Metropolitan Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk.

Biography:

Born on January 1, 1942 in Lipetsk in an Orthodox family. After graduating from an eight-year school in Lipetsk, he worked for. In 1961-1964. served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. In 1965, he returned to work at the plant and at the same time studied at evening school. In 1973 he entered the 2nd year of the Odessa Theological Seminary. He completed his studies in 1976. On September 9, 1976, Bishop Juvenaly (Tarasov) of Voronezh and Lipetsk ordained him to the rank of deacon (celibacy) in the Intercession Cathedral of Voronezh. On September 10, 1976, in the Trinity Cathedral of the city of Zadonsk, Bishop Juvenaly ordained him to the rank of priest and appointed rector of the Church of the Intercession in the village. Pavlovka, Dobrinsky district, Lipetsk region. In 1978-1983 studied at the Moscow Theological Academy (in absentia), diploma work “The Essence of Repentance according to the Teachings of St. John Climacus.” On March 21, 1980, Bishop Yuvenaly tonsured him as a monk in the Nativity of Christ Church in Lipetsk with the name Nikon in honor of the Venerable Nikon of Kiev-Pechersk. By the day of Holy Easter 1982 he was elevated to the rank of abbot. In 1990 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On October 31, 1990, Metropolitan Methodius of Voronezh and Lipetsk appointed confessor of the Alexievo-Akatov Monastery in Voronezh. On July 1, 1991, he was appointed abbot of the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery. On March 31, 1996, in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II consecrated him Bishop of Zadonsk, vicar of the Voronezh diocese. By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 7, 2003, he was appointed temporary administrator of the newly formed Lipetsk diocese. By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 26, 2003, he was appointed Bishop of Lipetsk and Yeletsk. On February 1, 2011, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 29, 2013 (magazine No. 42), he was awarded the title “Lipetsk and Zadonsk” and appointed head of the newly formed Lipetsk Metropolis. On June 23, 2013, during the Liturgy in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' elevated him to the rank of metropolitan.

Awards

Church:

Order of the Russian Orthodox Church St. Sergius of Radonezh II degree (January 1, 2002, from Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II
Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow, 1st degree (December 25, 2021, in consideration of the diligent archpastoral labors and the 75th anniversary of his birth, from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [6]).

Secular:

Russian Order of Friendship (2000, by Decree of the President of Russia No. 2104 “For his great contribution to strengthening civil peace and the revival of spiritual and moral traditions”)
diploma of a full academician of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts (2005, for the development of spirituality in the Lipetsk region)

Russian Orthodox Church

Born on March 3, 1955 in the village. Vostryakovo, Domodedovo district, Moscow region.

In 1976-1979 studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary, then at the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1983.

In 1983-1989 was the assistant and personal secretary of Metropolitan Alexy of Leningrad, later the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On August 28, 1984 he was ordained to the rank of deacon, on August 28, 1986 - to the rank of priest, and since 1988 he served in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

On September 30, 1989, he was tonsured a monk, and on October 5, in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, he was consecrated Bishop of Ladoga.

On July 20, 1990, he was appointed Bishop of Istrinsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese.

On February 25, 1997 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Participated in the work of commissions to examine the holy relics returned to the Church and newly discovered: St. blgv. book Alexander Nevsky (1988), Saints Zosima, Savvaty and German Solovetsky (1990), Venerable. Seraphim of Sarov (1991), St. Joasaph of Belgorod (1991), St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1991), Blessed. Matrons (1998).

In 1994-1997 was the chairman of the Scientific Editorial Council for the publication of “History of the Russian Church” by Metropolitan Macarius (Bulgakov).

Since 1998, from the date of its foundation, he has headed the Scientific Editorial Council for the publication of the Orthodox Encyclopedia.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated April 1, 2009, he was appointed first vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for Moscow.

In December 2010, he was entrusted with the care of parish churches in the Central and Southern administrative districts of Moscow.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated December 31, 2011, he was appointed manager of the Central Vicariate within the boundaries of the Central Administrative District of Moscow and the Southern Vicariate within the boundaries of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow.

On February 1, 2014, during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan.

In 2015-2019 - Member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 9, 2021 (journal No. 72), he was appointed His Eminence of Lipetsk and Zadonsk, head of the Lipetsk Metropolis.

By orders of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated July 16, 2021, he was relieved of the post of first vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and from the management of the parishes of the Central and Southern Vicariates of Moscow.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 29, 2021 (journal No. 140), he was confirmed as the Holy Archimandrite of the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in the city of Zadonsk, Lipetsk Region.

Metropolitan Nikon: I don’t regret anything

On December 19, on the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, His Eminence Nikon (in the world – Nikolai Ivanovich Vasin), Metropolitan of Lipetsk and Zadonsk, head of the Lipetsk Metropolis, celebrates his 75th anniversary. Already the day before, numerous congratulations on the anniversary began to arrive to the bishop. Last Saturday and Sunday, dozens of delegations from representatives of the clergy and laity rushed to the bishop's house in the Zadonsk Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery with bouquets and gifts.

— Your Eminence, how do you feel about such increased attention to your person?

- Calmly. I am grateful, of course, as a human being, for the congratulations. But I try not to be proud or arrogant. I consider kind words and icons to be the best gifts. I will receive guests, this is the tradition. As for the many delegations, I note that people constantly come to me on ordinary days for blessings, guidance, support and help.

- You have something to remember...

“I’m glad that all these years were not lived in vain.” Quite satisfied with my life. It was replete with joyful moments - coming to faith in God, labors and prayers, monasticism, services in churches and monasteries. Thank God, I didn’t complain about my health; the Lord always gave me strength to serve at the throne. Numerous pilgrimage trips around the country and the world brought joy. I also received many awards - church and secular, although I treat them, like the anniversary, calmly, because the main reward - the Kingdom of Heaven - is what every Orthodox Christian wants to earn from the Lord God. I remember a lot of things. There is nothing to regret. By the grace of God, there was always a desire to move forward on the spiritual path.

In the village of Pavlovka, with parishioners

– Vladyka, what was the main thing for you throughout all the years?

– Serving the Lord God and the flock. This is the main thing. Always. And when he was just a clergyman, and when he became the ruling bishop. For example, no one demanded that I serve at the throne every day or every holiday. But the soul was thirsty. That’s why I served and still serve. I tried all my life not to indulge myself, not to relax, not to be lazy. My rest is in serving God and the flock.

– Have there often been difficulties, sorrows, or unpleasant moments in your life?

– Of course, because life did not consist only of pleasant moments. Like every person there have been difficulties, problems, and sorrows. But in the lap of serving the Lord, when you evaluate events from the height of past years, they look different, they are no longer so significant, and they simply fade away and disappear from memory. Mostly I remember the good and bright moments.

— Usually the most vivid memories come from childhood...

“From early childhood—my parents were believers and were not members of any parties—I was lucky enough to go to church. After the service, the communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, there was such an inexplicable joy in my soul. In his youth and adulthood, he already visited the temple on his own.

Vladyka's parents (Maria and John)

... My mother told me that until I was five years old I didn’t speak at all. Everyone thought that I would remain mute. But at the age of six he learned to read and graduated from the first grade at school with excellent marks. Studying was going well. Labor was instilled from childhood. As a five-year-old boy, I already traveled at night. Later he helped his parents with everything. He was the ringleader! My peers followed me in droves. And if I wasn't with them, they were bored. I really liked it if someone could sing well. My father bought me a gramophone. I’ll turn on the record once or twice and remember everything right away. I could then imitate various famous singers. The repertoire, of course, has changed over the years. I began to like songs with spiritual content more. I learned carpentry from my father with pleasure. This was useful to me in many ways later, when they began to restore temples and monasteries.

— How did you combine faith and military service? After all, you honestly served in the ranks of the then Soviet army?

“In the army you met all sorts of people—both cruel and possessed by evil spirits. Let's say, for no apparent reason, they rush at each other. Separated them...

In the army

There were seventeen people in the squad I commanded. And all of them - what a surprise! – they obeyed me as if they were their own father. And even the “old men”, those who had already served for three years. Many were afraid to get them up even for morning exercises, because someone like that might send them away or kick them with a boot. And they washed the floors in my barracks (our barracks were designed for sixty people). They also carried out other tasks. Everyone was surprised: “How do you force them? Here they don’t come out to check, but your floors are washed!” I answered: “I don’t know, I’ll ask - they wash it.” He turned two people away from suicide. One wanted to shoot himself because the bride did not wait and got married. The second one was greatly annoyed by the “old men”, and he was so touchy... In general, in our department we lived quite calmly and amicably, and everything went well with us. Probably the Lord strengthened me for the future priesthood. Let me note that I served for three years in the missile forces. And it’s not easy there, there is an increased background radiation. And those who received radiation were usually discharged. I remember a guy from Lipetsk served with me; we went to school together. So, he was demobilized, and a year later he died from radiation exposure, received it in the army. My service went well, I was demobilized in health and strength. But anything could have happened. The Lord helped every step of the way...

— You worked at a factory, a believer, and the times were atheistic. What was their attitude towards you? Did you give up, for example, from ridicule?

— After the army, I returned to, where I worked for another eight years. At the same time he graduated from evening school. He worked as a machinist in the workshop of a thermal power plant, on a rotating schedule. Sometimes after the night, if there were Sundays or other holidays, he would immediately go to church for service in the morning. Of course, it was difficult: there were so many people (at that time there were only two churches in the whole of Lipetsk), and they were drawn to sleep. But the mood was still joyful! I also tried to fast. I took potatoes to work and baked them. The smell was such that even the shop manager came: “Nikolai, give me some potatoes too.” He began to bring enough to treat everyone.

Everyone, of course, understood that I was a believer. They didn't laugh. But some joked: “Baptist, Baptist.” They saw that he was walking around wearing a cross and fasting. But they still treated me very well, they stood up for me. Yes, and I was not offended by them, I understood that people are weak in faith, for them, that a Baptist or an Orthodox is all the same, there were still such times...

Visiting churches since childhood, then pilgrimage trips to holy places (during vacations, when I worked at a factory) rooted in my heart the desire to do good, pleasant, useful things, and thereby please God. I remember that I wanted to help everyone in some way: with deeds, support, advice. Maybe that’s why, wherever I was - in the army, at a factory, in a seminary, in a parish - despite the atheistic ideology of society of those times, everything around me, according to God’s Providence, turned out favorably.

— Who became an example for you in a spiritual sense?

— I was initially struck by the beauty of the Christian feat, which the Lord revealed to me through the life examples of amazing people: the first spiritual mentor, Schema-nun Antonia (Ovechkina, 1902-1972), and later Schema-Archimandrite Vitaly (Sidorenko, 1928-1992) and Schema-Metropolitan Seraphim (Mazhugi, 1896-1985). These were true monks! According to your internal structure! In those godless times, probably for the sake of the salvation of our souls - confused and seeking, believing and doubting, mourning and despairing - the Lord gave us the opportunity to come into contact with living examples of deep faith and sacrificial love. And, of course, the prayers of such chosen ones of God changed and determined the destinies of many people, including mine. I remember how much the meeting with Schema-nun Antonia meant to me. How much sacrifice, patience and love there was in her! Despite her complete physical weakness, her strength of spirit was amazing. Already at the age of twenty-two, due to illness, my mother remained immobile. She was transported on a cart or in a stroller, and any movement, even the smallest, was given to her with great difficulty and pain. But, despite the fact that her body was exhausted, and it was almost impossible to move without outside help, she never refused support from anyone. The doors of her house were open to everyone who sought help and consolation. People came to her from all over the area. Not with joy, but with tears and sorrows, mostly sick people, spiritually sick, especially those in whom demonic power was clearly manifested. Mother took the Gospel, opened it, laid it on the heads of the sufferers who were kneeling around her, and prayed for everyone. And by the grace of God, through the prayers of the old woman, people were healed. Some received relief from ailments right before our eyes...

— Were your years of study at the seminary successful?

— After leaving the factory, I went to enter the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the seminary. And now I’m taking the entrance exams. But at some point the paste dried out in the rod. The handle barely scratches. And these are the doodles I got! The writing is sometimes bold, sometimes pale. In a word, it turned out untidy... They gave me a three. The results are posted - I didn’t pass the competition. Got upset. This means that I am not worthy to be at the Throne, to study at the seminary! I dropped everything and went straight to the station. Went home. My spiritual mentors learned about my grief, that I did not pass the competition... Later they told me that Father Vitaly then made a meter-long candle with his own hand, as thick as his hand. And for a long time, bowing next to her, he prayed (although he was very sick at that time) for me. And a miracle happened! After some time, I was informed that I was enrolled in the Odessa Theological Seminary! How? It turned out that the Trinity-Sergius Lavra sent the documents of five applicants who did not pass the competition to Odessa. And we were accepted. How much joy there was!

Happy days have come! During all three years of studying at the seminary, I had an amazing peace in my heart - a truly angelic state! Probably through the prayers of spiritual mentors. Everything went surprisingly well both with studying and with obedience. It was especially gratifying that the seminary church in which we sang and served was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. My Heavenly patron, whose memory we celebrate today, December 19, was, as always, nearby...

When classes began, it became clear that those who truly wanted to learn theological sciences would have to work hard. I was already approaching thirty at that time and, probably, that’s why I took my studies very seriously. With God's help, I mostly got straight A's. Less than a month after the start of my studies, I was transferred from the first year to the second. Therefore, he graduated from the seminary in just three years.

— Three years of living next to the sea, this is probably so great?

— Sometimes students from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and Leningrad came to us. Impressed by the southern city, they said: “You feel good! You are here at the resort.” Indeed, the sea was nearby. But for some reason I didn’t even pay attention to it. I only came to the coast to breathe a little sea air. And I swam only a few times in three years. But next to our seminary there was the Assumption Monastery. And my friendship with this monastery was somehow established by itself. Since he worked at the Svobodny Sokol thermal power plant for eight years, he could work as a plumber, as a boilermaker, and as a specialist in all sorts of valves, shut-off valves, pumps, and pipes. That’s probably why they started sending me along this profile to a monastery for obedience. There was all kinds of work: I went down into sewer manholes, changed pipes, and restored boiler rooms. He worked with oil and metal, so his clothes were constantly greasy. The monastics took pity on me, donated some trousers, some a shirt. True, after two weeks the new, clean clothes became just as hopelessly dirty.

... After graduating from the seminary, I had the opportunity to serve in different places. When I arrived at the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, I understood that the restoration of the monastery needed to begin with finding people and uniting them into a single family, so that they would stand up for each other. After all, the Lord is where love is... Everything worked out for us. And the monastery was revived over the years. I emphasize because for the sake of Christ we lived in love - as one soul, as one family. For the same reason, from the first years of formation, the Lipetsk diocese successfully developed and strengthened, and today the Lipetsk diocese is thriving.

– Vladyka, if you were to start life from scratch, how would you live it?

“I would have lived the same way.” I don't regret anything. Thank God for everything!

Alexander Khaustov, photo from the archives of the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery and the Lipetsk Metropolis.

LIPETSK AND ZADONSK DIOCESE

The Russian Orthodox Church was formed by the decision of the Synod on May 7, 2003 as Lipetsk and Yeletskaya within the borders of the Lipetsk region, separated from the Voronezh and Lipetsk diocese (see Voronezh and Boris and Gleb diocese). Since May 29, 2013 it has a modern the name, together with the Yeletsk and Lebedyansk diocese, is part of the Lipetsk Metropolis formed at the same time. Cathedral city - Lipetsk. Cathedral - in honor of the Nativity of Christ. The ruling bishop is Metropolitan. Lipetsk and Zadonsk Nikon (Vasin; from May 7, 2003, temporary administrator in the rank of Bishop of Zadonsk, from December 26 of the same year in the rank of Bishop of Lipetsk and Yeletsk, from February 1, 2011 in the rank of archbishop, from June 23, 2013 in the rank of metropolitan), Head of the Lipetsk Metropolis. The territory of the diocese includes the urban district of Lipetsk and the Volovsky, Gryazinsky, Dobrinsky, Dobrovsky, Zadonsky, Lipetsk, Terbunsky, Usmansky, Khlevensky districts of the Lipetsk region. L. and W. e. is divided into 8 deaneries: 1st and 2nd Lipetsk, Gryazinskoye, Dobrinskoye, Dobrovskoye, Zadonskoye, Terbunskoye and Usmanskoye. By 2015, there were 5 mon-rays (2 men's, 3 women's), 164 parishes; the clergy consisted of 256 priests and 35 deacons. The EU has the following commissions and departments: for religious education and catechesis, for social service and charity, for relations with medical institutions, for missionary and anti-sectarian activities, for pastoral work among youth, for pastoral work in correctional institutions, for pastoral work with the Armed Forces forces and law enforcement agencies, on the restoration and construction of churches, on working with the Cossacks, on the relationship between the Church and society, on issues of family protection, motherhood and childhood, diocesan media and communications, pilgrimage.

Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Lipetsk. 1791–1842 Photo. 2013 Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Lipetsk. 1791–1842 Photo. 2013 From the end. XI century The territory of L. and W. was included in the Chernigov (until 1198; see Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversk diocese) and Ryazan (from 1198; see Ryazan and Mikhailovsk diocese) dioceses. As a result of the Tatar raids. XIV - beginning XV century The Orthodox population left the V. Don region. In the XVII - 1st half. XVIII century the territory of the diocese was part of the Ryazan (northern part) and Voronezh (southern part) dioceses, from the end. XVIII to mid. XX century individual territories belonged to the Tambov (see Tambov and Rasskazov diocese), Oryol (see Oryol and Bolkhov diocese), Ryazan, Tula (see Tula and Efremov diocese) and Voronezh dioceses. In 1919-1920 and 1926-1934. there was a Lipetsk vicariate of the Tambov dioceses, and since 1929 of the Voronezh dioceses. From the end From 1934 to 1937, the documents mention the Lipetsk diocese, into which, apparently, Victoria was transformed. In 1954-2003. the entire territory of L. and W. was included in the Voronezh and Lipetsk diocese. In 1995-2003 within the Voronezh EU there was the position of secretary of the diocese for the Lipetsk region, which at various times was occupied by the rector of the Lipetsk Nativity Cathedral, the Bishop of Zadonsk, the vicar of the Voronezh diocese, the dean of the Lipetsk region; Since 1998, the secretariat of the diocese has operated in the Lipetsk region. From May 7 to December 26 2003 there was a Zadonsk vicariate of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese.

By the time the diocese was formed, there were 3 monasteries, 97 churches and 164 parishes. In 74 parishes, services were held irregularly, because the churches handed over to believers required repairs. Services were not held in 42 churches that were being restored. The number of clergy was 108 people. In 2006, the EU was located in the building of a former Lipetsk cinema; in 2011, a house church was consecrated there in the name of St. Alexia, Metropolitan Moscow. In 2008, celebrations took place in honor of the 5th anniversary of the diocese and the 225th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky. In Aug. In 2010, the 400th anniversary of the Zadonsk monastery in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was widely celebrated; Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' was present at the celebration. In the same year, the celebration of the Council of Lipetsk Saints was established. In 2011, in the Zadonsk Nativity of the Virgin Mary monastery, celebrations were held in honor of the 150th anniversary of the glorification of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk and the 20th anniversary of the transfer of his relics from Orel to the Zadonsk monastery. Diocesan awards were established - medals of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky 3 degrees (2010) and schmch. Huara, ep. Lipetsk, 2 degrees (2013). From 2003 to 2013, the number of clergy in the diocese increased more than 3 times (in 2013 there were 382 clergy); 97 parishes, 7 mon-rays were opened, 26 churches were built (construction of another 28 continued in 2013); the number of monastics doubled. On May 29, 2013, the independent Yeletsk and Lebedyansk department was separated from the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese.

Educational and publishing activities, social service

Since 2002, the Orthodox Church has been operating in Lipetsk. spiritual, in which there are church singing and icon painting schools, the Slovo literary studio, and the Blagovest youth club. Since 2005, the center has been holding weeks of Orthodox culture in secondary schools in Lipetsk and the Lipetsk region. In 2004, an Orthodox gymnasium named after. St. Ambrose of Optina. Since 2005, Zadonsk St. Tikhon educational readings have been held, the preparation of which is carried out by the educational center created in 2007 in the name of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky. Since 2008, together with the Lipetsk State. Pedagogical University (LSPU) conducts educational courses “Faith. Traditions. Culture". Since 2011, the Leningrad State Pedagogical University has been training bachelors of theology; in 2012, a house church in the name of St. apostles Peter and Paul. By 2015, 128 Sunday schools were operating in L. and W. E.

Zadonsky in honor of the Nativity of St. Mother of God husband mon-ry. Photo. 2015 Zadonsky in honor of the Nativity of St. Mother of God husband mon-ry. Photo. 2015

The clergy of the diocese provides care for medical (about 20 house churches and prayer rooms are equipped) and social institutions, and there is a society of Orthodox doctors. At correctional institutions of the Lipetsk region. 5 churches, a chapel and 3 prayer rooms are open.

Pastoral work is carried out in departments of the Ministry of Defense, law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. In 2012, on the eve of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Russian aviation, Archbishop. Nikon celebrated the 1st liturgy in the house church in the name of St. prophet Elijah at the Lipetsk Aviation Center.

Since 2005, the Ecclesiastes youth club has been operating under the diocesan department for pastoral work among youth, which was transformed into a youth center in 2008. The organization publishes a magazine of the same name and holds the annual interregional “Festival of Friends of Ecclesiastes.” In 2007, the Lipetsk regional branch of the Orthodox Brotherhood was opened. Pathfinders.

The publishing center of L. and Z. E. is the Zadonsk Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, where the almanac “Zadonsky Pilgrim” has been published since 2000. In 2004, the 1st issue of gas was released. “Lipetsk Diocesan Gazette”, newspapers of deaneries are published: “Usman Orthodox”, “Zadonsky Evangelist”, “Good Helmsman” (Dobrinka village, Dobrinsky district). In 2005, with the support of the diocese, the publishing project “Temples and Monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yelets Diocese” was launched, within the framework of which 10 volumes were published. In 2010, a diocesan publishing house was created. In the region The Lipetsk Vremya TV channel broadcasts the Orthodox Church. "Light of the World" program.

Monasteries

Active

Zadonsky Nativity of the Theotokos (male; founded ca. 1610, closed in 1930, reopened in 1990), Lipetsk in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (male, in Lipetsk; first mentioned in the early 18th century as the Paroi men's hermitage, abolished in 1764 , resumed in 2003), Zadonsk Tyunin (Tyuninsky) Mother of God-Tikhonovsky in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source” (female, in the village of Tyunin, Zadonsk district; founded as a women’s community in 1861, monastery since 1867, closed in 1930, resumed in 2002), Zadonsk Tikhonovsky in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord (7 km north of Zadonsk; founded in 1872 as a men's, closed in 1921, resumed in 1993 as a women's), in honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy. Mother of God (female, in the village of Ozhoga, Volovsky district; founded in 2005).

Abolished

Dobrovsky Bogoroditse-Tikhvinsky (female, in the village of Dobroy, modern Dobrovsky district; founded in 1610, abolished in 1764), Danshina (Donshchinskaya) in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord is empty. (male, approximately 13 km southeast of Zadonsk; founded in 1647, destroyed and burned in the mid-17th century, restored in 1697-1698, abolished in 1699), Belokolodskaya Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya is empty. (male, at the confluence of the Belokolodets (Belokolodez) river into the Voronezh river, between the modern villages of Krutogorye and Pada of the Lipetsk region; first mentioned in 1669, abolished in 1764), Romanovsky Krasnogorsky in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord (male, in 10, 5 km southwest of Lipetsk, on the bank of the Voronezh River, in the modern Lipetsk region; first mentioned in 1676, abolished in 1768), Usman in honor of the Dormition of the Holy One. Mother of God (female, in Usman; founded in 1684, abolished in 1764), Dobrovsky in honor of the Ascension of the Lord (male, in the village of Dobro, modern Dobrovsky district; founded in 1685, abolished in 1764), Usman in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sofia (women's, in the modern village of Novouglianka, Usman district; founded in 1801, closed in 1924), Zadonsk Tikhonovsky in the name of the Holy Trinity (Skorbyashchensky; women's, in Zadonsk; founded as a women's community in 1880, monastery from 1888, closed in 1920).

Operating monasteries within the borders of the diocese until 2013 (currently in the Yeletsk and Lebedyansk diocese)

Yeletsky in the name of the Holy Trinity (male, in Yelets; founded earlier 1592, abolished in 1775, resumed in a new location in 1836, closed in 1919, resumed in 2006), Lebedyansky in the name of the Holy Trinity (in Lebedyan; founded ca. 1622 as male, abolished in 1764, resumed in 1768, closed in 1929, again resumed in 2005 as female), Yeletsk in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” (female, in Yelets; founded in 1683 on the site of the monastery of the Yeletsk Trinity Monastery, existing from 1628-1629, abolished in 1764, restored in 1822, closed in 1929, resumed in 2004), Ranenburg Peter and Paul Hermitage (male, in the village of Roshchinsky, Chaplyginsky district; founded in 1712, closed in 1920, resumed in 2003) , Sezyonovsky in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Ioannovsky (female, in the village of Sezyonov, Lebedyansky district; founded as a women's community in 1849, monastery since 1853, closed in 1930, reopened in 2010), Troekurovsky Ilarionovsky in the name of the Great Martyr. Demetrius of Thessalonica (female, in the village of Troekurov, Lebedyansky district; founded as a women's community in 1857, monastery since 1871, closed in 1930, reopened in 2003).

Abolished monasteries within the borders of the diocese before 2013

Dankovsky in honor of the Dormition of St. Mother of God (female, in Dankov; first mentioned in 1563, abolished in 1724), Dankovsky in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (male, at the confluence of the Vyazovka River with the Don River, now within the city of Dankov; first mentioned in 1627- 1628, closed in 1919), Lebedyansky in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord (female, in Lebedyan; founded in 1692, abolished in 1764), Gorodetskaya Preobrazhenskaya empty. (male, 13 km from the village of Dobrogo, modern Dobrovsky district, near the Voronezh river; founded in the 17th century, abolished in the 18th century), Dankovsky Baryatinsky in the name of the martyr Sophia (female, in the village of Baryatin modern. Dankovsky district; founded as a women's community in 1900, monastery since 1907, closed in 1920).

Source: Definitions of the Holy. Synod // ZhMP. 2003. No. 5. P. 16; 2013. No. 7. P. 8; Visiting St. Tikhon: Primate’s visit to the Lipetsk diocese // Ibid. 2010. No. 10. P. 18-19; Services and meetings St. Patr. Kirill // Ibid. 2013. No. 7. P. 21.

Lit.: Voronezh archpastors from St. Mitrofan to this day. Voronezh, 2003; Klokov A. Yu., Naydenov A. A. Temples and monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese: Lipetsk. Lipetsk, 2006; they are. The same: Dankovsky district. Lipetsk, 2011; they are. The same: Chaplyginsky district. Lev-Tolstovsky district. Lipetsk, 2013; Klokov A. Yu., Naidenov A. A., Novoseltsev A. V. The same: Elets. Lipetsk, 2006; Klokov A. Yu., Morev L. A., Naydenov A. A. The same: Zadonsky district. Lipetsk, 2007. Part 1; Gamayunov A.I., Klokov A.Yu., Naidenov A.A. The same: Lebedyansky district. Lipetsk, 2009. Part 1; Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, 2003-2008: Through creation. Lipetsk, 2009; Cathedral of Saints of the Lipetsk Land: Sat. Lives of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk saints / Comp.: prot. N. Stadnyuk, A. A. Naidenov, A. I. Chesnokova. Lipetsk, 2013; Temples: To the 10th anniversary of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese, 2003-2013: Photo album. Lipetsk, 2013.

and hum. Mitrofan (Shkurin), A. Yu. Klokov, A. A. Naydenov

Nikon (Vasin)

Born on January 1, 1942 in Lipetsk. He had three sisters in his family. His parents owned two windmills, a large garden, and a 2-story house made of hewn stone. He studied at school in the village of Tyushevka.

After graduation, he worked in workshops. From 1961 to 1964 he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. In 1965, he returned to work at the plant and at the same time studied at evening school.

In 1973 he entered the second year of the Odessa Theological Seminary, which he graduated in 1976.

On September 9, 1976, he was ordained to the rank of deacon (celibate) by Bishop Juvenaly (Tarasov) of Voronezh and Lipetsk in the Intercession Cathedral of the city of Voronezh.

On September 10, 1976, he was ordained to the rank of priest in the Trinity Cathedral of the city of Zadonsk by Bishop Juvenaly of Voronezh and Lipetsk and appointed rector of the Church of the Intercession in the village of Pavlovka, Dobrinsky district, Lipetsk region.

In 1978 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy in the correspondence sector.

On March 21, 1980, in the Nativity of Christ Church in the city of Lipetsk, Bishop Yuvenaly (Tarasov) tonsured a monk with the name Nikon in honor of the Venerable Nikon of Kiev-Pechersk.

By the day of Holy Easter 1982 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

In 1983, he graduated from the course of the Moscow Theological Academy in the first category, writing a thesis “The Essence of Repentance according to the Teachings of St. John Climacus.”

In 1990, Metropolitan Methodius (Nemtsov) of Voronezh and Lipetsk elevated him to the rank of archimandrite.

On October 31, 1990, he was appointed confessor of the Alexievo-Akatov Monastery in the city of Voronezh.

Since July 1, 1991 - abbot of the Zadonsk Nativity of the Virgin Mary Monastery.

Bishopric

On December 27, 1995, by resolution of the Holy Synod, he was determined to be Bishop of Zadonsk, vicar of the Voronezh diocese[1].

On March 31, 1996, in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, he was consecrated Bishop of Zadonsk, vicar of the Voronezh diocese. The consecration was performed by: Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, Metropolitan of Krutitsa and Kolomna Yuvenaly (Poyarkov), Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryev Pitirim (Nechaev), Metropolitan of Voronezh and Lipetsk Methodius (Nemtsov), Archbishop of Odintsovo Job (Tyvonyuk), Archbishop of Solnechnogorsk Sergius (Fomin) ), Bishop of Istra Arseny (Epifanov), Bishop of Bronnitsky Tikhon (Emelyanov), Bishop of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye Nikon (Mironov), Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy (Frolov), Bishop of Krasnogorsk Savva (Volkov)[2].

In 1998-2002 he was secretary of the Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese for the Lipetsk region.

On May 7, 2003, by a resolution of the Holy Synod in connection with the formation of the new Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, he became the vicar of the latter with the assignment of temporary management of the newly formed diocese[3]. On December 26 of the same year, by resolution of the Holy Synod, he was appointed Bishop of Lipetsk and Yeletsk[4].

On February 1, 2011, in the cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of archbishop[5].

On May 29, 2013, by the decision of the Holy Synod, part of the diocese headed by him went to the newly formed Yeletsk diocese, while both dioceses became part of the Lipetsk Metropolis formed at the same time, which was headed by Metropolitan Nikon with the title “Lipetsk and Zadonsk”[6]. In this regard, on June 23 of the same year, Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan[7].

On July 9, 2021, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was retired with an expression of “heartfelt gratitude” for “many years of archpastoral care of the Lipetsk diocese, which was marked by a multiple increase in parishes and clergy, tireless care for the monasteries, the establishment of a friendly and constructive dialogue with local authorities and public associations, and also for his work as head of the Lipetsk Metropolis.” The place of residence of Metropolitan Nikon in retirement was determined to be the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery with material support from the Lipetsk diocesan administration[8].

On October 7, 2021, due to a serious illness, he accepted a schema with the same name, but in honor of another saint - Abbot Nikon of Radonezh[9]

Notes[ | ]

Definitions of the Holy Synod [1995.12.27: bishop of Zadonsk, vicar of the Voronezh diocese, to be archim. Nikon (Vasin), abbot of the Zadonsk Bogoroditsky monastery of the Voronezh diocese after his consecration to the episcopate] // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1996. No. 1. p. 14.
Naming and consecration of Archimandrite Nikon (Vasin) as Bishop of Zadonsk // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1996. No. 6. pp. 7-12.
JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 7, 2003 / Official documents / Patriarchy.ru
JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of December 26, 2003 / Official documents / Patriarchy.ru
On the second anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior / News / Patriarchy.ru
Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 29, 2013, Journal No. 45. // Patriarchy.ru
On the day of the Holy Trinity, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of July 9, 2021 / Official documents / Patriarchy.ru
Due to a serious illness, Metropolitan Nikon accepted the schema (Russian). gorod48.ru
. Date accessed: October 8, 2021.
Decree of the President of Russia of May 3, 2012 No. 565 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation” (unspecified)
(inaccessible link). Retrieved May 10, 2012. Archived May 2, 2014.
Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 28, 2000 No. 2104 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation”
Patriarchal congratulations to Archbishop Nikon of Lipetsk on his 70th birthday
Metropolitan Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk was awarded the insignia “For Services to the Lipetsk Region”

One Lord, one faith, one baptism...

11.04.2015

– Vladyka, Easter from which periods of your life do you especially remember? When did a conscious understanding of the meaning of this holiday come?

– The most vivid impressions remain from childhood. They are associated, first of all, with Easter cottage cheese, Easter cake, colored eggs, and also with the fact that we all gathered together on such a day.

Since ancient times, this holiday has been considered a family holiday; it is usually celebrated among loved ones. And so, it happened that only at eight o’clock in the morning we would come from the night service from the temple, which was fifteen kilometers away from us, and immediately begin to break our fast. Since everyone was fasting, they were looking forward, especially the children, to the moment when we would sit down at the festive table. It is clear that at that time spirituality was not the main thing for the child, because the parents prepared so many delicious things. My mother and my sisters used to paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, and put the house in order a week before Easter. All preparations were made with faith, prayer, and special joy.

Before the festive meal, they always prayed in front of home icons. With the words “Christ is Risen!” - “Truly He is Risen!” hugged each other. Mother gave us, me and three sisters, fifty colored eggs each. There is a lamp in the upper room, candles are flickering, everything is solemn and joyful around. On Easter day, as a rule, both the sky itself and nature are all kind, affectionate and bright. The kids play ball, lapta, and frolic. The adults look happy. There is an unusual joy in my soul. These pictures from childhood come to mind especially clearly. But, of course, at such moments a spiritual principle was also laid in our subconscious.

I remember those times, and it seems to me that now that spark of joy, the light from the holiday, has become less. Now give the child a colored egg! And what will we see? Due to the fact that it is colored and bright, he may reach for it. And not at all because the baby fasted with his parents. After all, many families eat eggs all the time. And the feeling of the holiday when it comes is no longer the same, it seems to fade away. And then I and my peers were happy, because we withstood and stood firm during Lent. And so they broke their fast with special trepidation and spiritual mood. However, adults had the same feelings.

Over time, the understanding came that the main thing is not in food, but in the spiritual joy that comes on Easter. Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen, and everything around is filled with joy, the visible and invisible world, Christian and non-Christian, believer and non-believer. Miracle of God! Joy spreads everywhere and people, sometimes without even understanding why, feel this Easter joy.

- Really, why is that?

– The human soul is Christian by nature. And it even led communists and atheists, although they did not fully realize it, in Soviet times to God. Even in my youth I had the opportunity to observe interesting moments. Once I was in a church near a cemetery and saw how on Easter the communists (they were local people, we knew them all) came to the graves of loved ones to christen themselves and always brought colored eggs. Although they did not believe in the news of the Risen Christ. And they said that the Savior was actually a man who was in a lethargic sleep. They say that when he was placed in the cave, he came out of sleep. And another version is that the students stole the body from the cave so that the guards would not mock him. In a word, all kinds of fables came from atheists, just to downgrade and humiliate the Resurrection of Christ, to convince the people that all this was a lie, not true. Priests were not favored then, they said about them, don’t listen to them, you never know what the priests and grandmothers of the believers will tell you. And as if they didn’t realize that people in different historical periods selflessly went to the stake and to any execution in order to confirm the Resurrection of Christ. Does this mean anything? And they, the atheists, pretended not to know this. But still, on holiday, they went to the cemetery to celebrate Christ with their dead relatives. After all, you can say whatever you want, rely on whatever you want, you don’t know what to invent, but Christ is Risen and death is defeated, and life continues and is replenished with grace-filled gifts. And there’s no getting away from it, whether you believe it or not. So do the communists. It seemed like they didn’t believe it. But some secretly, secretly traveled to monasteries, away from their area, so that no one would know. Why? The soul demanded! Whatever one may say, many of them came from families of believers, they were baptized, their parents took them to church in childhood, they themselves told me about it.

– Your Eminence, usually on Easter days there are many festive events in the region...

- It will be so this time too. After the festive services, concerts will be held everywhere - in the diocesan administrations of the metropolis, churches and monasteries, Orthodox gymnasiums, and Sunday schools. Easter greetings will be heard, believers will traditionally exchange colored eggs, and children will also receive gifts and chocolates as gifts. Solemn chants, festive scenarios, choreographic numbers, poems, beautiful outfits - all this and more gives a special mood to the bright Easter days. We, clergy, are always invited to social events dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ. The clergy gladly accepts invitations. During such meetings, Easter chants, congratulations, holiday sermons, and just communication are heard. By the way, we have departments in both dioceses that work with secular institutions in a variety of areas. They are assigned, for example, orphanages, boarding schools, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, correctional colonies, and so on.

And on Easter, the clergy and parishioners are sure to bring the joy of the Risen Christ not only to their loved ones and acquaintances, but to such institutions. I myself had the opportunity to visit a colony with a holiday sermon, in which I cited not only biblical words, but also all sorts of instructive examples from life, and tried to express myself in accessible language, which my unusual listeners really liked.

– Vladyka, will you have a meeting with representatives of local authorities again at Easter?

– Yes, this is already a good tradition that has developed over the years. Depending on the situation, we meet with the leaders of the region either in the Nativity of Christ Cathedral of Lipetsk, or in the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery - on the holidays of the Nativity of Christ, Easter, Trinity - and congratulate each other. On the night of April 12, I have to perform a divine service at the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, and the regional leadership and I will most likely meet there to celebrate Christ and congratulate each other on the greatest holiday.

– Are there any special features on the holiday, for example, in the Zadonsk Monastery, where you are the governor?

– As the ruling bishop, I am supposed to serve in the cathedral on the twelfth holidays. It will be so this time too. In the morning, as I already said, there was a meeting with the leadership of the region, in the evening there was christening and mutual congratulations with the clergy of the diocese. In the monastery, after the Easter night service, the brethren meet in the refectory, Father Tryfon (Golubykh) congratulates them. Well, after all the Lipetsk events I will arrive at the monastery. After all, a lot of people usually come to the monastery, monastics from different places. We also congratulate each other. I have already prepared small gifts in the form of icons for the guests. We will celebrate Christ and exchange Easter eggs. And in the evening in the refectory I congratulate the brethren of the monastery on the holiday. Then the Holy Week service begins. Every day religious processions are held around the monastery, at this time believers stop on each of the four sides of the monastery and the Gospel is read.

– Vladyka, do you remember how you first celebrated Easter, when the Zadonsk Monastery had just begun to be revived?

- It was difficult. But it’s still joyful. Much was not arranged and destroyed. I brought four people with me, they mostly celebrated Easter and other holidays with me. There were some problematic moments. At that time, there was also a dormitory for the cultural and educational school on the territory. The guys are all vocal and talented. And now we have the Easter service, and they used to gather with their instruments - drummers, trombones, saxophones and give a “concert”. They deliberately interfered, maybe they wanted to “smoke” us out of here. By and large, they had a local cultural center at their disposal; no one forbade them to rehearse there. Of course, time changes people, everyone has their own path to God. Some of those “artists” now often attend services in the monastery.

– Your Eminence, how do you know about the descent of the Holy Fire on the Holy Sepulcher? From TV news?

- No, our mothers call me from Jerusalem, where they carry out obedience in one of the monasteries and usually report: “Master, the Holy Fire has descended!” And I am already conveying this good news to other people. Thank God, the Holy Fire still descends every year, which means life will still last. Believers are always very worried. They fear that one day the Holy Fire will not descend. This, according to the prophecies of the holy elders, will be a bad sign for the world. And so, after the descent of the Holy Fire, a delegation from the diocese goes to Moscow to pick it up; for this purpose, we are specially allocated a plane. During the night Easter service, believers eagerly wait for such a great shrine to be brought to their churches. The mercy of God is that now the Holy Fire is being delivered very quickly from the capital to all cities and villages; at two or three o’clock in the morning, usually all Orthodox Christians in the parishes receive a piece of the shrine. They light it in special lamps and carefully store it at home in front of the images.

– Vladyka, what are your wishes to the Lipetsk residents on the eve of the Holy Resurrection of Christ?

– To all residents of the region, to your readers, I wish that the Lord, Who enlightens every person coming into the world, would constantly enlighten us with the light of His love, joy and goodness. And he would never leave us, for without Him we can do nothing. I wish you to pray fruitfully, work, and do good deeds for the benefit of yourself and your neighbors and those around you. Let us rejoice and be glad on the holiday of the Bright Resurrection of Christ! May the Easter days be illuminated with rejoicing for all people, believers and non-believers, old and young! Christ is Risen!

Alexander Khaustov

Source: lipetskmedia.ru

INFLUENCE RATING – Metropolitan Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk: “My hobby is helping those in need”

Voronezh. 03/28/2016. ABIREG.RU – Exclusive – Metropolitan Nikon told “Abireg” how he came to God, what he worked for before becoming a priest, about his hard work restoring churches and about his favorite hobby.

— You grew up in an atheist country and became a priest under Soviet rule. How did this happen?

- And my parents are believers. Orthodox. Mom took us to church 15 kilometers away. There we received communion, attended the service and went home. My father went to glorify Christ on holidays. Once, thanks to him, a miracle even appeared to us. At our house there was an icon of St. Sergei of Radonezh in a foil frame. The foil turned black all over, and my father renewed it. After this, the icon began to shine. And a few days later we won a certain amount of money on the bond (I don’t remember now what). And my mother said that it was St. Sergius who gave us the means for our life.

— And you dreamed of becoming a priest?

- No. Actually, I didn’t want to be a spiritual leader. I believed that I was not worthy of such an honor. I had an ordinary life as an Orthodox Christian. I prayed and went to church. Helped people. Then the priests I met gave me the idea of becoming a priest. Before that, I worked at a thermal power plant. He controlled turbogenerators that generate electricity. And I was interested in working in this specialty.

— Besides working at the thermal power plant, what interested you?

— My hobby is helping those in need. Since childhood, I loved to work and knew how to do a lot. There were then women who did not have men in the house, and I helped them. He made frames, doors and various other household items. Everyone knew this, and they came to me and asked for help. Then, of course, I had vanity, because they praised me and said that I was not like others. And when I traveled to monasteries, it always came in handy there too. And he re-roofed and chopped wood. He did not refuse any obedience.

— When you became a priest, how did your parents react to it?

“My father was against it at first. He had seen enough films about priests and told me that he didn’t want me to be a priest either. I asked him: “Why?” And he told me: “Priests are parasites, they don’t want to work, they live at the expense of others.” And then I was in the village of Borki, this is in the Terbunsky district, and the priest Father Vlasiy said to me: “Where can I find a stove maker? I need to build ovens at the temple.” My father was a craftsman and knew how to build stoves. I called him. He arrived, put down the stoves, talked to the priest, and he liked him so much that he told me: “Okay, if you’re like Father Blasius, then go become a priest.” And then he had so much pride! Everywhere he boasted to everyone: “I have a son - a father!” Well, mom, she dreamed about this.

— What was your relationship with the October, Pioneer and Komsomol organizations?

“I wasn’t an October child; my parents didn’t want that. Apparently he was wearing a pioneer tie. One day they called me and said: “If you don’t join the Komsomol, then we won’t take you into the army.” And I really wanted to join the army. “Okay,” I say, “I’ll join in.” And then he burned his Komsomol card three times - at school, in the army and when he was working in production. I considered involvement in the Soviet system to be an unfavorable matter... They suggested that I join the party, they wanted to make me the party organizer of the workshop where I worked. But I refused. He said that he had chosen a different direction in life. And he entered first the seminary, and then the Moscow Theological Academy.

— Did you wear a cross?

- Wore it. Only in the army (I served in the missile forces) they ordered it to be removed. I took it off my chest and sewed it into my collar.

-You didn’t have a family. Have you ever regretted it?

- Not really. Although, perhaps, there was a desire to live like everyone else, get married, start a family. But it so happened that I became a monk. And a monk is monos - “lonely.” Lonely life.

- Were there any girls you fell in love with?

- ABOUT! Enough! But, apparently, the Lord was leading me to a different life. He didn't let me get attached to anyone. It always worked out like this: those who liked me didn’t like me, and those who liked me didn’t like me. But I probably have such a character that if they didn’t reciprocate, I wasn’t very upset.

— Under your watch, the revival of churches began in the Lipetsk region. Have you restored many of them?

- A lot of. I started doing this when I arrived at the parish. The temple had previously been closed for 10 years. And almost everything there was destroyed. I made a multifunctional woodworking machine and spent all day cutting, planing, putting a cross on a dome, or painting icons on a drum. The chairman of the collective farm said to his collective farmers: “Look, you are still sleeping, but the priest is already working!” When I became a bishop, there were only 43 operating churches in the region. Now – 270.

— Are you still involved in agriculture?

- Yes, definitely. We were given 700 hectares of land. We plant everything: potatoes, beets, carrots and everything else. Beyond the Don, about a kilometer and a half from the monastery, is a courtyard. We have about 50 dairy cows. We had chickens. Three horses. Guys graze cows on them. There is technology too. Sergei Nikolaevich Uvarkin was here. He bought new equipment and gave us the old one.

— And do you have enough of your own products?

- That's enough. And we ourselves provide food all year round, and we also feed pilgrims and those who come and ask to stay in the monastery and pray.

— They say you prepare a lot of mushrooms?

— Even when I lived on Sokol, I fell in love with picking mushrooms there. I got on a moped and went into the forest. And here we go mushroom hunting by car. Sometimes we bring two bodies. The last time we went was December 30 last year.

— Do you pick mushrooms in winter?

- In winter, yes. Oyster mushroom, for example. It has this property: when it’s frosty, it freezes. And the earth thaws and continues to grow. Amazing mushroom! We chop them off with a hatchet in the winter. We found frozen blocks of these mushrooms that big.

- Aren’t you afraid? Now there are many cases of poisoning with wild mushrooms...

- Not. For 20 years we have not had a single case of poisoning. There was a story (I tell it to everyone). They cooked a batch of mushrooms and said to me: “Vladyka, look, an inedible mushroom got into the pan.” They wanted to throw everything away so that the brothers would not get poisoned. Then I took this mushroom and said: “I will eat it, and if I remain alive, then everyone can eat it.” I ate it and there was nothing for me. After all, the Lord said that true believers “even if they drink anything mortal, it will not harm them.”

- What kind of people do you like?

- Good. Those who respond to evil with good.

- Do you think there are such things?

- Yes, and I knew such people. This was my confessor, Father Vitaly. They shot at him, took him to the police, beat him, and did whatever they could to him, but he did not take revenge on anyone. His spiritual father, Schema-Metropolitan Zinovy, went through the camps and also did not take revenge on his persecutors. For it is said: “Vengeance is mine and I will repay.” And these people were like angels, like pillars of fire from earth to heaven.

The head of the Lipetsk Metropolis, Archbishop Nikon, was elevated to the corresponding rank

On June 23, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in connection with his appointment as head of the Lipetsk Metropolis, elevated Archbishop Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk to the rank of metropolitan. Two dioceses are now accountable to him - Yeletsko-Lebedyansk and Lipetsk-Zadonskaya, which previously formed one structure of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Observers explain the reform by the desire to improve the manageability of dioceses.

Patriarch Kirill elevated Archbishop Nikon of Lipetsk and Zadonsk to the rank of metropolitan, the press service of the Russian Orthodox Church reported yesterday. At the end of May, the Lipetsk Metropolis was formed within the region, which is now headed by Metropolitan Nikon. Before this, for ten years in a row there had been a single Lipetsk and Yelets diocese. According to the press service of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Nikon himself approached the Patriarch with a proposal for reforms in the Lipetsk region, explaining this by the need to “strengthen the development of diocesan and parish activities” and the large population of the region. As a result, a new Yeletsk and Lebedyansk diocese was formed within the boundaries of Yeletsk, Dankovsky, Dolgorukovsky, Izmalkovsky, Krasninsky, Lev-Tolstovsky, Lebedyansky, Stanovlyansky and Chaplyginsky districts.

As the press service of the Lipetsk-Zadonsk diocese explained to Kommersant, the Yeletsk-Lebedyansk diocese is headed by Bishop Maxim, who previously ruled the Altai and Barnaul diocese, and the Lipetsk-Zadonsk diocese (and the metropolis itself, which unites both structures) is headed by Archbishop Nikon. The diocese added that division is a general church trend. In particular, Valuyskaya and Gubkinskaya were separated from the Belgorod diocese in 2012 and included in the new formations of the Belgorod metropolis. The Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese was disbanded in 2003 and the Voronezh and Borisoglebsk, Lipetsk and Yeletsk dioceses were created. Bishop Nikon (Vasin) of Zadonsk was then appointed as the temporary administrator of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese, who became its ruling bishop on December 26 of the same year.

According to the Russian Orthodox Church, today there are 260 dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church, of which 153 are located in Russia. At the beginning of 2009, there were 159 dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church. The process of forming new dioceses began after the bishops' council in 2011; its motivation in the church is called “the need to bring the bishop closer to the clergy and flock.”

Roman Zholud, a member of the guild of religious journalism of the Media Union, confirms “in the last two or three years” the trend of “fragmentation of large dioceses”: “At the same time, small dioceses are often upgraded to metropolitan status. The Patriarchate usually does not comment on why this is being done, explaining everything as internal affairs, but there is an opinion that in this way the dioceses are made more manageable.” According to the expert, the increase in status (the metropolis is higher than the diocese in the administrative vertical of the church) concerns, rather, the specific person managing it than the region itself: “This increase means recognition of the personal merits of Archbishop Nikon. Talk about his appointment as metropolitan had been going on for seven years and was supported by his flock. Nikon is loved by the people, he is an ascetic monk, the way the Orthodox see a monk.” The expert also clarified that the new administrative division of the Lipetsk diocese may be somehow connected with the economic situation of the rather rich Lipetsk region.

Olga Demyanko

Metropolitan Arseny of Lipetsk led the Liturgy at the Conception Monastery

On October 5, 2019, the Divine Liturgy at the Conception Stavropegic Convent with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' was led by Metropolitan Arseny of Lipetsk and Zadonsk.

On this day 30 years ago, in 1989, Metropolitan Arseny was ordained Bishop of Ladoga.

Concelebrating during the service were: Metropolitan Philaret of Lvov and Galicia, Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov, secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', clergy of the Conception Monastery, deans and clergy of the Moscow Diocese.

Praying at the Liturgy were the Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, the abbess of the Conception Monastery, abbess Juliania (Kaleda) with her sisters, the abbess of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, abbess Victorina (Perminova), the abbess of the St. John the Baptist Monastery, abbess Elisaveta (Nikishkina), parishioners and guests of the monastery.

At the end of the Liturgy, a thanksgiving prayer service was served.

Addressing Bishop Arseny with congratulations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, Protopresbyter Vladimir Divakov said: “On this day we want to express gratitude from the hearts of the clergy who love you, the clergy raised by you, who stand before you here, for all the labors that you endured during those years while they served in Moscow as vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch, which is 29 years. Treating each clergyman with patience and love, enduring our weaknesses and shortcomings, you thereby taught us these virtues. We wish that the Lord will grant you mercy that will pour out abundantly on you. Many and blessed years to you, dear Bishop!”

The abbess of the Conception Monastery, Abbess Juliana, continued:

“Dear Bishop, accept from us, the abbess of the Moscow monasteries, from all the sisters congratulations on the 30th anniversary of your episcopal consecration.

By the grace of God, you were born into an Orthodox family, and your pious grandmother Anna sowed the seeds of faith in your childhood heart. And along with her, many grandmothers who, in those difficult years, watered and nurtured the hearts of their grandchildren. She sowed sincere love for God in my heart. Even in your school years, you were called “priest,” and then they began to call you “bishop,” and at some point, thanks to the holy elders of Optina, your heart was completely inflamed with love for the Lord, and you decided to devote your whole life to God. And the Lord, seeing your faith, your love, placed you on the church candlestick, and by the grace of God for 30 years you have been shining for so many, warming, warming, teaching, admonishing and praying for all those who come running to you.

Today, dear Bishop, is a particularly unexpected joy for our monastery. We are very glad that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill blessed you to serve with us. You worked hard so that this monastery would again become a light in the church horizon, and you did a lot so that the icon of the Mother of God “Merciful” was moved, so that the cathedral was erected.

In the near future it will be 20 years since the transfer of the “Merciful” Icon of the Mother of God, this icon is also called the “Hearer”, and it is so significant, dear Bishop, that on today’s day of your consecration the memory of the icon of the Mother of God “Hearer” is celebrated. And we, congratulating you, pray that the Mother of God will always hear your prayers, that She will strengthen you and help you!”

Mother Juliana presented Metropolitan Arseny with a gift of a panagia with the image of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Bishop Arseny thanked for the words spoken to him:

“Thank you for the gifts and flowers that you gave - they are like a fragrance, like a whisper of monastic thoughts and searches. Thank you that we prayed together that the Lord, if He wants, would give me the opportunity to stand at the Throne of God as the head of the metropolis in the region where I was sent. Wonderful people live there, hard workers who were raised and educated by previous generations of Orthodox people. These people were at one time raised by Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, Saint Basil, Bishop of Ryazan, Saint Pitirim, Bishop of Tambov, and, of course, Saints Mitrofan of Voronezh and Tikhon of Zadonsk. These pillars of Orthodoxy so established the Orthodox faith in this part of the Lipetsk land that many holy people, reverend mothers and fathers, who worked in asceticism, prayer, desert living, fasting, and kneeling, shone in this region. Of course, when the years of trials came, they were able to stand up for the faith and show testimony about Christ and His Church. We commemorate Saint John, Bishop of Lipetsk, Hieromartyr Sergius, Bishop of Yeletsk, and a number of other saints - a whole host of new martyrs. I have entered the land of the saints.

When people in the Lipetsk diocese see an Orthodox bishop, then, without being embarrassed by their superiors, or the governor, or the mayor, they stretch out their hands in a cross shape and ask for a blessing - this was unexpected for me. People holding government positions in this region are not ashamed of anything and openly testify to Orthodoxy. This applies to both ministers and the head of the city himself - the city is headed by a woman who has six children. The people there are early, they get up very early, and if you come to the cathedral at 6 o’clock in the morning, there may not be enough space.

I thought that I would be bored, but when I saw people standing and praying in cotton dresses and scarves, I immediately remembered the widows of the Great Patriotic War, who were simply dressed, not looking for any grace - they came to pray for their loved ones who had fallen . And I saw these people in the 21st century in Lipetsk. In many temples. Rus' will live until the villages become impoverished. And maybe the villages will come back to life.

Glory to God for everything: both for sorrow and for joy. Thank you for your fervent prayer, love and attention.”

At the end, the believers venerated the cross and congratulated Bishop Arseny personally, presenting him with many flowers.

***

Since 1990, Metropolitan Arseny of Lipetsk and Zadonsk has worked in the rank of Bishop of Istrinsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese, caring for the clergy and flock of the capital with love and attention. Metropolitan Arseny was the right hand of the ever-memorable His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, and later of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, participating in all the most important events of the Russian Orthodox Church.

His Eminence worked on commissions to examine the holy relics returned to the Church and newly discovered: St. blgv. book Alexander Nevsky (1988), Saints Zosima, Savvaty and German Solovetsky (1990), Venerable. Seraphim of Sarov (1991), St. Joasaph of Belgorod (1991), St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1991), Blessed. Matrons (1998).

In 1997, Bishop Arseny was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and in 2014 to the rank of metropolitan.

Bishop Arseny took a special active part in the revival of the Conception Monastery. The consecration of the churches of the revived Conception monastery, the tonsure of the nuns, services for great and patronal holidays, the resolution of design, management, and economic issues could not be done without the participation of His Eminence the Bishop, of which the sisters keep a grateful memory. The kind and wise word of Metropolitan Arseny, his cordiality and good-heartedness have always been a great support for them.

Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism

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