Nikodim (Rotov)

Nikodim of Leningrad (Russian Никодим, actually: Russian Борис Георгиевич Ротов, Boris Georgjewitsch Rotow; born October 16, 1929 in Frolovo, † September 5, 1978 in Vatican City ) was a Russian Orthodox Metropolitan.

Life and work

Nikodim attended a seminary at the Theological Academy of Leningrad and was ordained a priest after completing his studies. After a few years of priesthood, which he filled with passion and expertise, he was raised to the ( titular ) Bishop of Podolsk. In this role he was also head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Nikodim was the mentor of some of today's church leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1961, he stood before the consecration of the Patriarch Alexy. As a young priest was Metropolitan Kirill, the personal secretary to Metropolitan Nikodim. Metropolitan Juvenalij of Krutitsy and Kolomna viewed Metropolitan Nikodim as his " spiritual father and mentor, friend and brother." In 1963, he became Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, after he was three years Archbishop of Yaroslavl and for a short time Metropolitan of Minsk.

Nikodim was considered a friend of the Catholic Church. He was an observer at the Second Vatican Council. In 1969 he wrote his 657 -page dissertation on " John XXIII. , Pope of Rome." In recent years, he was accused by some of being a crypto - Catholic.

Metropolitan Nikodim regarded as admirers and supporters of the so-called James - liturgy. In the Russian Church, she was a long time unknown. Strengthened since the beginning of the 20th century, in the course of the return to the origins of the liturgy, we began to study this form and to publish the texts and chants the Slav. The Church Slavonic translation of the Greek text, which ( the musicologist Johann von Gardner di ) and Protodiakon Alexy Gontjaev worried the then Archimandrite Philip Gardner, 1938 was approved by the Metropolitan Anastassij, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, for liturgical use. Since then, the liturgy is sometimes celebrated in several Russian churches abroad. In Russia, it was celebrated by Metropolitan Nikodim in the Church of the Theological Academy at Leningrad. She found beyond also spread in many other Orthodox jurisdictions. We know and celebrated it at least once a year in the churches of Serbia, Bulgaria and Finland. Since 2002, the James liturgy is regularly celebrated in the church of the Holy Archangel Michael at Göttingen.

Also in the Ecumenical Movement played a role Nikodim times since he was in 1974 also became Exarch of Western Europe. In 1975 he became the president of the World Council of Churches. At the same time he was commissioned by his church for their work in the Christian Peace Conference. From 1971 to 1978, he was elected president. With this work he brought it were, the Russian Orthodox in the community of world Christianity that were previously in the WCC had a more western -heavy representation.

Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod died of a heart attack in the presence of Pope John Paul I. shocked Metropolitan Nikodim had previously suffered from heart problems.

Aftermath

Each year, on September 5 is celebrated in St. Petersburg in the Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra in memory of Metropolitan Nikodim the Sacred Liturgy, and subsequently draw the faithful to his grave behind the cathedral. In addition, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg either Metropolitan Kirill or Metropolitan Juvenalij or both are at his tomb.

Since the 1990s, Metropolitan Nikodim has become a controversial figure in the Russian Orthodox Church. The more conservative elements in the church were the metropolitans and his ecumenical attitude, very critical. In some ways, he was a symbol of a more open approach.

At the invitation of Metropolitan Kirill ( Gundjajew ), Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of External Church Relations Office of the Moscow Patriarchate, was from 31 August to 2 September 2003 in Smolensk on the occasion of his 25th death anniversary, a conference held in honor of Metropolitan Nikodim. As the former head of the External Church Relations Office of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was instrumental in that the ROK was present and involved from the beginning of the Second Vatican Council by two representatives at the council and that subsequently more than a decade, a conditional Communion communion with the ROK existed.

On his 30th death anniversary, September 5, 2008 was held in the St. Petersburg Orthodox Theological Academy held a conference on " Metropolitan Nikodim: Legacy and Present". The fact that there are still critics of Nikodim, evidenced by the fact that Metropolitan Kirill found it necessary to reject accusations at this conference, Metropolitan Nikodim have celebrated the Eucharist together with Catholics and had become a crypto - Catholic.