Innocent of Irkutsk
Hierarch · Confessor · Wonderworker · 1680–1731 · Ukraine, Russia, Siberia, China
Life events
- Born — 1680
Born Ivan Kulczycki (Иван Кульчицкий) to a noble family in the Diocese of Chernigov; the approximate birth year is c. 1680.
- Tonsured — 1706
In 1706 he became a monk at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves (Києво-Печерська лавра), taking the monastic name Innocent.
- Educated
After his tonsure he was appointed professor at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Moscow, then served as locum tenens chaplain-general at the Lavra of St. Alexander Nevsky in St. Petersburg.
- Consecrated — 1721
In 1721, at Lavra Caves Monastery, he was consecrated bishop of Pereyaslavl in preparation for leading the Russian Orthodox mission to China.
- Other — 1727
Denied entry to China as a bishop, he was appointed to the see of Irkutsk in 1727; there he learned Mongolian and preached to the indigenous population, converting many.
- Died — 1731
He died on November 27, 1731, and was buried beneath the altar of the Tikhvin church at the Ascension Monastery in Irkutsk.
- Translated — 1990
After Soviet authorities confiscated his relics in 1921 and displayed them in museums as a 'Siberian mummy,' the relics were returned to the church on September 7, 1990.
Relationships
- Related to Alexander Nevsky (plausible)
- Related to Innocent of Alaska (plausible)
Documented claims
- During restoration work on the Tikhvin church in 1764, Innocent's relics were found to be incorrupt — a discovery that initiated the process leading to his glorification. (likely)
- The Russian Orthodox Church glorified Innocent as a saint in 1804, seventy-three years after his death, following the discovery of incorrupt relics and numerous reported miracles. (likely)
- His feast day was moved one day earlier because the actual date of his repose, November 27, coincides with the commemoration of the icon of the Theotokos 'Of the Sign' of Novgorod. (likely)
- Because of his appointment as head of the Orthodox mission to China, Innocent is regarded by many Chinese Orthodox Christians today as the patron saint of China. (likely)
- Innocent of Alaska was named in honor of Innocent of Irkutsk; the two saints are occasionally confused due to their shared name and overlapping missionary legacy in the Russian Orthodox world. (likely)