Amvrosy (Podobedov) (1742-1818), Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg in 1799-1818

Categories / Religion. Church/Personalia
AMVROSY (born Andrey Ivanovich Podobedov) (1742-1818), religious figure. In 1757-64 he studied at the Seminary of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, and later spent several years teaching there. He took monastic vows in 1768 and was moved to Slavic Greek Latin Academy in Moscow, where he was appointed rector in 1774. Amvrosy served as Bishop of Sevsk from 1778, Archbishop of Kazan and Siberia from 1785, Archbishop of St. Petersburg, Eastland and Finland from1799, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Novgorod from 1801 (of Novgorod from 1816), and as the President of the Holy Synod. Amvrosy was remarkable for his erudition, was a brilliant preacher and showed particular interest in raising the level of morality and the intellectual capacity of the clergy, as well developing ecclesiastical education. Amvrosy took part in reorganising St. Petersburg theological schools in 1809, and then worked to develop new regulations for theological academies in 1814. In 1807, Amvrosy donated 200,000 roubles for the common good on behalf of the diocese. In 1812, Amvrosy made an appeal to all social classes to rise for the defence of the Fatherland, delivering numerous patriotic sermons in various churches of St. Petersburg during the war against Emperor Napoleon I.

Reference: Очерки истории Санкт-Петербургской епархии. СПб., 1994. С. 105-106.

V. V. Antonov. Amvrosy (Andrey Ivanovich Podobedov), Metropolitan
Antonov Viktor Vasilievich
Napoleon I Bonaparte, Emperor
Очерки истории Санкт-Петербургской епархии. СПб., 1994
Собрание поучительных слов...: В 4 ч. 3-е изд. М., 1825 Synod
Theological schools (entry)