Феогност'' in
Russian) (? -
March 11,
1353),
metropolitan of
Kiev and All Rus.
Theognostus was born in
Constantinople and later in his life became
Peter's
successor as Metropolitanof Kiev and All Rus. He chose Moscow as his primary seat after he had lived for several years in Vladimir in Volynia.
[1]
His life was really that of a
martyr. It was his lot to reconcile
Novgorod with the
Prince of Moscow in times of their mutual
animosity. Theognostus managed to save all of the Russian
churches' valuables and gave up all his personal
property after he had refused to collect
tribute from the churches in favor of the
Mongols. He was
tortured by the
Tatars for such audacity, but never gave in. It was the
Khan who finally gave up and confirmed the existing
privileges of the
Russian Orthodox Church. After a
fire swept through Moscow, Theognostus started to restore the churches despite the fact that he had had nothing left in his possession.
In 1353, feeling that his days were numbered, Theognostus appointed
Alexius (
Bishop of
Vladimir) his successor.
Theognostus was buried in the
Cathedral of the Dormition in Moscow. He was
canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th century.
References
1. John Meyendorff, Byzantium and the Rise of Russia, 84.