The Patriarchate in Russia was established in 1589 during the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich. In May of that year, Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II ordained Metropolitan Job of Moscow to the patriarchal dignity. The decision was confirmed by the councils held in Constantinople in 1590 and 1593.
The emergence of an idea
Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich was the first to publicly express the idea of establishing the Patriarchate in Russia. This happened under very interesting circumstances.
In May 1586, Patriarch Joachim of Antioch arrived in Moscow. This was the first visit of a cleric of such rank. None of the four Eastern patriarchs have come to our country before.
The patriarch was greeted with great honors. On June 25, Joachim was invited to the royal palace. At the end of the official part of the audience, the exchange of letters and gifts, the tsar invited the patriarch to dine. And before lunch, attend the liturgy, which was held in the cathedral church by Metropolitan Dionysius.
Dionysius stood in the middle of the Assumption Cathedral in full vestments, surrounded by bishops, archimandrites, abbots and other clergy. When Joachim went to the metropolitan, Dionysius stepped down from his seat a whole fathom and was the first to bless the patriarch.
The actions of the metropolitan were more clearly expressed in words by the tsar. He said that he had consulted with Tsarina Irina and the boyars and asked Patriarch Joachim to help before the rest of the patriarchs "in order to arrange a Russian patriarch in our state of Moscow."
It is worth noting that such an idea was hardly invented by the king or queen spontaneously. The thought was already widespread among educated people. All that was lacking was a suitable opportunity to express it emphatically.
Implementation of the idea
It cannot be said that Constantinople was delighted with the idea. Despite the efforts of Patriarch Joachim and the continuously sent alms and benefits, the matter was progressing neither shaky nor shaky.
Soon the Turkish sultan overthrew the Ecumenical Patriarch Theolipt. For the third time, the throne was occupied by Jeremiah II, freed from disgrace.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople was then experiencing serious financial difficulties. In order to correct them, Jeremiah decided to travel to Russia.
To the bewilderment of the Russians, he did not bring the letter on the establishment of the patriarchate, which they had been waiting for. Therefore, the high priest was treated with suspicion. Although they settled him in luxurious conditions. But they limited his contacts with the outside world.
The negotiations took a long time. Finally, after about six months, Jeremiah expressed his desire to remain patriarch in Russia. However, the courtiers offered him a chair in the ancient capital, the original center of Russian Christianity, Vladimir. At the same time, he was inspired, they say, Vladimir - "a terrible hole." Worse than the place where the sultan kept him in exile.
Jeremiah did not want to be Patriarch in Vladimir. He agreed to fulfill the tsar's will and named Metropolitan Job the Patriarch of Moscow. And he himself, having received rich gifts, safely departed for Constantinople.
