Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev

2025-11-03T00:31:58Z

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{{Short description|Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus' (1375–1406)}}

{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
|name = Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev
|death_date= 16 September 1406
|feast_day = 16 September ([[Eastern Orthodox]])
|venerated_in = [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] [[Catholic Church]]
|image = Кіпрыян, мітрапаліт Кіеўскі.jpg
|caption = Icon of the 17th century in [[Dormition Cathedral, Moscow|Assumption Cathedral]] Kremlin.
|titles = [[Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' |Metropolitan of Kiev, Rus' and Lithuania]] (1375–1376) [[List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Moscow|Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus']] (1376–1406)
|birth_date= {{circa|1336}}| birth_place= [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]] |canonized_date =
|canonized_place =
|canonized_by = Russian Orthodox Church
|attributes =
|patronage =
|major_shrine =
}}

{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Saint]]
| name =
| patriarch_of = Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
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| enthroned = 1381–1382, 1390–1406
| ended =
| church = [[Russian Orthodox Church]]
| see = Moscow
| predecessor = [[Alexius, Metropolitan of Kiev|Alexius]]
| successor = [[Photius, Metropolitan of Moscow|Photius]]
| other_post =
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}}

[[File:Photius, Theognostus and Cyprian.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Theognostus of Kiev|Theognostus]], Cyprian, [[Photius, Metropolitan of Moscow|Photius]]]]

'''Cyprian'''{{Efn|{{langx|bg|Киприан}}; {{langx|ru|Киприан}}; {{langx|be|Кіпрыян}}; {{langx|uk|Кипріан}}.}} ({{circa|1336}} – 16 September 1406) was a prelate of Bulgarian origin,<ref>Jean W. Sedlar, East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500, A History of East Central Europe, University of Washington Press, 2013, {{ISBN|029580064X}}, p. 438.</ref> who served as the [[Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus' |Metropolitan of Kiev, Rus' and Lithuania]] (2 December 1375 – 12 February 1376) and the [[List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Moscow|Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus']] (12 February 1376 – 16 September 1406) in the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. During both periods, he was opposed by rival hierarchs and by the grand prince of Moscow. He was known as a bright opinion writer, editor, translator, and book [[copyist]].<ref name=ehu>Shabuldo, F. ''[http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?Z21ID=&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Kypriyan_mytropolyt Cyprian (КИПРІЯН)]''. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine. 2007</ref> He is commemorated by the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] on May 27 and September 16 (O.S.).<ref name=ehu/>

==Early life==
Cyprian was a clergyman of [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] origin.<ref name=ehu/><ref>Jean W. Sedlar, East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500, A History of East Central Europe, University of Washington Press, 2013, {{ISBN|029580064X}}, p. 438.</ref><ref>[[Graham Speake]], ''A History of the Athonite Commonwealth: The Spiritual and Cultural Diaspora of Mount Athos'', Cambridge University Press, 2018, {{ISBN|1108425860}}, p. 132.</ref><ref>John Meyendorff, Byzantium and the Rise of Russia: A Study of Byzantino-Russian Relations in the Fourteenth Century, Cambridge University Press, 2010, {{ISBN|0521135338}}, p. 129.</ref> He is supposed to have been born in aristocratic family of [[Tsamblak family]] from the capital [[Tarnovo]].<ref name=ehu/> After his upbringing, education, and worldview, he was a [[Hesychasm|hesychast]].<ref name=ehu/> As a young man Cyprian studied at [[Kilifarevo]], just south of Tarnovo, where he possible accepted his monastic vows<ref name=ehu/> and where a disciple of [[Gregory of Sinai]] named [[Theodosius of Tarnovo]], who had founded a Hesychast monastery. In [[:bg:Килифаревски манастир|Kilifarevo monastery]] Cyprian met with future [[Patriarch of Bulgaria|Bulgarian patriarch]] (between 1375 and 1393) [[Euthymius of Tarnovo|Euthymius]], who also was studying hesychasm and was later regarded as one of the most important figures of [[medieval]] [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]].<ref name=ehu/> In 1363 along with Euthymius, Theodosius, and two of Theodosius's followers, Cyprian arrived in [[Constantinople]] where he was introduced to Patriarch [[Callistus I of Constantinople|Callistus I]] and for a few months studied at the [[Monastery of Stoudios]].<ref name=ehu/> Following the death of Theodosius (27 November 1363), Cyprian continued his studies at [[Mount Athos]],<ref name=ehu/> becoming a [[Hesychasm|Hesychast]].<ref name=oca>[http://oca.org/saints/lives/2015/09/16/102627-repose-of-st-cyprian-the-metropolitan-of-moscow-and-all-russia "Repose of St Cyprian the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia", Orthodox Church in America]</ref> On the other hand, according to [[Dimitri Obolensky]], Cyprian only became a monk in the early 1370s in [[Constantinople]].<ref name=ehu/> At [[Mount Athos]] Cyprian befriended Philotheus Kokkinos.<ref name=ehu/> In the beginning of the 1370s, after the return of [[Philotheus I of Constantinople|Philotheus]] to the patriarchal throne, Cyprian became "his closest monk".<ref name=ehu/>

==Background==
In 1356, after diplomatic struggles, Patriarch [[Callistus I of Constantinople]] united the [[Metropolis of Halych]] with the [[Metropolis of Lithuania]] under the leadership of Metropolitan Roman. Callistus also confirmed that [[Alexius, Metropolitan of Kiev|Alexius]] remained in possession of the "Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'".{{sfn|Rowell|1994|p=166}} All eparchies of the Halych metropolis were transferred to the jurisdiction of a united "Metropolis of Lithuania-Volhynia" (also known as "Lithuania–Halych"). The rivalry between Roman and Alexius continued until Roman's death in 1362, when Lithuania–Halych was placed under the control of Alexius.{{sfn|Majeska|1984|p= 389}} In 1371, the united metropolis was officially lowered to the rank of a bishopric and placed under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'.{{sfn|Rowell|1994|p=166}} However, it did not end the political rivalry for religious influence in Rus'.

==Career==
===Hostilities between Lithuania and Muscovy===
The [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Grand Duke of Lithuania]] — [[Algirdas]] — attacked Muscovy on three occasions between 1368 and 1372 as part of the [[Lithuanian–Muscovite War (1368–1372)|Lithuanian–Muscovite War]]. This was in support of his ally, [[Mikhail II of Tver|Mikhail II]], [[Principality of Tver|Prince of Tver]]. It may also have been motivated by a desire to advance his calls for a separate metropolis for the Grand Duchy that was independent of Moscow.<ref name=ehu/> Cyprian was sent by the Patriarch as a trustee (envoy) to the Rus' princes in the Lithuanian and Muscovite lands with the goal to reconcile the Lithuanian and [[Grand Duchy of Tver|Tverite]] princes with Metropolitan Alexius and to prevent the total division of the Church between [[Wilno]] and Moscow.<ref name=ehu/> In winter of the same year, it is possible that Cyprian visited [[Kiev]] for the first time along with other cities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.<ref name=ehu/> On 9 March 1374 he visited [[Tver]] on the consecration of the [[Diocese of Tver|Bishop of Tver]], Euthymius. Later, with Metropolitan Alexius, he left for [[Pereslavl-Zalessky]].<ref name=ehu/> Cyprian returned to Constantinople from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania carrying a letter from Orthodox Christian Lithuanian-Ruthenian with a request to the patriarch to consecrate him as the Metropolitan of Lithuania.<ref name=ehu/>

Hostilities between Moscow and Lithuania resumed; in August 1375 Muscovite troops captured Tver. Patriarch [[Philotheus I of Constantinople|Philotheus I]] was aware of the threat of Catholization of the population of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.<ref name=ehu/> He therefore agreed to satisfy the petitions of the previous Grand Duke of Lithuania —[[Algirdas]] — to create a separate metropolis in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Philotheus also listened to the petitions of the Eastern Orthodox princes to have Cyprian as their [[Metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]].<ref name=ehu/> On 2 December 1375<ref name=ehu/> at the Council of Constantinople, Philotheus consecrated Cyprian as '''"Metropolitan of Kiev, Rus' and Lithuania"''',<ref name=ehu/> under a condition that "upon the death of Alexius, Cyprian should become the Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus".<ref name=oca/><ref name=ehu/>

===Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus'===
On 6 June 1376, Cyprian arrived at his residence in Kiev. He attempted, but failed, to get recognition of his rights in the metropolitan diocese from the Grand Duke of Moscow — [[Dmitri Donskoi]]. In fear of his life both from the Grand Duke as well as the approaching armies of [[Tokhtamysh]], Cyprian chose to live either in Lithuania or at Constantinople.<ref name=oca/> On 12 February 1378, Alexius died; by the terms of the agreement with the patriarch, Cyprian was entitled to rule the religious affairs of all Rus'. Instead, the Grand Prince deposed him without seeking the permission of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]. In his place, the Grand Prince appointed [[Pimen, Metropolitan of Moscow|Pimen]] (1380–1384). Later, the Grand Price also deposed Pimen. He next appointed [[Dionysius I, Metropolitan of Moscow|Dionysius]] (1384–1385), again without the permission of Constantinople. In February 1389, Patriarch [[Antony IV of Constantinople]] convened a council that restored the unity of the metropolis by finally recognizing Cyprian as "the true bishop of all Rus'". In 1390, Cyprian returned to Moscow and was recognised as the legitimate Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus' by the new Grand Prince — [[Vasili II]]. Cyprian held this title until his death in 1406. During his term, his main objectives were to preserve a unified metropolis in Rus' and to secure peace with [[Lithuania]].<ref>John Meyendorff, ''Byzantium and the Rise of Russia'' (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary, 1989), 214-221.</ref>

==Achievements==

Cyprian is remembered as a wise and experienced church administrator who fought for the unity of the Russian church. In fact, he is mainly responsible for uniting the Church in the [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]. He faced serious opposition during his metropolitanate; Dmitry Donskoy and his advisors were excommunicated for opposing Cyprian's efforts to take up his place in Moscow, and [[Novgorod the Great]] – especially Archbishops Aleksei and [[Ioann (Archbishop of Novgorod)|Ioann II]] – also opposed his efforts to adjudicate ecclesiastical cases there, which would have allowed him to gain the court fees from Novgorod during the time he sat in judgement there.

Cyprian was an erudite person and alumnus of [[Tarnovo Literary School]]. He oversaw the copying and creation of a number of important works, including the ''Troitskaia Chronicle'' (or ''Troitskaya letopis'') and, probably, the ''Metropolitan Justice'' (also known as the ''Pravosudiye metropolich’ye'' or Правосудие митрополичье). He also rewrote the ''Life of Metropolitan Peter,'' originally written around 1327. He also corrected [[biblical]] books and translated a number of ecclesiastic works from [[Greek language|Greek]] into Old Church Slavic.<ref>Droblenkova and Prokhorov, “Kiprian (ok. 1330-16.IX.1406) Mitropolit Kievskii i vseia Rusi,” in D. S. Likhachev, ''Slovar knizhnikov i knizhnosti drevnei Rusi'', vol. 2, pt. 1, pp. 473-474.</ref>

The [[Book of Degrees]] (''Stepénnaya kniga''), which grouped Russian monarchs in the order of their generations, was started by Cyprian in 1390 (but completed only in 1563).

==Death==
He died on 16 September 1406.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orthodox.net/menaion-september/15-st-cyprian-metropolitan-of-kiev.html|title=St Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev. - September 15}}</ref> Cyprian is buried in the [[Assumption Cathedral in Moscow|Assumption Cathedral]] in the Moscow Kremlin. He was [[canonize]]d by the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in the 15th century. [[St. Kiprian Peak]] on [[Greenwich Island]] in the [[South Shetland Islands]], [[Antarctica]] is named for Cyprian.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow, Orthodox Church in America: http://oca.org/saints/lives/2016/09/16/102627-repose-of-st-cyprian-the-metropolitan-of-moscow-and-all-russia
* N. F. Droblenkova and G. M. Prokhorov, “Kiprian (ok. 1330-16.IX.1406) Mitropolit Kievskii i vseia Rusi,” in D. S. Likhachev, ''Slovar knizhnikov i knizhnosti drevnei Rusi'', vol. 2, pt. 1, pp. 464-465.
*{{cite book | first=George P. |last=Majeska |title=Russian Travelers to Constantinople in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=teyNhL3AuGEC |publisher=Dumbarton Oaks |year=1984 |isbn=0-88402-101-7}}
*{{cite book | title=Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295–1345 | first=S. C. | last=Rowell | year=1994 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | series=Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series| isbn=978-0-521-45011-9 }}
*{{efron}}
* ''[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\C\Y\CyprianMetropolitan.htm Cyprian, Metropolitan]'' at the ''[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/default.asp Encyclopedia of Ukraine]''
Андреев В.Ф. Из истории Русской Церкви XIV-XV веков. Митрополит св. Киприан. Великий Новгород, 2008.

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|eo}}
{{s-bef | before=New creation}}
{{s-ttl | title=Metropolitan of Kiev, Russia and Lithuania ([[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]])|years=2 December 1375–12 February 1378}}
{{s-aft | after=Title abolished}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|eo}}
{{s-bef | before=[[Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow|Alexius]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Metropolis of Kiev and all Rus'|Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus']] ([[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]])|years=12 February 1378–16 September 1406}}
{{s-aft | after=[[Pimen, Metropolitan of Moscow|Pimen]] (contested) [[Dionysius I, Metropolitan of Moscow|Dionysius I]] (contested) [[Photius, Metropolitan of Moscow|Photius]] (recognised by Constantinople)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Russian (Ruthenian) Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cyprian, Metropolitan Of Moscow}}
[[Category:Russian saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church]]
[[Category:Metropolitans of Kiev and all Rus' (988–1441)]]
[[Category:1330s births]]
[[Category:1406 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Veliko Tarnovo]]
[[Category:14th-century Bulgarian writers]]
[[Category:15th-century Bulgarian writers]]
[[Category:Bulgarian male writers]]
[[Category:15th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Bulgarian Orthodox bishops]]
[[Category:Tarnovo Literary School]]
[[Category:Hesychasts]]
[[Category:Tzamplakon family]]

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Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev