Alexy Aristov

Alexey Aristov (1st/13th of October 1853, Yaroslavl Governorate, Russian Empire – 24th of June 1931, Tallinn, Estonia) – an archpriest, Rector of Riga Theological Seminary.

He was the son of a priest from the village of Uslavtsevo in Rostov Uyezd of the Yaroslavl Diocese. He received his primary education at the Theological School in the town of Uglich. He then studied at the Yaroslavl Theological Seminary and at the Kyiv Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1878 with the degree of Candidate of Theology and Magisterial Candidate. In the same year, he became Assistant Inspector of the said Academy.

In 1880 he was transferred to the Riga Theological Seminary as a lecturer in philosophical subjects. Being a connoisseur of philosophy, he taught it with dedication and success. In 1888 he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Arseny (Bryantsev, 1839–1914) while retaining his teaching position. He served at the Trinity Church beyond the Daugava (Troitsko-Zadvinskaya) and later at the St. Alexey's Church in Riga.

In 1895 he was appointed Rector of the Riga Theological Seminary and elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter. He sought to establish order and legality at the seminary not through severity, but through a humane attitude toward both staff and students. Alongside academic success, he paid great attention to the moral education of the students, placing particular emphasis on fostering a spirit of religiosity and church-mindedness. During his tenure, musical and literary evenings were organized at the Riga Theological Seminary for the first time. He headed the institution until 1909.

For seven years (1895–1902) he had been serving as Chairman of the Council of the Brotherhood of Saints Peter and Paul. From 1896 to 1906 he had been an editor of the unofficial section of the Riga Diocesan Gazette. He was a member of the School Council for Orthodox parish schools, collaborated with the Religious and Educational Society attached to the chair of the Archbishop of Riga, served as an inspector of the teaching of the Law of God in Riga’s secondary boys’ schools, and in 1899 conducted an inspection of the Riga theological schools. From 1901 he also lectured on theology at the Riga Polytechnic Institute.

After retiring from the seminary (by decision of the Holy Synod of 7 November 1909, in accordance with his own petition), he entered diocesan service and became rector of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Reval (Tallinn). He continued to serve at this cathedral during the interwar period.

Alexey Aristov passed away on 24 June 1931. He was buried at the Alexander Nevsky Cemetery in Tallinn.

Father Alexey was awarded all ecclesiastical distinctions up to and including the kamilavka. He also held several state decorations and, as of 1903, was a recipient of the following orders: the Order of St. Stanislaus (3rd Class), the Order of St. Anna (2nd Class), and the Order of St. Vladimir (4th and 3rd Classes).

Text prepared by Sergey Tsoya

Sources of information:

1) Юбилей ректора духовной семинарии, протоиерея А.П. Аристова // Рижские епархиальные ведомости, 1903, № 21, с. 867–893;

2) Прощание Рижской духовной семинарии с о. ректором А.П. Аристовым по случаю перехода его на епархиальную службу // Рижские епархиальные ведомости, 1909, № 23, с. 738–741;

3) Протоиерей А.П. Аристов // Сегодня, 1931, 27 июня, № 175, с. 5.