Vasily Ermakov, Archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church: biography, memory

Going to people was his main rule. He came down from the pulpit to ask everyone about their needs and try to help. Being a true shepherd, he served people with his heartfelt words, which combined the requirement of repentant discipline and boundless love and mercy for the suffering. Being a faithful son of his long-suffering homeland, he boldly spoke out on the most pressing topics relating to its modern life and tragic history.

For a long time, Vasily Ermakov, archpriest, served as rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov (Seraphim Cemetery in St. Petersburg). He is one of the most famous Russian priests of recent decades. His authority is recognized both in the St. Petersburg diocese and far beyond its borders.

Vasily Ermakov, archpriest: “My life was a battle...”

His life was “a battle, truly, for God, for faith, for purity of thought and for visiting the temple of God.” This is how priest Vasily Ermakov defined his credo in one of his last interviews.

Thousands of people for many years, including during Soviet times, thanks to him, found their way to the Church. The fame of his undoubted spiritual gifts spread far beyond the borders of Russia. People came to him from different parts of the world for advice and guidance.

Father Vasily provided spiritual help and support to many. He believed that everyone needed to “pray sincerely, with all my heart and all my soul. Prayer attracts the Spirit, and the Spirit removes... everything unnecessary, ugly and teaches how to live and behave...”

“I serve God and people.” Memories of Father Vasily Ermakov

Memories of Father Vasily Ermakov († February 3, 2007)

On February 3, we remember Archpriest Vasily Ermakov: 12 years have passed since the day of his blessed death.

From 1981 until his death, the priest served in the cemetery church in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and people came and went here. They came to get advice, to get out of a difficult life situation. Many had never crossed the threshold of a church before, but they had heard that the “Elder of St. Petersburg” had the gift of reasoning and was ready to help everyone. Father Vasily himself did not consider himself an old man, but willingly went to meet people halfway. They will never forget this warmth, participation and lively interest.

Father Vasily's school

Priest Mikhail Preobrazhensky,
rector of the church of St. Spyridon of Trimifuntsky under construction (Krasnaya Zarya village) and the church of St. Prince Vladimir (Sverdlov village, Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region):
- I talked with the priest for about fifteen years. He stood next to him as a deacon. I served with him for ten years. He taught me everything. How to stand before God, how to pray correctly. How to repent. Some of what Father Vasily said, I understood over time - it came over the years: big things are seen from a distance. When simple words are spoken to you, you hear them, but you don’t immediately understand what they mean.

Father Vasily also showed how to serve. How to read the rule. How to come to work early. How you should not rush home in the evening and first let people go, and then go about your own business.

Father Vasily had a good school, learned from pre-revolutionary priests. And he passed all this on to the young. And the main lesson is simple: everything that God sends is to be accepted. Live in the current circumstances, stand, endure, resign yourself to the circumstances. And also - be silent.

Father loved people very much, and everyone thought that he loved him more than anyone. How many people have I met, everyone has this feeling.

I constantly feel the support of Father Vasily. When it’s difficult for me, I remember my father and it makes me feel better.

A North Star to Pastoral Ministry

Archpriest Andrei Bityukov,
rector of the St. Petersburg Church in the name of the holy martyr Raisa of Alexandria at the Institute of Pediatric Hematology and Transplantology named after.
R.M. Gorbachev: – I first heard about Father Vasily when I was eleven years old. We came to the homeland of our ancestors in the Tver region. Not far away was the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. And so my mother, sister and I came to this temple (and I was already a believer). And I met the local priest, Father Vladimir, a very bright priest (now he is Hieromonk Bartholomew - one of the first inhabitants of the Nile Hermitage, on Seliger). We began to correspond with him, and the priest mentioned Father Vasily in his letters and strongly suggested that we go to him for spiritual guidance. He even wrote in detail how to get there. And although it was Father Vasily Ermakov who later determined my life path as a priest, I did not come to the priest right away.

And the first meeting with Father Vasily was like this. I studied at the parish school that opened in the Prince Vladimir Cathedral and after some time received from Father Pavel Krasnotsvetov, the rector of this cathedral, an offer to help in the altar - I was then thirteen years old. And then one summer, on a holiday (it was the summer Kazan or the memory of Prince Vladimir), I saw Father Vasily in the altar of our church. He was very cheerful and lively. I approached him, conveyed a bow from Tver Father Vladimir, Father Vasily hugged me tightly and said: “Come to me.” But... the service at the altar of the Prince Vladimir Cathedral held me back, then I moved to the newly opened St. Andrew's Cathedral, where there was also a lot to do... Somehow I still couldn’t come to Father Vasily.

Soon, Archpriest Mikhail Mokropolov, who had previously served with Father Vasily, became the rector of St. Andrew's Cathedral. And Father Vasily began to come to us quite often. Our new meeting there was not very smooth; the priest did not treat me so kindly. He began to say that everyone was somehow united, but this young man kept to himself; maybe there is no cross on it. Well, in his own half-joking manner. Then he crossed me quite painfully, sensitively, so that even his fingers and nails pressed against my forehead, and again said: “Andryusha, come to me, I will be very glad to see you.”

Some time passed, and in our church I met a girl, Anastasia, from... Seraphim Church. She and I became very close friends. It soon became clear that our friendship was more than friendship. When we realized that we wanted to be together, I went to Father Vasily for a blessing - to ask for the hand of my future mother. To which Father Vasily put his fist under my nose and said: “Go sing!”

So I began to go to St. Seraphim Church regularly, combining it with services in St. Andrew’s Cathedral. I was also allowed into the altar of the Seraphim Church, and with a camera. Father Vasily allowed himself to be filmed in the altar - in that special concentrated atmosphere in which few people see him. He was very supportive of it.

Father was happy when I came to the church for the early service before him. And, of course, he took care of our relationship with my future mother Anastasia, he really “saw” us, as they say. He always spoke about us in the plural and gave some small gifts for the two of us. This was very important to us, because times were difficult, it was not easy for us to communicate with this world together. Many did not welcome our relationship, but Father Vasily supported them. And we really felt this support.

It was from Father Vasily that I received blessings for the most important turns in my life. He became a spiritual father for me. He blessed me to study at the seminary, and not at the medical institute, where I was going to go after working at the Ambulance Service. He blessed me to be ordained at a very early age: at the age of 21 I became a deacon. Before that, with the blessing of Father Vasily, we had a son (and at the first time of our marriage, Anastasia and I did not have children, and I was very worried about this). Then four more children were born.

Father Vasily and I lived not far from each other. And then one day after the service, when I was still a deacon, Father Vasily offered me a ride to my house and during this trip he said that I needed to be ordained as a priest. I began to object, saying that I was only 23, that I was still very young, that I had only been serving as a deacon for a year and four months, that I couldn’t cope... Father Vasily responded to all these objections: “You need to become a priest. Do not be afraid of anything. Love people."

My father often told me: “Why are you, Andryusha, coming to my training.” But I, for example, did not confess to Father Vasily. But the priest asked that I be present when he confessed, and closely monitor what he was doing.

It was gratifying for me to take holy orders on Father Vasily’s name day - in memory of St. Basil the Great. This joy was further aggravated by the fact that the ordination took place in the Church of the Three Saints, which I had known since childhood, I once helped clear its yard of debris, and was present at the opening of the doors of this temple. This happened, apparently, through the prayers of Father Vasily.

And there was a special feeling when the priest passed away. I managed to serve a memorial service, very, very early - at six in the morning, at his coffin, to take part in the funeral service for Father Vasily.

This special style of Father Vasily, very attentive, very kind, slightly joking with those who need it, is an example for me to follow. The image of Father Vasily is a guiding star in my pastoral ministry. I regret that I cannot discuss many issues with him. And this is the common regret of many of his spiritual children.

“It was an acquaintance with the phenomenon of holiness”

Vladimir Viktorovich Dementyev,
spiritual child of Father Vasily:
– Father Vasily Ermakov is a spiritual mentor, a man of extraordinary strength. For me it was an acquaintance with the phenomenon of holiness. We all come to Church with some kind of preliminary experience, through some kind of meeting. We are searching, and finally this meeting is updated. Meeting with God through the bearer of the image of Christ. Man is the image of God, but there is also the likeness of God. Such a meeting changes everything in life, especially if you have been seeing this person for several years. For you, the Church, the tradition, the history of the Church take shape. After Father Vasily left, the understanding came that there were other parishes, other forms, liturgical practices, other communication between the priest and the people. When you talk to learned priests or read their works, that’s one thing. But with a person of such enormous spiritual strength as Father Vasily, it’s different.

I was always amazed by the words of Father Vasily. He spoke so powerfully and confidently. He knew that they believed him. Let us remember the first words of the Gospel of John about the word: you hear it, you feel it. Being next to a person like our father gave something similar.

It was difficult to get his attention: at the turn of the 2000s, this parish suddenly turned from a local one into something completely different - such a stream of people poured in after hearing about Father Vasily.

The church there is small, but so many people came! It was simply unclear how everyone fit in there. But we're used to it. On the contrary, in this crush there was unity, cohesion. Sometimes you see at the end of the Liturgy how people come out and come out... it would seem that everything, the church is empty, because so many people have come out, but you go inside to venerate the Cross, and you see: the church is full of people! Simply amazing.

Father Vasily had a special view of the Church, of tradition, inherited from the priesthood to which he came when he came to serve after the war at St. Nicholas Cathedral. There he learned customs and traditions, which in turn were learned by those who served there under the pre-revolutionary shepherds. And he broadcast these views. He had a number of fundamental points. First of all, a sacred, reverent attitude towards Communion. This is the main Sacrament. He always struggled with the misunderstanding of Communion, when for some the Sacrament was like a pill, and someone came on the advice: they say, you need to take communion. He was always very strict about this.

Every Sunday, Father Vasily came to the early Liturgy much earlier than seven in the morning. And at this time a huge crowd of people was already gathering in the temple. The chapel where confession took place was small. After confession, Father Vasily spoke very important sermons. And to hear his words, you had to come at five in the morning, at half past five, to get into this chapel. The rest stood in the temple - a huge line. And Father Vasily confessed throughout the service. He could not allow many people to take Communion, but he left them nearby: he saw that they needed to cheer up... And he left some for the late Liturgy, which he himself served.

Just imagine: a man is already close to 80 years old, and he himself confesses the entire early service, then he himself serves the later one, and then he also serves a prayer service. He also talks with people. When he died, it seemed like it happened so suddenly. Apparently, the grace that was in him helped him to be so unusually cheerful until the very last moments of his life. This is a huge example of courage. What a strong man! That strong voice of his...Strong!

He was very attentive to the preparation for Communion and strictly demanded that all the required rules be read. And not to proofread late at night, when your head can no longer think straight, but, for example, before the Saturday evening service. People gathered in the temple and read.

He had his own school, his own views on piety: the temple of God is a school of piety. And he told how as a young man during the war years, when a church was opened in Bolkhov, he went to church: I see: the people are bowing - and I bow; I see: people are kissing the icons - and I’m kissing them... He said: come to us, pray, stand with us, look around - you will probably like it, and you will also go to church. Such a school of practical theology. And the main thing is this: he said: “I’m ready to work with you.” As he told one woman in an interview: “You come to me, you and I, like in school, like in primary school, we’ll go through everything, we’ll look at everything, we’ll find answers to all the questions, just come and look at us.” In post-Soviet Russia this was an amazing phenomenon.

Many experienced that Father Vasily’s blessing was a signal, a green light. If he blessed you - and there are many everyday situations when you don’t know what to do - then with the blessing of the priest everything will work out as it should. And you always knew that you could ask Father Vasily. True, a lot of people came to him, and it was necessary to catch him - for example, on the way, when he was going to or from the temple. But here’s an interesting point: when you had a serious question, you always received an answer from the priest. I remember once I really needed to consult, and so I was standing at the parish house and I realized that it was unlikely to work out, because there were so many people... It was spring, it was dripping... And suddenly a man comes out and says: “Come in, the priest is waiting for you.” . I was simply amazed!

"Do not give up!"

Ekaterina Dmitrievna Bagryantseva , spiritual child of Father Vasily Ermakov:

– February 3 marks twelve years since the death of Father Vasily. But time has no power over the memory of a loved and dear person. Everyone keeps in their hearts the memories of their first meeting with the priest, of the extraordinary love that he so generously bestowed on us. There was always confidence in the correctness of his advice and decisions.

It was a bright and happy time in our lives. Despite all the difficulties and sorrows. He taught us to live, taught us to love and carry joy in our hearts. “Don’t lose heart,” you can hear his voice. “I serve God and people. I was put on this by God,” - these words contain his whole life.

The phenomenon of Father Vasily is in his extraordinary love, in his big heart. The Lord expands a person’s heart, and he becomes able to love a huge number of people. What attracts a person to another person? Only love and only attention. And only kindness. You know, no one will ever go to an empty well, as the wonderful Russian proverb says. Father possessed extraordinary spiritual gifts.

He, of course, was a great patriot of his homeland. He loved Russia endlessly. He wrote a lot about Bolkhov, about Russia, about its wonderful places. He loved nature very much.

I remember we were sitting once with the priest. And a man came to the temple, probably entering church for the first time... He was told that there was such a priest, it would be good to talk to him. Father talked to him and asked him to give him his books and newspaper sheets with articles. And this man said: “I have never encountered so much warmth in my life. He just warmed my soul!” Food for the soul is love. Love and prayer.

Prepared by Nikita Filatov

Biography

Vasily Ermakov, clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, mitred archpriest, was born on December 20, 1927 in Bolkhov (Oryol province), and died on February 3, 2007 in St. Petersburg.

“Many,” said Vasily Ermakov (you can see his photo in the article), “believe that the priest has some kind of privilege or special grace over the laity. The sad thing is that most of the clergy think this way. In fact, the special privilege of a priest is that he must be a servant to everyone he meets. Throughout life, without holidays or weekends, around the clock.”

Father Vasily emphasized the high missionary meaning and sacrificial nature of the life and work of a clergyman. “You’re not in the mood – go and serve. If your back or legs hurt, go and serve. Problems in the family, and you go and serve! This is what the Lord and the Gospel demand. There is no such attitude - to live your whole life for people - do something else, do not take on the burden of Christ,” said priest Vasily Ermakov.

The period of occupation became significant in the fate of Father Vasily

The biography of Father Vasily Ermakov during the Great Patriotic War is unique. The fact is that the Germans captured their native Bolkhov with fighting in October 1941. The Nazis sent city residents over the age of 14 to forced labor. They were forced to dig trenches, clear roads, build a bridge, and fill up craters.

Alexievskaya Church of the city of Bolkhov. 1941 Here the occupying German authorities allowed the opening of a temple. It became the first temple where Vasily Ermakov began to go

Believers in the city opened an underground church, collecting church utensils and icons from the bombed church and city museums.

The Germans allowed it to be officially opened on October 16, 1941 in the 17th century church in the name of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow.

It was located on the territory of the former convent of the Nativity of Christ.

March 30, 1942

on this day Father Vasily began serving as an altar boy in the church

Priest Vasily Veryovkin served in the church. Here the future archpriest attended a church service for the first time.

Further, starting from the Nativity of Christ in 1942, he regularly attends services there.

Noting his zeal, the priest on March 30, 1942, assigned him to serve at the altar as a priest.

Procession of the cross in the city of Bolkhov. 1943 In the center is Father Vasily Verevkin. On March 30, 1942, Father Vasily appointed Vasily Ermakov to the altar.

The teenager was bullied by his peers, because it was not customary to openly demonstrate one’s religiosity in the USSR, even during the occupation. By the way, subsequently, Father Vasily sharply opposed Bolshevism and Soviet power. He considered them a great disaster for Russia.

Childhood and adolescence

He was born into a peasant family. His first mentor in the church faith was his father. At that time (late 30s) all 28 churches in his small hometown were closed. Vasily began studying at school in 1933, and in 1941 he completed seven classes.

In the fall of 1941, the city of Bolkhov was captured by the Germans. Everyone over the age of fourteen was sent to forced labor: clearing roads, digging trenches, burying craters, building bridges.

In October 1941, a church was opened in Bolkhov, built near a former convent. It was in this church that he attended a service for the first time, and from March 1942 Vasily Ermakov began to go there regularly and serve at the altar. The archpriest recalled that it was a 17th century church, erected in the name of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow. The local priest's name was Father Vasily Verevkin.

In July 1943, Ermakov and his sister were caught in a raid. In September they were driven to one of the Estonian camps. The Tallinn Orthodox leadership held divine services in the camps, and Archpriest Mikhail Ridiger came here among other clergy. Friendly relations began between Ermakov and the archpriest.

In 1943, an order was issued to release priests and their families from the camps. Vasily Verevkin, who was sitting there, included the namesake among his family. So the young clergyman managed to leave the camp.

Vasily Timofeevich Ermakov comes from a pious family

Vasily Ermakov was born on December 20, 1927 into a pious peasant family.

Father - Timofey Ermakov, mother - Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Nikiforova.

December 20, 1927

birthday of Vasily Ermakov

The family of Vasily’s parents lived all their lives in the city of Bolkhov, Oryol region.

Here the priest is remembered and honored to this day. In Bolkhov one of the streets is named after him.

The Ermakov family. From left to right: Vasily Ermakov, his father Timofey Tikhonovich, his mother Praskovya Ilyinichna. The future archpriest was born into a pious peasant family

Vasily received his first instructions in the Christian faith from his father. The fact is that by the end of the thirties, all 28 churches in the city were closed. The knowledge and example of Christian life received from him later determined the fate of the priest.

As for secular education, in 1933 he entered school, seven classes of which he graduated from by 1941.

Arrest of Patriarch Tikhon (blessing of Patriarch Tikhon). 1996 Having seen the attitude of the Bolsheviks towards the Church in childhood, Father Vasily retained a hostile attitude towards Soviet power throughout his life.

It should be noted that seeing in childhood all the lawlessness committed by the Bolsheviks, Archpriest Vasily Ermakov became a staunch opponent of the communist regime for the rest of his life. His own father suffered from the Bolsheviks, who was dispossessed for “a horse and a winnowing fan.”

In addition, the scenes of reprisals carried out by representatives of the new government against the priests made a grave impression on the young man.

Until the end of the war

Together with Mikhail Ridiger's son Alexei, Vasily Ermakov also served as a subdeacon with Bishop Pavel of Narva. The archpriest recalled that at the same time, in order to feed himself, he was forced to work in a private factory.

In September 1944, Tallinn was liberated by Soviet troops. Vasily Timofeevich Ermakov was mobilized. Served at the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet. And he devoted his free time to performing the duties of an altar boy, subdeacon, and bell ringer in the Tallinn Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Education

When the war ended, Vasily Ermakov returned home. In 1946, he passed the exams at the Leningrad Theological Seminary, which he successfully completed in 1949. His next place of study was the Theological Academy (1949-1953), after graduating from which he received a candidate's degree in theology. The topic of his course work was: “The role of the Russian clergy in the liberation struggle of the people during the Time of Troubles.”

The future Patriarch Alexy II also studied in the same group with Ermakov (they sat together at the same desk). The Theological Academy contributed to the final formation of the views of the young priest and the determination of a firm decision to devote his life to serving God and people.

Spiritual activity

After completing his studies at the academy, Vasily Ermakov gets married. His chosen one was Lyudmila Aleksandrovna Nikiforova.

In November 1953, the young priest was ordained a deacon by Bishop Roman of Tallinn and Estonia. In the same month, he was ordained a priest and appointed clergyman of the St. Nicholas Cathedral.

St. Nicholas Cathedral left a large memorable mark in the mind of the priest. Its parishioners included famous artists of the Mariinsky Theater: singer Preobrazhenskaya, choreographer Sergeev. The funeral service for the great Anna Akhmatova was held in this cathedral. Father Vasily confessed to the parishioners who visited St. Nicholas Cathedral from the late 20s and 30s.

Holy Trinity Church

In 1976, the clergyman was transferred to the Holy Trinity Church “Kulich and Easter”. The temple was reopened immediately after the end of the war, in 1946, and remained one of the few operating in the city. Most Leningraders had some dear memories associated with this temple.

Its architecture is unusual: the church “Kulich and Easter” (temple and bell tower), even in the frostiest winter or dank autumn slush, its shape reminds of spring, Easter, and the awakening to life.

Vasily Ermakov served here until 1981.

Last place of pastoral ministry

Since 1981, Father Vasily was transferred to the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, located at the Seraphim cemetery. It became the last place of pastoral service of the famous priest.

Here the mitered archpriest (i.e., the archpriest awarded the right to wear a miter) Vasily Ermakov served as rector for more than 20 years. For him, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, in whose honor the temple was built, was a high example, a model of devoted service to his neighbor.

Until his last days, Father spent all his time here, from early liturgies until late in the evening.

On January 15, 2007, on the day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the priest delivered a farewell sermon dedicated to the saint to his flock. And on January 28, Father Vasily held the last service.

Father Vasily Ermakov is one of the most famous and authoritative clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church

During the years of Soviet power, Orthodox Christianity was subjected to unprecedented persecution in Russia. Under these conditions, the current state of affairs, when believers united around the temple, changed.

Since many churches were destroyed, the Orthodox began to unite around the personalities of certain clergy. Such shepherds were models of devotion to God, so many wanted to ask their advice.

Archpriest Vasily (Ermakov), 2012, Bolkhov. Archpriest Vasily Ermakov is recognized as one of the most authoritative priests of St. Petersburg

Priest Vasily Ermakov became one of such authoritative priests in St. Petersburg. Thousands of people came to his sermons. Many came from Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, and Kazakhstan. For many years he served at the Seraphim Cemetery in the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

For services to the Russian Orthodox Church, the archpriest was awarded the right to wear a miter. Received the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the gates open until the Lord's Prayer. Awarded orders of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Spiritual center

The small wooden church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, in which the beloved shepherd served, was the first Russian church built in honor of the saint. It was famous for the fact that during its hundred-year history it always had the largest parish.

During the service there of Vasily Ermakov, one of the most famous and revered Russian priests, this place became a real spiritual center, where believers from all over the vast country sought advice and consolation. On holidays, about one and a half to two thousand people received communion here.

The fame of inexhaustible spiritual strength and vital energy, which Father Vasily Ermakov, whose photo is presented to your attention in the article, shared with parishioners until the end of his days, spread far beyond the boundaries of the temple.

Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov - the place of the last ministry of Father Vasily

The last place of ministry of Father Vasily Ermakov is the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Serafimovskoye cemetery. There is an opinion that the archpriest was sent here into a kind of exile for his criticism of the Soviet authorities.

Despite this, parishioners began to come here to listen to the sermons of the authoritative priest.

Interior view of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Seraphim Cemetery. The temple is recognized as a rare example of wooden architecture of the early 20th century

The temple is a rare example of wooden architecture of the early twentieth century for St. Petersburg. Its architects were A.F. Baranovsky and N.N. Nikonov.

Built a temple. The cathedral was built by a peasant from the Pskov province P.V. Vasiliev. The entire construction lasted 87 days. The temple was consecrated on October 1, 1907.

At the end of his life, Father Vasily served in the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Until 1923, the temple was considered attached to the Church of the Annunciation; later it gained independence. Even during the times of persecution of the church by the Soviet authorities, the cathedral was not closed.

The only time this happened was during the blockade winter of 1942. Then a “distribution warehouse for receiving the dead” was opened on the territory of the temple.

Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Seraphim Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Mosaic on the pediment of the temple

The cathedral was returned to the Church on April 28, 1942.

While Father Vasily served as rector of the church, a building was built under him, which housed a shelter and a refectory.

Archpriest Vasily Ermakov served in the church from 1981 until his death.

In addition, under his leadership, a major renovation was carried out, during which the paintings depicting scenes from the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov were replaced with mosaics.

Soviet history of the temple

In one of his interviews, the priest spoke about the period of Soviet history of the great temple. Since the 50s, it has been a place of exile, where clergy who were disliked by the authorities were sent - a kind of “spiritual prison”.

A former partisan who maintained certain relations with the Commissioner for Religious Affairs G.S. Zharinov served as headman here. As a result of “cooperation” with the authority of the church elder, the fates of many priests were broken, who were banned from holding services and were forever deprived of the opportunity to receive a parish.

When Father Vasily came here in 1981, he found a spirit of dictatorship and fear in the church. The parishioners wrote denunciations against each other, addressed to the metropolitan and the commissioner. There was complete confusion and disorder in the church.

The priest asked the elder only for candles, prosphora and wine, saying that the rest did not concern him. He delivered his sermons, calling for faith, for prayer and for the temple of God. And at first they were met with hostility by some. The headman constantly saw them as anti-Soviet, warning about the dissatisfaction of the commissioner.

But gradually people began to come to the church, for whom it was important that here, at the very peak of Soviet stagnation (the early and mid-80s), they could fearlessly talk to a priest, seek advice, receive spiritual support and answers to all life’s questions of interest.

Conversation with the priest

Articles/ Conversation with a priest/ In memory of Father Vasily Ermakov

In memory of father Vasily Ermakov

On February 3, we remember our dear father Father Vasily. As he himself said, for half a century he prayed before the Throne of God for the collapse of Soviet power - this colossus with feet of clay - and for the reunification of the Russian Church.

He repeated: “Our job was to crush that regime, to open access to the Church for the people of God, to give them free baptism, free prayer, free confession of their faith. To heal the schism that formed after the October revolution between our brothers and sisters here on Russian soil, and those expelled or those who fled on pain of death. They looked askance at us who remained in our homeland, suspected us of collaborating with the authorities and betrayal, not understanding our historical situation, not knowing what the Church experienced during the Stalin and Khrushchev persecutions, when thousands of churches were closed, believers were killed, buried alive in the ground and They were subjected to terrible torture, when in the 60s and 70s you could pay for your faith not only with work, but also with the lives of you and your children.”

Prot. Vasily Ermakov with his spiritual child Father Sergius Filimonov

Father Vasily Ermakov is a priest of that generation who prayed that both the inhuman regime and the prayerful division of Russian Orthodox people would become a thing of the past.

Today's generation lives in different realities, and they were prayed for by our fathers. Young people should definitely know such clergymen as Archimandrite John Krestyankin, Archpriest Valentin Mordasov, Archpriest Vasily Ermakov - preserve their memory, pray as for God’s saints and study their heritage. To feel with your heart what it means to truly travel the priestly path, the experience of life in Christ and the pain that passes through a loving pastoral heart that suffers for its Motherland and its people.

From the sermon of Rev. Sergia Filimonova

Sermons

In one of his last interviews, the clergyman said: “I have been bringing spiritual joy for 60 years.” And it’s true - many needed him as a comforter and intercessor for their neighbors before God.

Vasily Ermakov's sermons were always artless, direct, coming from life and its urgent troubles and reaching the very heart of a person, helping to get rid of sin. “The Church is Calling”, “Follow Christ, Orthodox!”, “On the Duties of Man”, “On Crime and Mercy”, “On Healing”, “Russian People”, “Sorrow and Glory of Russia” - this is not the whole list.

“The worst sinner is better than you...”

He always said that it is very bad when a Christian in his heart exalts himself over others, considers himself better, smarter, more righteous. The secret of salvation, the archpriest interpreted, lies in considering oneself more unworthy and worse than any creature. The presence of the Holy Spirit in a person helps him to understand his smallness and ugliness, to see that a “fierce sinner” is better than himself. If a person has put himself above others, this is a sign that there is no Spirit in him, he still needs to work on himself.

But self-deprecation, Father Vasily explained, is also a bad trait. A Christian is supposed to go through life with a sense of self-worth, for he is the receptacle of the Holy Spirit. If a person subserviently before others, he is not worthy to become a temple where the Spirit of God dwells...

“The pain, if severe, is short...”

Christians must pray sincerely, with all their soul and heart. Prayer attracts the Spirit, which will help a person get rid of sins and guide him on the righteous path. Sometimes it seems to a person that he is the most unfortunate person on earth, poor, sick, no one loves him, he has no luck everywhere, the whole world has turned against him. But often, as Vasily Ermakov said, these misfortunes and troubles turn out to be exaggerated. Truly sick and unhappy people do not show their illnesses, do not groan, but silently bear their cross to the end. It is not they, but people who seek consolation from them.

People complain because they definitely want to be happy and content here in this world. They have no faith in eternal life, they do not believe that eternal bliss exists, they want to enjoy happiness here. And if they encounter interference, they shout that they feel bad and even worse than everyone else.

This, the priest taught, is the wrong position. A Christian must be able to look at his suffering and misfortune differently. Although it is difficult, he needs to love his pain. You cannot look for contentment in this world, the priest preached. “Wish the Kingdom of Heaven,” he said, “above all else, and then you will taste the light...” Earthly life lasts one moment, and the Kingdom of God lasts “endless centuries.” You have to be patient here a little, and then you will taste eternal joy there. “The pain, if it is strong, is short,” Father Vasily taught the parishioners, “and if it is long, then it is one that can be tolerated...”.

Father Vasily Ermakov did not consider himself an old man

During his lifetime, Archpriest Vasily Ermakov earned great authority among both believers and non-believers. People came from all over the USSR to listen to him. At the same time, many came to him not only for advice.

The fact is that rumors began to spread among his parishioners that the priest was perspicacious. It was claimed that he could foresee the future.

Father Vasily himself denied this. He said that he did not consider himself an old man and did not perform miracles. At the same time, the priest lived until he was 80 years old. Many times only a miracle saved him from death.

Archpriest Vasily Ermakov lived to be 80 years old.

The reason for this opinion about him was the exceptional attentiveness of Father Vasily to his flock.

He always knew what was going on in his parishioners’ families, what their state of health was, etc. This allowed the archpriest to always give them correct advice and good instruction.

That is why from the outside it seemed that the priest knew all the secrets of the human soul.

Archpriest Vasily Ermakov during the service. Father Vasily really didn’t like being called an elder, and always said: “I’m not an elder, I’m just an experienced priest.”

During his lifetime, the archpriest urged priests not to seek popularity at mass meetings. He said that the place of a priest is in the temple and a real Christian should pray, and not lecture others. This is the secret of his enormous spiritual authority.

By leaving a comment, you accept the user agreement

“Preserve Russian spiritual traditions...”

Each sermon of Archpriest Vasily was imbued with true patriotism, concern for the revival and preservation of national spiritual foundations.

Father Vasily considered the activities of the so-called “young saints”, who treat the service formally, do not delve into people’s problems, which pushes them away from the church, as a big disaster in the difficult times that Russia is going through.

The Russian Church has traditionally treated the sacraments subtly, attaching great importance to the fact that people perceive their meaning with all their soul and heart. And now, the priest lamented, everyone was “crushed” by money.

A clergyman, first of all, needs to heed the voice of conscience, obey the high priests and bishops, and teach parishioners faith and the fear of God by his own example. This is the only way to maintain ancient Russian spiritual traditions and continue the difficult battle for the soul of the Russian people.

For his service worthy of all respect, Vasily Timofeevich was awarded:

• in 1978 - miter;
• in 1991 received the right to serve the Divine Liturgy;
• on his 60th anniversary (1997), Father Vasily was awarded the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow;
• in 2004, in honor of the 50th anniversary of his priesthood, he received the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (II degree).

A small planet was named after Archpriest Vasily Ermakov

Archpriest Vasily Ermakov died on February 3, 2007.

This happened in the 80th year of his life.

February 3, 2007

day of death of Archpriest Vasily Ermakov

Before his death, the abbot was ill for a long time, but still took part in the service.

Through the efforts of Mother Lyudmila, he was given unction two hours before his death.

Certificate of the Russian Academy of Sciences on assigning the name Vasilermakov to a minor planet No. 24604 (1973 SP4) in honor of a native of Bolkhov, Archpriest Vasily Timofeevich Ermakov

A street in his hometown Bolkhov is named after the archpriest. In addition, it should be noted that a minor planet was also named in his honor.

It is registered in the international catalog of planets under N24604 (1973 SP4). The diameter of the small planet is 7 kilometers and it was discovered on September 27, 1973 by astronomer of the Crimean Astrophysical Laboratory Lyudmila Chernykh.

This is a rare case in history, which has no precedents. The fact that a minor planet was named after the clergyman indicates that he was respected in the scientific community. Scientists usually treat representatives of the Church very distrustfully.

Demise

In his last years, the priest suffered greatly from painful bodily infirmities, but continued to serve, devoting himself entirely to God and people. And on January 15, 2007 (the day of St. Seraphim of Sarov), he addressed his flock with a farewell sermon. And on February 2, in the evening, the sacrament of consecration of oil was performed on him, after which, after some time, his soul departed to the Lord.

For three days in a row, despite the February cold, severe frost and wind, his orphaned children came to him from morning to night. The priests led their crowded flock. Restrained crying, burning candles, singing dirges and living roses in people’s hands - this is how they saw off the righteous on his last journey.

His final resting place was the Serafimovskoe cemetery in St. Petersburg. The burial took place on February 5. The huge number of representatives of the clergy and laity who came to the funeral service did not fit in the church. The service was led by the vicar of the St. Petersburg diocese, Archbishop Konstantin of Tikhvin.

Serafimovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg has a rich and glorious history. It is known as the necropolis of outstanding figures of science and culture. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the cemetery was second after Piskarevsky in terms of the number of mass graves of Leningraders and soldiers who died during the siege. The military memorial tradition continued after the war.

Saying goodbye to their beloved shepherd, many did not hide their tears. But those who saw him off were not despondent. Father always taught his flock to be faithful Christians: to stand firmly on their feet and steadfastly endure everyday sorrows.

LiveInternetLiveInternet

On February 3, 2007, Father Vasily Ermakov passed away. Mitred Archpriest, Rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Seraphim cemetery in St. Petersburg, a friend of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he was considered one of the most authoritative shepherds of St. Petersburg. The priest himself did not like being called an elder, he always answered this question - I am not an elder, I am just an experienced priest, I have lived a long life, I have seen a lot.

September was ending. It was the second month of Yulia's stay in St. Petersburg. I couldn’t help but like this city: the amazing warmth and responsiveness of the people, the special architecture of St. Petersburg and the unusual climate, and the leisurely life, compared to the bustling capital of the capital. I also liked the work. There was only one unresolved question: how to find your own, the only one, among the numerous temples and monasteries?

One day Yulia had a chance to visit a major publishing house. This was useful not only for gaining experience, which is necessary for everyone, and even more so for a beginner. On that day, an event occurred that our heroine remembers as the guidance of God.

While talking with the editor-in-chief, Yulia could not help but notice on one of the walls a beautiful canvas depicting the famous St. Petersburg temple.

“Don’t look at the beauty and interior decoration, pay attention to the priest and the parish,” the editor advised, “and, you know, I’ll recommend you two churches.” One in Kronstadt - Vladimirsky, the rector there is Father Svyatoslav Melnik; the other is here, in St. Petersburg, at the Serafimovsky cemetery - visit Father Vasily Ermakov.

On the next weekend, Yulia went to Kronstadt and since then has become a parishioner of the Vladimir Church. Before the Victory Day holiday, Yulia decided to go to Serafimovskoye, especially since her niece persuaded her to go there for the evening service: it was very close, just a few stops from home.

The temple at the Serafimovskoye Cemetery looks like a fairy-tale tower or a gingerbread house, and that’s why there is somehow a childish joy in the soul.

From the very beginning of Vespers, Yulia drew attention to the old priest: he walked leisurely with a censer, and every now and then people came up for the priest’s blessing. “What kind of unceremoniousness and impatience,” Yulia thought displeasedly, “can’t we wait until the end of the service, they’ll only distract the priest.”

The service went on as usual, but at the end of the service the old priest was nowhere to be seen.

“Aunt Yulia, I really want to see the priest again - the one who burned the incense at the beginning of the service,” said Yulina’s niece Ksenia.

When asked how one can find such and such a priest, the friendly woman in the candle shop smiled:

- So this is our dear father, mitred archpriest Vasily Ermakov. Perhaps he is in the administrative building - a small house not far from the church, unless, of course, the priest has left: he rarely attends services now, he, our dear one, is often sick.

Yulia noticed that this church had a particularly friendly and even homely atmosphere.

About twenty people were already standing in front of the administrative building: they were waiting for Father Vasily, no one was in a hurry, some were talking among themselves. So fifteen minutes passed. “Time passes, why is everyone just standing there? Let me go up to that person. He appears to be a security guard. By the way, why is there a security guard here? Protect from whom?” Julia began to get angry.

- Please tell Father Vasily that they are waiting for him here.

- And he knows.

— ?

“Don’t worry, the priest will come out,” a man in military uniform, who introduced himself as Igor, smiled. He told Yulia that Father Vasily had been obedient to the elders for about 50 years, that in his, Igor’s, life the elder had helped resolve many problems.

“Aunt Yulia, if Father isn’t there in ten minutes, we’ll leave,” Ksyusha said. Yulia herself began to feel cold from the cold St. Petersburg wind that had flown in.

Exactly nine minutes later Father Vasily came out onto the porch. The eighty-year-old priest was supported by the elbows. The waiting people with joyful exclamations moved towards their beloved shepherd. Julia also came up for the blessing.

- You'll come home! - these words of Father Vasily were spoken only to Yulia.

The priest continued to communicate with those who approached.

- Aunt Yulia, what does this mean: will you come home? – asked Ksenia.

“Really, I need to ask Father Vasily,” Julia thought and went up to the priest again. He was about to get into the car, the driver opened the door to help the priest sit down.

— Father Vasily, when can I talk to you?

“I’ll be at the temple tomorrow from five in the morning.”

Yulia and Ksenia rode in the minibus in silence, each thinking about their own things.

The next day, May 9, Julia rose before dawn. There were people in the temple, despite the day off and early hour. The Liturgy was held solemnly, followed by a memorial service - Father Vasily was not there. In a few minutes the late liturgy will begin. So many people came to the second service that the church was crowded. Mitred Archpriest Vasily Ermakov served.

“This service is over, now I’ll go to Father Vasily,” Yulia decided.

Alas, there was no point in thinking about approaching the priest: he was completely surrounded by people. Father Vasily went out for a while, and then returned to the temple again. There was no way to talk to him.

Yulia was overcome with anxiety and confusion: “Maybe I shouldn’t meet with the priest, it’s not God’s will?” – she was thinking and at that time she noticed that the crowd in front of the entrance to the temple had disappeared somewhere. Julia approached one of the novices with a question: “Tell me, how can I talk to Father Vasily?”

—Have you agreed to talk with him?

- Yes, yesterday he said that he would be here from five in the morning.

- Why didn’t you come to this time? Father is sick, often spends a long time in the hospital, and it is now very difficult to find him in church. Well, don’t worry, pray, when you need to meet, the Lord will guide you.

And indeed, the meeting took place. At the right choir, Yulia saw Father Vasily. The next moment the woman was already standing nearby and waiting for her turn to talk with the priest. She was invited without a queue.

For some reason, Julia did not talk to the priest about what she wanted to ask, but she heard and saw something that turned out to be much more important for her. “Come with me, baby,” Father Vasily called, and Yulia found herself in a small room.

Here at the table sat a middle-aged, tear-stained woman: her grief was that her daughter was a drug addict. Father Vasily was able to find the right words for the grieving mother; the upset woman soon calmed down, and it was clear that she believed: she and the priest would be together in prayer, and her daughter would definitely return to life.

Father Vasily gently strokes the head of an adult man like a child: the man is also in pain - his wife killed the child by having an abortion. And for this man the priest found words of encouragement.

It was later, having rethought a lot of things, that Yulia understood why Father Vasily took her with him everywhere, talking with people. Shortly before this, our heroine experienced a difficult period of betrayal; It seemed to her that few people had ever experienced anything worse than what they had done to her. Gradually, she began to withdraw, constantly feeling sorry for herself, and with those around her she became unfriendly, angry, and callous.

Together with Father Vasily they went out to the porch. People were waiting for the priest and immediately began vying with each other to ask questions. Almost everyone received answers immediately. Yulia noticed that the priest was affectionate and smiling with most people, but several times he answered strictly, even harshly.

Julia saw these two women early in the morning before the liturgy. One of them had a scarf on her head - nothing surprising: it was windy and damp outside, but somehow it was wrapped strangely - only the woman’s eyes were visible. When Father Vasily and the accompanying crowd caught up with this woman wrapped in a scarf, Yulia saw that the priest pushed her away. It looked strange and unpleasant. What does it mean? Why did Father Vasily treat her this way?

People with Father Vasily entered the refectory, and Yulia stopped, not daring to go inside. Those two women remained standing on the porch, and one of them was unwinding a long scarf.

“You know, my father just set my jaw,” one of the strangers said, smiling, folding her scarf. - I have a dislocation.

Yulia clearly remembered that the priest pushed the woman away and did not even touch her head.

Yulia met Father Vasily for the third time before leaving. The temporary work was ending, and it was time to return to my city. Yulia really wanted to say goodbye to the priest, but on the phone they could not answer her for sure whether Father Vasily would be in church today or not.

The woman was driving to Serafimovskoye and was worried. Tomorrow morning the train, will she see the priest again before leaving?

There are only a few people in the temple yet; Julia proceeded to the administrative building. To the people, to the people! And Father Vasily is here, but don’t come up: everyone wants to talk to the priest. Time inexorably rushes forward, and now the bell has already rung for Vespers. Father Vasily headed towards the temple, people surrounded him on all sides.

“No, we won’t be able to say goodbye,” Julia was upset. The priest stopped, and the woman was very close to him.

“Father, how I would like to have your photograph,” joyful Yulia perked up.

“Natasha,” Father Vasily turned to one of the women standing nearby, “be kind enough to bring my books too.”

Returning, Natalya gave what she had brought to the priest, and he gave everything to Yulia with his blessing.

“This is for you, but here are gifts for your parishioners,” the priest smiled. – What time are you leaving tomorrow?

- At ten in the morning, father.

Here is the last blessing, and the father's kiss. The woman was overwhelmed with feelings, she thought: if there can be such love among people, what is the love of God?..

Life flowed as usual, only now Julia knew that there was a very close and spiritually dear person to her - Elder Vasily.

An early call from a friend in St. Petersburg resonated with acute pain in my soul: today, February 3, 2007, Father Vasily left us.

Waiting for goodbye

Julia could not help but see her dear father.

The northern capital met with cloudy weather, frost and piercing wind. There was a huge queue lined up at the Seraphim Church: how many people love the priest and how they will miss him! Grief unites people: all those nearby and those standing far behind, and those who will soon enter the chapel to say goodbye to Father Vasily, in these hours became one huge family.

They met again a few hours later - Father Vasily and Yulia. Father has not changed at all: the same calm and at the same time strong-willed facial features, the same soft hands.

Father Vasily

It’s sad that the elder-adviser, friend, father will no longer be around, but I believe that now THERE will be a prayer book. It was not for nothing that the priest went to the Lord on the day of the celebration of the Svyatogorsk Icon with the wondrous name “Consolation or Consolation.” Yes, yes, yes, Father Vasily had a gift for consoling.

Yulia still lives in her town in Central Russia. The books of Father Vasily Ermakov helped not only her; Those who have never met him are now praying for the priest - he has become family and friends for them too. The photograph of Father Vasily is always visible in Yulia’s room - it stands on the bookshelf.

I really want to hope that those words spoken by Father Vasily when they met will certainly come true, which means that then, in eternity, Father and Yulia will always be together, side by side.

https://www.pravmir.ru/domoj-pridesh-pamyati-protoi...siliya-ermakova/#ixzz2sBhO5oQJ