Blessed Leonid Feodorov
Also known as
- Father Leontios
- Leonid F’odorov
Profile
Russian Orthodox family and upbringing. His father died when Leonid was very young, and he was raised by his mother, Liubova Dimitrievna. He started his studies in the Orthodox seminary in 1901, but in 1902 he left, travelled to Rome, Italy, and converted to Catholicism.
Studied at Anagni and Rome, and the Freiburg, Germany. Assisted at the coronation of Pope Pope Pius X on 9 August 1903. Doctorate in philosophy in 1905; degree in theology in 1907. Deacon on 22 March 1911, and ordained a Greek Catholic priest on 25 March 1911 in Bosnia. Monk at the Studite monastery in Bosnia, beginning his noviate on 20 May 1912 and admitted to the habit on 12 February 1913, taking the name Father Leontios.
He returned to Saint Petersburg and was immediately arrested for his faith, and sent to Siberia. Released in March 1917 during an amnesty for political and religious prisoners, he returned to Saint Petersburg, and was appointed Exarch of the Russian Greek Catholic Church. The Communist takeover later that year began a period of persecution of the faith and the faithful, with 1922 ushering in the era of violent suppression of Christianity. All churches were ordered closed on 5 December 1922. Father Leontios and fourteen priests were arrested for their faith in January 1923, sent to Moscow for trial; sentenced to ten years exile to Solovky and Vladka.
Released in 1926, he relocated to Kaluga. Arrested again for spreading the faith, he was sentenced to ten years in Solovetsky where a large monastery had been converted to a prison. There he continued to minister to the faithful, conducting covert Masses, using wine made from raisins sent by the families of prisoners. Transferred to forced labour camp at Pinega on 6 August 1929 where he was billeted with an imprisoned Orthodox priest; after work, Leontios conducted catechism class for local boys. Transferred to Arkhangelsk, to Kotlas, and to Poltava. The poor conditions and steady overwork broke his health, and in 1932 he was certified as an invalid. He completed his sentence in 1933, but was barred from returing to many Russian cities, and had to live in exile the rest of his life. One of the Martyrs Under Communism in Eastern Europe.
Born
- 4 November 1879 at Saint Petersburg, Russia
- 24 April 2001 by Pope John Paul II (decree of martyrdom)
- 27 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II in Ukraine
Readings
O Merciful Lord Jesus, Our Saviour, hear the prayers and petitions of Your unworthy sinful servants who humbly call upon You and make us all to be one in Your one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Flood our souls with Your unquenchable light. Put an end to religious disagreements, and grant that we Your disciples and Your beloved children may all worship You with a single heart and voice. Fulfill quickly, O grace-giving Lord, your promise that there shall be one flock and one Divine Shepherd of Your Church; and may we be made worthy to glorify Your Holy Name now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. – prayer for unity by Blessed Leonid
MLA Citation
- “Blessed Leonid Feodorov“. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 July 2023. Web. 20 April 2024. <>