The Problem of Genealogy of Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoiavlenskii) and Archbishop Vasilii (Bogoiavlenskii)

The paper presents results of research into the genealogy of the two Russian hieromartyrs: Metropolitan of Kiev and Galich Vladimir (his secular name was Vasilii Nikiforovich Bogoiavlenskii, 1848–1918) and Archbishop of Chernigov and Nezhin Vasilii (Vasilii Dmitriievich Bogoiavlenskii, 1867–1918). Special attention is paid to the problem of their kinship and to the refutation of the false accusation of nepotism made by their persecutors in 1917. The paper also introduces previously unpublished documents from Tambov State Archive. Being relatives of Archbishop Vasilii, the authors have used the oral information preserved in their family as well as their home archive. As a result, Archbishop Vasilii’s genealogy has been traced down to the end of the 18th century. The paper also refutes the version that Vasilii Nikiforovich Bogoiavlenskii and Vasilii Dmitriievich Bogoiavlenskii were cousins or uncle and nephew. Nevertheless, Metropolitan Vladimir and Archbishop Vasily might have been distant relatives, namely third cousins. Their progenitor might have been a certain Timofei, who lived in Morshansk district at the end of the 18th century