Georgy Edelstein
A Blog of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center of Fordham University
From the Editor. Metropolitan Chrysostom (Martishkin) stands out as one of the most remarkable and controversial figures in the Russian Orthodox Church during the latter half of the twentieth century. He was the first bishop of the Soviet era to publicly acknowledge his collaboration with the KGB. In the early 1990s, he courageously called for a thorough investigation into the complex relationship between the Church and Soviet security services. In 1990, Metropolitan Chrysostom was appointed head of the Lithuanian Orthodox Church and he played a pivotal role in its development during the turbulent post-Soviet years. During the events of January 1991, when supporters of Lithuanian independence clashed with Soviet military forces, he boldly condemned the actions of the USSR. His moral clarity and spiritual leadership earned him Lithuania’s state medal, “In Memory of January 13.” After retiring in 2010, Metropolitan Chrysostom withdrew from public life, dedicating himself entirely to prayer and worship, often serving in the church he had restored in the suburbs of Vilnius. He passed away on January 6, 2025, at 91. We are honored to share these memoirs about Metropolitan Chrysostom, written for Public Orthodoxy by Archpriest George Edelstein, a prominent priest and human rights advocate. These reflections shed light on the complex dynamics between the episcopate and clergy and the entangled relationship of the Church and state by the 1980s.
– Sergei Chapnin
I first met Archbishop Chrysostom on October 1, 1971. I was advised to turn to him by Elena Yakovlevna Vedernikova (baptismal name Olga). According to her, he was the only one bishop in the Soviet Union who had no problem ordaining Jews with university education.
The next day, after the conversation with E.Y., I went to DECR (Department for External Church Relations of MP). At that time DECR was housed in a small mansion on Ryleev Street. I came early, at 8:25, so I could meet Chrysostom as soon as he arrived. But he was already there in conversation with some Japanese delegation.