Vladimir Vladimirovich Abrikosov was a Catholic priest of the Byzantine rite who converted from Russian Orthodoxy and was a member of Russian apostolate in the diaspora.
11 Facts About Vladimir Abrikosov
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Vladimir Abrikosov graduated from the 5th Moscow Gymnasium and historical-philological faculty of Moscow University, and studied at Oxford.
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In 1908, Anna Abrikosova converted to Catholicism, and a year later Vladimir converted as well.
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Vladimir Abrikosov's apartment was at that time one of the main centers for the dissemination of Catholic ideas in Moscow.
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On 29 May 1917, Vladimir Abrikosov took part in the Council of the Russian Greek Catholic Church and was ordained a Catholic priest of the Byzantine rite by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
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Such activity was considered counterrevolutionary and on 17 August 1922, Vladimir Abrikosov was arrested and sentenced to death, but the punishment was commuted to perpetual exile.
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Vladimir Abrikosov built up contacts with various representatives of the Russian emigre community, organized in Rome a Committee of Russian Catholics, and kept the Holy See constantly informed as to the persecution of Catholics in Soviet Russia, among whom was his wife.
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In 1922 Vladimir Abrikosov obtained an audience with Pope Pius XI to discuss the situation of the Russian Catholic Church.
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However, Vladimir Abrikosov faced accusations of being a Russian spy by a Russian officer, Baron Igor von der Launitz.
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Vladimir Abrikosov faced strong opposition from Bishop Michel d'Herbigny, who wanted Abrikosov to resign his position as Procurator, and conflicts with the Jesuits.
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Vladimir Abrikosov left Rome to establish himself in Paris, when it was rumoured that D'Herbigny intended to abolish the Exarchate.