www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Fr Leonid Feodorov

I just finished a book that I found in my parish library on Fr Leonid Feodorov [or Fedorov]. He was the first and so far only Exarch of the Russian Catholic Church. A disciple of Soloviev, he went to Rome after his conversion to attend seminary. After ordination he returned to Russia where he sought to organize Catholics who celebrated the Byzantine liturgy. He combined a deep love of the Russian Christian tradition, resistance to Latinizations, desire for reunion and fidelity to the Pope of Rome [a combination I wish I saw more of on the Forum].
He eventually was exiled by the Bolsheviks and after much suffering died in 1934.
My question: does anyone know if his cause has been introduced? If so how far along is it?
Besides living an inspiring life, many years ahead of his time, he had a great, intense face. I really would like to someday paint an icon of him.

Dear Daniel,

Leonid Fyodorov was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Ukraine along with the other New Martyrs, Nicholas Charnetsky and his companions, and Theodore Romzha - and his icon figures among the martyrs who were glorified.

His cause was particularly promoted by Met. Andrew Sheptytsky who also knew well Bl. Leonid's mother.

It was thanks to the Galician Metropolitan that Rome approved the vast majority of Russian Orthodox saints for veneration by Eastern Catholics.

Congratulations on your opposition to Latinization!

(And, by the way, aren't icons "written" rather than "painted?" ).

Axel

Thanks for the information; do you know how he should be portrayed in an icon? He was never consecrated bishop, despite his title. Do you know of existing icons online?
I have been told that the term "to write an icon" stems from confusion arising from the Russian language, where the same word is used for "write" and "paint".It would be like someone insisting that because the words "photography" and "stenography" have the same root that one should say that one "writes" a photograph. Of course, even so the term is profound, for an icon is a word of God in line and color. Nevertheless, it is written in paint, isn't it? I use the terms interchangeably.

Bl. Leonid was a mitred hiero-monk, so he would be shown either in monastic choir dress with a pectoral cross, or with a mitre and phelonion. If that book is the one I read, it should have some pictures of him in liturgical and choir dress. Also, the forum's Griego Catholico has some Ukrainian Holy Cards from his beatification. You may want to PM him. He also sent me an electronic copy of an icon of Bl. Leonid. If you PM me your email, I can send it to you.

Justin

Dear Daniel,

Yes, the term "Ikonopysannya" suggests "icon-writing" as opposed to "Malyuvannya."

I believe the convention is "writing" to underscore that iconography is ultimately about teaching theology through images and therefore goes beyond the aesthetics of painting in general.

Alex

References to "writing" icons are an affectation when speaking English, and therefore best avoided.
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

In the "paint vs. write" argument, I just skirt the whole issue: I will say I "make" an icon.

Dave

In Orthodox Tradition, the periodical of the True Orthodox Church of Greece's American Exarchate, there is an article about why the term "writing" an icon is wrong. If anyone wants to read it I will scan it in and link it for you.

anastasios

Anastasios,

I'd be very interested to read this article.

Dave

CHRISTOS VOSKRES!

The term for a person who "creates" an ikon in Russian is IKONPISATEL.... IKON-WRITER....

I have a book entitled KRATKAYA IKONPISATEL SLOVAR, A SHORT IKON-WRITER'S DICTIONARY...

Since an ikon tells a story, do you "write" a story or do you "paint" a story????

mark

PS; we also say 'writing' Pysanky (Easter eggs) and not painting them.

Hritzko

In English one does not write Easter eggs, nor does one usually paint them. One dyes them.
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

Vojistynu Voskress,

Thanks for that correction Incognitus. I meant to say; IN UKRAINIAN we also say to 'write' pysanky and do not to 'paint' (or dye) them.

Hritzko

Sigh. I'm going to log off soon and work on an icon. There, any objections?

Christos Voskrese!

Dear Iconophile, there are two books specifically about Hieromartyr Leonid, I'm curious which one you are referring to. His intercession has been very strong in mine and my family's lives, and an icon of him has a prominent place in our holy corner.

I used to have a picture of him as my avatar, in his riassa and klobuk. Justin is correct, in that any iconic depiction of Hieromartyr Leonid should be in either monastic habit or episcopal vestments as he was Exarch at the time of his death.

Regarding the gnat's-eye detail surrounding the use of the term "writing" when speaking of icons here, it is in common use, right or wrong.

If Ksenia Pokrovsky, holy and excellent iconographer, as well as spiritual daughter of Father Alexander Men of blessed memory uses that term, it is good enough for me.

Daniel,

Actually, Blessed Kliment Sheptytsky, brother of Metropolitan Andrew, succeeded Blessed Leonid as Exarch. Father Sergei Soloviev, of blessed memory, a relative of Vladimir, was appointed Vice-Exarch in 1923. Father Archimandrite Fabian Abrantovich, MIC, and Father Andrej Cikoto, MIC, both of blessed memory, were the Apostolic Administrator and Administrator, respectively, of the Apostolic Exarchate in Harbin (China) of the Russian Byzantine Catholics. None of these recieved episcopal ordination because of the circumstances of the time. (Blessed Leonid is reputed to have repeatedly avoided recieving it).

The Russian Church also had at least two other hierarchs; both were episcopus ordinans with only titular jurisdictions. They were Bishops Alexander Evreinov (consecrated in 1936) and Andrei Katkov (consecrated in 1958), both of blessed memory. Bishop Andrei reposed in 1996.

There are photos of Blesseds Leonid and Kliment online at:

History of Russian Catholic Church [rumkatkilise.org]

and of Archimandrite Fabian and Bishop Andrei at:

Harbin Exarchate [rumkatkilise.org]

BTW, anyone interested in sites with photos, bios, etc of candidates for sainthood may want to see the following sites:

Hagiography Circle [newsaints.faithweb.com]

Major Persecutions of Catholics in the 20th Century
[holycross.edu]

(Both are excellent reference sites; the latter is owned by a priest whom I knew when he was a scholastic and a superb history teacher at the Jesuit high school that Dr. John and I attended - oh so very long ago - just rec'd an invite to my 40th reunion ).

Many years,

Neil

Dear Neil,

The Hagiography Circle is an EXCELLENT site - thank you for linking us all to it!!

We need more Irish in the Eastern Churches!!

Alex