Feofan Borisovich

Feofan Borisovich (11th of October 1868, Rezekne, Vitebsk Governorate, Russian Empire – 24th of September 1943, Ludza, Reichskommissariat Ostland/Latvia) – a rural dean of the Ludza district, an archpriest, a teacher of religious studies. 

Father Feofan Borisovich was born into the family of a priest, Vasily Borisovich. In 1888, he graduated from the Vitebsk Theological Seminary with a First-Class Diploma. The Vitebsk Directorate of Public Schools appointed him teacher and instructor of religious studies at the Cherneya Rural School in Sebezh District, where he served for three years.

In 1892, he was ordained a priest of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Lucyn (Ludza). Fr. Feofan remained rector of this cathedral until his death.

That same year, 1892, the Vitebsk Directorate of Public Schools appointed Fr. Feofan as instructor of religious studies at the Lucyn Parish School and its women's division. He served in this position until January 1919. At the same time, from November 1, 1907, he taught religious studies at the Lucyn Four-Class Municipal School, later reorganized into a Higher Primary School, together with its women's division. In addition, from November 1, 1907, until January 1919, he served as instructor of religious studies at the Rundēni Rural School in Lucyn District. In 1918–1919, he also taught religious studies at the Lucyn Municipal Four-Class Gymnasium.

From 1920 to 1922, he had been serving as instructor of religious studies at the six-grade Russian Primary School in Lucyn/Ludza. He was officially confirmed in this position by the Ludza District School Board in January 1920.

He also taught religious studies at a Belarusian primary school and a Belarusian gymnasium.

From 1926 to 1935, he had been an instructor of religious studies at the Ludza State Russian Gymnasium. After its closure, and until his death, he continued teaching religion in the primary schools of Ludza District (with the exception of the 1940/41 school year, when religious instruction was removed from the curriculum).

In 1934, through the efforts of Fr. Feofan and church warden A. Silchenko, the cathedral underwent a major renovation.

In 1938, on Trinity Saturday, a fire broke out in the church. Fr. Feofan took an active part in fighting the blaze, and thanks to the efforts of the pastor and his parishioners, the damage was repaired by the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the church suffered damage from bombing raids. Once again, despite his advanced age, Fr. Feofan personally supervised the restoration work to repair the wounds inflicted upon the church.

In 1936, Fr. Feofan was awarded the Fifth Class of the Latvian Order of the Three Stars.

Father Feofan passed away on September 24, 1943.

Tatiana Feigmane

Sources of information:

ЛГИА, ф. 1632, оп. 1, д. 2738.