Gorodets diocese / Organizations / Patriarchy.ru

Russian Orthodox Church

Part of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis

Formed by the decision of the Holy Synod of March 15, 2012 (journal No. 7) by separating from the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. Included in the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis.

The Synod decided to have the title of “Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky” for the ruling bishop.

Unites parishes within the administrative boundaries of Varnavinsky, Vetluzhsky, Voskresensky, Gorodetsky, Krasnobakovsky, Kovernensky, Sokolsky, Semenovsky, Tonkinsky, Tonshaevsky, Urensky, Sharansky and Shakhunsky districts of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Diocese today (as of September 2017)

Deanery districts and deaneries

Varnavinsky - Priest Pavel Kutumov
Vetluzhsky - priest Vyacheslav Golik
Voskresensky - Archpriest Vladimir Kraev
Gorodetsky - Hieromonk Daniil (Gulko)
Koverninsky - Archpriest Konstantin Shadrin
Semenovsky - Archpriest Sergiy Medvedev
Sokolsky - priest Oleg Lukyanov
Urensky - Archpriest Valery Yushkov
Sharangsky - Priest Anthony Kochetov

Monasteries

men's:

Gorodetsky Feodorovsky 606502, Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, Proletarskaya sq., 34B; tel./fax: (83161) 9-11-08, 9-50-64; e-mail; website https://feodorovskiy-monastyr.ru/rector - Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky Augustine
Vysokovsky Uspensky 606570, Nizhny Novgorod region, Koverninsky district, pos. Settlement; tel./fax (83157) 2-68-17; e-mail abbot - abbot Alexander (Ionov)

women's:

Krestovozdvizhensky 606605, Nizhny Novgorod region, city. Semenovsky, Bydreevka village, 16A; tel./fax (883162) 3-26-72; e-mail abbess - abbess Juliania (Petrova)

There are 82 registered parishes , as well as 9 registered churches located on the territory of FSIN institutions.

Obediences are carried out by 95 clergy , including:

white clergy - 75 (of which 3 are deacons) monastics - 20 (of which hieromonks - 16, hierodeacons - 4)

Educational and training institutions

People's University named after Archimandrite Peter (Kamensky) (since 2010) 606502, Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, Proletarskaya square, 34B; tel./fax (83161) 9-16-62; e-mail pro-rector - Svetlana Pavlovna Raskova
Center for Orthodox Culture named after. blgv. book Alexander Nevsky (since 2009) 606500, Nizhny Novgorod region, Gorodets, st. Titova, 2; tel./fax (83161) 9-50-64; e-mail manager - Sushchikova Svetlana Sergeevna
branch of the People's University named after. Archimandrite Peter (Kamensky) (since 2014) 606520, Nizhny Novgorod region, Zavolzhye, st. Mira, 11; tel./fax (83161) 7-92-26; e-mail leader - priest John Tereshin
Orthodox educational 606650, Semyonov, st. R. Luxembourg, 1; tel. (83162) 5-25-07; e-mail manager - Sutyagina Elena Nikolaevna
Orthodox educational 606760, Nizhny Novgorod region, r.p. Varnavino, pl. Sovetskaya, 2; tel. (83158) 3-57-78; e-mail leader - priest Pavel Kutumov
Orthodox squad in honor of the blessed. book Alexandra Nevsky 606582, Nizhny Novgorod region, Koverninsky district, Gorevo village, st. Central, 55; telephone director - Archpriest Gennady Yogozov

gymnasiums:

CHOURO “Orthodox gymnasium named after the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky” (since 2013) 606521, Nizhny Novgorod region, Zavolzhye, st. Shkolnaya, 12; tel./fax (83161) 7-95-15; e-mail; website https://gimnaziyanev.ru/director - Fedorovskaya Maria Alexandrovna
CHOURO "Semenovskaya Orthodox Gymnasium named after the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke" (since 2000) 606650, Nizhny Novgorod region, Semenov, st. Chelyuskina, 27; tel./fax (83162) 5-10-41; e-mail; website https://www.spgnn.ru/director - Kondakova Svetlana Aleksandrovna

Current advisory bodies of specialists under the diocesan administration

Gorodets-Vetluga Society of Local Lore named after P.I. Melnikov-Pechersky chairman - Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky Augustine
Board of Directors of parish Sunday schools VKontakte page https://vk.com/pvsh_egivchairman - Elena Anatolyevna Lebedeva
Diocesan Council for Culture Chairman - Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluga Augustin
Youth Council of the legacy of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky VKontakte page https://vk.com/sovet_nevskogochairman - Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky Augustine

Diocesan media

printed publications:

“Notes of a Missionary” (annual diocesan missionary collection)
“Yesterday, Today Tomorrow” (annual diocesan educational collection)
Educational collection of the diocesan stage of the International Educational Christmas Readings (annual publication)
“Semyonovsky Blagovest” (monthly newspaper of the Semenovsky deanery)
“Resurrection” (monthly newspaper of the Voskresensky deanery)
“Orthodox Herald” (monthly Orthodox leaflet of the Varnavinsky deanery)

electronic publications:

website of the Gorodets diocese https://egiv.ru

official pages of the Gorodets diocese on social networks:

VKontakte https://vk.com/gorodets.eparchia
Elitsy https://elitsy.ru/eparchy/131/news/
Odnoklassniki: https://ok.ru/group/53023598903474
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gorodets.eparchia/

Deanery - websites and VKontakte pages:

Varnavinskoe https://hram-v-varnavino.cerkov.ru
Vetluzhskoe https://vk.com/dorogakxramy
Voskresenskoe https://obnovlenie.cerkov.ru/
Gorodetskoe https://gorodetsblag.cerkov.ru/
Koverninskoe https://vk.com/public124973656
Semenovskoe https://semblagovest.ru
Sokolskoye https://vk.com/sokolhram
Sharangskoye https://sharanga.ru

The ABC of Faith – Orthodox Audio

Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluzhsky Augustine

Date of birth: January 14, 1945 Date of consecration: April 8, 2012 Date of tonsure: September 5, 1993 Country: Russia

Born on January 14, 1945 in Moscow, baptized in infancy. Father, Anisimov Ivan Ilyich, belonged to a priestly family that came from the Oryol province. After graduating from school, he served in the Armed Forces. In 1977 he graduated from the Moscow All-Union Law Institute with a degree in jurisprudence. He worked as a consultant at the Inyurkollegium, as an instructor at the Moscow Regional Committee of the Trade Union of Education Workers, Higher Schools and Scientific Institutions; art inspector at the Art Fund of the RSFSR; Deputy Head of the Mechanization Department of the Mostransstroy Trust. Was married. In 1987, he was accepted into the service of the housekeeper of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, and took part in the preparation of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'. In 1990, in the city of Ivanovo, Archbishop Ambrose of Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Kineshma ordained him a deacon (May 22) and a presbyter (August 2). On November 19, 1991, he was appointed rector of the Kazan Church in Ivanovo. From April 1993 to May 2007 he served in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Ivanovo. He taught dogmatic theology, church law, basic theology, apologetics and missiology at the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Theological Seminary, as well as basic theology at the Ivanovo Orthodox Theological Institute. On September 5, 1993, Archbishop Ambrose of Ivanovo-Voznesensk tonsured him as a monk with the name Augustine in honor of Blessed Augustine, bishop. Ipponian. In 1995 he was elevated to the rank of abbot. In 2001 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary. He was engaged in missionary activities in the Ivanovo-Voznesensk diocese and beyond. In his activities he emphasized the revival of the Orthodox way of life through the community life of parishes and groups. At the competition of missionary projects within the framework of the XV Christmas educational readings, the Synodal Missionary Department awarded a diploma to the program “Orthodox community as a mission for introducing the Orthodox way of life in Russia.” In 1995-2002 taught the subject “Missiology” at the catechist courses of the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1995, at the invitation of the government and the Lutheran Church of Lower Saxony (Germany), he was on an official business trip to Hannover to study the education system and interaction between the Church and the state in the social sphere. In 1996, he spoke in the State Duma of the Russian Federation at parliamentary hearings on the topic “Education and National Security of Russia.” In 2001, at the request of the head of Ivanovo, he gave a course of lectures “The Orthodox way of life. Fundamentals of Orthodoxy" for the staff of the city administration of Ivanovo. He taught at Ivanovo State University, in particular, he taught his own course “Phenomenology of Religion” at the Faculty of History. In 2007-2008 taught at the Ivanovo Institute for Advanced Training of Teachers to prepare them to teach the course “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture.” For 8 years he was the chairman of the organizing committee for the “Christmas Gift” and “Bright Holiday” holidays, the purpose of which was to attract students from music and art schools and colleges, secondary schools to Orthodox values. He took part in the 6th Golden Knight Film Festival as a jury member. In 2002, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he was included in the working group of the Socio-Political Expert Council for the development of the Educational Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church. In May 2006, at the invitation of the directorate of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Warsaw, he participated in the opening ceremony of the Year of Russian Culture in Poland in Lodz. In 2007, he became a member of the commission for canonization of the Ivanovo-Voznesensk diocese. In 2008, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Synodal Missionary Department, Archbishop of Belgorod and Stary Oskol Ioann, he participated in a workshop on developing the concept of a textbook and methodology for teaching the subject “Missiology”. By decree of Bishop Joseph of Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Kineshma dated October 15, 2008, he was assigned to the staff with the right to transfer to the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. In December 2008, he was appointed builder of the restored Feodorovsky Monastery. By the determination of the Holy Synod of May 27, 2009 (magazine No. 45), he was appointed abbot of the Feodorovsky Monastery in the city of Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod region. He was the confessor of the St. Elizabeth's Department of the Sisters of Charity of the Nizhny Novgorod Medical College; spiritual trustee, lecturer-consultant at the Department of International Political Communications, Faculty of International Relations, Nizhny Novgorod State University. Lobachevsky. Full member of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 15, 2012 (magazine No. 7), he was elected Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga. On March 18, 2012, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Named on March 29, 2012. Consecrated during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior on April 8. The services were led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'. Education: 1977 - Moscow All-Union Law Institute. 2001 - Moscow Theological Seminary. Diocese: Gorodets Diocese (Ruling Bishop)

Word from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill upon presenting the bishop's staff to His Grace Augustine (Anisimov), Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga.

Scientific works, publications: Word of Archimandrite Augustine (Anisimov) upon his naming as Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga.

Historical information about the city

Gorodets, Nizhny Novgorod region, is the oldest city on the Volga bank. The mention of it in chronicles dates back to 1172. It arose as a fortress to protect the Vladimir-Suzdal principality from foreign invasion and for a long time was an important stronghold for its defense. It was burned several times by enemies, but was revived and rebuilt again.

In Russian history, Gorodets is known as the last earthly refuge of Alexander Nevsky. As church traditions say, he died in the Fedorovsky Monastery in 1263, having taken monastic vows before his death.

During the time of the Russian Empire, both Orthodox Christians and Old Believers of various directions lived in the city, so Gorodets in the Nizhny Novgorod region has long been considered the center of the Old Believers. With the advent of Soviet power, all churches were closed, regardless of religion, and some of them were completely destroyed. The restoration of churches began in the 90s of the last century.

Educational ministry. A unique project of the Gorodets diocese.

The lessons of the last century in Russia, from 1917 to 2021, through the prism of time, became the leitmotif of the diocesan stage of the 25th International Christmas Readings, which took place at the Trans-Volga Orthodox Gymnasium. Representatives of the Synod, regional and municipal departments, as well as delegates from 13 districts of the Gorodets diocese gathered here. The main theme of the readings is missionary service. It has become the main direction in the work of church parishes of the Diocese for the past 8 years on the initiative of Bishop Augustine.

Vladyka Augustine, Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga:

“I know the deep problem of our Russian population - there is no knowledge about our church, our traditions that existed before the revolution, today even the traditions of the Soviet era are forgotten. Therefore, remembering the main commandment of Christ “Go and teach all nations”, no matter what we talk about, to cultivate, heal people, connect them with history, teach how to cook food, no matter what we say, education is at the forefront.”

One of the first steps of missionary work was the opening of the People's University at the Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery. This was discussed at one of the working sections of the diocesan readings. University students are ordinary city residents aged 30 and older, studying the Church Slavonic language and theology, local history and poetry. Classes are also aimed at creating a culture of a healthy lifestyle and nurturing the best Orthodox family values.

Svetlana Raskova, Vice-Rector of the People's University of Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery:

“Family is the most important thing in a person’s life, and all the subjects that we teach are aimed at paying attention to the family, so that a person who wants to get married will exchange his selfishness for service. So that not just “I”, “I must be loved in marriage.” In order for something to change, it is necessary for the attitude towards the people around me, nature, objects, the activities that I do to change. Family life is aimed at serving the wife, husband, and relatives. And all our subjects teach this.”

Priest Anthony from Voskresensk also teaches this. Only with the help of classical music. He shared his missionary project at a meeting of the “Church and Culture” section. In the past, he is a Moscow violinist; for several years now he has been giving encounters with musical classics to residents of the outback throughout the Nizhny Novgorod region. The entire large family of the abbot and friends - professional musicians - take part in the concerts.

Priest Anthony (Volkov), b. Voskresenskoye village, Nizhny Novgorod region:

“Our project “Garden of Music” began with family concerts. People asked to play, we didn’t refuse, there were more people, we had to play several times a week. It’s hard, and we decided to gather everyone in one place and organize these concerts at least once a month. I was surprised that there were more and more people and that there is spiritual hunger in the outback and everywhere.”

Specialists in the field of preschool and school education from several districts also shared their experience in educational work. Including the Trans-Volga Orthodox Gymnasium named after Alexander Nevsky. Here, humanitarian disciplines aimed at the spiritual and moral education of children are studied in depth. This is also facilitated by the study of the laws of history, nature and spiritual life according to significant dates of the Orthodox, natural and state calendars. As the director of the gymnasium says, this special rhythm of life unites the outside world with the child’s personality into a harmonious whole.

Maria Fedorovskaya, director of the Orthodox gymnasium named after. St. bl. book A. Nevsky, Zavolzhye:

“The Lord sets the task of educating a new type of personality and a new type of institution, we must form. There may have been schools like this once in Russia, but now there are few such schools, and they are not all alike. And it’s impossible to adopt someone else’s experience. You can only do your own thing in the place where you do it. The graduate should represent the image of Alexander Nevsky. This must be a person - a citizen, a patriot, a warrior, he must be a professional, he must be a creative person, and all his will must be aimed at serving society, near and far.”

The personality of the holy noble prince and the growing interest of young people in his life and exploits were also discussed at a section meeting dedicated to the implementation of the youth project “Alexander Nevsky - Glory, Spirit and Name of Russia.” Over the course of 8 years, this competition of creative works, held with the blessing of Bishop Augustine, has grown from regional to interregional.

Hieromonk Alexander (Solyankin), head of the department of youth and social ministry of the Gorodets diocese, head of the project “Alexander Nevsky - Glory, Spirit and Name of Russia”:

“Today we see that interest in the personality of Alexander Nevsky, in creativity, aimed at the patriotic, spiritual and moral education of the younger generation, is found among children from different regions. This year, children from 21 regions created over one and a half thousand works. These were photographs, drawings, videos, original poetic works, the guys composed their own songs. Therefore, we are happy that a bright, interesting patriotic campaign is beginning.”

A positive atmosphere was felt in the work of each section. Discussion, exchange of experience, results of educational activities in the parishes of the Gorodets diocese and prospects for the future. Everything that was discussed at the meetings will become material for the presentation of Bishop Augustine’s unique project at the International Christmas Readings in Moscow in January next year.

Diocese of Gorodets

Dioceses are territorial regions whose boundaries are determined by state and church laws. They consist of a collection of ecclesiastical institutions and communities and are part of the local church, directly related to government authority. Dioceses are independent of each other in their internal affairs. Each of them is under the constant control of a local bishop, who has very great influence within its borders.

The Diocese of Gorodets and Vetluzh, formed in 2012 by a resolution of the Holy Synod, is part of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis. It includes the following parishes of the municipal districts of the region:

Gorodetsky.
Varnavinsky
Voskresensky.
Vetluzhsky.
Krasnobakovsky.
Sokolsky.
Kovernensky.
Tonkinese.
Semenovsky.
Tonshaevsky.
Sharansky.
Urensky.
Shakhunsky.

The Gorodets diocese received the status of an independent structural unit of the Russian Orthodox Church. Augustine (Anisimov), Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga, was elected ruling bishop. The ordination at the Divine Liturgy took place on Palm Sunday, April 8, 2012 in the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Gorodets in the Nizhny Novgorod region became a cathedral city. The second department is located in the city of Vetluga.

His Eminence Bishop Augustine

The residence of Bishop Augustine is located in the Fedorovsky Monastery, of which he still remains the vicar. Here the Bishop holds meetings and sessions and receives visitors.

Bishop Augustine is known as a missionary and a talented preacher, theologian and jurist. He is the ideological inspirer and organizer of many projects, thanks to which the Fedorov Monastery and the Gorodets Diocese have become widely known both in Russia and abroad. The ministry of Bishop Augustine, his sermons and soul-saving conversations always attract many people. Prominent figures of our country and foreign guests come to Russian-level forums at the Fedorovsky Monastery.

Gorodets Diocese (Fedorovsky Monastery)

The diocese of Gorodets, headed by Bishop Augustine, and the Fedorovsky monastery gave great glory to the small town. The historical fate of this monastery during the Soviet years is unenviable. In 1927, the monastery was closed and for more than two decades it housed various institutions. At the end of the 40s, the churches were completely blown up, and the building material was used for economic needs. Fortunately, the main relic has been preserved - the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, which is now in the monastery museum.

The life of the monastery began to revive in 2009, when the Fedorovsky Cathedral of the monastery was built in 1 year. On September 12 of the same year, it was consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. At first, there was no one in the monastery except Abbot Augustine, who was appointed governor. The formation of the Gorodets diocese gave impetus to a new life. Now that the monastery is bustling with activity, it’s hard to believe that a few years ago there was a wasteland here.

Currently, there is an Orthodox missionary center on the territory of the monastery with a museum of the history of the monastery, a tour service, an exhibition gallery, a cinema hall, a library, a conference hall and classrooms, and a hotel for pilgrims. Many more new projects are planned. The monastery continues to expand its activities.

Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery - through memory to the heart

Gorodets is famous not only for its folk crafts. According to legend, in the Gorodets Feodorovsky Monastery, the founding of which is attributed to Grand Duke Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky, the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky, tonsured Alexy, received the schema before his death. And perhaps it was only through his prayers that the monastery was revived from oblivion three times. What is its peculiarity, why is it attractive to young people who dream of monasticism, how to inspire people to create a community and build a church, what work is being done to preserve the memory of the holy prince in the Gorodets diocese, learned the correspondent of the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” Alexei Reutsky. The material was published in No. 11-12 for 2020.

Name of Russia

In the early 2000s, the topic of venerating St. Alexander Nevsky for the residents of Gorodets was not as significant as it is today. And the fact that he became a monk in the Feodorovsky Monastery, which once adorned the city, was reminded only by the monument on the Volga embankment (installed in 1993), the pre-revolutionary appearance of the monastery in yellowed photographs and the drawing of the monastery on the back of the Feodorovskaya icon in the local history museum.

“The revival of the memory of Alexander Nevsky began on the initiative of the plenipotentiary representative in the Volga Federal District Alexander Konovalov,” recalls the rector of the Feodorovsky Monastery, Bishop of Gorodetsky and Vetluga Augustin. “He was the initiator of the restoration of the Feodorovsky Cathedral and managed to unite representatives of government, business and the Church around this idea in 2008” (see reference). The hierarchy of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese decided to revive the Feodorovsky Monastery. Its builder and rector was then Abbot Augustine, who was elevated to the rank of bishop in 2012.

Having extensive experience in missionary work in the Ivanovo diocese, Father Augustine well understood that the restored monastery could become the center of missionary and educational work not only in Gorodets. And the first helpers here are the intelligentsia. He managed to win over teachers and doctors, school and museum directors, and local historians. Seeing that the priest was well versed in issues of education and politics, history and anthropology, people began to show interest in spiritual topics.

Possessing a broad outlook and extensive knowledge, Father Augustin (Anisimov) spoke to teams of local enterprises, gave lectures in museums, libraries and universities, gathering huge audiences. He spoke about the causes of family problems and demography, the meaning and purpose of human life, patriotism, raising children and, of course, faith, citing as an example the image of the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky.

At that time, there were two churches in Gorodets (today there are five). Father Augustine served in the Church of the Intercession, and a lot of people came to him for confession. The intelligentsia of Nizhny Novgorod and even the Old Believers came to listen to his sermons. Soon a circle of active helpers formed around Father Augustine, who later became conductors of educational, cultural and missionary initiatives.

At some point, the topic of the memory of Alexander Nevsky and the reviving Feodorovsky Cathedral became of interest to local and regional media. Interviews with Father Augustine appeared in newspapers, on websites and on television, and he began to be invited to all sorts of meetings in government structures at various levels, where issues of patriotism and the spiritual heritage of Alexander Nevsky were discussed. In all his endeavors, the priest was actively supported by Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas (now Metropolitan). The town residents became proud of their land, they felt involved in the history of Russia. Topics related to the holy prince and the Feodorovsky Monastery were included in school lessons and excursion programs, and expositions and exhibitions dedicated to them appeared in museums. It is characteristic that over time they became a kind of information card of the Museum of the History of the Gorodetsky Feodorovsky Monastery and, thanks to the creative approach of its employees, they do not lose relevance to this day. Every year about 40 thousand people take part in excursions around the monastery.

“Before my eyes, the number of excursions and tourists coming to our city, including from the countries of the former USSR and far abroad, has increased,” recalls Bishop Augustine. — Not only the residents of Gorodets, but also the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well as the administration of the Volga Federal District became interested in the personality of the holy prince and the history of the Feodorovsky Cathedral. The restoration of the monastery and the revival of monastic life in it became a bright and significant event for the entire region.”

In September 2009, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill led the consecration of the Feodorovsky Cathedral of the Gorodets Monastery. “It is very important that the theme of the holy prince always remains relevant for His Holiness the Patriarch. It was he, while still Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who proposed adding the name of Alexander Nevsky to the list of the “Name of Russia” project[1], in which, based on the voting results, the holy prince took first place,” says the bishop.

Looking ahead, let's say that in the Gorodets diocese there are 69 programs, some of them are dedicated to the holy prince and will continue from year to year. For example, the all-Russian youth patriotic project “Alexander Nevsky - the glory, spirit and name of Russia”, the regional youth research expedition “From Alexander Nevsky to the heroes of the people’s militia” (from Gorodets to Nizhny Novgorod), the youth cycling marathon “Heirs of Victory” in 13 districts of the north of Nizhny Novgorod area in which schoolchildren and students participate. It should be noted that missionary activity takes place in collaboration with municipalities and administrations.

In the year of the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, the diocese is planning an interregional educational forum for young fathers and their families “Live like Nevsky”, the Gorodets Film Festival named after Alexander Nevsky and other programs and projects, many of which were supported by the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region and the regional Ministry of Culture.

However, the Feodorovsky Monastery is not just a monastic monastery of the Gorodets diocese, but one of the centers of spiritual, educational, cultural and missionary life in Russia.

Gorodets call

It is known that these days, compared to the 1990s, the influx of new inhabitants into monasteries has noticeably decreased. Meanwhile, in the Feodorovsky Monastery, several dozen monks took monastic vows over eight years. This happened, among other things, thanks to the active work of Bishop Augustine. Vladyka preaches a lot and travels not only throughout the Nizhny Novgorod region, but also throughout the country. His speeches and sermons, in which spiritual issues are closely intertwined with pressing social problems (demography, marriage and family, upbringing and education), attract not only full halls and audiences, but also tens of thousands of views on the Internet. And often, after listening to the sermon, young people approach the bishop with a desire to become a monk. But Bishop Augustine immediately warns that the candidate for novice needs to be ready to accept the priesthood in the future. Hieromonks have completely different opportunities in terms of missionary service, and it is necessary to study all the time. In addition to the mandatory seminary, you will also need a higher education in the humanities. And constant self-education, including at the diocesan Institute of Qualification Innovations named after Archimandrite Peter (Kamensky). Thus, in eight years, Bishop Augustine managed to gather about three dozen hieromonks in the monastery.

They are the core of the missionary “detachment” of the Gorodets diocese. And if necessary, they replace priests in parishes, conduct missionary, social work and classes at the People’s University named after Archimandrite Peter (Kamensky)[2], speak at forums, conferences, engage in scientific activities (history, pedagogy), local history, and conduct excursions around the monastery , manage projects.

Understanding love

Hegumen Daniel (Gulko) has been asceticizing in the Gorodets Feodorovsky Monastery for more than eight years, two years of which he has been serving as the abbot of the monastery. He is one of those hieromonks to whom Bishop Augustine entrusts missions in enterprises, villages and villages.

“Why is Saint Alexander Nevsky close to you?” — I ask Father Daniil. “The first thing is that in my monasticism I have the name of his son, Daniel of Moscow,” the priest answers. “In addition, this is an example of a person who, in difficult conditions of confrontation, always achieved victory. And of course, when I turned to him, I received support more than once.”

In the same way, prayer to the holy prince and other saints helps Father Daniel in the main work determined by the ruling bishop of the diocese - missionary service. For example, this year he managed to create two parishes - in the village of Kamenoye, Koverninsky district (about 350 inhabitants) and in the village of Smolki, Gorodetsky district (about 1,000 inhabitants). Although there are Orthodox Christians in both villages, none of them even thought about a church and a joint prayer life.

Having agreed with the heads of administrations, Father Daniel gathered the most active residents of the village: “I tried to convince them of the need for a temple, that there was a need for a place where worship and the Sacraments were performed. People realized that they couldn’t do without it, and agreed: the temple was needed.”

He began to come to these villages, serve prayer services and perform the Liturgy. A military tent, a former store (eventually a temple), and a village club became places of worship. “At first we had to bring singers with us, but then they were found among the locals and quickly learned. The essence of my ministry is to set up the most active group, which will bear the main burden: preparation for the service and improvement of this church, prosphora, choir, readers. So that this becomes a part of life for them, because the temple is their second home,” explains the priest.

It took him several months to find a place for the temple and coordinate this issue with the administration, and help with the legal registration of the parish. When divine services and church sacraments became an integral part of the life of the villagers, priests were appointed to the new churches.

The approach to the mission at enterprises is slightly different. It is important to convince the manager so that he agrees to gather active people for a meeting with the priest. To organize such meetings, we have developed our own methods. Father Daniel chooses one of the current topics and gradually focuses the attention of listeners on its spiritual content. During communication, many questions arise. “I answer them and invite them to a monastery or a nearby temple for an individual conversation. After confession, a person needs to take communion; for this he needs to come to church for a service. Then we meet with these people more and more often, they are slowly becoming church members. Sometimes it happens that people are invited to this enterprise more than once, and the workers themselves ask for it,” says the priest.

It would seem that everything is simple. But try to talk about God in such a way as to awaken the soul of a man who last entered the temple five years ago to light a candle for his sick wife. Or inspire people who live in the same village and have known each other for 20 years to build a temple there together.

“Prayer gives strength for this,” says Father Daniel. - If we don’t pray, we’ll quickly break down. It is impossible to do all this without God's help, without the grace of the Holy Spirit. And if we do not have communication with God, do not participate in the Sacraments and general prayer, and do not pray ourselves, then, of course, nothing will work out. People won’t hear anything, your words won’t reach their hearts.”

Difficulties of monasticism

Every year a large flow of people wishing to take monastic vows passes through the Feodorovsky Monastery. But not everyone remains. Despite the fact that Bishop Augustine managed to create here the necessary conditions for life, self-education and spiritual growth, future novices may encounter problems due to their worldview.

For example, a person reads books about ancient monks - and he develops his own idea of modern monasticism. He does not understand that it took these ascetics their entire lives to acquire such holiness, and he does not allow the brethren to have any shortcomings, which may be due to a variety of reasons, including hereditary ones. And that a person struggles with them, and he needs time and a lot of effort to overcome them. “Such a brother begins to condemn everyone, because everyone has some shortcomings,” says Father Daniel. And gradually everyone around him becomes bad for him. Even conflict situations arise. He will be insolent to one, he will laugh at the other. That is, there is no brotherly love. And it’s a big problem for a monastery when a person thinks that this is in the order of things.

Another difficulty for young people coming to the monastery today is that they are not ready to be responsible and independent. Monastic life, with its rules and restrictions, a special way of life and the need to gain new knowledge and missionary experience, aims to serve people. But the lack of independence, responsibility, patience, perseverance in achieving a goal, attention to one’s soul prevents a person from understanding this. If, for example, he is used to being controlled, then he cannot develop himself, and then he will have to make up for what the school, institute, and parents could not give.

Naturally, Christ invisibly guides such an educational process, because without the grace of God nothing will work out, says Father Daniel. And the person begins to live a monastic life, participates in diocesan projects, and after some time it becomes clear where he is ready to express himself most fully. It happens, of course, that you don’t like anything at all, but then what’s the point of staying in the monastery?

During a tour of the monastery, Father Superior spoke about its history, programs and projects of the diocese, which are being implemented on the basis of the Center for Orthodox Culture (see information). The noble prince is depicted along with other saints - Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Emperor Constantine, Prince Vladimir and others - on mosaic panels on four sides of the cathedral. “Pay attention to the mosaic above the entrance,” says Father Daniel. — The temple is in honor of the Feodorovskaya icon, and on the mosaic is the Holy Trinity. Why? A monastery is an abode of the Holy Spirit, where God, the Most Holy Trinity, Whom we serve, constantly resides. In addition, the mentor of the Venerable Andrei Rublev, who painted the famous Trinity icon, was the icon painter Prokhor from Gorodets, one of the authors of the frescoes of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.” The monastery houses two ancient icons of the Theodore Mother of God - from the 17th and 18th centuries, donated by one of the parishioners.

One of them annually participates in the religious procession from Gorodets to Diveevo.