History Japanese Orthodox Church

1882 japanese orthodox council

apart brief trips nicholas stayed in japan, during russo-japanese war (1904–1905). proclaimed orthodox christianity nationwide, , appointed first bishop of japanese orthodox church. moved headquarters hakodate tokyo around 1863. in 1886 japanese orthodox church had on 10,000 baptized faithful. in 1891 nicholas founded cathedral church in tokyo in kanda district. spent of last half of life there, , hence tokyo resurrection cathedral became nicknamed nikorai-do kanda citizens.

st. nicholas of japan known japanese translation of new testament , christian liturgical books (lenten triodion, pentecostarion, feast services, book of psalms, irmologion).

the mission establish japanese orthodox church depended on russian orthodox church, in financial matters. war between russia , japan created politically difficult situation church. after russian revolution of 1917, support , communications both spiritual , financial russian orthodox church severely curtailed. japanese government had new suspicions japanese orthodox church; in particular, used cover communist russian espionage. second bishop of japan, metropolitan sergius (tikhomirov), called sergii japanese, suffered such governmental suspicion, , forced resign episcopacy. russian church suffering stalinist policy , had no ability young church in japan.

the great kantō earthquake in 1923 did serious damage japanese orthodox church. headquarters, nikorai-do, destroyed , burnt, including library many valuable documents. nikorai-do rebuilt in 1929 contributions gathered faithful, whom metropolitan sergius visited nationwide.

during fifteen years war (1930–1945), 1939 1945 part of world war ii, christians in japan suffered severe conditions, orthodox church especially. in 1945 after japanese surrender allied occupation leaders had generous attitude christian groups, given predominantly american connections. majority of slavic- , greek-americans attend local orthodox christian parishes, orthodox christian community in japan took step forward. during war japanese orthodox church had had no foreign contact. after war instead of russian orthodox church precursors of orthodox church in america (oca) helped re-invigorate japanese orthodox church. japanese orthodox church became governed bishops orthodox church in america, , several youths studied @ oca s saint vladimir’s orthodox theological seminary, in new york city, leaders of japanese orthodox church.

annunciation cathedral in kyoto

later, situation of orthodox church improved in russia, japanese orthodox church came under leadership again. in 1970 founder of orthodox church in japan, nicolai kasatkin, canonized patriarch of moscow , recognized st. nicholas, equal-to-the-apostles japan; commemoration day february 16. in 2000 russian orthodox church canonized saint bishop andronik (nikolsky) had been appointed first bishop of kyoto , had later archbishop of perm become martyr during russian revolution.

in 2005 first orthodox christian monastic house (male) of japanese autonomous orthodox church opened in tokyo near holy resurrection cathedral (nikolai-do). abbot of monastic community hieromonk gerasimus (shevtsov), came troitse-sergiyeva lavra.

as of 2007, leader of orthodox church in japan daniel (nushiro), metropolitan of japan , archbishop of tokyo, elevated seat in 2000. estimated church has 46,000 adherents today.