The Synod, after reporting to the Empress, decided to satisfy the wishes of M. Arseny, but before the synodal permission came to Kyiv, the proposed vicar had already died (| December 22, 1758). And Met. Arseny himself buried him in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
But M. Arseny did not limit himself to the first unsuccessful attempt to acquire a vicar, and three years later (from the 14th anniversary of 1761) he reported to the synod that in the rank of vicar under him, the Metropolitan of Kve, for the blessing and permission of St. synod, the Dalmatian bishop Simeon Kontserevich, who promised to move to Kyiv in a year, wants to leave for Russia for an eternal stay from abroad. At the same time, M. Arsepius explained that due to the weakness of his health, there was an extreme need for a vicar.
The Holy Synod of March 1, 1762 answered M. Arseny that the Dalmatian bishop Simeon Kontserevich had left Russia for his homeland and the synod knew nothing about his return. But since the Metropolitan desperately needs a vicar, St. The synod is worthy to judge and recommends him the archimandrite and rector of the Moscow icon-pastoral school monastery Gideon of Slonim, whom the synod transfers to the vacant position of rector of the Kyiv Hermitage-Nicholas Monastery with promotion to bishop and vicar.
M. Arseny did not like the order of the synod. He wanted a vicar for the liturgy, and St. The synod recommended to him a candidate who, by his position and past service, could take part in the diocesan administration. Therefore, the Metropolitan answered, dated April 16. 1762, that he allows Gideon of Slonim to be the abbot of the Kyiv-Nicholas desert monastery, and will announce Gideon’s vicariate in due course. For his part, Gideon of Slonim, noticing the coldness of the Kyiv ruler towards himself, was in no hurry to go to Kyiv and continued to serve as rector at the Moscow Academy. About two years passed like this. Finally, the synod gave Gideon a strict request why he was not going to Kyiv to his destination. Gideon, responding to illness, among other things replied on June 7, 1764, that he was expecting the arrival of St. synod from St. Petersburg to Moscow, that is, - in other words, he expected the opportunity to go to Kyiv already in the rank of bishop.
But Gideon never received the bishopric. Strict decree of St. Synod forced him to go to Kyiv and take over
*. A. TERNOSPY,
in the Nnkolayevsky-Pistin monastery. And the ideas about Gideon’s vicariate from the side of Kyiv. Metropolitan Arseny did not follow at all.
V.
Candidates for the Kyiv metropolis in 1770').
On June 8, 1770, Metropolitan of Kyiv Arseny of Mogilyansky died. Regarding the replacement of the empty chair, the following most comprehensive report of the synod was presented to Empress Catherine II - dated August 23, 1770.
The Kyiv diocese, not having its own diocesan pastor, is now idle, and due to the named February 1721. On the 14th day, by decree, the Synod must submit two candidates for vacant positions to V.P.V—vu for promotion to bishop.
For this reason, the Synod, in transferring to the said Kyiv diocese, judges to be worthy below the following, namely: Rev. George, Archbishop of Belarus, and synodal member, Rev. Afanasy, E. Rostovsky, both of whom are quite learned from Little Russia. Moreover, everything is handed over to the will and the highest good will of V.I.V.
Signed: Gabriel A. St. Petersburg.
Innokenty E. Pskovsky.
Gabriel E. Tfersky.
Archimandrite Plato Tr. Serg. laurel.
Andrei Archpriest Preobrazhensky.
06. Secretary Mich. Ostolopov.
But neither George Konissky nor Athanasius Volkhovsky was awarded the royal election. On September 22 of the same year, the first to sign the above-mentioned report was appointed to the Kyiv metropolis, Gabriel Ereienetsviy, Archbishop of St. Petersburg, who was in the Kyiv metropolis for almost 13 years (I August 8, 1783).
*) From the archives of the Holy Synod.
F THE Kyiv DIOCESE IN THE XXIII CENTURY.
VI.
A few words about Pavel Eonyuskevich, Metropolitan of Tobolsk, who rests in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Which of the Kievites or pilgrims who regularly visit Kyiv does not know about the relics of Paul, Metropolitan of Tobolsk, openly lying incorrupt in the crypt under the arches of the great Lavra church? But the life and personality of M. Paul is as little known as the existence of his relics is known. This circumstance prompted the writer of these lines to review in the archives of the synod the original documents relating to the dismissal and death of Metropolitan Paul.