Our Father among the Saints Simeon, the First Bishop of Tver
Life
Saint Simeon was a thirteenth-century hierarch of the Rus' Church who became the first Bishop of the Tver diocese. A descendant of the princes of Polotsk, he had earlier served as the seventh bishop of Polotsk before the relocation of his see led him to Tver.
He is remembered for boldly admonishing princes to govern with justice. He reposed on February 3, 1289, the day on which he is commemorated.
Timeline 5 moments
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1240Lithuanian pressure on PolotskPagan Lithuanians consolidate the lands of the Principality of Polotsk, and Polotsk becomes a vassal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — the background to the later relocation of the see.
1246Principality of Tver establishedYaroslav Yaroslavich becomes the first prince of Tver; a bishopric is founded during his reign.
by 1271Tver diocese separated from PolotskUnder Grand Prince Yaroslav Yaroslavich, the Tver diocese is carved out of the Polotsk diocese.
1272Bishop of TverSimeon, formerly the seventh bishop of Polotsk, becomes the first bishop of the Tver diocese.
February 3, 1289ReposeSaint Simeon reposes; he is succeeded by Bishop Andrew (Gerdenev). February 3 is his feast day.
Contributions & Legacy
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From Polotsk to Tver
Simeon was descended from the princes of Polotsk and served as the seventh bishop of that ancient Rus' see. According to the synaxarion, his episcopal seat was initially located at Polotsk but was relocated amid hostilities and conflicts involving Lithuanian princes and the murder of a local prince.
This upheaval reflects the wider pressures on Polotsk in the thirteenth century: pagan Lithuanians had begun consolidating the lands of the principality, and in 1240 Polotsk became a vassal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Against this background Simeon's see was transferred eastward to Tver.
First Bishop of Tver
The Principality of Tver had been established in 1246 under Yaroslav Yaroslavich, its first prince. During his reign a bishopric was founded, with the Tver diocese separated from the Polotsk diocese no later than 1271. Simeon became the inaugural bishop of this new diocese.
He served as Bishop of Tver from 1272 until his repose on February 3, 1289. He was succeeded by Bishop Andrew (Gerdenev), who held the see from 1289 to 1316. The Tver diocese later became an archdiocese in 1589.
Sources and Review
Saint Simeon is an obscure medieval Rus' hierarch with limited surviving documentation. The Orthodox Church in America synaxarion preserves the core of his memory, while the dates and succession of the Tver see are corroborated by historical accounts of the diocese and principality. No formal glorification date is recorded in the reachable sources, and this profile is a stub pending further research and review.
