Boris Georgiyevich Rotov
 Boris Georgiyevich Rotov     (priest, spook?) | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Boris Georgiyevich Rotov 15 October 1929 Frolovo, Korablinsky District, Moscow Oblast, RSFSR, USSR |
| Died | 5 September 1978 (Age 48) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Soviet |
| Religion | Russian Orthodox |
| Victim of | premature death |
Ordained in 1960 at the age of 31, the youngest bishop in the Christian world. Russian Orthodox metropolitan of Leningrad until his sudden death at age 48 at the Vatican. | |
Metropolitan Nikodim (secular name Boris Georgiyevich Rotov) was the Russian Orthodox metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod from 1963 until his death.
Activities
According to the Mitrokhin Archive, which claimed deep Communist penetration of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Nikodim was a KGB agent, working under the codename "Adamant", whose ecumenical activity with the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches (WCC) served to further Soviet goals. Ordained in 1960 at the age of 31, the youngest bishop in the Christian world at the time, he would go on to become one of the WCC's six presidents. Metropolitan Nikodim is said to have participated in negotiating a secret 1960s agreement between Soviet and Vatican officials that authorized Eastern Orthodox participation in the Second Vatican Council in exchange for non-condemnation of atheistic communism during the conciliar assemblies.[1]
Death
Nikodim collapsed and died in 1978 while in Rome for the installation of Pope John Paul I. The new pope, who died - possibly assassinated - a few weeks later, prayed over him in his final moments.[2]
