Metropolitan Bishop
Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, was born on August 26, 1797, in the village of Anginskoye in the Irkutsk diocese. From 1823, he began his missionary service, dedicating 45 years to the enlightenment of the peoples of Kamchatka, the Aleutian Islands, and North America. He baptized tens of thousands of people, built churches, and established schools. His knowledge of various crafts aided him in his labors. The saint was an outstanding preacher and studied the languages of the peoples among whom he preached. His works on geography and linguistics gained worldwide recognition; he compiled the alphabet and grammar of the Aleut-Lisiev language, and translated the Catechism and the Gospel into it. On November 29, 1840, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Innocent, and on December 15, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Kamchatka. On January 5, 1868, he became the Metropolitan of Moscow. Under his guidance, the Missionary Society was established, and the Moscow Pokrovsky Monastery was transformed into a missionary one. He departed to the Lord on March 31, 1879, and was buried in the Holy Spirit Church of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was glorified among the saints on October 6, 1977, with his feast day established on March 31/April 13 and September 23/October 6.
