Simon Todorsky

Holy Simon Todorsky, born Simeon Fyodorovich Todorsky, was Archbishop of Pskov, Izborsk and Narva, a theologian, translator and preacher, and passed away in 1754. He is honoured as a local saint.

It is said that he was of baptized Jewish origin. He studied at the Kyiv-⁠Mohyla Academy (1718-1727), then lived in Reval and pursued higher studies at the University of Halle, in Germany, where he learned the Semitic languages under the orientalist Michaelis, and theology. He was close to the Pietists and translated from German Johann Arndt's "True Christianity", printed at Halle in 1735 (the translation was banned in Russia in 1743). After Halle he taught Greek in Belgrade. In 1738 he came to Kyiv, where he taught Greek, Hebrew and German at the Academy; on 17 May 1740 he was tonsured a monk, keeping his name.

In 1742, on the recommendation of Metropolitan Raphael Zaborovsky, Empress Elizabeth summoned him to court as religion tutor to the heir, the future Peter III, and he remained his confessor; from 1744 he was educator and confessor of his bride, the future Catherine II, who mentions him with great respect in her memoirs. From 1743 he was archimandrite of the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma and a member of the Holy Synod. He was consecrated bishop of Kostroma and Galich in 1745, but served at court, and after five months was transferred to Pskov and Narva. In 1748 he was raised to archbishop. He took part in preparing the Elizabeth Bible and preached sermons of great eloquence, printed in large editions, being counted one of the greatest preachers of his time. He gave the Pskov seminary his library of books in rare languages.

He passed away on 22 February 1754, in Pskov, and was buried in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Pskov. He was venerated as a local saint.