Joasaphus

Who was Joasaphus?

Joasaphus Skripitsyn was Metropolitan of Moscow from 1539 to 1542. Joasaph is known to have authored a number of theological works.

Joasaphus was first a monk and then hegumen at the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. He enjoyed the favor of Grand Prince Vasili III. After Metropolitan Daniel had been deposed at the church sobor of 1539, Joasaph was elected Metropolitan of Moscow just three days later. He is known to have opposed the supporters of the Josephites or "Non-possessors" and favored the opponents of monastic landownership. Joasaph was the one to solicit young Ivan IV's forgiveness for the disgraced Belskys and prince Vladimir of Staritsa and render support for Maximus the Greek.

During the regency of Grand Duchess Elena Glinskaya, in the first five years of the reign of Ivan IV, Joasaph managed to keep his influence at the royal court, but in 1542, Joasaph fell into disgrace and was exiled to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and then transferred to the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra in 1547, where he would remain until his death on July 27, 1555.