Seraphim Chichagov, born Leonid Mikhailovich Chichagov, was a Metropolitan bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church who was executed by firing squad, and was canonized by the Church in 1997 as a New Martyr.
29 Facts About Seraphim Chichagov
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Seraphim Chichagov retired in 1933 due to age and ill health.
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Leonid Mikhailovich Chichagov was born on 9 June 1856 in St Petersburg, Russia to artillery Colonel Mikhail Nikiforovich Chichagov and Maria Nikolaevna.
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Seraphim Chichagov was born into a minor noble family from the Kostroma area with a strong military background.
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Seraphim Chichagov's great-grandfather participated in a study of the Arctic Ocean during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great, and his grandfather, Admiral Paul Chichagov, fought in defense of Russia during the French invasion of Russia.
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Leonid Seraphim Chichagov was baptized on 20 October 1856 in the Church of St Alexander Nevsky at the Mikhailovsky military school.
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Seraphim Chichagov graduated with honors from the military academy and received the rank of lieutenant in 1875.
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Alexander Nevsky 8.
Seraphim Chichagov was assigned to the artillery and fought in the Russo-Turkish War.
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Seraphim Chichagov was awarded the Cross of St George for courage displayed at the Siege of Plevna.
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Seraphim Chichagov received the Order of St Anna and Order of St Stanislaus.
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Seraphim Chichagov received additional military honors from various countries, including the Romanian Iron Cross, Bulgarian Order of St Alexander, and Montenegrin Order of Prince Danilo I, and was promoted to Stabskapitan in 1881.
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Seraphim Chichagov studied graduate-level medicine to provide better care for wounded soldiers, and pioneered research on the idea of treating wounds using substances derived from plants.
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Seraphim Chichagov undertook independent theological studies during which he decided to resign from military service and devote his life to the Church.
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Seraphim Chichagov tendered his resignation from the military on 15 April 1890 or 1891.
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Seraphim Chichagov moved to Moscow with his family where he commenced his ecclesiastical studies.
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Seraphim Chichagov was ordained a deacon on 26 February 1893 in the Church of the Twelve Apostles, a minor cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
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Seraphim Chichagov began his pastoral work in the Church of the Twelve Apostles.
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Seraphim Chichagov paid 15,000 rubles out of pocket to renovate the dilapidated church.
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Seraphim Chichagov was awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik and skufia vestments in recognition of his work in restoring the church.
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Seraphim Chichagov's wife died after a serious illness in 1895.
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Seraphim Chichagov made several pilgrimages to Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery and the Sarov monastery in Sarov.
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Natalia Seraphim Chichagov was buried at the Diveevsky monastery, alongside an empty grave intended for Fr.
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Seraphim Chichagov was later appointed Father Superior and Archimandrite of the Monastery of Saint Euthymius in Suzdal, and then of the New Jerusalem Monastery in Moscow.
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Seraphim Chichagov wrote the "Chronicles of St Seraphim" about St Seraphim of Sarov.
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Metropolitan Seraphim Chichagov retired in 1933 due to old age, ill health, and the threat of potential arrest.
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Alexander Nevsky 26.
Seraphim Chichagov stayed briefly at the residence of the Patriarch locum tenens, Metropolitan Sergius, before moving to an apartment.
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Seraphim Chichagov suffered from hypertonic dehydration and heart disease, and gradually lost all mobility.
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Seraphim Chichagov was imprisoned in Taganka Prison and sentenced to death by firing squad.
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Seraphim Chichagov was executed at the Butovo firing range on 11 December 1937.