Barsanuphius Sudakov

Metropolitan Barsanuphius (Митрополит Варсонофий, secular name Anatoly Vladimirovich Sudakov, Анато́лий Влади́мирович Судако́в; 3 June 1955, Malinovka, Arkadaksky District, Saratov Oblast) is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church who is serving as the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, head of the Metropolitanate of St. Petersburg.

Born on June 3, 1955, in a large (6 children) peasant family to Vladimir Sudakov and Antonina Leontievna Sudakova-Pozorova.

He received his initial religious education from her.

After graduating from Malinovka secondary school in 1972, he worked for a year in his village as a postman and at a brick factory.

In the fall of 1973, he was drafted into the Soviet Armed Forces and sent to the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, where he served as a tank driver in units in Brandenburg and Potsdam.

In November 1975, after being transferred to the reserve, he got a job as an altar boy at the St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral in the city of Serdobsk, Penza Oblast.

On the advice of the rector of the cathedral, Archimandrite Modest (Kozhevnikov), he decided to receive spiritual education and take the path of monasticism.

In 1976, he submitted a petition to the Moscow Theological Seminary.

Already in the seminary, he finally decided to connect his fate with monasticism and in October 1977 he was accepted as a novice into the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On March 30, 1978, the abbot of the Lavra, Archimandrite Jerome (Zinoviev), tonsured him a monk with the name Barsanuphius in honor of St. Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver.

On April 27, 1978, Archbishop Vladimir Sabodan of Dmitrov ordained him to the rank of hierodeacon, and on November 26 of the same year, he ordained him a hieromonk.

In 1979, he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary in three years (instead of four).

While on obedience at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, hegumen Barsanuphius had a close friendship with the confessors of the monastery, Archimandrites Cyril (Pavlov) and Nahum (Bayborodin).

His immediate spiritual superiors were the sacristan Archimandrite Aristarchus Stankevich; dean, and then viceroy, Archimandrite Eusebius (Savvin); Dean Archimandrite Mark (Petrovtsy).

After that, until 1982, he served as an assistant sacristan.

In 1982 he was elevated to the rank of abbot and until 1986 he served as assistant dean.

In 1982 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

While studying at Moscow theological schools, Abbot Barsanuphius spent his vacation time annually at the Pühtitsa Convent in Estonia.

Here he had to serve Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger) of Tallinn and Estonia more than once and receive spiritual edification from Abbess Barbara (Trofimova), the long-term abbess of the monastery, and from the sisters of this monastery.

In 1986 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with the defense of his dissertation “Athos - the Great Treasury of Orthodoxy” for the degree of candidate of theology.

The head of the scientific work was Archimandrite Innocent (Prosvirnin).

According to his recollections: "After graduating from the Moscow Theological Academy, at the invitation of Archbishop Seraphim of Penza and Saransk, I came to Saransk to help him prepare for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'".

From September 15, 1986, to June 15, 1988, he was rector of the Kazan Church in the city of Kuznetsk, Penza Oblast.

In 1987 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

From June 15, 1988, to February 7, 1991, he served as rector of the Assumption Cathedral of Penza, secretary of the Penza diocesan administration.

While obedient to the bishop, later Archbishop of Penza Seraphim (Tikhonov), he received many edifying lessons from him in performing divine services, in clerical work, and in administrative activities.

He participated in Local Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church in which were held in 1988 and 1990.

On January 29, 1991, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Diocese of Saransk was formed by separating it from the Diocese of Penza, to which Archimandrite Barsanuphius was appointed.

On February 8, 1991, in the Moscow Epiphany Cathedral, he was consecrated Bishop of Saransk and Mordovia.

The consecration was performed by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', co-served by sixteen bishops.

On February 15 of the same year he arrived in Saransk.

He was aware of the affairs in Mordovia well, since in his position as secretary of the Penza diocesan administration he often visited Saransk and the churches of the republic, and had a concrete idea of the economic, political and cultural state of the parishes.

Under his leadership, with the help of well-wishers of the Church, more than 200 new parishes and 14 monasteries, the Saransk Theological School were opened, a diocesan press was founded, etc.

In 2000, after the death of Archbishop of Penza and Kuznetsk Seraphim (Tikhonov), he temporarily ruled the Diocese of Penza (until the appointment of Philaret (Karagodin)).

On February 22, 2001, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church since March 31, 2009.

His name day is April 11 (24) (of St. Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver).

On March 31, 2009, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was appointed acting Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On May 27, 2009, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was appointed chairman of the newly formed award commission under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On July 27, 2009, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, it was included in the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.