Yandex Metrika
Archbishop George Konisski of Mogilev and Belarus (1717–1795)

From Scholar to Shepherd: Konissky's Stand for Belarus

Saint George Konisski

The figure of Archbishop George Konisski of Mogilev and Belarus (1717–1795) holds a unique place in the annals of the Orthodox Church and the history of White Russia.

Grigory Iosifovich Konisski was born on 20 November 1717 in Nezhin into a noble Ukrainian family - his father served as the town’s burgomaster. After home-schooling until age seven, Grigory attended a regimental school for a strong foundational education. This prepared him well for enrolment at the prestigious Kiev-Mohyla Academy.

Konisski excelled during his fifteen years (1728-1743) at the academy. His hard work and talent earned him a teaching position after graduation.

kiev mohyla academy

At twenty-seven, Grigory embraced the monastic life, taking the name George at the Kiev Brotherhood Monastery. Driven by his faith and a passion for teaching, he became a powerful preacher at the Kiev Caves Lavra. His words moved even the most hardened hearts. To prepare for his teaching role, the young monk, now known as George, immersed himself in the academy’s library, studying great thinkers from across the ages.

Konisski excelled as a teacher. At just twenty-eight, his talent led him to become a professor of rhetoric. His writing skills shone through in his many poems, plays, and psalm adaptations. He later took on the role of chair of philosophy. Four years later, he became chair of theology and rector of the academy. His rise from teacher to rector took less than a decade. As rector, he introduced a systematic way of teaching theology. This innovation impressed Metropolitan Macarius Bulgakov, who lauded Konisski as the greatest rector the academy had ever known.

Amidst honour and acclaim, Konisski made the heroic decision to leave prosperous Kiev and take charge of the Mogilev diocese during a challenging period: Belarus was under Polish rule. The Belarusian diocese remained the only Orthodox diocese within Polish territory. Catholics and Uniates exerted all efforts to convert its population to Uniatism, employing severe coercive measures.

Despite the obvious hardships and dangers ahead, Saint George accepted this daunting mission, expressing his readiness “to face swords, stakes, and the jaws of beasts and serpents.”

Archbishop George Konisski

At 38, George became a bishop in Kiev after his consecration in 1755. Upon arriving in Mogilev, he found the state of the sole Orthodox Belarusian diocese disheartening in every respect: spiritual, administrative, and financial. He witnessed a bleak picture of intellectual and moral ignorance among the lower classes and the Orthodox clergy, a consequence of prolonged persecution by the Catholic nobility, Roman Catholic, and Uniate clergy. The Polish authorities did not establish schools for the Orthodox population, nor did they educate them, deeming them fit only for hard physical labour.

In Mogilev, Konissky dedicated himself to education, working hard to promote its importance. He started by enlisting five well-educated priests from Kiev. Their task was to teach people about the Gospel and the Catechism in churches. Konisski then acquired copies of Theophan Prokopovich’s “Catechism” for his clergy. He also established a printing press at his residence. He used it to create a shorter version of the “Catechism” for everyday people and print other helpful religious books. He even recruited new teachers from the Kiev Academy to help spread knowledge.

Konisski founded schools in many towns, including Bykhov, Gomel, Mstsislavl, Orsha, and Chechersk. In Mogilev, he established a theological school, much like the Kiev Academy. This school soon became a seminary. Konisski designed it to train educated priests for Belarus and serve as a centre of enlightenment for all Orthodox Belarusians who were denied education under Polish rule. Konisski was a powerful preacher who understood the importance of his role. “Teaching is my most important task,” he said. “If I fail to teach, God will hold me accountable.” He expected the same level of dedication from the priests under his care. He had harsh words for those who were lazy, comparing them to “silent dogs who would rather sleep than look after their flock.” In his sermons, Konisski bravely confronted sin, dishonesty, and immoral behaviour. He even addressed sensitive topics like social inequality and the relationship between landowners and their serfs.

The archpastor’s sermons captivated listeners with their sincerity. Throughout his life, he “blew the trumpet” like a faithful, vigilant watchman for Orthodoxy. It was no exaggeration when people said he “struggled for the Holy Church unto blood.”

the bishops palace

Konisski was a tireless defender of the Orthodox faith. He called his mission "a fight against wolves." With his deep knowledge of history and law and his fluency in Polish, he fought tirelessly for the rights of Orthodox Christians. He brought their case before the Polish king and courts, seeking justice and recognition. Over the years, Bishop George gathered a vast collection of old documents and records. This impressive archive became a powerful tool in his fight against the forced Union of churches in Belarus and Ukraine. He also wrote extensively about the history of the Orthodox Church in these lands, exposing the injustices faced by his people. One of his most impactful works was his “Speech to Polish King Stanislaw August,” delivered in Warsaw in 1765. Originally written in Latin and later translated into many European languages, this powerful speech shed light on the suffering of Orthodox Christians under Polish rule.

Konisski bravely shared stories of the abuse Orthodox believers faced. He described how, in Belarusian villages, Latin priests would work with soldiers to humiliate Orthodox women. They would strip these women down to their undergarments, force them to wear heavy wooden crosses and crowns of grass, and then make them run until they collapsed from exhaustion. The only way for these women to escape this torment was to agree to convert to Catholicism.

Archbishop George had thoroughly studied historical records and legal documents. He used this knowledge to create a detailed report for the Polish government. His report exposed the suffering of Orthodox Christians across all the Western Russian dioceses. At the 1767 Sejm (Polish parliament), Konisski’s efforts paid off. He secured a victory by gaining formal recognition of religious tolerance in Poland. Sadly, this change was mostly in name only. The law was rarely enforced.

icon of Saint George Konisski

Konisski placed his hopes for change in the hands of Russia. He travelled to Russia in 1762 for the coronation of Empress Catherine II. During his address, he urged the Empress to protect Orthodox believers in Poland from mistreatment by Catholics. He called the Belarusian people subjects of the Russian throne, even though Belarus was then under Polish control. Konisski believed a shared faith and spiritual connection united Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. The Empress promised to help.

During his struggle for Orthodoxy on Belarusian soil, Archbishop George’s life often came under threat. After several assassination attempts, he had to leave Mogilev and go into forced exile in Smolensk.

When Poland’s partition placed the Mogilev diocese under Russian control, Bishop George appealed to Catherine II, urging her to permit Uniates to convert to Orthodoxy. Over three years, 112,578 Uniates joined the Orthodox Church. This process continued in subsequent years, intensifying after the second and third partitions of Poland in the mid-1790s.

The southern provinces of Belarus that became a part of Russia — Mogilev, Orsha, Mstislav, and Rogachev — formed a separate Mogilev diocese. From 1773 until the end of his days, Konissky laboured peacefully in this diocese. Providence granted him the joy of witnessing long-awaited changes.

Saint George’s efforts in defending Orthodoxy and reuniting Uniates did not go unnoticed. In recognition of his labours, he became the first bishop of Mogilev to rise to Archbishop in 1783 and was appointed a member of the Holy Synod.

celebrations dedicated to Saint George Konisski

Archbishop George Konissky of Mogilev and Belarus lived a long life for his time—78 years. In 1793, aware that his earthly journey was drawing to a close, he composed an epitaph which he ordered to be engraved on a copper plate and placed over his grave:

Nezhin my cradle, Kiev taught me well;

At thirty-eight, as a preacher I'd excel.

Seventeen years with wolves I'd fight,

Twenty-two as Shepherd, lambs in sight.

For toils endured and weather rough,

Archbishop, Synod Member - roles so tough.

George, from Konisski's home I came,

Like a postal horse, I'd roam without aim.

Here lie my bones, my body's rest,

In seventeen ninety-five, I was blessed.

Saint George Konissky passed away on 13 February 1795, having completed a forty-year episcopal ministry marked by exemplary acts of faith and endurance. The Cathedral of the Saviour in Mogilev, which he had built, was his final resting place. In his eulogy, Father Andrey Prigorovsky, a teacher at the Mogilev Seminary, proclaimed: "Had it not been for the wise leadership of George during these turbulent times, scarcely any trace of true Orthodoxy would have remained in this land (Belarus)."

In 1993, the Belarusian Orthodox Church canonized Saint George of Mogilev as a locally venerated saint for his immense contributions to the Belarusian people. By 2017, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church elevated his veneration Church-wide.

August 04, 2024
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