Filip (Stavitsky)

Philip (Stavitsky) (; April 14, 1884 - December 12, 1952), born Vitaly Stephanovich Stavisky , was the archbishop of Astrakhan from 1928 to 1952. He was also archbishop of Smolensk from 1920 to 1928 and bishop of Alaska from 1916 to 1917.

Early life Philip was born as Vitaly Stephanovich Stavisky on April 14, 1884 in Narodychi, Russia, the son of a local priest. He graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy in 1910 and was consecrated in a monastery in Chernigov; in the following year, he was transferred to Kiev and resided at the Kiev Lavra of the Caves. In 1914, he was a hospital chaplain in the Russian Imperial Army. In 1915, Philip went to America as rector of a seminary, and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Return to Russia On October 29, 1920 he was elected bishop of Smolensk. During the Red Terror and the USSR anti-religious campaign (1921-1928), Stavitsky was arrested and tried multiple times for possession of counter-revolutionary literature and ordaining priests of former officers of the White Army, and eventually deported to Samara until 1925. Later, in 1928, Stavitsky took the role of Archbishop of Astrakhan and Saratov until his death.

Stavitsky died on December 12, 1952 in Moscow and was buried in the mausoleum of the Intercession Cathedral of Astrakhan.

Orders and honors