Equal-to-the-Apostles 19th century

Nicholas Enlightener of Japan

1836 – 1912

Also known as Nicholas of Japan · Nikolai Kasatkin · Nicholas Kasatkin

A Russian priest-monk who in 1861 began missionary work in Japan, founding the Orthodox Church there, translating the Scriptures and services into Japanese, and serving as its first archbishop; he reposed in 1912.

Feast Day

February 3

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Nicholas, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Archbishop of Japan

Come to them for

Missionary Work

Life

Saint Nicholas, Enlightener of Japan, was born Ivan Dmitrovich Kasatkin on 1 August 1836 in the Smolensk province of the Russian Empire, the son of a Russian Orthodox deacon. His mother died when he was five years old. He entered the Theological Academy in Saint Petersburg in 1857, and on 24 June 1860 was tonsured a monk with the name Nicholas by the academy rector, Bishop Nectarius. He was ordained hierodeacon and hieromonk on the following days, 29 and 30 June 1860.

In 1861 he travelled to Japan as a priest attached to the chapel of the Russian consulate, landing at Hakodate on Hokkaido on 2 July. Over the following half-century he learned Japanese, translated the Scriptures and divine services into the language, gathered and organized a native Orthodox community, and built it into an established local Church. Consecrated bishop in 1880 and elevated to archbishop, he reposed in Tokyo in 1912 and was glorified in 1970 with the title Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Timeline 10 moments Read Hide

1836 Birth Born Ivan Dmitrovich Kasatkin on 1 August in the Smolensk province, son of a Russian Orthodox deacon.
1857 Theological Academy Entered the Theological Academy in Saint Petersburg.
1860 Monastic tonsure and ordination Tonsured a monk on 24 June with the name Nicholas; ordained hierodeacon and hieromonk on 29 and 30 June.
1861 Arrival in Japan Landed at Hakodate, Hokkaido, on 2 July as a priest of the Russian consulate chapel.
1870 Mission to Tokyo Made archimandrite and relocated the missionary center to Tokyo.
1880 Episcopal consecration Consecrated bishop on 30 March.
1891 Resurrection Cathedral Presided over the consecration of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo, known as Nikolai-do.
1907 Archbishop of All Japan Elevated to Archbishop by the Russian Orthodox Holy Synod.
1912 Repose Reposed in Tokyo on 3 February (16 February O.S.), aged 75.
1970 Glorification Glorified on 10 April by Patriarch Alexis I as Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Missionary work in Japan

Arriving at Hakodate in 1861, Nicholas devoted his first years to mastering the Japanese language, which he is said to have spoken fluently by 1868. His early converts included Paul Sawabe, a former samurai and Shinto priest, remembered as the first Orthodox Japanese, who later became a priest. Conversions came amid official persecution in the early 1870s.

In 1870 Nicholas relocated the missionary center to Tokyo, where by 1873 he had established a church and a school for fifty people, and in late 1877 he founded a periodical, The Church Herald. The community grew steadily: by 1870 it numbered more than four thousand, and by the end of his life it counted some 33,000 faithful in 266 communities, served by a small body of native clergy.

Translation and institutions

Nicholas undertook an extensive program of translation, rendering liturgical books and portions of the Bible into Japanese, including the complete New Testament, the Psalms, and portions of Genesis and Isaiah. He also made notable contributions to church singing in Japan.

Beyond translation he built up the institutional life of the Church, establishing a theological seminary, primary schools, a library, and a shelter.

The Russo-Japanese War

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 Nicholas remained in Japan with his Japanese flock while aiding Russian prisoners of war. His conduct during the conflict was recognized in his subsequent elevation, by the Russian Orthodox Holy Synod, to the dignity of Archbishop.

Notes

Glorified in 1970.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 3