Philaret Drozdov was a highly influential 19th-century Russian Orthodox metropolitan who served as the head of the Moscow and Kolomna diocese for over four decades. Born Vasily Drozdov in Kolomna, he was a scholar of Greek and Hebrew who rose through the ecclesiastical ranks to become a prominent theologian and orator. During his long tenure, he exerted significant influence over church affairs and was known for his extensive theological writings and his role in translating sacred texts.