Saint Sophronius of Irkutsk: Bishop Innocent

Saint Sophronius of Irkutsk is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. Canonized as a saint, commemorated on June 30.

Saint Sophronius of Irkutsk is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. Canonized, commemorated on June 30

Saint Sophrony was born on December 25, 1703 in Berezan, Pereyaslavsky district

Saint Sophrony, in the world Stefan Kristallevsky was born on December 25, 1703 in Berezan, Pereyaslavsky district. The boy was raised in the spirit of love for God and His Holy Church.

After graduating from school, he was sent to the Pereyaslav Theological Seminary, after which he entered the Pokrovsky Krasnogorsk Monastery in the Poltava diocese. After listening, which he carried out for about three years, he was tonsured a monk with the name Sophronius. A little later he was elevated to the rank of priest.

After receiving a seminary education and completing his obediences perfectly, he was appointed abbot of the Intercession Monastery. He served in this rank for 13 years.

Empress Elizabeth Petrovna herself heard about his life and successes; by her will, Sophrony was sent as governor to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where he served for 11 years.

Empress Elizaveta Petrovna herself heard about the life and successes of Sophrony; by her will, he was sent by governor to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where he served for 11 years.

Seeing the difference in the mood of the monks of this monastery, he decided to build the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where he simply rested his soul. He led a strict lifestyle, performed obedience, and prayed, thereby setting an example for others.

During his service, he acquired a special position with the Empress. The Holy Synod, on the recommendations of the Empress, appointed Sophrony to the Irkutsk See. At the same time he was elevated to the rank of bishop. Sophronius' consecration took place on April 18, 1753. Bishop Sophrony arrived at the place of service only on March 20, 1754.

Sophronius' consecration took place on April 18, 1753.

It took him four months to reach his destination, while the rest of the time the Bishop of Irkutsk was busy selecting people on whom he could rely in Siberia. The bishop was familiar with Saint Innocent, whose path was accompanied by thorns, so Sophrony prepared especially carefully, because he had heard a lot about the affairs in Irkutsk.

The choice of people turned out to be quite happy for him, many of them were appointed to the position of abbot of the monastery. For example, in the Ascension Monastery the rector was Schema-Archimandrite Sinesius.

Krasnogorsk Monastery

In 1727, Stefan entered the Krasnogorsk Transfiguration Monastery [5], where his elder brother was already asceticizing. On April 23, 1730, he took monastic vows with the name Sophronius, in honor of St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.

On the night after being tonsured as a monk, the monk Sophrony heard a Voice in the Church of the Intercession: “When you become a bishop, build a temple in the name of All Saints,”

- foretelling his future service. Two years later, in 1732, he was called to Kyiv, where in the St. Sophia Cathedral he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and then hieromonk.

Saint Sophrony’s great concern was the Irkutsk clergy

As soon as Sophrony arrived at his destination, Irkutsk, he immediately devoted himself to the great cause, which had been lost for more than seven years. The Irkutsk clergy was also of great concern to the saint.

Many priests did not even know how to write. There was also a problem with the lack of priests. Some parishes had at least some clergy, while others had none at all. Saint Sophronius took up this work.

As soon as Sophrony arrived at his destination, in Irkutsk, at the Ascension Monastery, he immediately devoted himself to the great cause. The saint’s great concern was the Irkutsk clergy

The Mongolian school at the monastery helped him with this. He transferred her to the bishop's house, and personally monitored the progress of education. He also increased the number of subjects taught and expanded their scope in terms of the number of hours. However, he himself taught Slavic and Russian languages.

To get acquainted with the clergy of the Irkutsk diocese, the saint visited the most remote parts of the city of Irkutsk. He spent whole months on the road, sometimes riding on horseback. The saint entered into communication with priests and laity; he wanted to see everything with his own eyes. He often rewarded clergymen and removed those completely unfit from work.

Sophrony sent a letter throughout the diocese, in which he demanded that those people who had received holy Baptism be taught the faith of Christ. And also warn that the baptized do not go to shamans and do not listen to false teachings.

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Four churches were built in the city, one of which contained the incorruptible relics of St. Innocent

Sophrony tried to decorate the church from the inside. He built new houses. In the Ascension Monastery, a cathedral church was built in the name of the Ascension of the Lord, into which the incorruptible relics of St. Innocent were transferred. Four more churches were built in the city; Saint Sophronius was subsequently buried in the Kazan chapel of the Epiphany Cathedral.

In the Ascension Monastery a cathedral church was built in the name of the Ascension of the Lord, into which the incorruptible relics of St. Innocent were transferred

The saint tried to open the parish as much as possible and provide them with all the necessary church utensils and a sacristy. Sophrony always served with dignity; he cared about the splendor and solemnity of the divine service.

It is also worth noting the kind of life he led. He ate very little, slept on the floor, prayed constantly and never missed the monastic prayer rule. His home was constantly crowded with the sick, the poor and those simply in need of help.

March 30, 1771

Saint Sophronius departed to the Lord

After his death, the coffin, covered with a lid, stood on top of the floor for six months in the Kazan chapel in Irkutsk. And only on October 8 of the same year he was buried.

All this time the saint's body remained incorrupt. Soon miracles began to emanate from the saint’s tomb. Many came and prayed at the holy relics. The people, having heard about the miracles, began to flock not only from the nearest cities, but also from the cities of Transbaikalia.

Alexander Nevsky Lavra

During Hieromonk Sophrony's stay on bishop's affairs at the Synod, special attention was paid to him. And when the need arose to replenish the brotherhood of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg, the future saint was summoned among the 29 monks summoned from various monasteries in Russia. A year later, he was appointed treasurer of the monastery, and in 1746 he was confirmed in the position of vicar of the monastery, which he held for more than seven years.

To help him, he summoned his fellow countryman, a native of the city of Priluki, Hieromonk Synesius and appointed him the builder of the New Sergius Hermitage, assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. From that time on, the friendship of the two ascetics - Hieromonk Sophrony and Hieromonk Sinesius - became increasingly stronger in their single pastoral work; they were already inseparable until their death on Siberian soil. During these years, Saint Sophronius put a lot of work into improving the monastery and improving teaching in the seminary located at it. Together with Archbishop Theodosius, he took care of the proper stocking of the monastery library.

Under him, a two-story church was built: the upper one, in the name of St. Theodore Yaroslavich, the elder brother of St. Alexander Nevsky, and the lower one, in the name of St. John Chrysostom.

In 1750, the future saint took part in the transposition of the holy relics of the blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky into a new, silver shrine.

It is known that during these years Empress Elizabeth and statesmen made large contributions to the monastery. Empress Elizabeth, as a sign of her royal love and respect for Father Sophrony, personally embroidered for him an epitrachelion, a belt and armbands (embroidered on silver brocade and red velvet with colored silks, silver and gold).

Before the canonization of Saint Sophronius, there were more than 68 miracles

Before the canonization of Sophronius, there were more than 68 miracles. Once, during a special commission, this was recorded. In 1909, a commission officially certified the remains of the saint. Throughout their stay they were in constant dampness, but the robe and body of the saint still remained incorruptible.

Hierarchs, Soviet authorities and ordinary believers turned to the Holy Synod so that the bishop could be glorified as a saint of God. For speedy glorification, a Missionary Congress was held in the same year before the Holy Synod.

Many also submitted their own personal petition. In 1914, at the Irkutsk diocesan congress, a report was read on the life and miracles of St. Sophrony.

In 1909, a commission officially certified the remains of St. Sophronius. Throughout their stay they were in constant dampness, but the robe and body of the saint remained incorruptible

In 1917, a fire occurred in the temple, which destroyed the tomb and relics. A special commission witnessed the ashes and bones of the saint, which were preserved after the fire. The remains were placed in a special reliquary.

The celebration of the glorification of the saint was supposed to take place around June 30. But the Patriarch and the Synod received a note to postpone the burial until October 8. The reasons given were quite compelling.

At that time, there was a civil war in the country, there were not even enough candles for worship, so many feared that the glorification would drag on for too long. The Patriarch agreed to postpone the glorification to a more successful and calm time.

Literature

Prot. Chefranov M. A. “Reverend Sophrony, the third Bishop of Irkutsk: A brief narrative about his life, deeds and blessings, memory of him” / Comp. prot. Mily Chefranov, rector of the church at Ros. gene. consulate in Urga. — 3rd ed. - Irkutsk: Printing house A. A. Sizykh, 1902. - 84 p.
Prot. Chefranov M. A. “Blessed Sophrony, third bishop of Irkutsk” / [Op.] Prot. Milia Chefranova. - Moscow: University Printing House, 1907. - 344 pp., 5 l. portrait ; ill. - Ott. from the magazine: Soulful reading. 1903-1907

The celebration of the glorification of St. Sophronius took place on June 30

The celebration of the glorification of St. Sophronius took place on June 30. It was then that the troparion and kontakion were written by priest Tikhon, and the service was compiled. Hieromonk Porfiry wrote an akathist to the saint. The reliquary with the relics was transferred to the Irkutsk church in the name of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

Since 1937, the temple was closed, and the shrine was hidden. Currently, Saint Sophrony is revered by the entire Orthodox world.

Currently, Saint Sophrony is revered by the entire Orthodox world; people often turn to him with prayers for help.

Troparion tone 4:

From your youth you loved Christ, Blessed Sophronie, you ruled the monastic monastery well and, having been honored with the rank of bishop, you saved the Irkutsk flock, and after the repose you received the gift of miracles from God and prayed to Christ God to deliver us from troubles and save our souls.

Troparion voice 1:

Quick intercessor in troubles and sorrows, Father Hierarch of the Siberian country, Saint Sophrony, stand in Heaven with the First Hierarch of the Irkutsk Church and all the saints, take away the favor of the Lord of glory, look at the people flocking to the honorable remains of your holy relics, tearfully asking with faith and love pray for your help and intercession, as you preached to the people of Siberia, to deliver me from the evils and slander of the enemy that are found, to enlighten people who were frozen in ancient times with unbelief of the heart, to grant confirmation of the faith of Christ and to save our souls.

Kontakion voice 4:

Let us praise the same wisdom of the hierarch, a considerable adornment to the Church of Irkutsk, our father Saint Sophrony, with all his faith, for he is the guardian of the city and this country and the prayer book for our souls.

Kontakion voice 3:

You worked for the Chief Shepherd, Christ, Saint Sophronius, in the spiritual pastures of the northern country, you found the pagans of Mongolia from the deception and filthiness of idols, you brought me to the light of the faith of Christ, and now, from the Angels of the Lady standing before the Throne, pray unceasingly for all of us, deliver us from troubles and save our souls.

Prayer to Saint Sophronius:

Holy Saint of God, Saint of Christ, good shepherd of the verbal flock, man of God, new miracle worker and vigilant prayer book to God for this country, Father Sophrony, look down from the heights of Heaven upon us, who with faith and love worship your image and the honest remains of holy relics, in our consolation to those who have escaped from the all-consuming fire. Look, Holy One of God, and see our disorder and strife, our tightness, sorrow and heart disease, from the deprivation of brotherly love that abides. Ask from Christ God for each of us the grace of humility, the knowledge of our sinfulness and self-reproach, and, listening to each of our conscience, let us stop condemning our neighbor, slandering and slandering, but, united to each other with love, we will be honored to live peacefully in humility the rest of our lives and improve our Christian life. death.

Yes, having united in the future life with all the saints and with you, our shepherd, we will glorify the One in the Trinity, the glorified God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

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