Metrophanes, Chi Sung

Hieromartyr Metrophanes Mitrophan, Metrophanes Chi Sung, or Chang Tzi-tzung (December 10, 1855 – June 10, 1900) was the first Russian Orthodox priest of Chinese descent to be ordained and also one of its first Chinese martyrs. He was killed in 1900, along with most of his family members and church followers in Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion in the Qing Dynasty.

Background The Russian Orthodox Church had already been evangelizing to the Chinese people since the establishment of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Beijing in 1685, and many Chinese people became Eastern Orthodox Christians. However, no Chinese man had become an Orthodox priest before Metrophanes.

Early life Metrophanes was born with a typical Han name, Chang Yangji

Boxer Rebellion and death Metrophanes' relatively uneventful life as a priest was ended when the Boxer Rebellion broke out in Northeastern China in 1900. meant to disparage him for his Orthodox religion. He rebutted this, claiming he was only a follower of God. After being asked if his injuries pained him, he claimed to not suffer for the cause of Christ. When John was captured again by the Boxers, he was reportedly calm as he was led away to be killed. An old man nearby attempted to intercede for him, saying that it was not his fault that he was raised as a Christian, to no avail.

As for Metrophanes' wife Tatiana, she had initially escaped the slaughter with Maria's aid but was later captured and beheaded near Andingmen .

Canonization The Chinese Martyrs were first approved for local veneration by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1902. On February 3, 2016, the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church blessed the church-wide veneration of Hieromartyr Metrophanes and the many martyrs who suffered with him.