Stakhy Kolotvin comes from a generation that was touched by important periods in the formation of our country: he was born during the years of perestroika and became a church member in the 90s, learned the basics of theology in the 2000s, and became a priest in modern times. In his biography, the church and faith in God have always come first, so now he devotes himself entirely to performing services and preaching.
The priest is sure that work should make any person happy; he himself is not only the rector of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Mitino, but also takes part in the filming of Orthodox television programs. Father Stakhy talks very wisely and explains everything clearly, and he is good with humor, so the audience listens to him with pleasure. He is confident that one must live as if Christ were standing at the door. Indeed, in this case you will have to behave decently, not be rude to anyone and drive away all bad thoughts; Living like this is, of course, difficult, but there is an incentive.
For many believers, his harmonious and warm relationship with his wife and children became an example of what a real family should be. The priest himself tries to find time to communicate with his family and also go on long journeys with them. He likes this way of life and gives him a positive attitude towards serving the Church.
Coming to Faith
The future priest was born in 1989 in Moscow. His parents at that time were Orthodox people, but they gradually joined the church. Little Stakhy attended an Orthodox kindergarten group - the Church of Boris and Gleb in Degunin, and also went to services with his mother and father. Having watched enough of the priest walking around in church with a censer, he tried to be like him: he took the massager, folded it in half, then walked around the apartment with it and rattled it. Over time, he liked to serve at the altar and repeat the words of prayers during the service.
Stakhy Kolotvin in childhood
Kolotvin’s younger brothers and sister were born when their parents had already become churchgoers. His younger brother is not at all like him: as a child, he played basketball and was interested in mathematics. But they both passionately loved football and played chess. The younger brother was educated at Moscow State University, and his sister entered MGIMO.
Mom Stakhia went to church on Sunday, and also tried to attend weekday services, especially on the days of remembrance of great saints. Often the boy went on pilgrimage trips with his mother, which he really liked. At that time, his father worked for a grant organization and he had to travel regularly on business trips. Sometimes Stakhy kept his parent company; visiting different cities, they visited churches and monasteries, where they worshiped shrines. His parents did not even think then about him becoming a priest. They simply instilled faith in their son and tried to give him a good education.
parents
Kolotvin studied at a fee-paying school, where there were many wonderful teachers. He especially remembers the lessons of art history teacher Vitaly Egorovich Suslenkov, who not only explained his subject well, but also helped schoolchildren to feel the beauty and depth of everything beautiful. Often the whole class went to various cities of Russia to see one or another attraction.
Mom Stakhiya really wanted him to learn to play the violin, however, the boy himself had no desire to master this instrument. As a result, he chose classical guitar and studied at a music school. The future priest also took classes in carving and fencing, eventually becoming a candidate for master of sports. The young man loved to play football with his friends, a passion for which has not gone away to this day.
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As a high school student, Kolotvin thought for a long time about what he should become. He liked archeology and physics, but he wanted to do something else. The young man always liked to communicate with people, argue and organize something, so he decided to become an Orthodox politician who would help the Church. His parents suggested enrolling in Moscow State University or MGIMO, but chance decided everything. Together with his mother, Stakhy went for a blessing to the abbot of the Novospassky Monastery, Alexy (Frolov), who listened to him and immediately suggested: “Then what should we look for? We must serve at the Throne of God, especially since we have a starting position.” The young man was educated at the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Humanitarian University at the Faculty of Theology, and also completed postgraduate studies.
Places of service
Kolotvin finished his studies when he was 21 years old, then he served as an altar boy for another three years. Since 2008, he entered service at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, where he was a reader and psalm-reader, and three years later he appeared in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trinity-Lykovo. Stakhy also gained experience in the Temple of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in Kurkino and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trinity-Lykovo. He currently serves as a priest at the Church of the All-Merciful Savior in Mitino, where he came in 2014.
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Back in the days when he served in the church with Father Gregory Geronimus and had just begun to take his first steps in the rank of priest, he talked for a very long time with parishioners in confession, for which his father chided him in a fatherly manner. However, Kolotvin himself was sure that he was doing everything right, because without pastoral experience, he had to listen to all the repentants and give detailed advice, supporting them with references from the Holy Scriptures.
Now he also teaches the Law of God at the school of the North-Western Vicariate “Spas”, trying to teach older children. Father Stakhy is confident that children should not be forced to join the faith and that it is important to give them maximum freedom. In his lessons, he himself tries to explain to his students that only with God’s help can a Christian achieve more than an unbeliever. The priest often organizes trips for schoolchildren, going with them to different cities and countries. They have already visited the Holy Land, Constantinople, Greece and other holy places.
Biography
Priest Stakhy Kolotvin was born in 1989 in Moscow. The elder brother in an Orthodox large family. In 2005 he graduated from the Classical Gymnasium at the Yu.A. Shichalin State Lying School, as well as Children's Music School No. 1 named after. Prokofiev in classical guitar class. In the same year he entered the Department of Ancient Christian Literature of the Theological Faculty of St. Tikhon's University, which he graduated in 2010; in 2013 he graduated from graduate school at the Theological Faculty of PSTGU. During the years of study, he acted as a speaker at scientific conferences in Russia, Serbia and Germany, participated in PSTGU missionary trips to remote areas of the Arkhangelsk region, and twice went on an internship to Greece at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Since childhood, Fr. Stakhy served at the altar and sang on the choir in various churches in Moscow, in parallel with his studies at PSTGU, he served as a full-time reader of the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhov. On January 19, 2013, he was ordained to the rank of deacon by His Eminence Mark, Archbishop of Yegoryevsk, Administrator of the North-Western Vicariate of Moscow, and appointed to the staff of the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trinity-Lykovo. For several months he was sent to the Intercession Stauropegial Convent and the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God in Kurkino. On March 30, 2014, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' ordained Fr. Stachia to the rank of presbyter and by his Patriarchal Decree appointed him a full-time priest of the Church of the All-Merciful Savior in Mitino. In 2014, he was appointed responsible for the construction of the Holy Cross Church in Mitino. Currently, he serves as a church-wide obedient assistant for the Moscow Patriarchate Office for Foreign Institutions. He is also an employee of the Public Relations Department of PSTGU and teaches the Law of God and the defense industrial complex at the Orthodox school “Spas” of the North-Western Vicariate of Moscow. Father Stakhy is married and has a daughter and son.
Archpriest Stakhy Minchenko, photo from Alexander’s website. dioceses
On the evening of May 15, 2021, Sunday, the confessor of the Kirzhach deanery, honorary rector of the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Filippovskoye, mitred archpriest Stakhy Mikhailovich Minchenko, died at the age of 75.
Father served in our Trinity Cathedral since December 1981 as a deacon, and in 1990 he was ordained a priest. From 1992 until his death, he was the rector of the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Filippovskoye, reviving both the ruins and the temple, and many human souls.
Just as you have placed that servant on earth in the church, show it also in your heavenly altar, O Lord: you have adorned spiritual men with this dignity, and receive him into angelic glory without condemnation: You yourself glorified his life on earth, and you yourself also glorified the outcome of his life. place him in the entrance of your righteous saints: his spirit has been numbered with all those who have pleased You from all eternity. (from the rite of the priestly funeral service)
Procession ca. 1988, ahead of Deacon Stakhy
1988, religious procession at the Trinity Cathedral, St. Georgy Zapolnov in the center. On the left is Archimandrite. Justinian (Sagan), on the right is Deacon Stakhy Minchenko.
Meeting 1992
Priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, mitered archpriest, confessor of the Kirzhach deanery of the Vladimir and Suzdal diocese. He began his religious activities in 1981, becoming a deacon of the Prince Vladimir Church (Vladimir). Since March 1984, he has been a deacon at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Alexandrov), and since 1990 he has become a priest in this church. After graduating from theological seminary in 1992, he was appointed rector of the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Filippovskoye (Kirzhachsky district, Vladimir region), during the years of his service, he literally revived the temple, which was in a ruined state, and served in it until the end of his days. Father was very revered by his parishioners, among whom were not only the simplest people, but also singers, artists, and statesmen. Father Stakhia had a gift: through his prayers, many people quit smoking. In April 2003, Father Stakhy was awarded the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, III degree, and in 2004, the Order of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, III degree. Father Stakhy reposed in the Lord on May 15, 2021, and was buried next to the church where he served for more than 20 years.
Participation in television projects
For some time now, Kolotvin has been taking part in various Orthodox programs. As a guest of the “Conversations with Father” program on the Soyuz TV channel, he answered a number of questions from viewers:
- Is it possible to replace evening prayers with Small Compline?
- Is there a difference between “Epiphany” and “Epiphany” water?
- Is it necessary to pray for sinful people?
- What is the spiritual benefit of reading the Holy Scriptures?
- How to learn to do good?
- What to do if a child takes off the cross and says that there is no God?
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The conversation with the priest can also be seen on the channel of the Orthodox biblical project Exeget. In one of the videos, he gives interpretations of chapters of the Bible and explains what it means:
- The rebirth of man;
- Baptism by John the Baptist;
- Works of the flesh;
- Descent of the Holy Spirit;
- The opportunity to be resurrected to life.
Father Stakhy also collaborates with the SPAS TV channel, appearing in such programs as:
- "Straight line. The priest's answer";
- "Covenant";
- "I do not believe";
- "And there will be two."
Helping people
A huge number of people turned to the elder for help. Among them were honest workers with their own problems, singers, artists, and statesmen. They came from far away, from the Urals, Siberia, Greece, France and America. In one day, Father Stakhy could host 500 people.
Through his prayer he could heal people from terrible addictions such as drug addiction, drinking and smoking. He accepted everyone and was ready to listen to everyone; no one left him without an answer. He helped in matters of the heart, with prayer, and with his advice.
Personal life
As a young man, Kolotvin dated girls, but all these dates did not bring him much joy, since the young man did not have unanimity with them. Then he began to pray: “Lord, send me true love,” and soon, indeed, he met his chosen one. His future wife Anna studied at the same university, but at first the young people just simply said hello to each other. When they started dating, Stakhy quickly decided to propose to the girl. Anna loved the young man, but for some time she could not decide to become the priest’s wife.
wedding
Nevertheless, she agreed, and soon their wedding took place. This event happened in May 2009. The newlyweds got married in a church in Krasnoye Selo, where the invited priests and almost 150 of their friends came. The entire time the ceremony was going on, a choir consisting of his classmates sang. And after the wedding, all the guests rushed to the celebration, which was hosted by their beloved mothers and fathers.
Kolotvin’s wife is also from a large family, so they had the example of their parents before their eyes. First, the eldest son Gleb was born into the family, and then a daughter, Varya, and a son, Rodion, were born. Since the priest often has to leave home, raising the children fell on Anna's shoulders. She introduces children to work, takes care of their health and education, and also talks about important Orthodox events. When there are holidays and birthdays in the family, Anna and the children bake a cake and put on some kind of performance.
Stakhy Kolotvin with his wife and daughter
Over the 10 years of family life, not everything was serene between the spouses, but love for God always strengthened their relationship. They always treated each other with respect, so they did not find good reasons for violent quarrels and conflicts. If there were any misunderstandings, after some time Stakhy asked for forgiveness and made peace with his wife. Often he relieved his wife of caring for the children and gave her time to rest and sleep.
In turn, Anna also often makes concessions and supports her husband’s initiatives. For example, she has long dreamed of renovating her apartment, but Stakhy does not want to spend money on this, since traveling is more important to him. Some people like to spend time at home under a warm blanket, others dream of a car, but the priest likes to see new places and get vivid impressions. The couple has never been afraid to take small children with them, although traveling with them is not easy.
family
Kolotvin never tires of admiring his chosen one:
My wife is always on top, like the myrrh-bearers, and I, just as the apostles caught up with the myrrh-bearers on the way to the Risen Christ, I am also forced to constantly catch up with Anya in spiritual growth!
In 2021, Anna finally managed to pass her driving test and get her license. True, it only worked on the fourth try, but she was still able to do it. The priest himself, after previous unsuccessful attempts to pass the exam, consoled his wife and said that there was no need for her to rush to get her license, since there was no money for a car yet anyway.
Interesting Facts
- From birth, Kolotvin’s name was Stanislav, but they began to call him Stakhy. Despite the fact that there is no such Orthodox saint, the priest fell in love with this name. His baptism took place during the Soviet years, and his grandmother did it, but his parents did not go to church.
- As a schoolboy, he sang in the Byzantine chant children's and youth choir. Their regent was a wonderful woman, Elena Evgenievna Limonova, who took the choristers to pilgrimage sites. On one of these trips, the guys even managed to sing in Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
- During his school years, Kolotvin was interested in archeology and history, having read many textbooks and books on this topic. Now he likes to travel to different places, wander through ruins, climb mountains and look for something interesting.
- In some printed sources, Father Stakhia is called a “Viking in a cassock.” It was no coincidence that he received this nickname: it turns out that the priest is still a football fan. He now has a season ticket to the football stadium, which allows him to sometimes chat with his friends and watch the game in the central stands.
- In 2021, he managed to visit Hong Kong and celebrate the Divine Liturgy in one of the city’s skyscrapers. Life on the island is very expensive, so it is not possible to build a building for an Orthodox parish, which is why the church in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul is located here on the 12th floor.
St. Nicholas Church: revival
O. Stakhy is also known as a revivalist of the rural church. In 1992, he was sent to St. Nicholas Church. It was almost completely destroyed; few parishioners visited it. Father Stakhy put a lot of effort into restoring the church; he painted the walls himself and landscaped the area. Today, this place is famous not only for the Vladimir region, but for all of Russia as a whole. This church deservedly bears the unspoken title of a miracle of the Russian hinterland.
On the territory of the temple there is a refectory, a baptismal temple, and a holy spring, which was neglected for a long time. The temple can accommodate 1500 people. As during the life of the elder, after his death people still go to the village of Filippovskoye for this temple.
