Malyuta Skuratov approaching Metropolitan Philip in order to kill him (painting from 1898).

Saint Philip II of Moscow (1507-December 12, 1569) was one of a few Metropolitans of Moscow who dared openly contradict lay authorities. In 1652, Patriarch Nikon persuaded Tsar Alexis to bring his relics to Moscow, where he was proclaimed saint later that year. // Events The western continent is named America on the maps of Martin Waldseemüller. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 11 - First recorded lottery in England. ... The following is a list of Russian Orthodox metropolitans of Moscow and Patriarchs of Moscow and all Russia along with when they served: // Metropolitans Maximus (1283-1305) Peter (1308-1326) Theognostus (1328-1353) Alexius (1354-1378) Cyprian (1381-1382), (1390-1406) Pimen (1382-1384) Dionysius I (1384-1385) Photius (1408... // Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... Nikon (Ни́кон), born Nikita Minin (1605-1681), was patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1652 to 1658. ... Alexey Mikhailovich Romanov (In Russian Алексей Михаилович Романов) (March 9, 1629 (O.S.) - January 29, 1676 (O.S.)) was a Tsar of Russia during some of the most eventful decades of the mid-17th century. ... Saint Basils Cathedral and Spasskaya Tower of Moscow Kremlin at Red Square. ... In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ...

He was born Feodor Stepanovich Kolychev into one of the noblest boyar families of Muscovy. It is said that since childhood he was on friendly terms with Ivan IV of Russia. According to other accounts, he was involved in the conspiracy of Prince Andrey of Staritsa against Elena Glinskaya and, when their plans were discovered, escaped to the Solovetsky Monastery, where he took monastic vows at the age of 30. A boyar (also spelt bojar; Romanian: boier) was a member of the highest rank of the feudal Ruthenian (Russian) and Romanian aristocracy, second only to the ruling princes, from the 10th through the 17th century. ... Muscovy (Moscow principality (княжество Московское) to Grand Duchy of Moscow (Великое Княжество Московское) to Russian Tsardom (Царство Русское) is a traditional Western name for the Russian state that existed from the 14th century to the late 17th century. ... Tsar Ioann IV the Terrible. ... Elena Vasilyevna Glinskaya (Елена Васильевна Глинская in Russian) (? - April 4(13). ... Solovetsky Monastery Solovetsky Monastery (Соловецкий монастырь in Russian), a monastery on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea. ...

Eleven years later, Philip was made hegumen of the monastery. During his term in office, they constructed two cathedrals, a brick-yard, many water-mills and storehouses, and a network of canals connecting 72 lakes. It is said that Philip took part in all these toils together with other monks. Most of Philip's projects in Solovki survive to this day. Hegumen, hegumenos, or ihumen (Greek: ἡγούμενος , Russian: игумен) is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church, similar to the one of abbot. ...

Tsar Alexis praying before the relics of Metropolitan Philip.

The tsar heard about the undefatigable monk and asked him to fill the vacant metropolitan see in Moscow. Philip agreed on condition that Ivan would abolish Oprichnina. In recompense, he promised not to meddle with the tsar's "domestic affairs", i.e. his inclination for sodomy and his notorious debauches. On June 25, 1566 Philip was enthroned as Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia. Saint Basils Cathedral and Spasskaya Tower of Moscow Kremlin at Red Square. ... The Oprichnina (Russian: Опричнина) formed a section of Russia ruled directly by the Tsar under Ivan the Terrible. ... Sodomy is a term of religious origin to characterise certain sexual acts. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... Events January 7 - Pius V becomes Pope Selim II succeeds Suleiman I as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Religious rioting in the Netherlands signifies the beginning of the Eighty Years War in the Netherlands. ...

After a short interlude, however, Ivan the Terrible persisted with commiting murders under the aegis of Oprichnina. After the metropolitan publicly refused to bless Ivan's massacre of Novgorod, he was arrested during a liturgy at the Cathedral of Dormition and immured at the Otroch Monastery of Tver. In November 1568, the tsar summoned the Holy Synod, which had Filip deposed. A year later, he was strangled by the tsar's minion, Malyuta Skuratov. As if aware of his approaching death, Philip had asked to receive communion three days earlier. Ivan IV (August 25, 1530–March 18, 1584) was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. ... Velikiy Novgorod (Но́вгород) is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia, situated on the highway (and railway) connecting Moscow and St Petersburg. ... From the Greek word λειτουργια, which can be transliterated as leitourgia, meaning the work of the people, a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), a daily activity such... Tvers coat of arms depicts grand ducal crown placed on a throne. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... In several of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox churches, the patriarch or head bishop is elected by a group of bishops called the Holy Synod. ... Grigory Lukyanovich Skuratov-Belsky, better known as Malyuta Skuratov (Григорий Лукьянович Скуратов-Бельский, Малюта Скуратов in Russian) (? - January 1, 1573) was one of the organizers and leaders of the oprichnina during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. ...

The following is a list of Russian Orthodox metropolitans of Moscow and Patriarchs of Moscow and all Russia along with when they served: // Metropolitans Maximus (1283-1305) Peter (1308-1326) Theognostus (1328-1353) Alexius (1354-1378) Cyprian (1381-1382), (1390-1406) Pimen (1382-1384) Dionysius I (1384-1385) Photius (1408...