Archimandrite Melchizedek II (Minervin) during his abbotship at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Abstract

The official records of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and the Lavra Seminary, located in collections No. 1204 of the Russian State Archives of Ancient Documents (RSAAD), No. 757 of the Russian State Library (OR RSL), when carefully studied, allow for the compilation of complete biographies of the Lavra's abbots and a chronology of the monastery’s life. A native of the monastery village of Khreptovo, Archimandrite Melchizedek II (Minervin; 1772–1813), unlike his predecessor Melchizedek (Zabolotsky), was not among the select circle of disciples of the renowned Metropolitan Platon. Nevertheless, he became abbot of his beloved Lavra, a position he held for three years. This period did not bring the significant successes expected of the Metropolitan, but was accompanied by high-profile scandals and financial abuses. Metropolitan Platon was forced to begin the process of replacing the abbot, but this proved far from simple. In his letters to Metropolitan Ambrose (Podobedov) of St. Petersburg, the aged and ailing Metropolitan Platon briefly describes his sorrows over this matter, as well as the reasons that prompted him to replace the abbot, and his subsequent fate.