Kuzbass is Orthodox. Kemerovo diocese celebrates 10 years

Kemerovo Znamensky Cathedral

Kemerovo and Prokopievsk diocese
of the Kuzbass Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church

Diocesan administration: Russia, 650004, Kemerovo, st. Sobornaya, 24
Tel., 35-71-35; fax: 31-94-07
Official site:
Canonical territory: Berezovsky, Kiselevsky, Krasnobrodsky, Polysaevsky urban districts, Belovsky, Guryevsky, Kemerovo, Krapivinsky, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Prokopyevsky districts of the Kemerovo region
Cathedral: Znamensky in Kemerovo
On the map: Yandex.Map, Google map

Formed by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on June 11, 1993, by separation from the Krasnoyarsk diocese, it was previously part of the Novosibirsk diocese.
On July 26, 2012, the Mariinsk and Novokuznetsk dioceses were separated from the Kemerovo diocese, which, together with the Kemerovo diocese, were included in the newly formed Kuzbass Metropolis. At the same time, the Kemerovo See was designated the center of the Kuzbass Metropolis.

Historical names

Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk (June 11, 1993 - July 26, 2012)
Kemerovo and Prokopyevskaya (since July 26, 2012)

Statistics

1993 - 62 parishes, 79 priests, 8 deacons, 15 Sunday schools, 6 church libraries, two house churches in two correctional colonies [1]
2005 - 20 deaneries, uniting 287 parishes, which include: registered cathedrals - 4; independent churches registered with the justice authorities - 153; chapels, house churches in medical institutions - 40; in various specialized institutions chapels, house churches, prayer rooms - 20; registered chapels - 19; house churches and prayer rooms in penitentiary institutions - 27; parishes that are not registered - 18; registered parishes that have unrestored architectural monuments - 4; sketes - 1; monasteries - 1
2007 - 20 deaneries, uniting 336 parishes, which include: registered cathedrals - 4; independent churches registered with the justice authorities - 152; chapels, house churches in medical institutions - 47; house churches at orphanages, boarding schools, orphanages - 57; registered chapels - 45; house churches and prayer rooms in penitentiary institutions - 27; registered parishes that have unrestored architectural monuments - 4; monastery farmsteads - 2; monasteries - 2. The parish life of all parishes of the diocese is cared for by 225 priests and 21 deacons [2]
January 1, 2012 - 3 monasteries; 163 parishes; 470 churches, chapels and other places of worship; 267 full-time clergy of the diocese, including 238 priests, 29 deacons; 39 monastics (ryassophore and mantle), including 7 abbots, 6 hieromonks, 2 hierodeacons [3]
January 1, 2013 - 2 monasteries; 86 parishes; 274 churches, chapels and other places of worship; 153 full-time clergy of the diocese, including 134 priests, 19 deacons; 33 monks (ryassophore and mantle), including 9 clergy: 3 abbots, 3 hieromonks, 3 hierodeacons; 71 Sunday schools [3]

Social institutions

Diocesan Department for Church Charity and Social Service (oversees the work of sisterhoods, advisory services and Orthodox telephone helplines in the territory of the diocese), Kemerovo
Orthodox orphanage "Pokrov" - a non-state educational institution for orphans and children left without parental care, village. Elykaevo
“Lestvitsa” is a rehabilitation center in honor of St. right John the Climacus at the Church of the Healer Panteleimon, Kemerovo
ANO "City Patronage Service of Kemerovo"
CROO "Society of Orthodox Doctors", Kemerovo
11 sisterhoods at churches. Kemerovo, Berezovsky, Prokopyevsk, Polysayevo, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Kiselevsk, Belovo, Shkolny village, Kedrovka
volunteer movement “Blagovest” at the parish Sunday school “Mercy” of the Church of the Healer Panteleimon, Kemerovo
youth club “Meeting” at the Cathedral of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Prokopyevsk
psychological assistance by phone at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in Kemerovo

KEMEROVSK AND PROKOPYEVSK DIOCESE

Znamensky Cathedral in Kemerovo. 1996 Photography. 2008

Znamensky Cathedral in Kemerovo. 1996 Photography. 2008 Kuzbass Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church, formed by the decision of the Holy. Synod of July 26, 2012 within the borders of central and western. districts of the Kemerovo region: Kemerovo, Belovsky, Guryevsky, Krapivinsky, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Prokopyevsky. The diocese is part of the Kuzbass Metropolis, formed in accordance with the same decision of the Holy. Synod within the boundaries of the former Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese. The cathedral city is Kemerovo, the cathedral is in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” in Kemerovo. The ruling bishop is the head of the Kuzbass Metropolis, Metropolitan. Aristarkh (Smirnov; since August 20, 2006 Bishop of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk, since August 1, 2012 Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk). The diocese includes 12 dean districts: 2 Kemerovo, Belovsky, Guryevsky, Inskoy, Kiselevsky, 3 Leninsk-Kuznetsky, 2 Prokopyevsky and penitentiary. By 1 Oct. In 2012, there were 79 parishes in K. and P.E., there were 311 churches, chapels and other prayer rooms, and the clergy of the diocese consisted of 148 clergy (128 priests, 20 deacons). The diocesan administration has departments: religious education and catechesis, youth affairs, publishing, culture, architectural and construction, information and educational, relations between the Church and society, missionary, social service and charity, prison ministry and relations with the Armed Forces and law enforcement institutions.

The Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese was established by the decision of the Holy. Synod on June 11, 1993 in the adm. borders of the Kemerovo region, separated from the Krasnoyarsk diocese (see Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk diocese); 1 Nov the same year, Sophrony (Budko; archbishop since February 25, 1998) was appointed Bishop of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk. The diocese initially consisted of 6 deanery districts, the diocesan administration was located at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kemerovo. K con. In 1993, 56 parishes operated on the territory of Kuzbass, 6 parishes were affiliated, the clergy of the newly formed diocese consisted of 79 priests and 8 deacons, 15 Sunday schools, 6 church libraries, 6 charitable refectories operated in the diocese, the publication of the “Kemerovo Diocesan Bulletin” began . One of the main events of the first year of the existence of the Kemerovo department was the arrival in Kuzbass on September 14-15. 1993 His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II. The Primate visited the St. Nicholas Church and the Znamensky Cathedral under construction in Kemerovo, and consecrated the foundation stone of the chapel in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” in memory of the dead miners.

In the first months of bishop's ministry. Sophrony visited more than 40 parishes. The Kemerovo diocese received from local authorities 15 destroyed churches, for the restoration of which there were not enough funds, services were held in temporary premises. Mn. the newly opened churches were located in the former. canteens, shops, cultural centers. In 1994, the diocese had 76 parishes, 89 priests and 13 deacons served in them, 28 Sunday schools and the same number of church libraries operated in the parishes. In 1994, the Ilyinskaya Church was restored. in the village Ilyinka, Peter and Paul Church in Salair, c. Vmch. Panteleimon in the village. Bekove, Church of St. book Alexander Nevsky in the village. Krasnoselka; Restoration work was completed in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Novokuznetsk, Trinity Church. in the village Krasnoye, restoration of the temple in the name of St. Andrei Kritsky in Taiga. At the same time, the relationship between the Church and society was improved. On the initiative of Bishop. Sophrony and the leadership of the Kemerovo region. On June 21-23, 1994, a conference was held dedicated to the problems of reviving Orthodox traditions in the spiritual life of society, in which more than 600 people took part; The result of the conference was the conclusion of an agreement on cooperation in the field of education, culture, and healthcare between the regions. administration and the Kemerovo diocese. 25 Sep. 1994 The first Orthodox church in the history of Kuzbass opened in Novokuznetsk. DU in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, its rector was the ruling bishop. On March 27, 2007, the school was transformed into the Novokuznetsk DS. In 1995, due to the growing number of parishes, the diocese was divided into 16 deanery districts. Sisterhoods of mercy were formed in some parishes, the largest being at the Znamensky and St. Nicholas Cathedrals in the region. center and at the Trinity Church. in Guryevsk. Oct 14 1995 The lower church of the Znamensky Cathedral was consecrated.

Church in the name of the prophet. Elijah in the village. Ilyinka. 1818 Photograph. 2008

Since the beginning of the existence of the Kemerovo diocese, missionary work has become an important area of activity for the clergy. In 1995, the Trinity parish in the village was restored. Ust-Anzas (in Gornaya Shoria), where before the beginning. XX century The camp of the Altai Spiritual Mission was located, missionary trips to Mountain Shoria were resumed. In the 2000s. Graduates of the theological and catechetical courses of the diocese and sisters of mercy joined this work. In 1996, the missionary department of the diocese began to perform mass baptisms at the reservoirs of the region on summer days, accompanied by the free distribution of crosses, icons, prayer books, and spiritual literature; in 1996-2002 129,389 Kuzbass residents were baptized (the largest number was in 1997 - 32,475 people). In 2001, the first anti-sectarian centers opened in the diocese.

In 1996, Patriarch Alexy II came to the capital of Kuzbass again. On May 26, the head of the Russian Church consecrated the Cathedral of the Sign, which in those years was the largest cathedral in the Russian Trans-Urals. The Patriarch visited a new church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”, an orphanage cared for by the Kemerovo clergy, served a prayer service in the built chapel-monument to the dead miners in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”. The interregional scientific and practical conference “Spiritual and secular culture as a factor in the social development of the region”, held on May 24-26, was timed to coincide with the consecration of the Znamensky Cathedral. On July 4, 1998, the foundation stone of the Church in honor of the Nativity of Christ was consecrated in Novokuznetsk in memory of all the fallen miners of Kuzbass.

Church in the name of St. Andrei Kritsky in Taiga. 1898 Photograph. 2008

On Nov. 1996 The first issue of the Orthodox Church was published. gas. “Golden Domes” (supplement to the Kuzbass gas station). In 1997, the first Orthodox church opened in Kuzbass. secondary school, 31 Aug. In 2009, the Orthodox Church began working in Novokuznetsk. secondary school in the name of St. Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky), September 1 - Orthodox. gymnasium in the name of Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius in Kemerovo. In 2004, regional branches of the All-Russian Orthodox Youth Movement and the Orthodox Brotherhood appeared in the diocese. Pathfinders.

In 2000, 12 cooperation agreements were signed between regional education departments and deans of the Kemerovo diocese. On Sept. 2008 in higher educational institutions of Kemerovo (at Kemerovo State University, Kuzbass State Technical University, Kemerovo State University of Culture and Arts, Kemerovo Technological Institute of Food Industry, Kemerovo State Medical Academy, Kemerovo State Agricultural University and the Kemerovo branch of the Russian State Trade and Economic University) consecrated prayer rooms in honor of the MC. Tatiana. Together with the existing one under the Kemerovo state. University of Culture and Arts "Center for Research in Spiritual Anthropology" Kemerovo diocese held 5 scientific and practical conferences on Orthodoxy. topics, collections of articles were published. From the beginning 2000s The diocese annually holds St. John's educational readings.

In 2002, in the Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese there were 233 churches and chapels (3 cathedrals, 3 monastery churches, 136 parish churches, 36 ascribed churches, 55 chapels, prayer rooms and house churches in hospitals, orphanages, boarding schools, penitentiaries institutions), the clergy of the diocese consisted of 181 priests and 14 deacons. In 2003, the department celebrated its 10th anniversary; Metropolitan was the guest of honor at the celebrations. Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (now Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'). He consecrated the temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” in the city of Kiselevsk, visited the care home under construction in the village. Elykaev, Kemerovo district, church in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in the miner’s village. Kedrovka in Kemerovo. On Sept. In 2004, the relics of St. remained in Kuzbass. led the martyrs. Kng. Elisaveta Feodorovna and nun Varvara (Yakovleva), the ark with St. the relics were transported to all the main parishes of the diocese.

Church in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God in the village. Kedrovka. 2001 Photography. 2008

In 2005, by the decision of the Holy. Synod to help Archbishop. Sophrony was sent the vicar of Prokopyevsk bishop. Ambrose (Ermakov) (see in the article Prokopyevsk Vicariate). Immediately after arriving in Kemerovo in April. In 2005, the vicar was actively involved in diocesan life: he acted as rector of the Novokuznetsk DU, visited miners’ collectives and social institutions. On July 21, 2005, Archbishops Sophrony of Kemerovo, Victor (Oleynik) of Tverskoy, Evgeny (Reshetnikov) Vereisky, Rostislav (Devyatov) of Tomsk, as well as Bishop of Prokopyevsk. Ambrose consecrated the cathedral in Prokopyevsk in honor of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist - a monument to the dead miners of Kuzbass.

July 19, 2006 Priest. The Synod granted the request of the archbishop. Sophrony on his retirement, Aristarchus (Smirnov), bishop, was appointed bishop of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk. Ambrose (Ermakov) was transferred to the Bronnitsy Vicariate of the Moscow Diocese. Aug 20 2006, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, Patriarch Alexy II headed the episcopal consecration of Archimandrite. Aristarkha (Smirnova). By July 2006, there were 319 churches and chapels in the Kemerovo diocese, served by 211 priests and 17 deacons. Aug 21 In 2007, the decision was made to create Panteleimon the Great Martyr. husband. mon-rya in the village Bezrukov, Novokuznetsk district. In 2008, the Dormition of the Most Holy was established. Mother of God women mon-ry in the village Elykaev, Kemerovo district, in January. The following year, a shelter for girls was opened at the monastery.

Church in the name of the Great Martyr. Panteleimon in St. Panteleimon monastery in the village. Bezrukov. 2005 Photography. 2008

In 2007, the “Society of Orthodox Doctors of the Kemerovo Region” began work in Kemerovo as a regional branch of the “Society of Orthodox Doctors of Russia”. By 2012, prayer rooms were installed in all hospitals in Kemerovo, and house churches appeared in some medical institutions. A temple was built at the regional hospital in the name of the Great Martyr. Panteleimon, at the temple there is an Orthodox rehabilitation center for drug addicts “Lestvitsa” in the name of St. John Climacus, the parish Sunday school “Mercy” organized a volunteer movement to help hospital patients and low-income citizens. Much work in medical and social rehabilitation institutions of the region is carried out by Orthodox sisterhoods operating in the cities of Kemerovo, Berezovsky, Prokopyevsk, Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Polysayevo, Osinniki, Novokuznetsk, Yurga, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Kiselevsk, Belovo, Mezhdurechensk, Mariinsk, Shkolny villages (Prokopyevsky district) and Itatsky (Tyazhinsky district). More than 350 people work in the sisterhoods. The clergy of the Kemerovo diocese provide care for correctional labor institutions in Mariinsk, Novokuznetsk, Belov, Anzhero-Sudzhensk, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, and Yurga.

In 2010, a commission for the canonization of saints was created in the Kemerovo diocese, and in the same year the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' was received to include the day of remembrance of the Council of Kemerovo Saints in the church calendar. The memory is celebrated on the last Sunday of August. (coincides with the main holiday of Kuzbass - Miner's Day). The Cathedral of Kuzbass Saints includes the names of 39 ascetics of faith and piety, of which 36 were clergy and laity who died in Siblag, which was located in the territories of the Mariinsky, Chebulinsky and Tashtagol districts of the Kemerovo region. The relics of most ascetics rest in the Kuzbass land. Aug 17 2010 ep. Aristarchus consecrated a temple-chapel in memory of Gulag prisoners in the village. Chugunash, Tashtagol district.

By 2010, the number of churches and chapels in the Kemerovo diocese increased to 416 (including 158 independent churches, 222 ascribed churches, 20 baptismal churches), and 3 monasteries were operating. The number of clergy increased to 259 people. On May 18, 2010, the 1st interregional Orthodox student conference “Orthodoxy in the life of modern youth” was held in the Novokuznetsk DS. In con. Sep. In 2011, the first meeting of Siberian seminaries took place in Kuzbass; more than 100 students of theological schools from Novokuznetsk, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Barnaul and Tobolsk came to it. Theological and catechetical courses (2-year or 8-month) operated in all cities of Kuzbass; their graduates conduct catechetical and missionary work and teach in Sunday schools. The diocese had more than 100 Sunday parish schools for children and adults, the largest ones at the Kemerovo cathedrals of St. Nicholas and Znamensky. The information and educational department of the diocese publishes Orthodox. youth gas. “Verb”, TV show “Kuzbass Ark”. The diocese also began publishing the newspapers “Under the Shadow of Orthodoxy” (supplement to the newspaper “Gorodok”, Kiselevsk), “Orthodox Kiselevsk” (supplement to the newspaper “Kiselevskie Vesti”), “Voskresensky Herald” (Leninsk-Kuznetsky).

To the beginning In 2012, in the Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese there were 456 churches and chapels (163 parish churches, 266 ascribed churches, 20 baptismal churches and 7 monasteries). July 26, 2012 within the Kemerovo region. The Kuzbass Metropolis was formed, which included K. and P. e. and 2 new independent dioceses: Mariinsk and Yurginsk, Novokuznetsk and Tashtagol. Aristarkh (Smirnov) with the title “Metropolitan of Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk” became the manager of the Kemerovo diocese and the head of the Kuzbass metropolis; he was also entrusted with the temporary management of the Novokuznetsk diocese. Considering the significance of the Novokuznetsk DS for the Kuzbass Metropolis, St. The Synod retained control of the educational institution for the Kemerovo and Prokopyevsk Metropolitan.

Shrines, religious processions and prayer services

The Seraphim-Pokrovsky Convent in Leninsk-Kuznetsky houses the locally revered icon of the Mother of God “Three-Handed”; its glorification was carried out by the Kemerovo bishop in 2007. Aristarch. In all the churches of the Kuzbass Metropolis there are copies of the image of the Mother of God “Protection over the Land of Kuznetsk,” created in 2007, and the icon of the Cathedral of Kemerovo Saints, painted in 2010. In the church of St. book Dimitry Donskoy in the village. Barzas (administrative subordination of the city of Berezovsky) houses a renewed icon of the Equal Apostles. book Vladimir. In the Znamensky Cathedral in Kemerovo, particles of the relics of St. Vasilisk (Gavrilova). In the village Gavrilovka, Guryevsky district, is a revered source in honor of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist at the site of the execution of clergy and laity.

Since the 90s XX century Numerous religious processions and prayer services are held in the Kemerovo diocese. In the summer of 1999, across the territory of the Kemerovo region. An all-Russian religious procession “For Faith and Fidelity” took place. On June 2, 2000, a religious procession was held with the updated icon of Equal Apostles. book Vladimir. The route ran through those villages of the diocese, in which Orthodox churches operated until 1917, prayers were served on the sites of unpreserved churches, and worship crosses were installed. In April 2004, Nov. 2009, in May and June 2010, clergy of the Kemerovo diocese flew around Kuzbass by helicopter, praying for the preservation of the region from man-made and natural disasters (the prayer services were associated with major accidents at Kuzbass enterprises that claimed the lives of many people). On the first Sunday of the month, all-Kuzbass prayers are held in the region for deliverance from man-made disasters. In 2010-2011 mining widows of Kuzbass made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; such trips are organized on the initiative of the governor of the Kemerovo region. A. G. Tuleev after accidents at the mines “Ulyanovskaya”, “Yubileinaya”, “Raspadskaya” and others. In November. In 2011, one of the streets in Leninsk-Kuznetsky was named in honor of the Moscow prince. St. Daniil Alexandrovich (formerly Elektronnaya St.).

Bishops

Archbishop Sophrony (Budko; November 1, 1993 - July 19, 2006, from February 25, 1998, archbishop), Metropolitan. Aristarkh (Smirnov; since August 20, 2006 bishop, since August 1, 2012 metropolitan).

Monasteries

Active: Protection of the Holy. Theotokos and St. Seraphim of Sarovsky (female, in Leninsk-Kuznetsky, the community arose in 1987, the monastery was established in April 1992), Uspensky (female, in the village of Elykaev, Kemerovo district, founded in 2008). The abolished community in the name of St. Alexia, Metropolitan Moskovsky (women's, in the village of Kuchumovsky, Mariinsky district (near the village of Elykaeva, Kemerovo district), established in 1916, closed in the 20s of the XX century).

Lit.: 10 years of the Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese Rus. Orthodox Churches. Kemerovo, 2003; Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk diocese of Rus. Orthodox Churches. Novosibirsk, 2003; Siberia at the crossroads of world religions: Materials 3rd interregion. conf. / Novosibirsk State univ. Novosibirsk, 2006; Russian Orthodox. Church of the South West Siberia (XIX-XX centuries): Ist. essays. Kemerovo, 2007; Through time and years. Kemerovo, 2012.

N. G. Gubanova, E. Yu. Kobyakov

Educational institutions

Kuzbass Theological Seminary
NOU Orthodox gymnasium in the name of St. equal to app. Cyril and Methodius, Kemerovo
Center for coordinating the work of theological and catechetical courses (BCC). Supervises the work of BPC in the cities: Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Belovo, Kiselevsk, Yurga, Prokopyevsk, Polysayevo, Sheregesh
Office of Spiritual and Moral Upbringing and Education at the Kuzbass Regional Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Education Workers
Orthodox children's centers in Kemerovo, Berezovsky, Prokopyevsk, village. Sukhovo

About the abbot

The religious organization Novokuznetsk diocese is under the control of Archpriest Vladimir Agibalov, who was previously the keymaster at the Znamensky Cathedral in Kemerovo.

He was tonsured a monk and given the name Vladimir, like the Hieromartyr Vladimir, who was Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galicia.

Soon Vladimir was elevated, as a result of which he became an archimandrite. He was appointed bishop relatively recently - in 2014.

Tips for visitors

In the church shop of the Novokuznetsk diocese you can purchase many religious goods. Among them:

icons, shelves, stands;
church utensils;
crosses, icons, bracelets, rosaries;
Gifts and souvenirs;
candles;
church vestments;
lamp oil, wicks and floats;
incense, charcoal;
peace;
church ceramics;
silver plate.

Temple icon cases are provided in different sizes. You can also choose a pectoral cross for infants and adult Christians, which will be a symbol of faith and reliable protection for them.

Let's sum it up

The history of the Novokuznetsk diocese begins in the 17th century. Having left the Siberian diocese, it became an independent administrative unit. During the period of active construction of temples, there was also a mass settlement of the surrounding areas. At this time, most local residents attend churches.

The beginning of the 21st century became a period of separation of the Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk dioceses. Now it is under the control of His Eminence Vladimir, who has the title of Bishop of Novokuznetsk and Tashtagol.

Visitors to local churches will find a church shop where they can purchase a wide range of religious products. Here every Orthodox Christian can find products to his liking.

The diocese has experienced years of decline and a change of government, but continues to develop for the benefit of believers.