Hieromonk Roman Matyushin: biography, read poems, songs performed by him, where is he now, is he alive, photo, website

Poetry has undoubtedly become one of the main achievements of mankind. Ability to put words into text. Which raises questions of the soul has always been revered. When Christianity began to spread across the earth, church poets already appeared.

A striking example is Saints Ambrose of Milan and Nicholas the Wonderworker. From their pens came many hymns and sermons that became part of the canon. Moreover, all currents of the Christian faith. But they lived a long time ago - they became legends. What is there now?

Photo of Hieromonk Roman Matyushkin, recluse of the Vetrovo monastery

In the Russian Orthodox Church you can find many holy fathers and monks who write poetry. Probably the most famous of them is Hieromonk Roman Matyushin.

This elder became famous for his gift and was personally noted by the Patriarch and blessed by the archbishops of his diocese. The monk's poems are used by famous pop artists in their songs. For example, Vaengi and Stas Mikhailov. Now the hieromonk has retired to the monastery and rarely leaves the monastery. But he continues to create and will show the world many more poems in his performance.

Hieromonk Roman Matyushin takes monastic vows

Roman was born into an ordinary working-class family, of which there were millions in the Soviet Union. I went to school and acquired knowledge, just like ordinary peers. However, already in his youth, young Roman begins to try himself as a poet.

His early work, although not distinguished by originality, already made it clear about the author’s talent. In addition, the young man’s poems often reflected the idea of taking monastic vows and entering church service. Considering that Matyushin was born in 1954, the desire was not entirely ordinary for a teenager.

Having successfully completed high school, young Roman entered the Kalmyk State University, the Faculty of Philology. Studying did not cause any problems for the young man, and he successfully passed all intermediate exams and coursework.

However, Roman did not take the diploma exams and was expelled. The reason for this action is not entirely clear. In addition to receiving higher education, I went to the karate section, where I showed excellent results.

Roman's contribution to Orthodox singing has been recognized with awards.

After unsuccessfully obtaining a higher education, Roman changed a number of professions. At first I worked as a carpenter. But this did not last long and soon he became a music teacher at school and even for some time served as artistic director at the House of Culture. All this time, the young man continued to hone his versification skills.

But more and more often Roman began to think about the meaning of his existence. And by 1980, thoughts had formed in his head about receiving a spiritual education and leaving civilization for a monastery.

Just at this time, Khrushchev’s grip began to slowly loosen and the policy of atheistic ideology allowed the Russian Orthodox Church to once again begin to recruit more applicants. In 1980, Matyushin entered the Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery to study. Such an act radically changed Roman’s entire fate.

A year later, the young man went to study at the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Here he took monastic vows in 1983 and officially became a monk. Later he served in Pskov parishes and in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Three years later, Roman would be ordained as a hieromonk. A remarkable fact is that in the same year the monk’s mother, Zoya Nikolaevna, took monastic vows.

Meetings

Sergei Bezrukov, speaking in 2004 about his disc “Passion for Emelyan,” said that Hieromonk Roman personally gave written permission to use his texts (employees of the group working on the release of the disc came to the monk’s skete), however, according to the actor, Hieromonk Roman does not recognize copyright in principle. Then he was seriously ill (he could not speak or hear, he became speechless for 8 years [9]) and communicated with the outside world only through notes. According to Bezrukov, “In recent years I have received only three visitors...”[8]

Currently, Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin) is healthy and communicates with pilgrims. Whenever possible, he travels to monasteries. In the spring and summer of 2011 I visited Serbia.

Roman Matyushin secludes himself in Vetrovo Skete

After the collapse of the USSR, the Russian Orthodox Church begins to straighten its shoulders. The possessions taken by the “reds” are being returned to her, the good memory of many priests is being restored and rehabilitated, and state support is increasing.

In 1993, John of St. Petersburg personally noted Roman’s talent and gave him the book “The Battle for Russia.” This undoubtedly inspires the poet to new achievements.

Pop singers begin to perform Father Roman's songs.

Archbishop Evseniy, head of the Pskov diocese, played an important role in the hieromonk’s biography. He sent Roman to serve in the Vetrovo monastery, which is located very close to the village of Borovik. This happens in 1994. Here the monk completely devotes himself to serving the Lord.

At the same time, he writes more and more poems and songs. The hieromonk’s poems gradually become known to an increasing circle of connoisseurs, who begin to read them at numerous poetry evenings.

Archbishop John of Pskov personally blessed monk Roman for versification

In the first half of the 90s of the 20th century, two books were published under the authorship of the hieromonk: “Russian Kuuol” and “Heeding God’s Command.” Both works were published with the blessing and encouragement of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II. Then the biography of Roman’s father took an unexpected turn.

Is Father Roman alive?

On September 9, 2003, Father Roman makes an important decision. He decides to completely shut himself off from the world and immerse himself in vigils at the Vetrovo monastery. You can only get to the monk’s place of solitude by water transport or on ice in winter. But Matyushin does not stop writing and new works come out from his pen. Father is still in the monastery, this is the answer to whether he is alive.

Father Roman was presented with two honorary church awards for his work:

Prize named after the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky 2011;
in 2015, gold medal named after Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin;
laureate of the “Virgin Mother of Three Hands” award.

The contribution of Father Roman to the culture of modern Russia is great and invaluable. This is recognized by everyone, both the archpriest and the ordinary layman. The latest news about the monk came in 2015, when he added his grandmother's surname to his father's surname. Now he signs himself Hieromonk Matyushin-Pravdin.

Collections

1991 “Blessed is he who goes to God”, published in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
1991 “Stones of Holy Altars”, Pskov
1992 “Poems of repentance”, Novgorod
1992 “Holy Land”, published in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
1995 “Favorites. Poems and spiritual chants", Minsk
1995 “And there is a lot of harvest”, Polotsk
1997 “Blessed is the hour of prayer”, St. Petersburg
1997, 1998, 2000, 2005 “Heeding God’s command”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
1999 “Holy Rus' is Calling”, Rostov-on-Don
2001 “Behind the church there is a bird cherry blossom...”, Rostov-on-Don
2001 “The soul screams without words”, Rostov-on-Don
2002 “Russian doll”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2004 “Rejoice at Heaven”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2005 “Heeding God’s command”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2005 “There is my Serbia: Travel Stories and Poems”, St. Petersburg
2006 “The soul is guilty before everyone”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2008 “Lonely Path”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2009 “And the word is bitter”, publishing house of the Belarusian Exarchate
2010 “I sing to my God. Favorites", St. Petersburg
2012 “Hieromonk Roman. Favorites. Poems 1970—2008" - M.: Sretensky Monastery Publishing House
2013 “The Last Snow”. Poems. Publishing house "Amphora"
2013 “Constellation of the Cross”. Publishing house "Amphora"
2014 “Wonderful Light”. Poems. Publishing house "Petroglyph"

Father Roman's songs and poems performed by him are available on the official website

Every year, print publications are increasingly giving way to their digital versions. This makes it much easier to find the information you need. The same goes for songs and poems by your favorite authors. Each has its own official website. Monk Matyushin also has one.

Official website of Father Roman

The site contains the texts of all songs and poems, the latest information about the fate of the holy father: what he writes, what he thinks about, where he is now.

Poems by Father Roman (taken from the official website)

God's sparks Just yesterday, listening to Heaven, Snowflakes lulled the valleys. And now a feast for the eyes - Beauty beyond the power of words! The groves and reeds are silvered by Caring Mother Nature. It contains everything to comfort the soul, any soul, at any time of the year. The God-created Temple shines with light, Linden trees and blades of grass are drowning in the azure. Oh, if only we listened to the Heavens, Like these sparkling snowflakes! I stand in prayerful silence, And only my heart beats gratefully... We are God's sparks in the sunny Paradise And we are dust without the rays of the Sun. Creation is obedient to Heaven, But you, soul, have not lived up to your dignity.

Vetrovo. Father Roman Matyushkin spends his retreat here

Predustye

And the river in the water lilies, and the holy azure above me, I would freeze in silence and look endlessly into the sky... But the current carries me, and the boat under the night star will bring from the sublunar beauties to the unearthly ocean. Maybe it’s better not to swim, but to go ashore for a dream And fall on the grass in the vast evening fog? But is it wise, soul, to say goodbye to living water, If the river is only a path, and the final goal is the ocean? Now the wind is fresher, and the sounds are like the surf, Has the wave cleared up or is rolling thunder rushing? Oh, to enter the ocean with a grateful song and prayer For the azure over the river and for the fact that You are in my heart...

Backwards

Let Cain's cause perish - To exalt himself as a redneck, to divide the people into red and white, and to threaten his brother with a sword! How long will we amuse ourselves with deception and sing of hard times? The one who censers will never stand before the image of Christ! A visit to the Temple is in vain, Until a pagan understands: The Pectoral Cross will not save those who wear a pentagram in their hearts. In order for the spark of God to flare up, Quench the frantic protest And tear out the star from your heart - Or take off your pectoral Cross. Where are you looking, you lying genius, Like Lot’s wife?.. Let everyone who calls for fratricidal war be destroyed! Neither with the Reds, nor with the Cossacks - I would like to stand between the enemy brothers at the Easter bell, a barrier to bullets from both sides.

All the last poems were written by the author in Vetrovo Skete, where he now lives.

Albums

“I will open the Holy Psalter” (2 LP, Russian Disc, R60 00117, 1991)
“The lamp is glowing, the candle light is cheerful” (LP, St. Petersburg Recording Studio, DDA 0002, 1993)
“White Temple over the River” (CD, St. Petersburg Recording Studio, 1994)
“Everything true, eternal is not here” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“All of Russia has become the Kulikovo field” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“The Shrine of My Soul” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“What a mercy that God is above us!” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“A moment of life is the forerunner of Eternity” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“My joy, the time of repentance is coming” (CD, Publishing House of the Belarusian Exarchate. Minsk, Belarus, 2004)
“My prayer will overcome everything...” (CD, Saratov Diocese Publishing House, 2004)
“I will open the Holy Psalter” (CD, Saratov Diocese Publishing House, 2004)
“Thank God, I’m alone again...” (CD, Saratov Diocese Publishing House, 2004)

Notes

↑ 1234
Korolkov, 1998.
Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov).
"Unholy Saints." M, 2012
[pesni.voskres.ru/music/roman.htm Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin) – Music – Songs of the Russian Resurrection]
According to the biobibliographic dictionary “Russian Writers, 20th Century” - since 1993
[hram-st.obninsk.ru/arxiv/2005/gaz193.html Newspaper “Tikhonovsky Blagovest”]
Album “Zhanna Bichevskaya sings the songs of Hieromonk Roman” (1997)
Magnetic album “Chants of Hieromonk Roman” (1997)
↑ 1 2 Larisa Romanovskaya
. [www.portal-credo.ru/site/?act=press&press_id=125 Sergei Bezrukov recorded an album with the words of Hieromonk Roman], Portal Credo.ru (June 28, 2004). Retrieved March 23, 2015. About the presentation of the album “Passion for Emelyan” (soundtrack to the play “The Witch”)
Documentary films about Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin): www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUGEsTwfnjM#t=2070, www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfHh3ymfyE, www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCsdsuRu_DU

Hieromonk Roman. Favorites. Poems 1970—2008 (book)