Pastoral seminar: “Preparation for Holy Communion: historical practice and modern approaches to resolving the issue.”

Valentin Valentinovich Asmus
(born 1950), mitred archpriest, rector of the Moscow Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krasnoye Selo, member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church, Doctor of Theology Born on August 5, 1950 in Moscow, in the family of the famous philosopher Valentin Ferdinandovich Asmus (1894 - 1975).

Studied at the Faculty of Philology (classical department) of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, who graduated in 1975. During his student years, he was a parishioner of the Moscow Church of Elijah the Prophet in Obydenny Lane.

From 1975 to 1978 he taught Latin at the Moscow Publishing and Printing College named after. I. Fedorova. At this time, Archpriest Vsevolod Shpiller (1902 - 1984), rector of the St. Nicholas Church, became his spiritual father. “I owe my church education to the Nikolo-Kuznetsk Church”

- was talking about. Valentin. Parish traditions of the Nikolo-Kuznetsk Church (active participation of parishioners in church sacraments, frequent reading of lectures on Russian history, literature, Christian art, work of a Sunday school, work of a church singing club for everyone, work of a library, adults come to classes on Sunday evenings, consciously those striving to become a church member...) are preserved in his parish.

Since September 1, 1978, he taught subjects at Moscow theological schools: Latin, Church Slavonic, Byzantine studies, ancient Greek, church history, patrolology (the doctrine of the church fathers, from the Greek patér), history of local Orthodox churches, canon law.

On February 11, 1979, he was ordained to the rank of deacon by Archbishop Vladimir (Sabodan) of Dmitrov.

On February 4, 1990, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Alexy (Kutepov) of Astana and Almaty.

On February 25, 1993, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

He served in the Moscow Church of St. Nicholas the Ugodnik in Kuznetsy.

In 2000, he was appointed rector of the Moscow Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krasnoe Selo.

In 2002 he received a Master of Divinity degree.

On July 27, 2009, it became part of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church [1].

In June 2014 he was awarded the title of Doctor of Theology [2].

He is an associate professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, a member of the Academic Council of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University, and a teacher at the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Theological Seminary. Actively participates in the creation of the Theological Encyclopedia.

Lives in Moscow, married, his wife is Inna Viktorovna, they have nine children (seven daughters and two sons) and five grandchildren.

Used materials

• Biography on the Pravmir website
• Biography on the Russian Orthodoxy website

[1] Composition of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church dated July 27, 2009 -

[2] Archbishop Eugene of Vereisky presented diplomas of Doctor of Theology

, official website of the Moscow Patriarchate, June 17, 2014:

[3] On Monday of Bright Week, the Primate of the Russian Church celebrated the Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

, official website of the Russian Orthodox Church, April 21, 2014:

Biography of a clergyman

The future saint was born into the family of the eminent philosopher V. Asmus. After graduating from school, the young man entered Moscow State University, the Faculty of Philology. During his student years, Valentin often visited the Church of the Prophet Elijah, located in Obydensky Lane.

Archpriest Valentin Asmus

• The saint recalls that he connected his life with monasticism, as his father often read the Bible to him. The parents understood that their child would follow the church path and did not interfere with this endeavor. The philosopher father was convinced that only Orthodoxy is capable of reviving the Fatherland. In 1975, Valentin graduated from the university, and for the next three years he worked as a foreign language teacher in one of the Moscow technical schools.
• In 1978, Valentin began teaching children from theological schools. He taught languages, church history, and canon law. At the end of winter 1979, Valentin Asmus received the rank of deacon, the ordination ritual was performed by Archbishop Vladimir. From that time on, the priest became a minister of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Kuznetsy. His spiritual teacher was Father Vsevolod (Shpiller), in whom there was a great love for the environment, respect for the freedom and personality of everyone.
• In 1986, the deacon graduated from theological seminary as an external student, and four years later he completed the entire academy course in the same way. In February 1990, Archbishop Alexy ordained him to the rank of priest. In 19993, Valentin became an archpriest.
• From 2000 to the present, the monk has been the rector of the Intercession Church in Krasnoye Selo. At the beginning of 2002, the saint was awarded the degree of Master of Theological Sciences. In the same year, he began working as a teacher at the Ugresh Orthodox Seminary.

Valentin Asmus at the service

Reverend Valentine is the father of nine children. Unfortunately, his wife has already left this world. According to the saint, he and his wife had an indescribable like-mindedness, they were extremely happy with every child given to them by the Lord. His wife Inna was a selfless and loving mother, with a big heart and a sense of responsibility. On Christian holidays, there was a great crowd of people in the family, Mother Inna cooked with her friends, and the children waited for the table.

The couple always hoped for God's help in raising their children. All of their children are connected with the Church in one way or another.

An excerpt characterizing Asmus, Valentin Valentinovich

- My dear, you are a benefactor! I didn’t expect anything else from you; I knew how kind you were. He wanted to leave. - Wait, two words. Une fois passe aux gardes... [Once he joins the guard...] - She hesitated: - You are good with Mikhail Ilarionovich Kutuzov, recommend Boris to him as an adjutant. Then I would be at peace, and then I would... Prince Vasily smiled. - I don’t promise that. You don’t know how Kutuzov has been besieged since he was appointed commander-in-chief. He himself told me that all the Moscow ladies agreed to give him all their children as adjutants. - No, promise, I won’t let you in, my dear, my benefactor... - Dad! - the beauty repeated again in the same tone, - we will be late. - Well, au revoir, [goodbye,] goodbye. Do you see? - So tomorrow you will report to the sovereign? - Definitely, but I don’t promise Kutuzov. “No, promise, promise, Basile, [Vasily],” Anna Mikhailovna said after him, with the smile of a young coquette, which must once have been characteristic of her, but now did not suit her exhausted face. She apparently forgot her years and, out of habit, used all the old feminine remedies. But as soon as he left, her face again took on the same cold, feigned expression that was on it before. She returned to the circle, in which the Viscount continued to talk, and again pretended to listen, waiting for the time to leave, since her work was done. – But how do you find all this latest comedy du sacre de Milan? [Milan anointing?] - said Anna Pavlovna. Et la nouvelle comedie des peuples de Genes et de Lucques, qui viennent presenter leurs voeux a M. Buonaparte assis sur un throne, et exaucant les voeux des nations! Adorable! Non, mais c'est a en devenir folle! On dirait, que le monde entier a perdu la tete. [And here is a new comedy: the people of Genoa and Lucca express their desires to Mr. Bonaparte. And Mr. Bonaparte sits on the throne and fulfills the wishes of the people. 0! This is amazing! No, this can drive you crazy. You will think that the whole world has lost its head.] Prince Andrei grinned, looking straight into Anna Pavlovna’s face. “Dieu me la donne, gare a qui la touche,” he said (the words Bonaparte said when laying on the crown). – On dit qu'il a ete tres beau en prononcant ces paroles, [God gave me the crown. Trouble is to those who touch it. “They say he was very good at pronouncing these words,” he added and once again repeated these words in Italian: “Dio mi la dona, guai a chi la tocca.” “J'espere enfin,” continued Anna Pavlovna, “que ca a ete la goutte d'eau qui fera deborder le verre.” Les souverains ne peuvent plus supporter cet homme, qui menace tout. [I hope that this was finally the drop that overflows the glass. The sovereigns can no longer tolerate this man who threatens everything.] – Les souverains? Je ne parle pas de la Russie,” said the Viscount politely and hopelessly: “Les souverains, madame!” Qu'ont ils fait pour Louis XVII, pour la reine, pour madame Elisabeth? Rien,” he continued, animated. - Et croyez moi, ils subissent la punition pour leur trahison de la cause des Bourbons. Les souverains? Ils envoient des ambassadeurs complimenter l'usurpateur. [Sirs! I'm not talking about Russia. Sirs! But what did they do for Louis XVII, for the queen, for Elizabeth? Nothing. And, believe me, they are being punished for their betrayal of the Bourbon cause. Sirs! They send ambassadors to greet the thief of the throne.] And he, sighing contemptuously, changed his position again. Prince Hippolyte, who had been looking at the Viscount through his lorgnette for a long time, suddenly at these words turned his whole body to the little princess and, asking her for a needle, began to show her, drawing with a needle on the table, the coat of arms of Condé. He explained this coat of arms to her with such a significant air, as if the princess had asked him about it. – Baton de gueules, engrele de gueules d’azur – maison Conde, [A phrase that cannot be translated literally, as it consists of conventional heraldic terms that are not used quite accurately. The general meaning is this: The coat of arms of Condé represents a shield with red and blue narrow jagged stripes,” he said. The princess listened, smiling. “If Bonaparte remains on the throne of France for another year,” the Viscount continued the conversation that had begun, with the air of a man who does not listen to others, but in a matter that is best known to him, following only the course of his thoughts, “then things will go too far.” Through intrigue, violence, expulsions, executions, society, I mean good society, French, will be destroyed forever, and then... He shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands. Pierre wanted to say something: the conversation interested him, but Anna Pavlovna, who was watching him, interrupted. “Emperor Alexander,” she said with the sadness that always accompanied her speeches about the imperial family, “announced that he would let the French themselves choose their mode of government.” And I think there is no doubt that the whole nation, freed from the usurper, will throw itself into the hands of the rightful king,” said Anna Pavlovna, trying to be polite to the emigrant and royalist.

Selected works[ | ]

• Kulikov Alexander, archpriest, Asmus Valentin, deacon.
  Parish holiday // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1981. No. 8. p. 25.
• Asmus Valentin, priest.
  Vladimir Yurievich Wulfert [obituary] // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1985. No. 2. p. 34.
• Asmus Valentin, deacon.
  The place of the Moscow Theological Academy in the history of Russian culture [bibl. 47] // Theological works. M., 1986. Sat. MDA. pp. 316–330.
• Asmus Valentin, protodeacon.
  Filaret’s evening at the Moscow Theological Academy // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1989. No. 4. pp. 20-21.
• Theology of Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov) // Millennium of the Baptism of Rus': Materials of the International. church scientific conf. “Theology and Spirituality” (Moscow, May 11-18, 1987). - M.: Moscow. Patriarchy, 1989. - pp. 244-252.
• Asmus Valentin, priest.
  “Patrology” Minya // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 1991. No. 7 (ZhMP). pp. 71-72.
• Asmus V.V., priest, Kozarzhevsky A.Ch., Chistyakov G.P., Alekseev A.A., Rudenko A.A., Seleznev M.G., Averintsev S.S. Based
  on materials from the “round tables” , held at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1990-1991. // World of the Bible. M., 1994. No. 2. pp. 93-101.
• V. A.
  Commentary on paragraphs 34, 35, 36 from “Philosophy of Cult” by priest Pavel Florensky // Regnum Aeternum. - M.-Paris, 1996. - No. 1. - P. 198-202.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The origin of royal power. (On the interpretation of I [book] of Kings [chapter] // Regnum Aeternum. - M.-Paris, 1996. - No. 1. - P. 41-46.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . About some church canonical ideas of Patriarch Nikon // Ezheg. theologian conf. PSTBI. Materials 1992-1996. - M.: PSTBI, 1996. - P. 41-45.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The teaching of St. Tsar Justinian on the priesthood and the kingdom // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 34-40.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . About some church canonical ideas of Patriarch Nikon // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 41-45.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787 and the structure of the Church // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 63-75.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . About Monophysitism [[Analysis of the results of the Orthodox-Monophysit dialogue (final document September 1990). Theologian foundations of Monophysitism (legacy of Sevier, Patriarch of Antioch)]] // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 207-210.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Church powers of emperors in late Byzantium // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 296-298.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Theology of V. N. Lossky // Annual theological conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 1992-1996. pp. 249-252.
• [Asmus V.V., archpriest]
  . Eternal Kingdom // Regnum Aeternum. - M.-Paris, 1996. - No. 1. - P. 7-10.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787 and the power of the emperor in the Church // Regnum Aeternum. - M.-Paris, 1996. - No. 1. - P. 47-68.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The teaching of St. King Justinian on the priesthood and kingdom // Ezheg. theologian conf. PSTBI. Materials 1992-1996. - M., 1996. - P. 34-40.
• Breev G., archpriest, Shatov A., archpriest, Smirnov D., archpriest, Asmus V., archpriest, Vorobyov V., archpriest.
  Modern traditions of celebrating Easter in Moscow parishes // Bulletin of the Pastoral Seminar. M., 1996. No. 1. pp. 35-41.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Canonization of the Royal Family: pros and cons // Church and Time. M., 1998. No. 4(07). pp. 199-203.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Relations between the Church and the state according to the laws of Emperor Justinian I (the Great) // Historical Bulletin. M., 1999. No. 2. pp. 85-92.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Lord, save the Tsar (Ps 19:10): Prayer for the Tsar in Orthodox worship // Annual Theological Conference of the Orthodox St. Tikhon’s Theological Institute. M., 2000. pp. 97-107.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Principles of the theological approach to history // Historical Bulletin. M., 2000. No. 5-6(09-10). pp. 167-176.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Patristic heritage and modern church life: [Dokl. on Bogosl. conf. "Orthodox theology on the threshold of the third millennium." Moscow, February 7-9. 2000] // Church and time. M., 2000. No. 2(11). pp. 86-94.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . “Lord, save the king” [Psalm. 19, 10]: prayer for the king in Orthodox worship // Ezheg. theologian conf. PSTBI. Mat-s 2000 - M., 2000. - P. 97-107.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Church powers of emperors in late Byzantium // Ezheg. theologian conf. PSTBI. Materials 2002 - M., 2002. - P. 74-80.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . The Tsar in the Bible // Orthodox statehood: 12 letters about the Empire. Sat. Art. / ed. A. M. Velichko, M. B. Smolina. - SPb.: Publishing house. Legal Institute, 2003. - P. 230-241.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Saint Gregory Palamas and imperial power // Theological collection. - M.: PSTBI, 2003. - Issue. XI. — P. 137—157.
• Asmus V.V., archpriest
  . Church powers of the Byzantine emperors // Orthodox statehood: 12 letters about the Empire. Sat. Art. / ed. A. M. Velichko, M. B. Smolina. - SPb.: Publishing house. Legal Institute, 2003. - pp. 30-44.
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . 550 years of the fall of Constantinople // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2003. No. 6 (ZhMP). 46-57. Key words: general history of the Church; Orthodox Churches: Constantinople
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . V Ecumenical Council (1450 years) // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2003. No. 12 (ZhMP). 38-50. Key words: general history of the Church; Ecumenical Councils: V
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . How not to publish books by Protopresbyter John Meyendorff // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2002. No. 11 (ZhMP). 78-88. Key words: bibliography, reviews; Meyendorff John, protopresbyter; Lurie V. M., theologian
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . Nun Magdalena (in the world - Vera Aleksandrovna Reshchikova) [obituary] // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2003. No. 12 (ZhMP). 34-35. Key words: obituaries; Magdalena (Reschikova), nun
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . Sermon on Tatiana's Day in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2003. No. 2 (ZhMP). 42-45. Key words: sermons, words; basic theology (apologetics); Tatiana of Rome, virgin, martyr
• Asmus Valentin, archpriest.
  . Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus (on the 1600th anniversary of his repose) // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2003. No. 5 (ZhMP). 68-76.
• Archpriest Valentin Asmus commented on Bishop Diomede’s letter // pravoslavie.ru, March 9, 2007
• Archpriest Valentin Asmus: “Eucharist”
• Archpriest Valentin Asmus: The world is increasingly considering the foundations of the Christian faith
• Archpriest Valentin Asmus: “The political history of the Orthodox state is inseparable from the church history”
• Archpriest Valentin Asmus. Will the Russian Church be united?
• Archive Archpriest Valentin Asmus