40 years ago: The death of Russian Orthodox Church leader and KGB agent Metropolitan Nikodim

On September 5, 1978, Metropolitan Nikodim, born Boris Georgiyevich Rotov, died of a heart attack at the age of 48. He was ordained as a Russian Orthodox bishop at the age of 31 and was named Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod in 1963, eventually becoming one of six presidents of the World Council of Churches. Metropolitan Nikodim, like his predecessor Metropolitan Nikolai, was actually an agent of the Soviet secret police force KGB, and served the Soviet cause through his ecumenical activities with the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC.

Metropolitan Nikodim died under memorable circumstances: two days after the installation of Pope John Paul I, Metropolitan Nikodim met the new pontiff, and suddenly collapsed with a fatal heart attack; Pope John Paul prayed over him in his final moments. Metropolitan Nikodim at least had the satisfaction of dying with the knowledge that he had been a good and faithful servant of the Communist Party and the Soviet Union. He was succeeded in his office by Metropolitan Anthony, presumably also a KGB agent.

This blogger won't mention that the fact that leading Iron Curtain churchmen were known to be agents of their Communist governments didn't stop Billy Graham from appearing with them on platforms and giving them legitimacy they didn't deserve.