The Archpastoral Ministry of Bishop Agapit (Kryzhanovsky)
in South America (on the 140th Anniversary of His Birth)

November 13, 2026, will mark 140 years since the birth of Bishop Agapit (Kryzhanovsky; 1886–1966) — a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Bishop of Goiânia, vicar of the São Paulo diocese, who worked in the field of Orthodox missionary activity in Brazil.

His life path fell during a difficult period of domestic church history, marked by revolutionary upheavals, forced emigration, and the formation of church life among the Russian diaspora. Being far from his historical homeland, Bishop Agapit dedicated his efforts to preserving the Orthodox faith and providing spiritual guidance to Russian settlers in South America.

The future archpastor, Alexander Stepanovich Kryzhanovsky, was born on November 1 (13), 1886, in Kharkov'. Later, he lived in Kiev, where he took monastic vows and devoted his life to serving the Holy Church.

In 1944, during World War II, he left his homeland and ended up in Europe. In August of the same year, in Bratislava, he joined the brotherhood of the monastery of Saint Job of Pochaev, which had left Ladomirovo to escape the advancing Soviet troops. Later, together with the monastic community, he went to Switzerland, and at the end of 1946 — beginning of 1947, he emigrated to the United States. By that time, Father Agapit already held the rank of archimandrite and was connected to the spiritual tradition of Pochaev monasticism.

Soon, the further path of his church service became connected with South America. Due to the increasing number of Russian refugees and the expansion of the activities of the Brazilian diocese, at the request of Archbishop Theodosy (Samoylovich) of São Paulo, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia sent Archimandrite Agapit to Brazil.

In 1951, he arrived in this country and initially settled in the state of Goiás. This is where his active missionary work began. That same year, with his involvement, an Orthodox parish was founded in the city of Goiânia, dedicated to Saint Panteleimon, the Great Martyr and Healer. Father Agapit conducted services, took care of parish life, and provided spiritual guidance to the Russian settlers.

For a while, he was also the abbot of the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in the city of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro, and when necessary, he conducted services in other Orthodox churches as well. His tireless missionary work became especially well-known: the bishop went on long journeys across Brazil, visiting remote Russian communities and supporting church life there.

In May 1953, Archimandrite Agapit took part in the first congress of the Brazilian diocese, where he presented a report titled On Worship and Missionary Work in Brazil. His efforts were aimed at strengthening the Orthodox presence in the country and preserving the spiritual traditions of the Russian emigration.

After Bishop Vitaly (Oustinov) left for Canada in 1955, there arose a need for a new vicar bishop who could assist in the missionary and administrative work of the Brazilian diocese. The choice fell on Archimandrite Agapit.

On May 19, 1957, his episcopal ordination as Bishop of Goiânia, vicar of the São Paulo diocese, took place at St. Nicholas Cathedral in São Paulo. The ordination was performed by Archbishop Theodosy (Samoylovich) of São Paulo, Bishop Leontius (Filippovich) of Santiago, and Bishop Athanasius (Martos) of Buenos Aires.

As a bishop, Vladyka Agapit continued to care for the Orthodox communities in Brazil. He led the parish he founded in Goiânia, took care of parish life in Niterói, and acted as a link between the diocesan center and the remote communities.

At the same time, his archpastoral service was accompanied by trials. In 1959, Bishop Agapit was retired and continued to conduct services at the Pokrov Church in the city of Goiânia.

On November 22, 1962, by the decision of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the bishop was reinstated as the vicar bishop of the Brazilian diocese, with residence in Goiânia and the title of Goiânia.

In May 1964, Bishop Agapit participated in the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, where the issue of electing a new First Hierarch was decided.

On September 9, 1966, Bishop Agapit passed away in the city of São Paulo. He was buried there as well, completing his earthly journey far from his homeland, which he never got to see again.

The life of Bishop Agapitus is part of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and the Russian church diaspora of the 20th century. His service in Brazil took place at a time when Orthodox immigrants were especially in need of spiritual guidance, the preservation of church traditions, and the organization of parish life. The missionary work of the archpastor, his travels across the country, and his care for Russian Orthodox communities left a notable mark in the history of Orthodoxy in South America.

On the 140th anniversary of Bishop Agapit's birth, his labors in the field of Christ are remembered in prayer and with grateful memory, carried out under the difficult circumstances of life in the Russian Church Abroad.

Hieromonk Roman (Kiselev)