Patriarch Filaret is an ambiguous personality in Russian history. His name is closely related to the reign of the first tsar from the Romanov dynasty. Filaret is considered one of the main contenders for the throne after the death of Fyodor Ivanovich. With the coming to power of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, Filaret became a state and religious figure in Russia.
Biography of Patriarch Filaret
The years of life of the Moscow Patriarch Filaret coincided with the time of Troubles in Russia. The interregnum, dynastic crisis and foreign intervention increased the interest of the population in the Orthodox Church. Patriarch Filaret in the world Fyodor Nikitich Romanov - Yuriev was not only a religious, but also a political figure. The name of Filaret is closely connected with the beginning of the rule of the new dynasty in Russia.
Fedor Nikitich Romanov was born in 1553. In those days, the unknown boyar Fyodor was one of the relatives of the ruling Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was his son who became one of the contenders for the royal throne. The father of the future patriarch was the nephew of Tsarina Anastasia, the beloved wife of Ivan the Terrible.
Fyodor Nikitich was a pretty smart man. Having a secular character and inclinations, he never set the goal of obtaining a priestly dignity. However, fate decreed otherwise. Fedor Romanov received a good education. Thanks to his penchant for languages, he was able to learn the Latin alphabet by reading Latin books written for him. The popularity of the Romanov family increased due to the kind-heartedness and sincerity of Queen Anastasia.
The last king of the Romanov dynasty - Fyodor Ivanovich - was a devout man, practically not interested in state affairs. After his death, the Romanovs became the main heirs to the royal throne. By this time Fyodor Romanov was 44 years old. He has already made a career as a good military man, manager and governor.
Tonsured a monk
The authority of the Romanovs after the death of Fyodor Ivanovich begins to grow. Boris Godunov, brother of the Tsar's wife Irina, was afraid of competition for the royal throne from Fyodor Romanov. Being the closest supporter of the tsar, Godunov formed a group of boyars who provided him with all kinds of support. Under Boris Godunov, the Romanov family fell into disgrace. Fyodor was tonsured a monk under the name Filaret, and his wife Xenia was sent to the monastery under the name of Martha.
Filaret spent a long time in a monastery in the Arkhangelsk province. Being an intelligent and educated person, Filaret was able to earn authority and respect from the clergy. After the death of Boris Godunov, Filaret returns to Moscow and receives the rank of Metropolitan of Rostov under False Dmitry the First.
During the reign of Lezhdmitry II, Metropolitan Filaret was captured by the invaders and sent to Poland. The liberation of Filaret took place in 1619. By this time, a representative of the new dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the son of Metropolitan Philaret, was elected to the royal throne. The new tsar elevated Filaret to the rank of Patriarch of All Russia. This event marked the beginning of the dual power in Russia. Patriarch Filaret becomes the head of both secular and spiritual power.
The dual power in Russia ended with the death of Filaret. A new dynasty was established on the throne, which ruled until 1917.
