Ivan Mikhailovich Martynov
Encyclopedia
Ivan Mikhailovich Martinov, born the 7 October 1821, at Kazan
(Russia) and died the 26 April 1894 at Cannes
(France), was a Russian
Jesuit
priest. After his conversion
to Catholicism
and consequent exile, he placed his vast knowledge of Slavic culture
at the service of a better understanding between the Russian Orthodox
and Catholic Churches
.
. In France
he meets among others Father Xavier de Ravignan. His conversations with Ravignan led him to join the Catholic Church, and following the example of his friend Ivan Gagarin
, in requesting admission in the Society of Jesus
(18 September 1845).
The Jesuit curriculum of studies led him to Brugelette
(Belgium) for the study of Philosophy
(1847-1848) and Laval (France) for Theology
(1848-1852). He is ordained priest the 20 September 1851. He did some further studies in Patrology at Paris (1852-1853) and the Jesuit last year of formation, called ‘Tertianship
’ (1853-1854).
In 1854, together with other Russian Jesuit Ivan Gagarin
and Dzhunkovsky, Martinov is convicted in absentia by the Russian
authorities for unauthorized stay abroad and for joining the monks of the Jesuit order. This deprived him of all class and property rights, and effectively prevented his returning home.
Appointed at the ‘Saints Cyril and Methodius Society’, he worked in collaboration with Ivan Gagarin, Eugene Balabin
, and others in making the Russian and Slavic religious and historical heritage better know in Western Europe. Living in France, he was engaged in religious journalism and archaeology
(mostly Russian), writing extensively in French journals, and keeping people abreast of Russian scientific and literary life under the title «Courrier russe».
Residing at times in Paris, at times in Versailles
, Martinov was all through his life a ‘writer’ and journalist at the service of the 'Saints Cyril and Methodius’ apostolate. In particular he founded in 1866 the ‘Slavic Library’ which in the course of times became one of the richest in Western Europe.
In 1870 Martinov was in Rome
for the Vatican I Council
as theologian and expert invited by Pius IX. In 1883 he was appointed by Leo XIII consultant of the 'Propaganda Fide' Congregation, for Oriental affairs. Ivan Martinov died in Cannes
(France) on the 26 April 1894.
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
(Russia) and died the 26 April 1894 at Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
(France), was a Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest. After his conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and consequent exile, he placed his vast knowledge of Slavic culture
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
at the service of a better understanding between the Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
and Catholic Churches
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Biography
After brilliant university studies at Saint-Petersburg (where he obtained the ‘gold medal’) Martinov undertakes a long journey across EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
he meets among others Father Xavier de Ravignan. His conversations with Ravignan led him to join the Catholic Church, and following the example of his friend Ivan Gagarin
Ivan Gagarin
Ivan Sergeyevich Gagarin was a Russian Jesuit, known also as Jean-Xavier after his conversion to Catholicism. He was of the princely Russian family which traces its origin to the ancient rulers of Starodub.-Life:He was the son of the Russian state-councillor, Prince Sergius Gagarin, and Barbara...
, in requesting admission in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(18 September 1845).
The Jesuit curriculum of studies led him to Brugelette
Brugelette
Brugelette is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On January 1, 2006 Brugelette had a total population of 3,284. The total area is 28.40 km² which gives a population density of 116 inhabitants per km².- External links :*...
(Belgium) for the study of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
(1847-1848) and Laval (France) for Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
(1848-1852). He is ordained priest the 20 September 1851. He did some further studies in Patrology at Paris (1852-1853) and the Jesuit last year of formation, called ‘Tertianship
Tertianship
Tertianship is the final formal period of formation in the Society of Jesus. The Provincial usually invites men to begin Tertianship three to five years after finishing Formation or Graduate Studies...
’ (1853-1854).
In 1854, together with other Russian Jesuit Ivan Gagarin
Ivan Gagarin
Ivan Sergeyevich Gagarin was a Russian Jesuit, known also as Jean-Xavier after his conversion to Catholicism. He was of the princely Russian family which traces its origin to the ancient rulers of Starodub.-Life:He was the son of the Russian state-councillor, Prince Sergius Gagarin, and Barbara...
and Dzhunkovsky, Martinov is convicted in absentia by the Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
authorities for unauthorized stay abroad and for joining the monks of the Jesuit order. This deprived him of all class and property rights, and effectively prevented his returning home.
Appointed at the ‘Saints Cyril and Methodius Society’, he worked in collaboration with Ivan Gagarin, Eugene Balabin
Eugene Balabin
Eugene Petrovich Balabin also known as Evgeny or Evgenii was a Russian Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Society of Jesus. He was a prominent Russian Catholic of the 19th century.- Biography:...
, and others in making the Russian and Slavic religious and historical heritage better know in Western Europe. Living in France, he was engaged in religious journalism and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
(mostly Russian), writing extensively in French journals, and keeping people abreast of Russian scientific and literary life under the title «Courrier russe».
Residing at times in Paris, at times in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, Martinov was all through his life a ‘writer’ and journalist at the service of the 'Saints Cyril and Methodius’ apostolate. In particular he founded in 1866 the ‘Slavic Library’ which in the course of times became one of the richest in Western Europe.
In 1870 Martinov was in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for the Vatican I Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
as theologian and expert invited by Pius IX. In 1883 he was appointed by Leo XIII consultant of the 'Propaganda Fide' Congregation, for Oriental affairs. Ivan Martinov died in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
(France) on the 26 April 1894.
Writings
- Les manuscrits slaves de la bibliothèque impériale de Paris, Paris, 1858.
- Annus ecclesiasticus graeco-slavicus, Bruxelles, 1863.
- Cursus vitae et certamen martyriii B. Josaphat Kuncevicii. Paris, 1864.