Archpriest Vadim Leonov: biography, lectures, foundations of Orthodox anthropology

Vadim Leonov is an archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church. His biography tells us that Vadim was born on December 27, 1996.

Vadim Leonov has written a lot of lectures, as well as several famous books

Born in the city of Sverdlovsk, Voroshilovgrad region, into a good Orthodox family.

In 1993, he completed his studies at the Budapest Technical University, and then at the Moscow Machine Tool Institute.

Afterwards, in 1993, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1996.

Afterwards he entered the Moscow Theological Academy, graduating in July 2000. In it he defended his candidate’s work on the topic: “Patristic teaching on the human nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Afterwards, in 1996, he was ordained to the rank of deacon. And already on October 12, 1997, he was ordained to the priesthood.

Since August 2000, he has served as a full-time priest of the Church of the Holy Martyrs and Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb in Degunino, Moscow. Serves there until January 2003.

The Church of the Holy Martyrs and Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb in Degunino is currently operating. Divine services are held there daily. It was here that Vadim Leonov served as a full-time priest

After the decree of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, Vadim was appointed full-time priest of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine in Vspolye.

On March 31, 2010, Vadim Leonov was elevated to the rank of archpriest. And since November 2010, he has been appointed full-time clergyman of the Patriarchal parishes in Zaryadye.

Lectures by Archpriest Vadim Leonov have become quite popular

Now Vadim Leonov's lectures have become very popular. Lectures are videotaped. Each lecture is devoted to very difficult and complex issues. Let's look at what some of these lectures are about.

For example, lecture No. 17 is called “The Image of God in Man.” This lecture is devoted to the Orthodox teaching about the essence of man’s Godlikeness, as well as about the manifestation of the image of God in man.

Such concepts as personality and freedom are considered. This lecture can be viewed on video.

A lot of believers gather at the lecture to listen to the words of the priest. After the lectures, Father Vadim answers all questions from those gathered.

Lecture No. 12 is called “Creation of the World” and is devoted to the Orthodox teaching about the creation of the world, as well as non-Christian cosmogonies.

After discussing the topic, Father Vadim answers questions from all those present. This lecture can be watched and listened to on video.

Lecture No. 22 “Who is Jesus Christ?” The lecture is devoted to the teaching of who Jesus Christ is and why he is the perfect God and man.

How the Divine and human natures were united in Him. The lecture can be watched on video.

All lectures by Father Vadim can be viewed on a special channel on YouTube.

Publications[ | ]

monographs

God in the flesh: Patristic teaching on the human nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. - M.: Drakkar, 2005. - 215 p. God in the flesh. Patristic teaching about the human nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Sergiev Posad: STSL, 2015. - 240 p.

The abuse is invisible. Passions and virtues. - M.: Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2013. - 128 p. — ISBN 978-5-88017-366-2.

Fundamentals of Orthodox anthropology: textbook. . - M.: Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2013. - 456 p. — ISBN 978-5-88017-351-8.

Fundamentals of Orthodox anthropology: textbook. — 2nd ed., rev. and additional - Moscow: Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2021. - 455 p. — ISBN 978-5-88017-351-8.

academic articles and journalism

Ecumenical councils of the Orthodox Church on the human nature of the Savior // Annual Theological Conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute: Materials of 2003. M.: PSTBI Publishing House, 2003. - pp. 31-42.
On the day of memory of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine // Orthodox newspaper. Ekaterinburg. 2004. - No. 45 (318) dated December 1, 2004.
Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt, speaking about prayer, said that uncertainty in receiving what is asked is blasphemy against God, how is this to be understood? // pravoslavie.ru, December 8, 2004.
Eucharistic Docetism // Church and Time. 2005. - No. 2 (31). — P. 78—105.
Anthropological ideal of perfection // Bulletin of PSTGU. Series IV: “Pedagogy. Psychology". PSTGU Publishing House. M., 2006. - Issue. 2. - pp. 81-92.
About faith and unbelief in the sacrament of the Eucharist // Holy Fire. 2006. - No. 14. - P. 64-93.
Afterword to the academic seminar “Holy Gifts in the Sacrament of the Eucharist” // Holy Fire. 2006. - No. 15. - P. 101-106.
Review of the book by V. N. Dukhanin “The Hidden World of Orthodoxy” // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. 2006. - No. 4. - P. 75.
The relationship between the concepts of “personality” and “image of God” in Orthodox theology // Patristic psychology. Scientific reports and speeches. Proceedings of the conference of the XVI International Christmas educational readings. M., 2008. - P. 66-73. The relationship between the concepts of “personality” and “image of God” in Orthodox theology // Sretensky collection. Scientific works of SDS teachers. - M., 2010. - P. 72-83.

Understanding human freedom in Orthodox theology // Patristic psychology and human education. Scientific reports and articles. Proceedings of the conference of the XVII International Christmas educational readings. M., 2009. - P. 59-68.

Human freedom in Christ and without Christ // Consultative psychology and psychotherapy. 2010. - No. 3 (66) July-September. M., 2010. - P. 110-121.

Human freedom: experience of theological comprehension // Sretensky collection. Issue 2. Scientific works of teachers of SDS M., 2010. - P. 137-152.

Atonement // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church-scientific, 2011. - T. XXVII: “Isaac the Syrian - Historical books.” - P. 281, 285-297. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-89572-050-9. (some sections of the article)

The concepts of “Mind”, “Reason”, “Reason” in the patristic tradition // Psychological Science and Education. Electronic journal. 2011. - No. 3. - P. 1-9.

Kenosis // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Tserkovno-nauchny, 2013. - T. XXXII: “Catechism - Kiev-Pechersk Icon “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. — P. 446-453. — 752 p. — 33,000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-89572-035-6.

Possibilities of patristic anthropology for the formation of new humanitarian approaches in the scientific and educational environment // Psychological science and education (electronic journal). 2014. - No. 1. - P. 180-190.

Anthropological structural nature of educational activities // Bulletin of PSTGU IV: Pedagogy. Psychology. 2014. - Issue. 1 (32). - pp. 56-69.

Mental health from the position of Orthodox anthropology // Psychological health of the individual and spiritual and moral problems of modern Russian society. M.: Publishing house "Institute of Psychology RAS", 2014. - P. 69-79.

Deification // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church Scientific, 2021. - T. LII: “Noah - Onuphrius.” — P. 263-268. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-8957-2059-2.

Image of God // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church Scientific, 2021. - T. LII: “Noah - Onuphrius.” — P. 275-286. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-8957-2059-2.

Revelation // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church-Scientific, 2021. - T. LIII: “Onufriy - Pavel.” - pp. 513-519. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 978-5-8957-2060-8.

Christology // Khvoyka - Shervinsky. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2021. - (Big Russian Encyclopedia: [in 35 volumes] / chief editor Yu. S. Osipov; 2004-2017, vol. 34). — ISBN 978-5-85270-372-9.

The category “spirituality” in the Christian tradition and secular humanitarian discourse: features of reading and prospects for interaction // Spiritual and moral problems of modern personality. M.: Publishing house "Institute of Psychology RAS", 2021. - P. 66-82.

Contents of the Chalice at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: tradition and modern interpretations // bogoslov.ru, March 19, 2018

Constantinople papism // pravoslavie.ru, October 23, 2018

Ukrainian Tomos is a trap for world Orthodoxy // pravoslavie.ru, March 6, 2019

Deviations of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from Orthodoxy // pravoslavie.ru, April 19, 2019

Cathedral in Jordan: hopes and prospects // pravoslavie.ru, January 27, 2020

Orthodox shepherding and attempts at its renewal // pravoslavie.ru, June 4, 2020

Orthodox shepherding: dispelling smoke screens. Part 1. Facts. Response to the article by Archpriest Pavel Velikanov and Priest Stefan Domuschi // pravoslavie.ru, June 17, 2020

Orthodox shepherding: dispelling smoke screens. Part 2. Meanings and speculations. Response to the article by Archpriest Pavel Velikanov and Priest Stefan Domuschi // pravoslavie.ru, June 18, 2020

“Theological truths are the basis of spiritual life.” Archpriest Vadim Leonov spoke about the importance of studying dogmatic theology // website of Sretensk Theological Seminary, 09.29.2020

The ecclesiological crisis in the life of the modern Orthodox Church and ways to overcome it // Causes and challenges of the current crisis of inter-Orthodox relations. Materials/holes priest A. Mazyrin, priest. P. Ermilov. - M.: PSTGU Publishing House, 2021. - P. 45-76. — ISBN 978-5-7429-1332-0.

Psychological projections of the Christian concept of love for oneself and one’s neighbor // Individual, national and global in the consciousness of modern man: new ideas, problems, scientific directions. M.: Publishing house "Institute of Psychology RAS", 2021. - P. 595-615. doi: 10.38098/univ.2020.55.72.046 - ISBN 978-5-9270-0421-8.

editing and compilation

All-Holy: Orthodox dogmatic teaching on the veneration of the Mother of God. Collection of works / Enter. article, compilation and general editing of the sacred. V. Leonova. M.: Pilgrim Publishing House, 2001. - 256 p.
The Greatness of the Most Pure Virgin Mary / Enter. article and general editorship of the priest. V. Leonova. M.: Pilgrim Publishing House, 2005. - 335 p.
Fundamentals of Orthodox anthropology: a reader / [comp. and general ed. Leonov Vadim, archpriest]. — Moscow: Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2021. — 686 p. — ISBN 978-5-88017-535-2.

original educational video courses

Dogmatic theology. 12 lectures. YouTube channel PravoslavieRu. 2014-2015
Christian anthropology. 2 lectures. YouTube channel PravoslavieRu. 2021
Symbol of faith. 12 lectures. YouTube channel PravoslavieRu. 2018
Passions and virtues. 2 lectures. YouTube channel PravoslavieRu. 2019
Pride and vanity and the fight against them. Archpriest Vadim Leonov // Sretensky Monastery, November 14, 2019

interview

Confession and Communion - together or apart? // Holy Fire. 2007. - No. 17. - P. 3-9. Confession and Communion: together or apart? // Moscow: magazine. 2008. - No. 8. - P. 235-240.

For the 10th anniversary of the Sretensky Theological School “In the seminary you receive the leaven that gives life to the rest of your life.” Conversation with priest Vadim Leonov // pravoslavie.ru, May 13, 2009

“The importance of the dogmas of faith does not decrease from century to century.” Conversation with priest Vadim Leonov // pravoslavie.ru, February 8, 2010

Archpriest Vadim Leonov: “Christian anthropology should also be taught in secular universities” // pravoslavie.ru, April 11, 2013

About the priesthood, shepherding and clergy. Conversation with Archpriest Vadim Leonov // pravoslavie.ru, March 22, 2013

“If confession becomes optional, it will spiritually decapitate our parishes.” Conversation with Archpriest Vadim Leonov // pravoslavie.ru, October 15, 2013

Where is the society of free people? // pravoslavie.ru, May 15, 2018

"The Path to the Priesthood." Prot. Vadim Leonov // radiovera.ru, October 8, 2019

Vadim Leonov also wrote books - one of the most famous is “Fundamentals of Orthodox Anthropology”

Father Vadim wrote several books. One of the most famous is “Fundamentals of Orthodox Anthropology.”

Buy a book on the Sretenie.ru website

The book is a unique experience in presenting the Orthodox teaching about man on the basis of Holy Scripture. The book was published in 2013

The book examines a basic range of anthropological topics and provides theological justification for the key anthropological ideas of Orthodoxy. Having conceived the book as a textbook on Orthodox anthropology, Father Vadim wrote it in such a way that it would be understandable and useful to any reader.

Orthodox anthropology is a teaching about man based on Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition

Thus, this work is addressed both to theologians, anthropologists, psychologists, teachers, students of theological educational institutions, and to everyone who would like to get closer to the secrets of human existence and use divine Revelation to transform their soul.

Father Vadim answers about his book in one of his interviews. Anthropology had only just begun to be introduced into the seminary curriculum.

The basis of the book is made up of notes from the Holy Scriptures - Divine Revelation

They ask the priest on what basis his famous book was written. He answers that the basis, of course, comes from Holy Scripture:

“First of all, of course, Holy Scripture. In general - Divine Revelation. Divine Revelation is revealed to us, in addition to the Holy Scriptures, also in the decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, which spoke truths by the Holy Spirit, in the works of the Holy Fathers, especially if there is a so-called consensus partum on any issue.
To summarize, we can say that we draw anthropological knowledge from the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. And Sacred Tradition is the experience of life in the Holy Spirit, preserved and passed on in the Church from generation to generation.”

And the priest also answers whether young priests should study this course and what is its relevance:

“Every shepherd leads people to God, so he also needs to know who God is and what the path to Him is.
And also understand that he leads a person along this path. The main thing is that this path is correct.
At the same time, one must know a person as God created him, namely pure, ideal, and in the state in which he is - with his sins and passions.
A shepherd who does not know what a person should be and how he can change for the better, most likely will not be able to change or contribute to the spiritual transformation of his flock.
That is why studying Christian anthropology is not only necessary, but also necessary for pastoral ministry.
Father Vadim says about the purpose of anthropology that it is too simple, but important. It is necessary to systematically present about the revealed teaching, about nature, about the personality of existence itself.
Unfortunately, this goal has not been achieved, because in many patristic writings knowledge about man is presented completely unsystematically.
People who do not have a theological education at all, when reading theological literature, will find it very difficult to form a holistic idea of who and what a person is, what and why he is destined for, how he can become better than he is now.”

Vadim Leonov

archpriest

You can study the book in more detail either at an Orthodox bookstore, or.

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Biography

Vadim Leonov was born on December 27, 1966 in the city of Sverdlovsk in the Voroshilovgrad region. The father and mother were deeply religious people, which was reflected in their son. Already from childhood, the boy was taught the love of God.

Archpriest Vadim Leonov

Little is known about Vadim's childhood. In 1993, he completed his studies at the Budapest Technical University. That same year, the young man became a student at the theological seminary, from which he graduated in 1996. The same year was marked by another happy event. Vadim Leonov was ordained to the rank of deacon, and a year later to the rank of priest.

Until the end of the 20th century, studies continued at the Theological Academy in Moscow. Since the last month of summer 2000, Vadim began to serve as a priest in the Church of the Blessed Martyrs Boris and Gleb in the capital. In 2003, by decrees of Patriarch Leonov, it was transferred to the Church of the Great Martyr Catherine

In 2010, Father Vadim was granted the rank of archpriest. To this day, the priest continues to serve before the Lord.