“The monastery gives me a sense of wholeness.” Hieromonk Laurus told the story of his calling

Hieromonk John (Ludishchev)

Sermon.
Hieromonk John Ludishchev Hieromonk John (Ludishchev)

- And. O. Viceroy of the Sretensky Stavropegial Monastery.

[edit] Biography

Hieromonk John (in the world Dmitry Vladimirovich Ludishchev; born February 23, 1974, Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow region)

He received the sacrament of Baptism already at a conscious age - in 1989.

From 1991 to 1997 studied at the Moscow Medical Dental Institute named after. N. A. Semashko. After graduating from the institute, he completed residency training at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Moscow. The acquired profession subsequently came in handy for the monastery brethren more than once.

In 1999, he joined the brethren of the Sretensky Monastery, and at the same time, together with other inhabitants of the monastery, he entered the Sretensky Theological Seminary (then the Sretensky Higher Orthodox Monastic School).

He graduated from the Seminary in 2004, defending his thesis on the topic “The main problems of modern man in the letters and edifications of confessors of the 20th century”[1], which was published in 2007 by the Sretensky Monastery publishing house[2].

While studying at the Seminary, he mastered the specialty program at the National Private Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education “Natalia Nesterova University (Institute)” (awarded the qualification “Religious scholar, teacher” in the specialty “Religious Studies”).

For several years, he carried out various obediences in the monastery: he worked in the book warehouse, in the treasury of the monastery, and was the head of the medical office of the monastery.

He was tonsured a monk with the name John on January 2, 2003 by Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) in honor of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt.

In the same year, on April 7, in the Epiphany Cathedral of Moscow, Metropolitan Sergius (Fomin) of Solnechnogorsk was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and on December 28, 2003 - in the Vladimir Cathedral of the Sretensky Monastery by Archbishop Alexy (Frolov) of Orekhovo-Zuevsky to the rank of hieromonk.

In 2004, he was appointed vice-rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary and dean of the Sretensky Monastery. He performed these duties until May 2021.

These years became a time of gradual flourishing of both the monastery and the seminary, primarily thanks to the labors and efforts of Archimandrite Tikhon (now Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov), who was then the abbot of the monastery and the rector of the theological school located within its walls. Hieromonk John also took a significant and active part in this, always caring for the brethren, students and monastery parishioners.

It was at this time that the seminary became one of the leading theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church. At various times, Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin, Archpriest Vladimir Vigilyansky, Archpriest Vadim Leonov, Archpriest Oleg Stenyaev, Archpriest Alexander Zadornov, leading experts in the field of theology, Church history and the humanities - professors and associate professors were invited to teach there at various times: A. I. Sidorov , A. K. Svetozarsky, A. N. Uzhankov, L. I. Marsheva, O. Yu. Vasilyeva, V. M. Kirillin, A. M. Belov, Assoc. P.K. Dobrotsvetov, R.M. Kon and many others.

In December 2013, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the new building of the Sretensky Seminary, equipped for the education and accommodation of students[3]. Thematic classrooms equipped with multimedia boards with sound and Internet access, teaching staff, cozy archondariki - the very atmosphere in the Seminary was designed to encourage students to take their studies and self-development seriously.

In the 2014/2015 academic year, Sretensky Theological Seminary received a license to carry out educational activities in the following areas of training: 48.03.01 Theology, level of education - bachelor's degree, qualification "Bachelor" and 48.04.01 Theology, level of education - master's degree, qualification "Master".

In the same academic year, by decision of the Russian Orthodox Church in the person of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', a new edition of the Charter was approved at Sretensky Theological Seminary and the license to carry out educational activities was reissued. In addition, an annex to the license for carrying out educational activities was drawn up, allowing the Seminary to implement “Educational programs aimed at training ministers and religious personnel of religious organizations.”

In July 2021, Sretensky Theological Seminary received state accreditation (certificate No. 2657 dated July 25, 2017) to conduct educational programs in the following areas of training: 48.03.01 Theology (bachelor’s level) and 48.04.01 Theology (master’s level)[4 ]. The guidance for the preparation of the necessary documentation for licensing and accreditation was always directly handled by the father vice-rector himself.

The Seminary has always paid special attention to the content of the educational process.

In 2012, the Seminary opened master’s programs in “Pastoral Theology” and “Church History.”

In 2015/2016, in the master’s program at Sretensky Seminary, with the direct participation of the vice-rector’s father, three master’s programs were allocated - “Pastoral Theology”, “Christian Doctrine of State and Society”, “Church Slavonic Language: History and Modernity”. They were called upon to train pastors taking into account a special profile in accordance with the traditions of spiritual education established in the Russian Church, which has always distinguished Sretensky Seminary and has yielded rich fruits.

Thus, in the master’s program “Pastoral Theology” the focus was on the study of the Holy Scriptures and the patristic heritage as the basis for the education and formation of the future pastor, preparing him for the work of pastoral counseling and nurturing the flock, missionary and educational service.

Those who studied in the “Christian Doctrine of State and Society” major (which continued and developed the previous master’s program “Church History”) became acquainted with the civilizational approach to the study of church and civil history, learned to comprehend church and social phenomena, including through conversion to ancient Greek and Latin monuments, which became the basis for the formation of certain theories and concepts of socio-historical development.

The master’s program “Church Slavonic Language: History and Modernity” has also become unique in its own way, not only in the spiritual, but in the secular educational space[5]. In conditions when the primary focus of attention of philologists is the history of church literature, the leadership of the seminary highly appreciated the efforts to study the modern liturgical language of the Russian Orthodox Church, which are systematically undertaken only at the Sretensky Theological School.

As vice-rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary and dean of the Sretensky monastery, Hieromonk John studied its history. As a result of this work, articles appeared about the historical past of the Sretensky Monastery: its abbots and builders in the 18th and 19th centuries, the life of the monastery during the Patriotic War of 1812, during the Revolution and in the first decades of the 20th century. Over the years, they were published in the Sretensky collection (a scientific publication of the Sretensky Seminary), which also appeared largely thanks to the initiative of Hieromonk John: “History of the Sretensky Monastery in the period from the establishment of the Holy Synod to 1757”[6], “Materials for the study of the history of Sretensky monastery"[7], "History of the Sretensky Monastery 1919-1923"[8], "Sretensky Monastery in 1924 (according to archive documents)"[9], "Biography of St. Gury (Stepanov): 1919-1937 (according to archival materials)"[10], "Martyr for the faith Archimandrite Sergius (Plaksin) - abbot of the Sretensky Monastery"[11].

It is noteworthy that until 2021, at Sretensky Seminary there was no division of responsibilities between several vice-rectors; there was one vice-rector who dealt with all issues - educational, scientific, and issues of educating seminarians. It is also important that Father John always coped with all the responsibilities assigned to him. He found the opportunity to pay attention to all the students, whose number only increased every year, and to all the teachers, in his interactions with whom he was always extremely respectful, decent and kind. Thus, by personal example, Father John invariably succeeded in teaching the students of the Sretensky Theological School to have a kind and attentive attitude towards others.

In connection with the transfer, upon elevation to metropolitan dignity, of the abbot of the Sretensky monastery and rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary, Bishop Tikhon of Yegoryevsk, to the Pskov See, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on May 19, 2021 appointed Hieromonk John (Ludishchev) as acting vicar of the Sretensky Monastery[12] . To carry out the new assigned obedience, Father John left the position of vice-rector of Sretensky Seminary, but, if necessary, continued to participate in the life of each student.

The short period of his governorship can be considered a time of continuity. The monastery and seminary continued to live according to long-standing traditions, remaining a single whole.

At this time, the projects started by Metropolitan Tikhon continued to develop: the educational and pilgrimage centers of the Sretensky Monastery, the monastery’s publishing house continued to operate, social activities developed, and many others. etc.

Twice in 2018-2019. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' visited the Sretenskaya monastery. He expressed words of gratitude to the acting governor for his work for the benefit of the holy place[13][14]. The vicars of His Holiness the Patriarch often came to the monastery to serve.

At this time, the construction of the new refectory, which began in 2021, came to completion, and the territory of the monastery was transformed in a new way. An important event was the publication of a gift album about the Sretensky Monastery[15]. It is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the revival of the monastery and includes unique photographs from different years.

In March 2021, Hieromonk John (Ludishchev) entered the brethren of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery.

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at Saltykov Bridge

Cleric of the temple, Hieromonk Nikon (Belavenets Sergey Vladimirovich)

Date of birth: July 1, 1964

Date of tonsure: April 23, 1992

Country Russia

Biography:

Born on July 1, 1964 in Moscow.

Representative of the noble families of the Levachevs and Belavents. Grandson of the famous chess player Sergei Vsevolodovich Belavenets (1910 - 1942).

In 1981-1982 he worked at the Book Chamber. In 1982-1986 he studied at the Moscow Automobile and Road Institute. In 1988 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary (graduated in 1996) and began working in the publishing department of the Moscow Patriarchate; at the same time he was a subdeacon of the chairman of the Publishing Department of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) and his assistant. He was editor, and from September 4, 1991, deputy editor-in-chief of the Moscow Church Bulletin. On April 23, 1992, he took monastic vows with the name Nikon. In July 1992, he was appointed rector of the Trinity Church in the village of Yazvische, Volokolamsk region, which received the status of a metochion of the Joseph-Volotsky Monastery. During the events in September - October 1993, he was in the building of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation - until the morning of October 4, 1993. Since December 1998, the leader, and since 2001, the confessor of the political social movement “For Faith and Fatherland,” which has a monarchical orientation (leader - K. R. Kasimovsky). Member of the Small Administrative Council of the Russian Assembly of Nobility. From 2001 to 2005 member of the Governing. Since 2007, member of the editorial board of the all-Russian Orthodox-monarchist newspaper “Tsarsky Vestnik” (Samara).

Awards

Awards of the Russian Imperial House Badge with a monogram image of the name of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, 1st and 2nd degree Badge of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, 2nd degree Church awards Commander of the Order of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Antiochian Orthodox Church) Order of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate) Order of St. Mark, III degree (Alexandrian Orthodox Church) Other awards Order of Honor (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, 2009) Anniversary medal “20 years of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic” (2010) Anniversary medal “600 years of the city of Bendery” (2009) Honorary medal “B” memory of the creation of the Union of Descendants of the Russian Nobility - the Russian Assembly of Nobility"

Since October 2013 he has been the confessor of the Orthodox Motorcycle Association “Motorcycle Brotherhood in Christ”

[edit] Sources

1. John (Ludishchev), priest.
   The main problems of modern man in the letters and edifications of confessors of the 20th century. M., 2004. 80 p.
2. Problems of modern man in the letters and edifications of confessors of the 20th century // URL: https://pravoslavie.ru/6082.html
3. The Primate of the Russian Church consecrated the new building of Sretensky Theological Seminary // URL: https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3484228.html
4. https://sdsmp.ru/svedeniya-organizatsiya/obrazovanie/
5. Tikhon (Shevkunov), archimandrite.
   About the master's program at Sretensky Theological Seminary // URL: https://pravoslavie.ru/79993.html
6. John (Ludishchev), priest.
   History of the Sretensky Monastery in the period from the establishment of the Holy Synod to 1757 // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 1. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2010. P. 171-254.
7. John (Ludishchev), priest.
   Materials for studying the history of the Sretensky Monastery // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 2. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2010. P. 244-402.
8. John (Ludishchev), priest.
   History of the Sretensky Monastery 1919-1923 // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 3. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2012. P. 245-326.
9. John (Ludishchev), priest.
   Sretensky Monastery in 1924 (according to archive documents) // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 4. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2013. P. 188-203.
10. John (Ludishchev), priest.
    Biography of St. Gury (Stepanov): 1919-1937 (based on archival materials) // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 4. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2013. P. 204-255.
11. John (Ludishchev), priest.
    Martyr for the faith Archimandrite Sergius (Plaksin) - abbot of the Sretensky Monastery // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 5. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2014. - P. 366-376.
12. Acting rector of the Sretensky stauropegial monastery and rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary have been appointed // URL: https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5206672.html
13. On the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated an all-night vigil at the Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery // https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5372471.html
14. On Thursday of the first week of Great Lent, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Sretensky stauropegial monastery. https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5391472.html
15. Moscow Sretensky Monastery: revived by labor and prayer: Photo album // https://monastery.ru/bookself/izdatelstvo-br-sretenskogo-monastyrya/moskovskiy-sretenskiy-monastyr-vozrozhdennyy-trudom-i-molitvoy-fotoalbom/

Elder Jonah

This is my opinion about what Father Jonah is like, it can of course be subjective, but I decided to publish it for those who have never met the elder.

• He is simple, - very simple, - well, very simple... sometimes just like a small child! I saw a film with his interview and there they put pressure on him - like, “Well, you tell about. Jonah - after all, people don’t need to change their passports to new demonic ones, with the numbers 666... ​​tell me - is it really unnecessary?!!!..." and the questioner presses and presses until he hears at least some clue to substantiate his opinion... No need so with him!!! Nothing meaningful will come out of this conversation; what you came with is what you leave with.
• He is not a theologian, and often his stories about how atomic bombs are made from cigarettes look funny to those people who think that a lot of knowledge is a sign of wisdom. He is primarily a mystic, not a theorist. Various people, both educated and uneducated, come to him and respect him. For example, with my education everything is in order, and even superfluous.
• In my opinion, he is a man of prayer who has spent a lot of work learning to pray and he himself is like constant prayer. From this and next to him, many people who came with an open heart join in this experience, and accordingly receive what they came for - some the answer to the question, some consolation, some recovery. As he teaches everyone, “The Lord saves a person, and for this a person needs two wings - prayer and work.” He himself is an example of this, he always worked as hard as his health allowed and prayed - I saw a pebble with prints of his feet on which he stood in prayer in his cell for 40 days (I may not remember the exact number), sometimes he had no strength, he was very sick and could only crawl on all fours, then he still worked - sitting on the floor he made candles and incense.
• He is a monk who came to the monastery for what he should come there for - to save his soul, and that is exactly what he is doing there.
• And he is courageous in his love for people, I saw earlier how a crowd gathered to him at confession, but he felt bad, he almost lost consciousness from the pain he was experiencing, and still he would squeeze himself into a fist and listen to everyone attentively, pray from the bottom of his heart for everyone, and then comes to the cell, falls to the floor and can crawl only because of severe pain in the joints and back. I even doubt that most of those who confessed to him on such days knew how he tortured himself for their sake; few could know this, since he hid his problems with all his might.

I don’t want to make a saint out of Father Jonah, but this is the first person who showed me that to be in this life “ BE ” with a capital B, to be happy, to have peace of mind - for this you do not need to have perfect health, a career, a bunch of money, success, etc. As a teenager, I thought that life was valuable when there was health, success, money... but this is not so. Thanks to Father Jonah, and people like him, for understanding that life becomes valuable when you live it honestly before people and God, when you follow the path of your heart, your real conscience... and then it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are!

Alexander

[edit] Links

• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  The main problems of modern man in the letters and edifications of confessors of the 20th century. M., 2004.
• Problems of modern man in the letters and edifications of confessors of the 20th century // URL: https://pravoslavie.ru/6082.html.
• The Primate of the Russian Church consecrated the new building of the Sretensky Theological Seminary // URL: https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3484228.html.
• https://sdsmp.ru/svedeniya-organizatsiya/obrazovanie/
• Tikhon (Shevkunov), archimandrite.
  About the master's program at Sretensky Theological Seminary // URL: https://pravoslavie.ru/79993.html.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  History of the Sretensky Monastery in the period from the establishment of the Holy Synod to 1757 // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 1. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2010.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  Materials for studying the history of the Sretensky Monastery // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 2. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2010.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  History of the Sretensky Monastery 1919-1923 // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 3. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2012.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  Sretensky Monastery in 1924 (according to archive documents) // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 4. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2013.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  Biography of Saint Gury (Stepanov): 1919-1937 (based on archival materials) // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 4. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2013.
• John (Ludishchev), priest.
  Martyr for the faith Archimandrite Sergius (Plaksin) - abbot of the Sretensky Monastery // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. Issue 5. M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House, 2014.
• The acting governor of the Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery and the rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary have been appointed // URL: https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5206672.html.
• On the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated an all-night vigil at the Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery // https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5372471.html.
• On Thursday of the first week of Great Lent, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated Compline with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the Sretensky stauropegial monastery. https://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5391472.html.
• Moscow Sretensky Monastery: revived by labor and prayer: Photo album // https://monastery.ru/bookself/izdatelstvo-br-sretenskogo-monastyrya/moskovskiy-sretenskiy-monastyr-vozrozhdennyy-trudom-i-molitvoy-fotoalbom/.