Elder Ioannikiy of Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region

Elder Ioannikiy from Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region - this is the name of Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy, rector of St. Nicholas Church from Chikhachevo, belonging to the Verkhnelandekhovo deanery.

In the world he was named Efimenko Ivan Danilovich. Comes from an old Cossack family, dating back to Ataman Platov (hero of the war of 1812). When he was tonsured into the minor schema, he received the name John.

With the blessing of Father Seraphim (Trinity-Sergius Lavra), he was sent as rector to the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Chikhachevo, where he has served for more than 35 years.

He was elevated to the rank of abbot, later archimandrite. Upon acceptance of the great schema, he received the name Ioannikios.

Arriving in a sparsely populated parish, the center of which was the small St. Nicholas Church, the priest did a lot to restore and expand the courtyard, attracting people to God and to prayer. After the construction of buildings for pilgrims, a refectory and other buildings at the temple, many call it a monastery, but this is not true - in the Kineshma diocese it has the status of a parish, not a monastery.

Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy gained wide fame as an elder from Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region. People make pilgrimages to him from different cities in Russia and abroad for advice, healing, and relief from drug addiction and alcoholism.

About 400 kilometers from Moscow, in the forests of the Ivanovo region, the small village of Chikhachevo is lost. At any time of the year, pilgrims from different cities and parts of the country gather here. They go for different things.

To defend the service in St. Nicholas Church, the prayer in which does not stop day or night - the reading of the Gospel, the Psalter, and akathists is interrupted only during the services. They are led by Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy, who devoted more than 30 years of his life to serving in this church.
For a special prayer - a reprimand against wine drinking and drug addiction.
Confess your sins and receive a blessing, take communion, get answers to questions that haunt you.
They go to the holy elder, known for his ability to read souls and guide them on the path of true Christian life with great love for every person.
They come to St. Nicholas Church to Father Ioannikius, exhausted by illnesses, in the hope of a miracle of the Lord’s healing, of which many took place here.
Collect healing water from the well dug by St. Tikhon of Lukh the Wonderworker.
They want to submit demands, notes to pray for health, peace, healing.

Many people flock to Chikhachevo on ordinary days and on church holidays; even the local church is not always able to accommodate all those who come, but for everyone, Father Ioannikius has words that shed light on the suffering soul.

How to get to Chikhachevo

The temple in which Elder Ioannikis serves in Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region, is located far from large cities and highways. The village is located near the P-152 highway, between the settlements of Shuya and Pestyaki, and the most convenient route from Moscow runs through Shuya. There are two ways to get here from Moscow:

Leave the city along the M7 Volga highway towards Nizhny Novgorod, drive through Vladimir and at the village of Khokhlovo turn left to Kameshkovo and Shuya.
Take the Yaroslavl highway, drive along it to Dvorikov and turn right, then through Aleksandrov and Yuryev-polsky to Shuya.
From Shuya, follow the P152 highway, pass Palekh, in the village of Myt turn right at the T-shaped intersection, and after 6 km turn right at the sign for Chikhachevo. About 4 km more of the road passing through the most beautiful landscapes - and you are there.

By public transport it is convenient to get first from Moscow to Ivanovo (by bus) or to Shuya (by rail, with a change in Kovrov), then you can get to Chikhachevo in the Ivanovo region by bus with directions to Pestyaki, Nizhny Novgorod (stop at the sign after the village of Myt, better warn the driver in advance). From the highway to the village it is about 4 km on foot.

A pilgrimage trip will allow you to conveniently visit Elder Ioannikis, having the opportunity to fully concentrate on spiritual issues, which should be of paramount importance in such a matter.

Pilgrimage to Chikhachevo with Tobias

Pilgrimage trips to Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region, to Father Ioannikius, are organized by the pilgrimage service of Tobias, working with the blessing of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. Comfortable buses are provided for travel, in which a long journey will not seem tiring to you.

An Orthodox guide accompanying the trip will not only resolve any everyday issues that arise during the trip, but will also help you gain a deeper understanding of Christianity. If you experience uncertainty or lack of knowledge about how to prepare yourself for communion, how to behave, what to do before and after the Liturgy, during the meeting - all your questions will be met with love and understanding and explained from the position of the Orthodox Church.

Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy's instructions are a priceless gift

Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy’s instructions are a priceless gift.

Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikios

St. Nicholas Monastery

(Ivanovo region, Verkhneladnekhovsky district, Chikhachevo village)

About prayer.

- Pray from the heart. Take your time, read a little, but let it be from the heart. Call on the Mother of God for help more. Read 150 “Virgins” during the day. Then everything will be smooth for you, and especially for your children.

- Love, pray, ask for help from the Queen of Heaven. Do not let a single day pass without singing “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...”. At ten ask: “Forgive my whole life and save my family.” Every day sing (read) “The Zealous Intercessor...” (troparion to the Kazan Icon B.M.).

— Get used to the Jesus Prayer. She leaves, and you move on. Push yourself.

—Read the Jesus Prayer with attention. It was established and commanded by the Lord Himself in a farewell conversation, going to death on the cross - “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do.” This is a weapon that is stronger, neither in heaven nor on earth. She is recorded by the Guardian Angel according to the account. The whole Gospel is in it.

- Ask the Lord for help and strength, and everything will be added to you. Put God in front. Before starting any business, say: “Lord, bless!”, “Guardian Angel, help!” if anyone asks, first call on your Guardian Angel, and you will give the correct, correct answer.

“If you need anything, ask the Lord, pray: “Lord, give me what is good for me.” Talk to the Lord, give thanks, praise.

— The more you ask, the more complicated everything will be for you.

- Pray: “Lord, give me what is useful for the salvation of my soul!”

- Lie down and rise with God. Thank the Lord, glorify Him: “Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee!”

- Pray: “Lord, grant me prayer not only with my lips, but also with my heart.”

- “Lord, if You don’t save me, I won’t be saved.”

— While still in bed, in the morning, call, read, pray to the Guardian Angel: 50 times “Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.” At ten: Holy Angel of God, my guardian, instruct and enlighten me.” On this day, a bad person will not approach you, say the right word at the right time, you will be welcome in society, if they lie to you, you will see. The rule will take 3-5 minutes.

- In every place, first call on the Guardian Angel: “Guardian Angel, instruct, teach what to do!” From his hands the Lord will seek our soul. He constantly prays for us, and is our first helper. In bed, just woke up and read 50 times to the Guardian Angel. The whole day will go smoothly; whatever you don’t take, you’ll have time. At a crucial moment, call and you will certainly get out of the situation.

- Don’t know what to do right? - Ask for a Guardian Angel. A good thought will come and put it on your heart what to do. The heart will become light, there will be peace. If you are afraid and anxious, don’t do anything.

— Every day call upon the saints in prayer: 50 times “All saints, pray to God for me (for us).” Don't forget to read the troparia to the saints. Be sure to troparion to the saint for this day.

- Call on your saints, read troparia to them.

- Pray Rev. Joseph Volotsky (October 31 n.s.) about the gift of reasoning. Read the troparion to him. Especially for children.

— Pray to St. John the Baptist. He is asked for reconciliation if anyone was at enmity with the deceased.

— John the Baptist is the “chief” of repentance. Pray to him for the granting of repentance. He hears everything and intercedes for you before God.

- Pray for each other.

— The days are evil, they have begun to shorten. Pray on the go.

- When you start any business, stand to the east and pray.

- How to beg children? – Repentance, communion, liturgy and 150 “Virgins”. There will be benefit from diligence and repentance.

— Pray at night. When? – Get up when the Guardian Angel rises from sleep. Then prayer is 40 times stronger (than during the day),

- Try to sleep less. Stay in prayer more. Now everyone is hibernating in front of the TV and computer. Ask the Lord for repentance.

“Everything can be begged from God at the liturgy.”

“If you pray for yourself, you’ll pray for your family too.”

- If you don’t know a deceased relative or acquaintance, whether he was baptized or not, pray: “Save, Lord, the living and have mercy on the dead.”

- If they give alms for the deceased, pray for the repose of the soul of this person. And if you do not know the deceased, then say: “Lord, I will accept this mercy in memory of your deceased servant (name).”

- Constantly, unceasingly read Jesus, “Virgin Mother of God...”, Guardian Angel, all the saints, and you will be saved.

About sins, repentance and communion

- Blessed is the servant if his sins are forgiven. Where there are greater sins, there is greater sorrow. Thank the Lord for your sorrows.

- Confess the sin of the self - “I”. What sin (passion) is your most important - write it first. Try to confess to the same priest.

— Be afraid to condemn the priesthood. The Lord will ask each one.

- Regret the mistakes you have made. Have a strong intention to improve.

- Hurry to repentance. People are in a hurry to enrich themselves, but all benefits will be taken away by death. They have your full attention. Stop, you crazy people! Realize and repent of your sins. Remain in constant repentance. Regret the mistakes you've made. Leave everything and enter eternity with your soul.

— The situation in the world has changed in recent years, we should take communion more often. Who can - at least every day. During the week, read all the canons and prayers for communion up to the 10th “Before the doors of the temple...”. Before communion - from the 10th prayer until the end. Watch your heart: if it is ready to accept Christ, then Glory to God, although you did not have time to read all the prayers. The main thing is repentance for sins. You need to be ready every day for communion, as for death. While reading the prayer of permission, under the epitrachelion, say: “Forgive me, Lord, all my sins that I have forgotten, and those that I do not consider sins.” Approach the Holy Chalice quietly, with humility and repentance, asking: “Lord, accept me as a thief, as a publican, as a harlot.”

— Communion is used to catch the tendency to sin. He who does not receive communion will not survive in terrible, sorrowful times.

— He who approaches the Divine Mysteries with fear not only becomes sanctified and receives remission of sins, but also drives away the evil one from himself.

- Cleanse your heart, your conscience, write down your sins, reproach yourself in confession. Take Communion, believing that Communion will cleanse you from these sins. Approach the holy Mysteries with fear and trembling, as if following, crying and trembling, bleeding. True repentance can heal everything. If there is no repentance, do not proceed to the Divine Mysteries just because of the holiday.

- The Lord's Day is Sunday. Take communion, correct yourself. On this day, be sure to go to the temple. Receive Communion with sincere faith and a non-judgmental conscience. Make the beginning of a stricter life, prepare yourself to accept future benefits.

—Adultery is inherited. If there is no repentance, the race disappears.

— Women receive communion (if cleansing) on the 8th day. If they are sick (female diseases), tell the confessor (priest) how he will bless.

- In war, in other trials, in critical situations, confess to each other.

About the love and fear of God.

“Put God first in all your words, deeds, and thoughts, and everything will be given to you.”

“Put the gentlemen ahead of yourself, and everything will go smoothly for you.”

- Don't bother each other. If you pray a lot, but at the same time annoy each other, your prayer is nothing. Have compassion for your neighbors. One has some shortcomings, another has others, and a third has others. “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the Law of Christ.”

- Love everyone and run from everyone.

— Whom I love, I punish.

- Faith, love, humility - take this as a basis.

- Be merciful, even with a word, if you cannot give.

— Whoever says “sorry” first collects rewards.

- Hide your virtues. Be wise and prudent. If they insult you or humiliate you, humble yourself and retreat.

- All your deeds, thoughts, etc., if without love, then all this will not matter.

- Keep peace in your homes. Get rich in heaven. From corruption you will reap corruption. Hurry up to do good!

- Do good in every place and at every time. Repay evil with good. Hurry up to do good deeds while you are alive. Force yourself, no matter how the enemy interferes with you. Through work, desire, and with God’s help, a person becomes accustomed to goodness, to the Jesus Prayer. The Guardian Angel will protect you during ordeals and show you your good deeds. And when a person is cleansed, the Holy Spirit dwells in the person.

- Extinguish the spark of irritation. If you are treated unkindly, with irritation, ask for forgiveness and leave.

— The spirits of evil do not leave us even for a single day. There is a war going on. If you allowed the enemy to enter your heart, you told him to be silent, to freeze. Tell God that the soul is full of evil. When evil comes, force yourself to joke, be cheerful, and evil, like smoke, will dissipate. Hate the enemy and he will leave you. You will use your tongue and words to express anger and it will attack you. Read 150 “Virgins”. And shut up, shut up, shut up! Ask for forgiveness many times from those who offended you, and the enemy will retreat.

— We often have to regret a thoughtlessly spoken word or deed. They would give anything to get him back, but it’s too late, the damage is done. This is because they did not put God ahead of themselves, did not turn to Him, did not ask for blessings, instructions and admonitions.

- Ask the Lord for the most important, highest virtue - love for God and neighbor. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” Avoid every deed, word, thought, feeling that is prohibited by the Gospel. Watch yourself strictly, and if you happen to fall into sin, immediately repent. This is a difficult and cruel struggle with oneself. “I have hated every way of unrighteousness.”

- Do everything for the sake of Christ, without grumbling or doubting. With the name of the Lord everything will be as God pleases. If you live in the Lord, you will shine like lights.

— Have the fear of God, you can’t talk in church. You will hold accountable for every word spoken. Whisper - if necessary. That is why you have sorrows. At communion, if you are not receiving communion, stand like a candle. Ask the Lord for your needs, and you wander around. At litanies they pray for those who enter the temple of God with fear. There are few of them.

- Have the fear of God. Everyone will have an answer. Pray, fast, repent, take communion. If you saw what torment there is in hell, you would not go to bed or eat. Fear and eternal torment under consciousness. Everyone will be fully conscious. Body and soul in hell.

About worship.

“Whoever attends divine services every day during the first week of Great Lent develops the spirit of prayer for the entire fast.

- Hurry, dears, to the liturgy.
You don't understand what a treasure you have. Here we speak with the Lord face to face. Father Ioannikiy
- Whoever attends church on the patronal feast day, then this one service counts as forty liturgies. About spiritual life.

- Don't lie, don't deceive. Everything is recorded, every word. Be silent, but don't lie.

- Hold your tongues. Keep the peace.

“If the Lord wants to save, he will save you in the fire.”

- Never be afraid of anything. The Lord himself said: “Do not be afraid, little flock!” Fear God and His judgment.

“You will receive everything from the Lord according to the good you have done.” It will be very scary at trial. God will show you everything, and you will regret it. He will say, I don't know you. Many monks will not be saved, they are lazy, just like you. This is the devil of laziness. Overcome him, stand in prayer, overcome the enemy. God, seeing your efforts and desire, will help you.

- Put on the whole armor of God, be strong in the Lord and in His strength. Work hard here and now. Pray through strength, fast. God gives us still time.

— Read the Gospel every day, force yourself, bore you. The evil spirit retreats. If you're bored, don't want to read, read! Transformation takes place in us in an invisible way. Invisibly changes occur in a person. The Holy Spirit illuminates everything that is useful to us. This is work. Get used to reading.

- When the Lord is with you, hope for victory. The Lord is powerful to turn evil into good. Be in God, and the Lord will be with you. Put God ahead. What kind of business are you starting, getting into transport, crossing the threshold of work, etc. - “Lord, bless!”

- On Monday, the angelic day, start every business. On Sunday, take communion and on Monday either for work, or for sale, or for some other matter. Call the Guardian Angel 50 times and cross the threshold of work, or start some other business.

- The evil one is weakened by the sacrament. We need to drive him away. People of little faith. The Lord said - with fasting and prayer.

- Get ready to go home. Do good for the sake of Christ, for the sake of the Lord. At the judgment you will see everyone in the Kingdom of God, but you will be cast out.

- Wait for your Father, coming on the clouds with much power and glory. Beg yourself, humble yourself. Call on your saints, read troparia to them.

- Always be in God. Ask: “Strengthen us, Lord, in the Orthodox faith.” Have faith and don't doubt. Peter doubted when he walked on the waters and began to drown.

- Where is it safer to escape? - In every place of His dominion! Stay where you live and endure.

- A person born of God does not sin, always preserves himself, is always on guard, and the evil one does not touch him.

- Humble your souls. A humble person completely surrenders himself to the will of God. He trusts in God, and not in himself or man.

- Humble yourself, give in to each other. Take care of your wedding rings, they have great power. Cross your lips, the lips of your children and themselves “In the name of the Father...”.

— The cross is power and glory, healer, destroyer of demons and all evil spirits. Cross your grocery bag. Read “Our Father...”, “Virgin Mary” and make the sign of the cross. Do not put anything in your mouth that is not marked with the sign of the cross. If you are visiting, cross the table with your eyes. Always and everywhere baptize everything.

- Now there is such food that over time it will give its results. Up to the point of darkening of the mind, and the person becomes “forgetful”. Before eating, read “Our Father...”, “Theotokos, Virgin...”, and make the sign of the cross. Food will be sanctified, and poisoned food will become edible. The power of God is greater.

- Cross yourself more often, cross everything: food, clothes, shoes. Sit down or lie down - cross everyone.

- Cross your children's mouths more often - they will say what is beneficial.

— Sprinkle your home with holy water, and when you go on the road, sprinkle yourself and your bags.

- Raise it, dears, in moderation. The Lord blessed us to fuss, but only as much as we need. Because there will be no end to this. Focus on the middle. There's a little bit and that's enough. The more, the more you need. One thing leads to another, another leads to a third... So there will be no end to it.

- Keep fasting on Wednesday and Friday. To those who abstain on Monday. The guardian angel will announce the hour of death, and you will greet this hour joyfully, like a holiday. Fast as much as possible. When you sinned, the enemy liked it, it was written down in his charter. And now he will do everything to bring you down. It will cause despondency, negligence, etc. force yourself, work. But don’t think that I read so much, this and that. But God only needs a contrite heart. Get down on your knees, pray with repentance, with a contrite heart, even though you have read very few prayers. The Lord will gradually admonish and enlighten you. Through repentance, if with a contrite heart and whole soul, you will reach out to God.

- Out of pride, the Lord does not give what he wants. The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It happens that a person has good data, is educated, etc., and it should work out, but it doesn’t work out. And sometimes a person is plain-looking and lacks something, but everything works out. Thus, the Lord favors humility. Put these words in.

- You come, ask and don’t comply. That is why there are no elders. That’s why you have disorder, troubles, worries, and troubles. Give the firstfruits to God. Pray to the Guardian Angel, to all the saints. Ask for blessings for good deeds. Then the day will be blessed.

- From the Moscow Patriarch - nowhere. It's still early in the catacombs.

- Rejoice that you are Orthodox. Ask the Lord for strength, and all things will be added to you. You have only one faith. Slavic peoples, they cannot be separated. We are intertwined: White Rus', Little Rus', Big Rus' are all the same Rus'. The Lord said: “I will unite them by My Spirit.” We are distant, we came here, we don’t know each other, and we talk about God and take comfort in this. This is called “I will unite them by the Holy Spirit, but will separate them at home.” Be in God, be an example in homes.

- Go back to your ancestors, how they lived, so you imitate them. We have everything of our own, blood, Orthodox fatherland, tried and tested for centuries. That's what you hold on to!

— If they ask you something on a spiritual topic, you know, answer, don’t impose yourself.

“It’s better to know a little and do it than to know a lot and not do it.” Who knows everything, the demand is greater.

— You need to have at home the icon “Sophia, the Wisdom of God.” Ask B.M. for more intelligence.

— Be sure to read the 17th Kathisma on Friday evening. Read the 17th kathisma for the deceased every day. Pray for the Kingdom of Heaven.

- In God, a bowl of soup is sweet.

- Don’t listen to the possessed - they always deceive.

About marriage, family and children.

- Look for a wife or husband in the temple. - Hold a family council. If you need to make a decision on any matter, then confession and communion for all family members. After communion, read to the guardian angel 50 times, and one (mom or dad) has the last word.

- There should only be advice in the family. Children, listen to your parents. You need to take your parents’ blessing for any business. Not considering age. There must be obedience in everything.

— Pregnant women (especially in their final term) receive communion as often as possible. Children will be strong, prosperous, successful. And the birth will be easy. Try not to go to an ultrasound scan.

“If someone takes in a child from an orphanage, it’s like building a temple.” But now it's very dangerous. It’s better to visit and do charity.

— Children are sick, premature, handicapped. Spoiled seed We party, fornicate, have abortions, and then get married.

— Do not send sick children to shelters. This is your salvation.

- before starting any business (school, college, exam, work, on the road, to war, etc. at all important moments), give the children communion, then read the Guardian Angel 50 times and cross (bless) with a wedding ring “In the name of the Father” , and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

— Don’t say bad words to children when you’re angry. The mother's oath destroys to the core.

— Instill in your children the commandment to honor their parents. This is a great commandment. Look back at yourself, at your past years. If we had honored our parents, our lives would have been much different. That's what you need to instill!

— Instruct your children in God not with words, but with your deeds. So that they see you in the holy corner morning and evening. If they don’t pray now, then when the Lord visits them, they will remember what they heard out of the corner of their ears. When there is grief, then everything is up to God. And if you don’t instruct, then he would be glad to pray, but he doesn’t know how. You are responsible for the children.

- Protect your children from the whims of you. They will soon forget the value of your love, their hearts will become infected with malice. And, due to their age, you will regret that you cherished them. Don't indulge them.

- Your illnesses are your sins. “I will receive what is worthy according to my deeds. Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom."

— Memory disappears? - Everyone loses it. Every day in the morning in bed, read 50 times to the Guardian Angel. This will take about three minutes.

—Are you sick? – Put God first. Take communion. Only by repentance. The soul must cry out for mercy. Pray: “Lord, how beneficial healing is to me, may Your will be done, O Lord. Give us corrections, Lord!”

- Head, legs, arms, etc. hurt - read “Our Father”, “Virgin Mary” and wipe the sore spot with Epiphany water.

- Baptize the sore spot a lot and anoint it with baptismal water. Cross yourself evenly, slowly, “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

— There are many spiritual illnesses. They performed an operation, but there was nothing there - “he” went to another organ. Prayer, repentance and communion. Whoever feels “him” - go to Father German in Sergiev Posad.

About the last times.

- They will put the seal of the Antichrist. Only Eve was deceived. You yourself will choose: bread or salvation.

- The truth is already hidden. Two people will be at the table and will not agree. There will be one lie.

- Prepare for suffering. Do not be afraid, the Lord will strengthen you.

- There will be a great disaster on earth. It will shake so much that large cities and villages will fall into the abyss. The water will disappear. Look after yourself. Do not be burdened by overeating and drunkenness. Pray every minute.

- There will be a terrible war. Half will come to the Kingdom of Heaven who have “Lord have mercy” on their lips. Out of horror they will not remember prayers. And half of them go to hell, those who use obscenities. Shout “Lord have mercy” in all critical situations. “What I find you in, I will judge you in.”

- Pull yourself together. There is still time now. Through strength, pray, fast, take communion. It will get harder every day. You cannot stand without communion, fasting and prayer. Read the Word of God, study it. Be strong in the Lord and in His strength. In terrible and evil days you will overcome everything and stand firm. Miscellaneous.

— Women cannot wear trousers. If women could see and hear (with their minds and eyes) what men say about them, they would never wear them again.

- In an agreement or transaction, if one person has his own interest, then the matter will not work out as it should. It needs to be good for both.

“The rulers are like us.” As we are, so are they. You can't judge. The Lord will judge everything. We choose ourselves. - Stay on the ground. Can't sell.

- If you were robbed, God gave, God took. Just to be saved. Everything else will follow.

— don’t throw away old things, especially natural ones. Put it in the closet.

Amen.

Features of the pilgrimage to Chikhachevo

The Divine Liturgy in the Chikhachevsky Church, according to Athonite custom, begins at two o’clock in the morning. In the words of Father Ioannikis, “At night your sins sleep...”. Therefore, a pilgrim bus from Moscow departs in the evening to arrive at the place at the beginning of the service.

After the Liturgy and Procession of the Cross, time is set aside for submitting requests and notes so that the Schema-Archimandrite can mention you and your loved ones in his prayers.

For a conversation, the father receives pilgrims near his house, answers questions, and gives instructions.

After the conversation, there is an opportunity to draw healing water from the well of St. Tikhon of Lukh the Wonderworker.

In the temple refectory, all those who come can taste a simple, but tasty and satisfying meal prepared by workers.

Buses depart for the return journey at 8-9 am. It is possible to visit the Ivanovo textile factory.

Achilles

From the editors of "Achilles":

“Inga” mentioned in the text is the author of materials on our website “How I rescued my mother from the “monastery” of the “elder” Ioannikiy from Chikhachevo . It was through our resource that the Sobesednik journalist met “Inga”.

Interlocutor / Olga Kuznetsova

You can get into the network of a sectarian like Sergius Romanov not only in the Urals. Investigators are checking the activities of Father Ioannikiy from the Ivanovo region. The relatives of his spiritual children are sure that they, under the influence of psychological pressure, fell into labor slavery. Our correspondent visited the guru.

“The old man said that mother was sick”

On the eve of the business trip, a young woman, Inga, called me. According to Inga, for eight months her mother, a teacher at a Moscow university, lived and worked in Chikhachevo in bestial conditions.

“The elder said that my mother was terminally ill, he didn’t specify why, and she should stay in the monastery to work for the glory of God, then she won’t die,” my interlocutor said.

According to Inga, workers and novices in Chikhachevo sleep four to five hours a day, and spend the rest of the time working on the farm. This brotherhood is guarded by people with criminal records.

“In Chikhachevo they don’t wash, they don’t brush their teeth, it’s forbidden to use medicine there, several people died there, my mother’s health in the monastery deteriorated greatly, she began to limp,” said Inga.

After Inga complained to the Kineshma diocese, Ioannikiy informed her mother that she had been healed and kicked her out.

16 pilgrims

Pilgrimage companies organize trips from different cities of Russia to the elder in Chikhachevo.

- Do you have a cold?! “It’s the evil one who’s taking you away from the old man,” guide Boris brainstormed for me. - Must go.

At five o’clock in the evening on the eve of the Intercession of the Virgin, I board a minibus at the Novogireevo metro station. 16 pilgrims are traveling, there are no empty seats. There is nothing in common between us: a nun, a lively girl of 20+, two elderly friends, a mother with an adult son in fashionable bomber jackets, a woman with a tired face...

All the way, the guide and part-time driver Boris talks about how sinful and weak we are: “Coronavirus - and we’re already sitting at home,” and about the priest.

“I lived in his monastery with my son and came out thin and with a healthy son,” says Boris, without naming the diagnosis. — After the arrest of Vissarion, the enemies took up arms against Sergius in the Urals and now, under this guise, they are attacking Father Ioannikius. The Jews criticize him terribly.

The woman in the red vest in the next seat chuckles approvingly. She laughs all the time and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

— In ten years I transported 40 thousand pilgrims. Previously, there were five hundred people in the priest’s service,” the guide says nostalgically.

Boris announces the prices for church services, which make me sleepy.

In one dirty, dirty temple...

At two o'clock in the morning we get off the bus. All around, in the light of the lanterns, there is an endless yellow forest - the village is located in the wilderness, there are not even residents there. The service in the St. Nicholas Church, whose rector is the priest, is broadcast from the speakers. We are being taken to the service.

“Turn off cell phones”, “Do not walk on the territory” - everything is on the prohibitory signs. Boris takes us to the grave of Mother Joannikia, schema-nun.

“I myself saw with my own eyes how miracles happened at this grave,” he says. “They say she’s the one who runs the monastery.”

A seemingly ordinary rural church is greeted with a musty smell. There is a swarm of flies and cobwebs above the door. In the “dressing room” hangs a coffin with the inscription “this is what awaits us,” but I don’t pay attention: on a dirty stinking mattress, covered with a blanket, lies a naked guy. He hums, his hands bound with tape.

“He’s sick, a lot of them come to see the priest,” experienced pilgrim Lyudmila explains to me.

In the hall, men are on the right, women are on the left. Two more minibuses arrived for the service, and I had nowhere to hide.

- I'll kick you out! Find a place quickly! - the red-haired guy, the priest’s assistant, hisses at me.

I squeeze through and begin to choke - they urinated on the floor. The men - workers, novices or monks - are thin, gloomy, in dirty clothes. The service is conducted by a pupil of Ioannikiy; the priest does not serve after the amputation of his leg. Communion is common, and everyone receives communion, no matter whether they have prepared.

Burda for humility

At six in the morning the service ends and we go to the refectory. It's also dirty and smells bad.

“Eat the first and second from one bowl, after eating, pour tea into the same bowl,” explains the attendant, a girl in glasses. - For that, the priest’s blessing.

“I now understand why it’s so dirty and miserable here.” “Father did this on purpose to make us feel our sinfulness and humble our pride,” the lady at the table admires, spooning up a nasty mess with a spoon.

I’m going to argue: churches are always clean and orderly; in Orthodoxy, a church is the house of God, and it should be bright.

- Don't talk! - the red-haired guy hisses at the lady.

“Father said he would cure”

There is a crowd at the elder's house after the service. Amid cheers, he is wheeled out to the gate in a wheelchair. The pilgrims are ready to tear them down, reaching out to him. Father sprinkles holy water. Ioannikiy returns to the house, and we remain waiting for him to receive us one by one. Those who leave him either cry or smile.

“Father said we need to get married, but I don’t even have a girlfriend.” On your ex, or what? — the guy with sideburns is confused.

I go for a walk and again come across prohibitions: you can’t talk to the locals. I can go to the toilet, I open the door, and the stench makes me sick. Inga warned: “There is no infrastructure,” “I have no idea where all the money is going.”

Behind the elder’s house I find two Mercedes, and a kilometer from the St. Nicholas Church there is a new one, it has not been put into operation. I'm going to the old one to warm myself. A young woman lies motionless on the mattress.

“I stopped walking,” she explains. — We have a bad medical situation in the Nizhny Novgorod region, but the priest said that he would cure it.

"You are nobody"

The line to see the priest moves slowly.

“As soon as you enter the house, throw yourself at the elder’s feet,” Boris instructs us. “Be silent, the elder himself will tell you everything about your sins.”

At noon I finally went to see the priest, before which the monk took all my personal belongings. I didn’t rush, although I could have – everything was clean all around, there were pineapples on the table. The elder sits in a wheelchair against the backdrop of his huge portrait.

“We live hard, there is more and more corruption, and the poor are still poor.” Putin has reset himself. What will happen to Russia? - I ask him.

“It’s a good idea for Senka, the people deserve such a president,” the elder says after a pause. — It will soon be even worse all over the globe (I can also predict that. — Author). And you yourself are a harlot! Why not? You drink and don’t remember!

Father tried to convict me of other sins, and when he heard “it wasn’t,” he got irritated. In response to my frivolous question whether it was possible to beg for a place on the Forbes list, he became cheerful and snapped: “You need brains to be rich,” “All your achievements are the grace of God for the merits of your family,” “You yourself are nobody.”

When the time came to leave Chikhachevo, I was not surprised by anything. Neither cats, which are fatter than novices, nor nuns, who do not allow passage with a request for a donation. People go to Ioannikios because they are not looking for God, but are waiting for a miracle. The Russian Orthodox Church ignores the cult of the elder.

— One person from church circles told me: “Do you know what kind of money is circulating in this monastery? Who will close it? - Inga told me.

Officially

The Kineshma diocese did not respond to our request, but the position of the episcopate is known: officially there is no monastery or monastery in Chikhachevo. After the investigators, the diocese began its review of Ioannikios’ activities. It's time, they haven't checked for twenty years.

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Father Ioannikios - Elder or Priest

On the Internet you can see negative reviews about visiting the temple - they write that visitors have to sit on the floor, that the walls cannot always accommodate visitors, and the first and second things in the refectory are placed on the same plate. To this we can add that the temple itself, although maintained in good condition, does not look new and rich. You may not find here the bright painting and gilding that is common in the capital.

All this is true. And before your trip, you should determine for yourself why you are making this pilgrimage. Those who come here for help to find the way to God find it, even if they have to stand in the vestibule. Those thirsty for the impressions of a trip “to the miracle worker” are unlikely to find what they want here.

There are also rumors that the Elder from Chikhachevo, Ivanovo region, is an Old Believer, services in the temple are conducted according to some strange ritual - men and women stand on opposite sides, men are the first to approach communion, etc. Even some priests do not bless the pilgrimage here, confused by rumors.

In Chikhachevo there is an Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, which belongs to the Verkhne-Landekhovo deanery of the Ivanovo Metropolis, and Father Ioannikiy is an Orthodox priest who firmly follows the traditions of Christianity and demands compliance with the Church Charter and rules of behavior in the Temple.

To main

Elder from Chikhachevo: How does the monastery of Father Ioannikiy live in the Ivanovo region

“The old man said that mother was sick”

“The elder said that my mother was terminally ill, he didn’t specify why, and she should stay in the monastery to work for the glory of God, then she won’t die,” my interlocutor said.

According to Inga, workers and novices in Chikhachevo sleep four to five hours a day, and spend the rest of the time working on the farm. This brotherhood is guarded by people with criminal records.

After Inga complained to the Kineshma diocese, Ioannikiy informed her mother that she had been healed and kicked her out.

16 pilgrims

Pilgrimage companies organize trips from different cities of Russia to the elder in Chikhachevo.

– Do you have a cold?! It’s the evil one who’s taking you away from the old man,” guide Boris brainstormed for me. - Must go.

All the way, the guide and part-time driver Boris talks about how sinful and weak we are: “Coronavirus - and we’re already sitting at home,” and about the priest.

“I lived in his monastery with my son and came out thin and with a healthy son,” says Boris, without naming the diagnosis. – After the arrest of Vissarion, the enemies took up arms against Sergius in the Urals and now, under this guise, they are attacking Father Ioannikius. The Jews criticize him terribly.

The woman in the red vest in the next seat chuckles approvingly. She laughs all the time and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

– In ten years I transported 40 thousand pilgrims. Previously, there were five hundred people in the priest’s service,” the guide says nostalgically.

Boris announces the prices for church services, which make me sleepy.

In one dirty, dirty temple...

We are being taken to the service. “Turn off cell phones”, “Do not walk on the territory” - everything is on the prohibitory signs. Boris takes us to the grave of Mother Joannikia, schema-nun.

“I myself saw with my own eyes how miracles happened at this grave,” he says. “They say she is the one who runs the monastery.”

Vissarion is a superstar: how the arrested “Siberian god” lived and who he interfered with

At three o’clock in the morning I have a hard time realizing that the schema-nun is too active for a deceased woman. Boris orders to kiss the cross and ask Mother Joannikia for a miracle. Nobody argues. A seemingly ordinary rural church is greeted with a musty smell. There is a swarm of flies and cobwebs above the door. In the “dressing room” hangs a coffin with the inscription “this is what awaits us,” but I don’t pay attention: on a dirty stinking mattress, covered with a blanket, lies a naked guy. He hums, his hands bound with tape.

“He’s sick, a lot of them come to see the priest,” experienced pilgrim Lyudmila explains to me.

In the hall, men are on the right, women are on the left. Two more minibuses arrived for the service, and I had nowhere to hide.

- I’ll kick you out! Find a place quickly! - the red-haired guy, the priest’s assistant, hisses at me.

Burda for humility

At six in the morning the service ends and we go to the refectory. It's also dirty and smells bad.

“Eat the first and second from one bowl, after eating, pour tea into the same bowl,” explains the attendant, a girl in glasses. - For that, the priest’s blessing.

“I now understand why it’s so dirty and miserable here.” Father did this on purpose to make us feel our sinfulness, to humble our pride,” the lady at the table admires, pouring a nasty mess with a spoon.

I’m going to argue: churches are always clean and orderly; in Orthodoxy, a church is the house of God, and it should be bright.

- Don't talk! – the red-haired guy hisses at the lady.

Under the “dome”: Who is the rebellious father Sergius connected with?

“Father said he would cure”

“Father said we need to get married, but I don’t even have a girlfriend.” On your ex, or what? – the guy with sideburns is confused.

“I stopped walking,” she explains. – We have a bad medical situation in the Nizhny Novgorod region, but the priest said that he would cure it.

"You are nobody"

The line to see the priest moves slowly.

“As soon as you enter the house, throw yourself at the elder’s feet,” Boris instructs us. - Be silent, the elder himself will tell you everything about your sins.

At noon I finally went to see the priest, before which the monk took all my personal belongings. I didn’t rush, although I could – everything was clean all around, there were pineapples on the table. The elder sits in a wheelchair against the backdrop of his huge portrait.

“ We live hard, there is more and more corruption, and the poor are still poor.” Putin has reset himself. What will happen to Russia? – I ask him.

“It’s a good idea for Senka, the people deserve such a president,” the elder says after a pause. – It will soon be even worse all over the globe (I can also predict that. – Author). And you yourself are a harlot! Why not? You drink and don’t remember!

– One person from church circles told me: “Do you know what kind of money is circulating in this monastery? Who will close it? – Inga told me.

Officially

“There is no monastery or monastery in Chikhachevo”

“Interlocutor” made an official request to the Kineshima diocese and asked to answer several questions:

– is Father Ioannikiy an active clergyman of the diocese;

– is there a monastery or monastery in Chikhachevo near the temple where people work;

Is it true that four years ago Bishop Hilarion served a service in Chikhachevo and this is an approval of the elder’s activities (as guides tell pilgrims);

– whether new buildings in Chikhachevo are the property of the church;

– what actions the diocese is taking regarding Ioannikios.

“Schiarchimandrite Ioannikiy is currently an active clergyman of the Kineshma diocese,” the press service answered us. – Accordingly, he has the right to perform divine services within the framework of the Orthodox tradition. Those dubious rituals that are performed in the St. Nicholas Church. Chikhachevo: Absentee unctions and reprimands, “prayer after abortion” and so on are unacceptable in any Orthodox church and Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikiy does not have the blessing to conduct them.

The very fact that Bishop Hilarion performed divine services in St. Nicholas Church four years ago does not indicate that the bishop supports the strange practices that exist in this parish. The bishop's service was performed according to the traditional rite. Bishops periodically perform divine services in all churches of their diocese; it does not follow from this that everything that happens in the parish where the bishop served is supported by the bishop.

The only church building in Chikhachevo is the St. Nicholas Church and only it is owned by the diocese. The remaining buildings, including a building in the style of temple architecture, but essentially not a temple, are privately owned and have nothing to do with the Orthodox Church. This also applies to agricultural land.

There are no elders in the Kineshma diocese. Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikios is an ordinary priest of the diocese. There were several checks regarding his activities; all non-canonical actions were prohibited. A large-scale investigation is currently underway regarding this cleric, and a decision will soon be made on whether Schema-Archimandrite Ioannikios can carry out parish ministry.

There is no monastery or monastery in Chikhachevo and never has been.”

* * *

The material was published in the publication “Interlocutor” No. 40-2020 under the title “The Elder from Chikhachevo.”