Metropolitan Nikodim (secular name Boris Georgiyevich Rotov Russian: Борис Георгиевич Ротов, 15 October 1929 – 5 September 1978),[1] was the Russian Orthodox metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod from 1963 until his death.

[3] According to the Mitrokhin Archive, which claimed deep Communist penetration of the Russian Orthodox Church, Nikodim was a KGB agent[4] whose ecumenical activity with the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC served to further Soviet goals.

[5] Nikodim is said to have participated in negotiating a secret 1960s agreement between Soviet and Vatican officials that authorized Eastern Orthodox participation in the Second Vatican Council in exchange for non-condemnation of atheistic communism during the conciliar assemblies.

[6][7] Nikodim collapsed and died in 1978 while in Rome for the installation of Pope John Paul I.

The new pope, who himself died a few weeks later, prayed over him in his final moments.