Theofan (Bystrov)

Theofan of Poltava (born Vassili Dimitrievich Bystrov, Russian: Василий Дмитриевич Быстров) was a Russian archbishop and theologian in the Eastern Orthodox Church, born on 12 January 1875 and died 19 February 1940 in Limeray, France. He was widely known as the "only Russian ascetic bishop". A few times he was the confessor of tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his wife Alexandra.

Vladyka or Basil was born in the village of Podmoshie, in the Luga district (subsequently part of the Leningrad Oblast) and baptized on the day of St. Basil the Great. In 1896 he finished his studies at St Petersburg Theological Academy, which he had entered as one of the youngest students. The year after he became assistant-professor in history of the Old Testament. In 1898 he became a monk under the name of Theophanes the Confessor; in 1901 an archimandrite. In 1905 he received his master's degree on the Tetragrammaton. He was friendly with Grigory Rasputin, "who amazed us all with his psychological perspicacity", and invited him to his apartment. Theofan introduced Rasputin to Milica of Montenegro, who in her turn introduced him to the Imperial couple on 1 November 1905 (O.S.). Two weeks later Theofan was invited and became their spiritual guide. In 1908 he (and brother Makary) visited Rasputin in his home village Pokrovskoye and investigated his supposed Khlyst behavior, after charges made the year before.

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