Ivan Mikhailovich Martinov SJ (7 October 1821, at Kazan, Russia – 26 April 1894, at Cannes, France), was a Russian

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

priest. After his

conversion Conversion or convert may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * "Conversion" (''Doctor Who'' audio), an episode of the audio drama ''Cyberman'' * "Conversion" (''Stargate Atlantis''), an episode of the television series * "The Conversion" ...

to Catholicism and consequent exile, he placed his vast knowledge of

Slavic culture This is a list of the cultures of Slavic Europe. * East Slavs: ** Belarusian culture ** Russian culture ** Ruthenian culture ** Ukrainian culture * South Slavs: ** Bosnian culture ** Bulgarian culture ** Croatian culture ** Macedonian culture ...

at the service of a better understanding between the Russian Orthodox and

Catholic Churches The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a p ...

Biography

After brilliant university studies at

Saint-Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

(where he obtained the ‘gold medal’) Martinov undertakes a long journey across Europe. In France he meets among others Father Xavier de Ravignan. His conversations with Ravignan led him to join the Catholic Church came from Russian Orthodoxy, and following the example of his friend

Ivan Gagarin Prince Ivan Sergeyevich Gagarin SJ (Иван Сергеевич Гагарин; born in Moscow, 1 August 1814; died in Paris, 19 July 1882) was a Russian Jesuit, known also as ''Jean-Xavier'' after his conversion from Orthodoxy to Roman Catholic ...

, in requesting admission in the Society of Jesus (18 September 1845). The Jesuit ''curriculum'' of studies led him to Brugelette (Belgium) for the study of

Philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

(1847-1848) and

Laval Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of: People * House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne * Laval (surname) Places Belgium * Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxem ...

(France) for Theology (1848-1852). He is ordained priest the 20 September 1851. He did some further studies in

Patrology Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...

at Paris (1852-1853) and the Jesuit last year of formation, called ‘ Tertianship’ (1853-1854). In 1854, together with other Russian Jesuit

and Dzhunkovsky, Martinov is convicted ''in absentia'' by the Russian authorities for ''unauthorized stay abroad and for joining the monks of the Jesuit order''. This deprived him of all class and property rights, and effectively prevented his returning home. Appointed at the ‘Saints Cyril and Methodius Society’, he worked in collaboration with Ivan Gagarin,

Eugene Balabin Yevgeny Petrovich Balabin SJ (also ''Evgenii''; russian: link=no, Евгений Петрович Балабин, August 17, 1815, St. Petersburg - January 30, 1895, Cairo) was a Russian Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Society of Jesus. H ...

, and others in making the Russian and Slavic religious and historical heritage better known in Western Europe. Living in France, he was engaged in religious journalism and archaeology (mostly Russian), writing extensively in French journals, and keeping people abreast of Russian scientific and literary life under the title «Courrier russe». Residing at times in Paris, at times in Versailles, Martinov was all through his life a ‘writer’ and journalist at the service of the 'Saints Cyril and Methodius’ apostolate. In particular he founded in 1866 the ‘Slavic Library’ which in the course of times became one of the richest in Western Europe. In 1870 Martinov was in Rome for the Vatican I Council as theologian and expert invited by Pius IX. In 1883 he was appointed by Leo XIII consultant of the ' Propaganda Fide' Congregation, for Oriental affairs. Ivan Martinov died in Cannes (France) on 26 April 1894.

Writings

*''Les manuscrits slaves de la bibliothèque impériale de Paris'', Paris, 1858. *''Annus ecclesiasticus graeco-slavicus'', Bruxelles, 1863. *''Cursus vitae et certamen martyriii B. Josaphat Kuncevicii''. Paris, 1864.

Bibliography

*Marie-Joseph Rouet de Journel: ''L'Œuvre des Saints Cyrille et Méthode et la Bibliothèque slave'', dans ''Lettres de Jersey'', vol.36 (1922), pp. 613–648. *Robert Danieluk: ''Œcuménisme au XIXe siècle: Jésuites russes et union des Églises'', MHSI, Rome, 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:Martynov, Ivan Mikhailovich 1821 births 1894 deaths Converts to Roman Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy Former Russian Orthodox Christians Expatriates from the Russian Empire in France Jesuits from the Russian Empire 19th-century Roman Catholic priests from the Russian Empire