Pimen, Metropolitan of Moscow
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan Pimen was Metropolitan of Moscow (technically Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus') from 1382-1384.
of the Goritskii Monastery in Pereiaslavl-Zalevskii when Grand Prince
Dmitry Donskoy sent him to Constantinople
with his nominee for the metropolitanate, Mitya, where the latter was to be consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Mitya, sometimes referred to as Mikhail, was a secular (non-monastic) priest
and Namestnik (vicar) of the late Metropolitan Alexius as well as the Pechatnik (carrier of the seal
) of the Grand Prince. Mitya, however, died within sight of Constantinople and was buried at Galata
(a Genoese
possession north of the Golden Horn
), and Pimen was consecrated in his place, although this was done without the knowledge of the Grand Prince and the Patriarch was said to have been tricked (perhaps to exonnerate him later for any complicity he may have had in the deception), as Pimen had apparently used forged grand princely letters to get Patriarch Nilus of Constantinople
to consecrate him. Donskoy was angry upon hearing the news of Pimen's consecration and swore not to accept Pimen upon his return. Thus Pimen's metropolitanate was contested from the start, and he accomplished little as a result.
It must be noted, that while Cyprian
had been the rightful metropolitan - he had been named Metropolitan of Lithuania and Western Rus' and was to succeed to the Metropolitanate of Kiev and All Rus' (residing in Moscow since 1325) upon the death of Metropolitan Alexius in 1378, the grand prince only accepted him in March 1381 because of his anger at Pimen's consecration. In fact, Donskoy sent his confessor, Hegumen Fedor of the Simonovskii Monastery, to Kiev to bring Cyprian to Moscow (he arrived in May of that year). When Pimen arrived back in Russia, he was arrested by the grand prince and sent to Chukholm in the Kostroma district. Upon hearing the news, Patriarch Nilus excommunicated Donskoy and imposed an interdict, whereupon Donskoy deposed Cyprian, whom he blamed for the matter. Cyprian was banished from Moscow in October 1382 and Pimen allowed to come to Moscow and take up his duties as metropolitan; Donskoy wanted to avoid excommunication and interdiction - his personal feelings, however, had not changed.
Pimen was himself deposed in 1384; the grand prince, still angry at the illegitimate natuer of Pimen's election, filed charges and sent Pimen to the Patriarch in June 1384 to answer the charges. Nilus, claiming ignorance of Pimen's conspiracy to become metropolitan, ordered two metropolitans be sent to Moscow to investigate. Dionysius of Suzdal
, who had opposed Pimen in 1382 (he himself had hoped to be named metropolitan), was sent as well, but traveled instead ot Kiev, when he tried to negotiate with Cyprian, the rightful metropolitan. While Pimen was deposed that winter and Dionysius apparently was to be consecrated in his place, in fact, Dionysius was arrested in Kiev at Cyprian's instigation and died in confinement there in October 1385. In May 1385, Pimen went to Constantinople to plead his case, but Cyprian arrived there shortly thereafter to argue that he was rightful metropolitan. The Patriarch convened a council to decide the matter, but procrastinated for three years, leading Donskoy to finally dismiss the Greek metropolitans in Moscow and send his confessor, Fedor, to plead for Pimen's removal. Pimen had returned to Moscow in 1388, but was never reinstated and left again for the Byzantine Empire in April 1389 to appeal, yet again, to the Patriarch of Constantinople; he remained in Chalcedon, where he died on September 11, 1389 and was buried in the Church of John the Forerunner. Donskoy had died the previous May, and his son, Vasilii, finally accepted Cyprian as metropolitan in Moscow.
Bio
He was hegumenHegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the Goritskii Monastery in Pereiaslavl-Zalevskii when Grand Prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
Dmitry Donskoy sent him to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
with his nominee for the metropolitanate, Mitya, where the latter was to be consecrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch. Mitya, sometimes referred to as Mikhail, was a secular (non-monastic) priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Namestnik (vicar) of the late Metropolitan Alexius as well as the Pechatnik (carrier of the seal
Keeper of the seals
The title Keeper of the Seals or equivalent is used in several contexts, denoting the person entitled to keep and authorize use of the Great Seal of a given country. The title may or may not be linked to a particular cabinet or ministerial office.- Canada :...
) of the Grand Prince. Mitya, however, died within sight of Constantinople and was buried at Galata
Galata
Galata or Galatae is a neighbourhood in the Beyoğlu district on the European side of Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Galata is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn, the inlet which separates it from the historic peninsula of old Constantinople. The Golden Horn is crossed by...
(a Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
possession north of the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
), and Pimen was consecrated in his place, although this was done without the knowledge of the Grand Prince and the Patriarch was said to have been tricked (perhaps to exonnerate him later for any complicity he may have had in the deception), as Pimen had apparently used forged grand princely letters to get Patriarch Nilus of Constantinople
Patriarch Nilus of Constantinople
Nilus, surnamed Kerameus, was Patriarch of Constantinople between 1380 and 1388.He was an intellectual and struggled for the faithful maintenance of the ecclesiastical rules. He mediated between John V and his son Andronikos IV Palaiologos....
to consecrate him. Donskoy was angry upon hearing the news of Pimen's consecration and swore not to accept Pimen upon his return. Thus Pimen's metropolitanate was contested from the start, and he accomplished little as a result.
It must be noted, that while Cyprian
Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow
Cyprian was Metropolitan of Moscow , Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia . He lived for some time at Mount Athos...
had been the rightful metropolitan - he had been named Metropolitan of Lithuania and Western Rus' and was to succeed to the Metropolitanate of Kiev and All Rus' (residing in Moscow since 1325) upon the death of Metropolitan Alexius in 1378, the grand prince only accepted him in March 1381 because of his anger at Pimen's consecration. In fact, Donskoy sent his confessor, Hegumen Fedor of the Simonovskii Monastery, to Kiev to bring Cyprian to Moscow (he arrived in May of that year). When Pimen arrived back in Russia, he was arrested by the grand prince and sent to Chukholm in the Kostroma district. Upon hearing the news, Patriarch Nilus excommunicated Donskoy and imposed an interdict, whereupon Donskoy deposed Cyprian, whom he blamed for the matter. Cyprian was banished from Moscow in October 1382 and Pimen allowed to come to Moscow and take up his duties as metropolitan; Donskoy wanted to avoid excommunication and interdiction - his personal feelings, however, had not changed.
Pimen was himself deposed in 1384; the grand prince, still angry at the illegitimate natuer of Pimen's election, filed charges and sent Pimen to the Patriarch in June 1384 to answer the charges. Nilus, claiming ignorance of Pimen's conspiracy to become metropolitan, ordered two metropolitans be sent to Moscow to investigate. Dionysius of Suzdal
Dionysius I, Metropolitan of Moscow
Saint Dionysius I ; baptismal name: David was a Russian Orthodox metropolitan in 1384-1385.As a young man David entered the Kiev Caves Lavra, where he was tonsured a monk and given the religious name Dionysius...
, who had opposed Pimen in 1382 (he himself had hoped to be named metropolitan), was sent as well, but traveled instead ot Kiev, when he tried to negotiate with Cyprian, the rightful metropolitan. While Pimen was deposed that winter and Dionysius apparently was to be consecrated in his place, in fact, Dionysius was arrested in Kiev at Cyprian's instigation and died in confinement there in October 1385. In May 1385, Pimen went to Constantinople to plead his case, but Cyprian arrived there shortly thereafter to argue that he was rightful metropolitan. The Patriarch convened a council to decide the matter, but procrastinated for three years, leading Donskoy to finally dismiss the Greek metropolitans in Moscow and send his confessor, Fedor, to plead for Pimen's removal. Pimen had returned to Moscow in 1388, but was never reinstated and left again for the Byzantine Empire in April 1389 to appeal, yet again, to the Patriarch of Constantinople; he remained in Chalcedon, where he died on September 11, 1389 and was buried in the Church of John the Forerunner. Donskoy had died the previous May, and his son, Vasilii, finally accepted Cyprian as metropolitan in Moscow.