Your Eminences bishops, pious monks, God-loving archpriests, priests, deacons, readers, honourable laity – delegates of the Consecrated Council of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church! I congratulate you on the opening of the Council and on the memory of our holy father Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens, and our holy fathers Guriy and Varsanofiy, wonderworkers of Kazan.
This year, Archbishop Zosima, who for a long time headed the Moldavian, and then the Don and Caucasian dioceses, rested in peace. At our Council we will have to determine the ruling bishop of the dowager diocese and also continue the search for candidates for bishops for other dowager dioceses. The issue of attracting new personnel to the spiritual degrees of readers, deacons, and priests is also very relevant for our Church. Summing up the results of the past year, it can be noted that the number of clergy of our Church, thank God, is increasing: thus, seven clergy – four priests and three deacons – have been consecrated.
I would like to recall the decision of the Consecrated Council last year on the relationship with the parishes of the Ancient Orthodox Archdiocese: it was decided to create the Sochi and Kuban Diocese and work out the issue of the legal joining of its parishes to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. The joining of the parishes of the Sochi and Kuban diocese, in my opinion, is a historical event, since these parishes formerly of the “fugitive priests” denomination recognized the correctness of accepting of Holy Hierarch Ambrose of Belaya Krinitsa. This important event should be welcomed by all who wish salvation to the brothers who have recognized the truth of the Belaya Krinitsa hierarchy.
In response to an appeal on this matter from our Old Believers brothers from Romania who advised us not to communicate with representatives of the Ancient Orthodox Archdiocese, I sent a letter to His Eminence Metropolitan Leontiy on September 23 of this year with the following content: “Guided by brotherly love, at the last Consecrated Council we decided not to consider without your participation the question of the possibility of conducting common services with Archbishop Nikodim Elyakin. As for the services conducted by other clergy, this issue should not affect the relationships between the Metropolises. To discuss the existing issues, we invite you to the Consecrated Council, which will be held on October 17–19. We will be glad to see you and your representatives in person. There will also be an opportunity to participate remotely.” We have not received any response to this letter.
Today we gathered to summarize the activities of our Church in 2022-2023. It should be noted that our Motherland is currently experiencing important historical events related to the special operation in Ukraine. The West, which has lost Orthodox foundations, wants to impose on Russia, by force and sanctions, the so-called liberal values, and “freedom” of the fallen man, associated with moral vices and perversions.
We entered into a severe confrontation with the bearers of the world evil – the satanic destructive ideology of the West, which threatens the world with a thermonuclear war capable of destroying all living things on Earth. Today, after many months have passed since the beginning of the military operation, it is becoming more and more obvious that the origins of this conflict are spiritual — this is the opposition to the globalism of the Western world, where there is no place for God, where Orthodox and moral norms are violated, where lies, cynicism, and depravity reign. The West has been trying to aggressively impose these liberal values on Russia for the past thirty years.
Our president said: “We don’t want to live by the dictates of the West and accept their morality.” They punish us for this with sanctions and all kinds of hostile actions. Their diabolical pride and satanic hatred of the Russians push them to greater escalation of military actions, up to the threat of a thermonuclear conflict. The military actions that we observe today are the result of the spiritual, ideological, and informational war of the West with Russia, which has intensified over the past 30 years, after the collapse of the USSR.
In the circumstances of today’s wartime people’s feelings of fear and despondency are noticeably increasing, sometimes turning into despair, which is a great sin. Many people wonder how to survive in these difficult times that God permitted to happen. Saints teach: one should not become despondent and grumble in sorrows, and especially blame someone, but thank God, who, according to His immeasurable mercy, determined for us a small punishment for our great sins, and for a small sorrow – eternal true joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. This is what St. Dorotheus says: “Temptations bring great benefit to the one who endures them without confusion.”
For a human being, the most important experience is the experience of enduring suffering, deprivation, bitterness from the loss of the loved ones. This is the visitation of God, because in difficult times a human being truly humbles himself, learns patience and knows the help and protection of God, if he turns to Him with faith. The prophet Davyd says: ” God is known in His burdens, when He comes to his defense” (Ps. 47, 4).
Fear and despondency are overcome by faith, when we rely on God, and this leads us to prayer and repentance, and repentance is, first of all, an internal change, a change of thoughts, words, and deeds. In order for the surrounding circumstances to change, it is necessary to change ourselves, and the Lord sends to a person or a country circumstances that are useful for the salvation of the soul, that can make them better.
According to St. Mark the Wanderer, “there is no greater enemy to man than himself”, therefore a person who subordinates his feelings to reason, and reason to God, becomes a true victor over himself. The world rests on the righteous ones, such as the hermit Agafya Lykova. The world rests on prayer, therefore in the days of terrible trials we need to pray more, visit the church more often and, of course, do good deeds.
Over the past months of the special operation, the parishioners of our Church, like our ancestors during the Great Patriotic War, have been praying intensely and collecting funds to help the victims, refugees, and those still in the zone of the military conflict. Some of our priests and laics went to the front line to pray with the participants of the battles and the parishioners of churches located near the front line, gave them humanitarian aid bought for the money collected by the Old Believers. We recently received a letter from the administration of the Lugansk People’s Republic with gratitude for the help provided by the Old Believers. When our Christian Old Believers visit the front-line churches and hospitals and talk with the wounded, they see that people there have much more reasons for sadness than in the rear, and then our problems and anxieties start to seem less terrible.
And yet, if tomorrow the military conflict develops into a nuclear all-destructive phase and the question arises, what should I do if the end is tomorrow, then for a Christian there is only one answer to this question: one must be prepared to leave this life every day, for in the Holy Scripture it is written: “In whatsoever I seize you, in these I will judge you.” If the Lord finds us in the struggle with our sins, in repentance, in prayer, in caring for our neighbours, such exit from this temporary life would be the best.
We don’t know what will happen to us tomorrow, so the Gospel tells us: live by the labors of today, trusting God that He arranges everything for our salvation, realizing that everything is in His hands, trusting in His good will, repeating the words of the prayer: “Lord, let your will be fulfilled.” This is very comforting and bringing us peace in these difficult times.
Russia’s victory over the satanic forces will be achieved, as it has always been in its history, through prayer, fasting, repentance, and the unity of all the people at the front and in the rear. Recently, a decree of the President of the Russian Federation (No. 809) on the preservation of the spiritual and moral values of our people was issued. In my opinion, this is a historical event, since it is planned to strategically turn and to return our society from the Western vicious morality to the eternal Christian values of Holy Russia. It should be noted that our pious Old Believer ancestors preserved those values since the time of the tragic church schism and sometimes sacrificed their lives to preserve them, such as the saints archpriest Avvakum and the boyarynia Morozova.
The basis of Russia’s victory is our unity in defending eternal traditional values based on the Orthodox faith, such as sacrifice, love for the Fatherland, strong big family, and the preservation of the Russian language and culture. What is happening now in Russia and throughout the world is, first of all, a spiritual battle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness. And the church is, one might say, on the front line in this battle. The calling of Russia in the history of mankind and in this war is determined by God: this is the preservation of the Orthodox faith and truth, which we must show to all humanity, and if we are faithful to God, we will win!
Archpastoral meetings, social and church events
One of the important areas of our work is interaction with authorities, from the highest, such as the Presidential Administration or the Federal Assembly, where global issues are decided, to the heads of rural settlements, on whom the fate of a particular site for the construction of a church may depend. Since in the last decade the merits of the Old Believers have been recognized by the Russian authorities and society, our representatives are often invited to national ceremonies.
Thus, on September 30, 2022, in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin, treaties on the accession of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporozhye region, and the Kherson region to the Russian Federation were signed. I was honoured to participate in this historical event together with other members of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation.
On October 27, 2022, a meeting of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation was held via videoconference. The meeting was chaired by the head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation A. E. Vaino. During the meeting, the activities of religious organizations during the period of the special military operation and the implementation of the law “On the transfer of property owned by state or municipalities to religious organizations for religious purposes” were discussed.
On November 4, 2022, a meeting between Russian President V.V. Putin and historians and representatives of traditional faiths took place, in which I was honoured to participate. The meeting was timed to coincide with National Unity Day. It took place in the ‘Manege’ Central Exhibition Hall, where the large-scale historical exhibition “Ukraine. At the turning points of epochs” was opened.
January 26, this year, The XI Nativity parliamentary meeting took place as a part of the program of the XXXI International Nativity Educational Readings devoted to the topic “Global challenges of our time and the spiritual choice of man.” During my speech at these readings, I noted that “along with prayer and fasting, we must remember about repentance, which all Russian people really need today. Our society is sick: it adopts values alien to its traditions, abortions are committed, the Russian language is distorted, and so on. First of all, we must overcome ourselves in our sins and repent. Already Fyodor Dostoevsky said: “If you want to conquer the whole world, conquer yourself!”
March 15, this year, a meeting of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation took place. It was chaired by the head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation A.E. Vaino. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation V.N. Falkov, Minister of Education of the Russian Federation S.S. Kravtsov. Currently, the publication of a new school textbook on the history of Russia is being prepared. We asked to include representatives of the Old Believers in the working group for its preparation: historian Priest Alexander Pankratov and Doctor of Philosophy, Professor M.O. Shakhov.
June 5, this year, I visited Veliky Novgorod. There, at the presmises of the Government of the Novgorod Region, I had a meeting with the Governor of the Novgorod Region A.S. Nikitin and the mayor of Veliky Novgorod A.R. Rozbaum. During the conversation, issues of renovation of the territory adjacent to the church on Vitka and the resumption of restoration of the second church of the Novgorod community, of St. Elijah the Prophet on Slavna. On our initiative, the topic of installing memorial signs on the site of Novgorod churches destroyed by invaders during the Great Patriotic War was raised. Installation of these memorial signs is relevant in connection with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Veliky Novgorod, which will be celebrated in 2024. In turn, the governor of the Novgorod region asked to facilitate the resettlement of Old Believers to this region.
August 19, this year, celebrations of the 270th anniversary of the birth of the famous Russian military leader, Ataman of the Don Cossack Army, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, cavalry general Matvey Ivanovich Platov took place in the capital. Historical and patriotic holiday called “Glory to Platov – the Hero!” took place in the Cossack Glory Park in the South-Eastern District of Moscow, where a monument to the Old Believer hero was unveiled in 2013. The event was attended by one of the initiators of the installation of the monument to Matvey Platov, V.B. Zotov, who, at that time, was the prefect of the South-East Administrative District, representative of the Moscow Government V.I. Suchkov, and other guests. After the War of 1812, Count Matvey Platov visited the spiritual center of the Old Believers at Rogozhskoye, to which he donated his Old Believer camp church-tent, in which later, when the holy altars were sealed, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Rogozhskoye.
August 24, this year, the delegation of the Metropolis attended the evening in memory of the philanthropist Mikhail Abramov. Mikhail Abramov was the founder of the Moscow Museum of Russian Icon. By preserving traditional art, in particular Russian icons, he presented a great gift to society. Mikhail Yuryevich, who recently passed away, was a philanthropist; he did good in the best traditions of Russian philanthropy. As part of the evening’s program, there was a presentation of a book about the culture of Christian life, published with the support of the Mikhail Abramov Society for the Preservation and Popularization of Russian Culture.
August 25, this year, the delegation of the Metropolis arrived in Tomsk. At the premises of the Tomsk community, I met with the governor of the Tomsk region V.V. Mazur. Before the arrival of the distinguished guests, the exhibition “Tomsk community in faces” opened at the church premises.
The governor thanked the Tomsk community as representatives of all Old Believers for their life position, emphasizing: “For 110 years, the church has strengthened the Orthodox faith. Here you find solace, answers to your questions, leave a piece of yourself and receive strength in return, preserve the values of Russian culture, and make a significant contribution to the foundations of the common Russian world. At the same time, you are devoted to your faith and country, which is especially important for all of us today.”
August 27, this year, I visited the village of Malinovka in the vicinity of Tomsk. There a meeting with the head of the administration of the rural settlement I.V. Sukhov was held. We discussed issues of maintaining the church building in proper condition. We also touched upon the problem of improving living conditions for the large family of the rector of the church, Priest Valentin Besshtannikov, in which 13 children are being raised.
August 31, this year, I met with Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk. Issues of cooperation in the field of culture and education, preservation and support of the Russian language in Old Believer communities of near and far abroad were discussed.
On September 22 of this year, on the eve of the consecration of the church in Sochi, I had a meeting with the head of the administration of the federal territory “Sirius” D.S. Plishkin. Issues of cooperation between the church and the administration were discussed at the meeting. We visited the “Sirius” educational center: our delegation was met by the head of the center, Yelena Vladimirovna Shmeliova, who gave a tour and told us about the activities and achievements of this educational institution.
Solemn opening of the church in Sochi
On September 25 of this year, on the next day after the consecration of the Dormition Church in Sochi, its solemn opening took place. On behalf of the head of the city of Sochi, his deputy G.A. Moskaleva took part in the opening ceremony. Among the guests of the solemn event were the editor-in-chief of the state TV channel “Russia Today” Margarita Simonyan, the chairman of the Council of the federal territory “Sirius”, the head of the educational center “Sirius” and the Public Foundation “Talent and Success” Yelena Shmeleva, the head of the administration of the federal territory “Sirius” D. S. Plishkin, and other guests.
Meeting with representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church
October 6, this year, in the building of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, a meeting was held between the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church and the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony. The decision to hold this meeting was made by the Metropolitan Council of our Church in September of this year.
I was joined at the meeting by the head of the Educational Department of the Moscow Metropolis Priest Mikhail Rodin and Protodeacon Viktor Savelyev. Metropolitan Anthony accompanied by the Deputy Chairman of the DECR Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk and the Secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church Commission for the Affairs of Old Believer Parishes and for Interaction with the Old Believers, Archpriest Ioann Mirolyubov.
During the meeting, ways of further peaceful, good-neighborly communication between the two confessions were discussed, as well as the options for continuing the dialogue on canonical issues between the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, and also on the creation of a representative office of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church in Abkhazia.
Consecration of churches
One of the main tasks of our pastoral work is to increase the number of Christian communities and multiply churches. It is gratifying that this year our earthly Church has been enlarged by a number of new churches.
On November 13, 2022, Bishop of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir Vikentiy (Novozhilov) performed a minor consecration of the revived wooden Old Believer church in the city of Ivanovo. The Old Believer Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Ivanovo was built in the end of the 16th – beginning of the 17th centuries. In 1904 the church was moved from the old Dormition Cemetery to the new Posad Cemetery and restored. After the Great Patriotic War, in 1946, at the request of believers, the ancient church was transferred to the community of the Archdiocese of Moscow and All Russia (now the Moscow Metropolis). Then it was consecrated in honour of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. In 2015, as a result of a severe fire, the architectural monument was almost completely lost. In 2018 the church was transferred to our Church, and with the help of the state we managed to restore it.
On November 18, 2022, the Church in honour of St. Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica in Pavlovsky Posad, Moscow Region, was consecrated. The Pavlovsky Posad church has two floors: the upper church was consecrated in 1997 in the name of the Nativity of the Mother of God, the lower small church for a long time served as a baptismal, and it was long ago decided to consecrate it in honour of St. Great Martyr Demetrius. Since the founding of Pavlovsky Posad, this warrior-martyr has been considered the patron of the city.
On December 16, 2022, I consecrated the St. Nichola Church in Lefortovo Lane in Moscow. The St. Nikola Church community was registered on December 21, 1906. In 1911–1912, at the expense of the Old Believer factory owner G.F. Kudelin, famous architect N.G. Martyanov began the construction of the church in Lefortovo Lane. Unfortunately, services in this church did not last long: in the 1930-s the church was closed completely. In the 1980-s the building was given to a school.
However, believers started discussing the return of the church building to the Church. In 1992 editor of the “Church” magazine A.V. Antonov managed to achieve for the building to be transferred to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, and the editorial office of this magazine was located there for some time. The Council of the Metropolis in 2017 approved the work to revive the activities of the St. Nikola Church community and entrusted its care to Priest Konstantin Lukichiov. On September 12, 2018, the first prayer service was held in the church.
This year, another Old Believer facility in the capital was put into operation. On the Bright Week of this year at Rogozhskoye in Moscow, a joyful and long-awaited event took place – the solemn opening of the restored Kozin Chamber building. “Object of cultural heritage of regional significance” ‘Ensemble of the Rogozhskoye Old Believer Community, 19th century – beginning of the 20th century Kozin Chamber (Orphanage), mid-19th century, 1870s’” is how this building is now called in official documents. According to the traditions of that time, almshouses and hospitals received their names after the names or surnames of their founders (donors), for example: Bugrov, Konstantinov, Antonov Chamber and so on. In this case, it is obvious that the Old Believer merchant Kozin participated in financing the construction of the almshouse. According to archival documents, in the summer of 1830 the almshouse was already built. From the history of this building we know that at different times it was used both as an almshouse and as an orphanage. We express our deep gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin, by whose decision funds were allocated for the restoration of the building, as well as to the designers, restorers and builders who returned that wonderful building to the Rogozhskoye spiritual center.
May 31, this year, I consecrated the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God in Pavlovsky Posad, Moscow region. In Pavlovsky Posad there are three churches on the same church plot. The main one is in the name of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, the one in the basement under it is in the name of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki and next to it is a small wooden church in the name of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.
June 18, this year, in the capital of the Altai Republic, Gorno-Altaysk, I consecrated the church in the name of the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk. Guests came to the consecration from all over Russia: from Moscow, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Minusinsk, Omsk, Nizhny Novgorod region, Samara, Naberezhnye Chelny. The next day, the head of the Altai Republic O.L. Khorokhordin and the mayor of Gorno-Altaysk O.A. Safronova, as well as other invited persons visited the church.
In the 1990-s residents of Gorno-Altaysk converted a residential building into a church and gathered there for prayer for a long time. The community then headed by priest Alexander Vershkov, achieved the allocation of a plot for construction and began primary work there. The rector’s son, Alexander Vershkov, drew up the design for a new wooden church. In the spring of 2019, Priest Vasiliy Andreev was ordained to the parish of Gorno-Altaysk. From the beginning of 2020, work on the new site was resumed, and by 2023 the construction of the church was completed.
July 2, this year, in the St. Nichola Uleima Convent, the main church of the monastery was consecrated in the name of Holy Hierarch and wonderworker Nikola, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia. Bishops of Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod, and Vladimir Vikentiy (Novozhilov) and Bishop of Tomsk, Yeniseysk, and all the Far East Grigoriy (Korobeynikov) arrived at the celebrations in Uleima. After the consecration of St. Nichola’s Cathedral, Divine Liturgy will be celebrated here regularly. This means that the monastery will become even more significant for Old Believers-pilgrims, as well as for those who decide to devote their whole lives to God.
September 17, this year, the first Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church in Karelia was consecrated. The church in the name of Saints Zosima and Savatius, Solovetsky miracle workers, was built in Petrozavodsk. The chairman of the Petrozavodsk community Olga Malkina, became the main inspirer and organizer of the construction of the church.
On behalf of the head of the Republic Minister of National and Regional Policy S. Kiselev congratulated the parishioners. Sergey Viktorovich said: “The Republic of Karelia is a multi-ethnical and multi-confessional republic, where representatives of many peoples and religions live together in peace and harmony. Undoubtedly, this church will also contribute to this. The history of the republic is connected with the history of the Old Believers. It’s gratifying that you are preserving this memory, culture, and traditions.”
September 24, this year, near the city of Sochi, on the federal territory “Sirius”, the new church in the name of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God was consecrated. 10 priests, 8 deacons, and many singers took part in the service.
The white stone church in the Byzantine style was designed by the Old Believer architect Pyotr Dolnakov. The place for construction was not chosen by chance: at the beginning of the last century there was also a church here. Moreover, when archeological research was done in connection with the construction of Olympic facilities in 2012, the ruins of a Byzantine church from the VIII century were found one kilometer from that place. Most of the parishioners of the Sochi church are the descendants of Nekrasov Cossacks who returned to Russia from Turkey. They keep special traditions in clothing and singing. At the service of consecration of the church, colourful Nekrasov singing sounded on the left choir.
Inter-Old Believers cooperation
In May 2023, a general meeting of the founders of the Association of Old Believer Organizations “International Old Believer Union” was held in the Moscow Clergy House at Rogozhskoye. Representatives of various Old Believer denominations took part in that general meeting. Those gathered discussed the previously prepared charter of the organization, made additional amendments to it, and made a decision to establish the Association. As discussed earlier, in particular at the International Old Believer Forum held in Moscow at the Pashkov House in May 2021, the founders of the International Old Believer Union were public (non-profit) organizations created by Old Believers of various denminations and implementing their public initiatives. Those gathered once again confirmed what had already been repeatedly emphasized at all meetings devoted to this issue: the established Old Believer Union will not touch upon the issues of faith, and will focus its activities specifically and exclusively on public initiatives. That provision was included into the charter. Among the founders of the International Old Believer Union we should mention: the autonomous non-profit organization “Krinitsa” (ROOBC) represented by Mikhail Pankratov; Primorsky region regional organization “Assistance in the resettlement and adaptation of compatriots-Old Believers” represented by Avraam Kalugin; regional public organization “Cultural and Pilgrimage Center named after Archpriest Avvakum” represented by Maxim Pashinin; Charitable Foundation for the Preservation of Traditional Communities “Russian Connection” represented by Fr. Georgiy Yefimov; regional public organization “Society of Semeiskie Culture of the Republic of Buryatia” represented by Sergey Petrov, and others. In October of this year the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation has officially registered the Association of Old Believer Organizations “International Old Believer Union”.
December 7, this year, the third International Old Believer Forum will be held in Moscow in the Pashkov House, at which the prospects for cooperation in preserving and developing the spiritual and cultural traditions of Russia will be discussed.
Ordinations
On December 10, 2022, on the Feast of the Sign of the Most Holy Mother of God, during the liturgy in the Intercession Cathedral of Rostov-on-Don, Archbishop of the Don and Caucasus Zosima (Eremeev) ordained Deacon Ioann Gorshenin to the priesthood. Priest Ioann Gorshenin will serve in his native church in the city of Frolovo.
February 5, this year, during the liturgy at the Intercession Cathedral in Moscow, Deacon Alexander Devin was ordained a priest. Priest Alexander Devin performs services in the Intercession Cathedral at Rogozhskoye, helps to arrange the prayer life of the Moscow parishes of the Intercession-Dormition community in Maly Gavrikov Lane, the St. Nikola community in Lefortovo and the community in the village Turaevo, Moscow region.
May 28, this year, during the liturgy at the Intercession Cathedral at Rogozhskoye, I ordained reader Ilya Kadochnikov as a deacon for the church in Yegoryevsk. Ilya Kadochnikov was born in 2001 in a big family of a priest. His second home was the Yegoryevsk Church of St. George the Victorious, where his father, now Archpriest Vasiliy Kadochnikov, still serves.
On June 4, on the feast of the Holy Trinity, Vladimir Medvedev was ordained deacon in the church of the Ligovskaya community in St. Petersburg.
July 7, this year, reader Nikita Maltsev was ordained to the rank of deacon. Nikita Sergeevich Maltsev was born in 1999 in Perm, in 2009 he was ordained as a candle-bearer, and in August 2011 as a reader. From 2015 to 2019 he studied at a construction college. Deacon Nikita was assigned to the church in Vereschagino.
July 18 this year His Grace Bishop Vikentiy (Novozhilov) elevated reader Maxim Dumnov to the rank of deacon. This significant event took place in the Nizhny Novgorod Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. Deacon Maxim will serve in the Vladimir Dormition Church, where his father, Archpriest Ioann Dumnov, served as rector for many years. As the new appointee himself says, he will “continue the work started by his father.” There is a lot to do in the Vladimir parish: the existing Dormition Church requires repairs, the community hopes to restore historical justice and get back the Trinity Church at the Golden Gate of Vladimir.
October 10, In the Intercession Cathedral at Rogozhskoye in Moscow, I ordained Deacon Alexander Revyakin to the priesthood. The newly ordained priest will serve in the church in the name of Holy Hierarch John Chrysostom in Tula. Priest Ioann Kurbatskiy (Kaluga), who had been caring for the Tula Old Believers for the past few years, arrived to the ordination to spiritually support Fr. Alexander.
September 13, this year, Bishop of Tomsk and Yeniseysk Grigoriy (Korobeynikov) ordained Deacon Alexander Usov to the priesthood for the church in Khabarovsk.
About the work of the educational department (led by Priest Mikhail Rodin)
Assistance to SMO participants and victims in the SMO area
Nowadays, when the whole country is intensely fighting against Nazism and satanism, our Holy Church does not stand aside. There are efforts mainly in two directions: helping soldiers on the front line and helping those civilians who have suffered from the fighting. Over the past year, a number of priests and laics tried to support the fighters directly involved in the Special Military Operation. I would especially like to note the efforts of Priest Mikhail Smirnov, rector of the Transfiguration Church in Klintsy, Bryansk region, who serves near the border with Ukraine and regularly collects and delivers various aid for the fighters. Thus, clothing, food, tools, generators, and a car were transferred to the military. However, Fr. Mikhail not only collects the material assistance needed by the military personnel, but also preaches the fundamentals of faith to the soldiers, distributes spiritual literature, prayer books, calendars, and also performs religious services for Christian Old Believers serving in the army. The second direction, helping civilians, is also carried out by dedicated priests and laity. Three of our parishes are in the area of the SMO: the city of Lugansk, Gorodische and Olkhovatka villages. Over the past year, the “Golden Peresvet” fund has been especially active in helping these parishes. It delivered to the parishes clothing, food, basic necessities, and, of course, spiritual food: books, magazines, calendars. It should be noted that these goods were personally delivered by the head of the “Golden Peresvet” Foundation Vladimir Fedoseev, and the head of the Educational Department Priest Mikhail Rodin, who, throughout the year, repeatedly visited both the above mentioned parishes and other settlements. In particular, on my request, the “Golden Peresvet” Foundation delivered significant assistance to the city of Shakhtyorsk, Donetsk People’s Republic, – to the temporary accommodation center for people left homeless as a result of hostilities.
Foreign mission of the Church
One of the main areas of foreign mission of our church is represented by the parishes in Pakistan. Churches are being built in two cities: in Sargodha a church in the name of Venerable Sergiy of Radonezh is almost ready for consecration; in the city of Vazirabad the walls of the church, roof, and domes have been erected but the finishing of the building has not yet been completed. The consecration of churches is still postponed due to the difficult international situation.
The mission of the Church in Pakistan is not limited to building churches and conducting services. Over the past year, the head of the mission Priest Kiril Shahzad organized humanitarian aid to the victims of a powerful flood, which took about a thousand lives and left millions of Pakistanis homeless, and also carried out active educational work among young people: he organized seminars and lectures on various topics related to Russian culture and the spiritual traditions of Orthodoxy. Of particular note are the joint events with Rossotrudnichestvo aimed at attracting Pakistani youth to participate in the competition for the Rossotrudnichestvo quota for studying in Russia.
In September 2023, a representative of the Educational Department, head of the “Golden Peresvet” Foundation Vladimir Fedoseev visited the parishes of Pakistan, delivered humanitarian aid, and, upon his return, told about the situation in the country and the needs of Pakistani parishes.
Publishing work
An important milestone in the publishing activities among our Old Believers was the appointment of Archpriest Vadim Korovin to the position of editor of the “Church” magazine. Under the leadership of Fr. Vadim the “Church” magazine has become a bright, interesting, rich, and attractive printed publication that tells the children about the Church and for outside people about the Holy Church of Christ. The last, third, issue of the magazine “Church” is mainly devoted to events related to the military special operation and the participation of Old Believers in the defense of the Fatherland.
In addition, the first issue of the supplement to the “Church” magazine, entitled “Grains,” was published. This is not just a children’s supplement to the magazine for grown-ups, but a publication for family reading, in which both children of different ages and their parents will find something useful and understandable.
An employee of the Educational Department, Priest Mikhail Smirnov, is also actively involved in publishing work: he is the editor of the newspaper “Old Believer Klintsy”. A pocket prayer book for soldiers was also published; most of the copies of this prayer book were printed in Klintsy and have already been distributed to soldiers participating in the SMO.
Educational activities
This year, the Educational Department started the fifth, jubilee, academic year of “Online Sunday School” for grown-ups. The previous academic year was very fruitful. During the period from October 2022 to May 2023, 110 lectures were given in 8 subjects:
1. Church Tradition and Christian life (Archpriest Vadim Korovin), 20 lectures.
2. Comparative theology (priest Yevgeniy Gureev), 20 lectures.
3. Christian anthropology (priest Vasiliy Andronikov), 15 lectures.
4. Spiritual and administrative life of the community (Priest Ioann Oshin), 10 lectures.
5. Fundamentals of church archeology and the history of Christian art (priest Alexander Pankratov), 9 lectures.
6. History and culture of everyday life of the Old Believers (Doctor of Historical Sciences Irina Yuryevna Trushkova), 10 lectures.
7. Liturgical Typikon (reader Vitaliy Moskvichiov), 10 lectures.
8. Church Slavonic language (Mother Anastasia Trifan), 10 lectures.
Individual lectures were given by guest speakers:
— Bishop Sava of Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk and All Siberia gave three spiritual talks.
— Bell ringer Roman Kuts gave a lecture on the topic “Ringing bells.”
— Architect Pyotr Dolnakov gave a lecture on the topic “Architecture and construction of Old Believer churches in past and present.”
— Old Believers icon painters Konstantin and Anastasiya Antonov gave a lecture on the topic “The meaning and content of the icon.”
Additionally, Maria Ivanovna Kokorina’s master class “The Art of Tying a Women’s Headdress” and the Easter concert of Znamenny chant “Chants of the Holy Russia” were recorded and published.
Students of the “Online Sunday School” completed tests and received certificates from the Moscow Metropolis. This course, as well as the previous ones, can now be taken in a remote format on nashavera.com (“Our Faith”) website. You can watch all recorded lectures, write three essays, and receive a certificate.
Work on creating video courses on sewing traditional clothes for the church prayer has begun.
The program of the current, 5th, “Online Sunday School” course for grown-ups, which began in October of this year, includes 90 lectures in 6 subjects:
1. Apologetics of the Old Believers (Archpriest Vadim Korovin).
2. History of religion (priest Yevgeniy Gureev).
3. Iconology (Old Believers-icon painters Konstantin and Anastasiya Antonov).
4. “On the main things” (Archpriest Georgiy Yefimov).
5. Five spiritual talks by Bishop Sava of Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk and all Siberia.
6. Church Znamenny chant: Sunday service (reader Alexander Ovcharov). The educational activities of the Educational Department of the Metropolis are not limited to the remote format of video lectures and talks. Thanks to the joint work of the Educational Department with Rossotrudnichestvo, in October 2022, the first student from among the Old Believers of Pakistan came to Russia to study. In 2023, several more Old Believer Christians from Pakistan joined various Russian educational institutions. At the beginning of October, this year, six students came to Russia to study in different cities of the country, including Moscow, Ivanovo, Tomsk, Perm, and others. They will study the Russian language, master promising secular professions, and, most importantly, they will be filled with our Orthodox spirituality, come into contact with our treasures of faith and spirit, and gain precious experience of prayer, fasting, serving God, and working for the good of the Holy Church.
Cultural events
During the year that has passed since the previous Consecrated Council, the collection of articles “Old Believer Guslitsy” has been prepared for publication, which is scheduled for publication in the nearest future. The “Rodina” publishing house liked the book about Guslitsy so much that they now want to publish a series about Old Believer centers in Russia and abroad. The collection of materials for the next books in the series, “Old Believer Vetka” and “Old Believer Klintsy”, has already begun.
A collection of poems by contemporary poets about Klintsy is half completed. It is planned to be published as a collaboration with the Klintsy Local History Library.
Negotiations with the assistant to Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk about the need and possibility of creating a representative office of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church in Abkhazia have been completed. The candidacy of Fr. Artemiy Efimov (Sochi) for this ministry has been approved. This direction of spiritual preaching and promotion of original Orthodoxy, which is important for the Church and for the state, received a strong impetus for development.
As part of the project “Old Believer Klintsy”, exhibitions were held in Belarus: at the Vetka Museum, at its branch in Gomel, as well as in Minsk at the Palace of the Republic. Before the opening of the exhibition in Minsk, a round table was held with representatives of the academic community of the Republic of Belarus.
Employees of the Educational Department are actively working in the information sphere, they add texts and photographs to the website “Our Faith”, such groups on social networks as “Old Believers from all over the world are here” and “The Orthodox Church of Pakistan”.
Educational and scholarly events
During Soviet atheistic times, the Church was deprived of the opportunity to engage in educational activities. Old Believers, at best, were considered an object of study by Soviet archaeographers. Today, the situation has changed radically. Representatives of Old Believers actively participate in scholarly conferences, exhibition events, and promote their agenda at all levels of the academic and cultural community. In the last 15–20 years, a whole community of scholars who are engaged in research of the history of the Old Belief, Old Russian literature, Cyrillic books, Znamenny chant, and other forms of traditional culture has emerged. An increasing number of Old Believer scientists are receiving academic degrees in both the humanities and sciences. Opportunities for educational activities are growing, including collaborations with the most important Russian museums.
Thus, on December 7, 2022, I took part in the round table “Holy Image – the Mirror of Russia,” which was held at the State Tretyakov Gallery. Among the participants of the round table were the director of the Gallery Z. Tregulova, the adviser to the President of the Russian Federation V. Fadeev, the founder of the Society for the Preservation and Popularization of Russian Culture named after M. Abramov Svetlana Abramova, and chairman of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Sergey Stepashin. The participants discussed the traditions of patronage of the arts in modern Russia, the search for reference points for values and meanings and for the standards in the field of culture, the promotion of national culture, and preserving national cultural heritage.
Our Moscow Old Believer Theological School is also engaged in scholarly and educational activities. There, on December 8, 2022, another scholarly and practical conference was held. Traditionally, in December students, teachers, and guests of the school gather at a round table to share the results of their research. This time the speakers dedicated their presentations to the 145th anniversary of St. Gerontiy (secular name Grigoriy Ivanovich Lakomkin).
Collaboration with the State Historical Museum continues. February 16, this year, I donated to this academic and educational institution a Psalter from my personal collection published by the Moscow Printing House in 1640. This rare book has now found its deeply symbolic final address: 1, Red Square, Moscow – the very heart of Russia. Director of the State Historical Museum A.K. Levykin emphasized that the book “Psalter” is valuable as a monument of Russian book printing, but this copy is especially valuable, as it comes from Guslitsy, the region of skilled scribes: “Organizations and individuals granting us these priceless monuments of the past free of charge have played a huge role in expanding the museum collection.”
Old Believer choirs play an important role in preaching the faith. February 20, this year, in the hall of the Moscow Convent of Mercy of Sts. Marfa and Maria, an Old Believer educational concert of spiritual chants was held for Muscovites. Our Old Believer male choir “Soglasie [Harmony]” and the female choir “Amfor” sang both separately and together, complementing each other. The program included ordinary and Lenten liturgical chants, as well as spiritual poems. The host, priest Vasiliy Andronikov, announced the chants and explained their meaning.
June 7–9, this year, The first seminar for singers of choir members, golovschiks and ustavschiks took place at Rogozhskoye. The three-day seminar was organized by the golovschik of the Novosibirsk Cathedral in the name of the Nativity of the Mother of God A. Emelyanov. The first day of the seminar was honoured by the presence of the professor of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, member of the Union of Composers of Russia N.G. Denisov. He shared the positive feedback to the seminar program from the specialists studying the church singing.
The programme of the first day of the seminar included a conversation with Priest Ioann Kurbatskiy about the theology of church hymns and the report by N.G. Denisov, who devoted his research works to the study of Old Believer singing. The second half of the day was devoted to practice: under the leadership of Alexander Emelyanov, a rehearsal and performance of selected liturgical chants took place. The second day of the seminar took place in Bogorodsk (Noginsk), Moscow region. Teachers and students of the seminar visited the gymnasium built by Old Believer entrepreneur Arseniy Ivanovich Morozov, which used to be considered the best in the entire Russian Empire. On the third day, participants of the event listened to several lectures on the history and practice of Znamenny chant.
September 14, this year, at the Intercession-Dormition Church in Maly Gavrikov Lane in Moscow, a presentation of the book by academician of architecture Ye.I. Kirichenko “Church architecture of the Old Believers in Russia in the mid-18th – early 20th centuries” took place. Most of the research is devoted to the work of the architect I.E. Bondarenko. The book contains a lot of material about the architecture and church construction of Old Believer communities of pre-revolutionary Russia during the era of its greatest rise, 1906–1917.
The presentation was attended by Bishop Vikenty of Yaroslavl and Kostroma and Bishop Yevfimiy of Kazan and Vyatka. At the opening of the event, I noted that we had gathered to honour the memory of Old Believer architects in the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God, built according to the design of I.E. Bondarenko. Reading the book, you can come into contact with the history of the Old Believers, which is closely connected with our Fatherland, with its culture, and traditions. In this book, the author writes that the Old Believers are a national phenomenon. This is a very deep thought. The most important thing for us is spirituality and historical continuity.
Social and cultural events
Old Believers have always been a stronghold of Russian spiritual and material culture. Old Believers founded many schools of folk crafts. They were preservers of icons and icon painting, they were experts in ancient church singing. Monuments of literature and old Russian books were saved in their houses. However, for three centuries the cultural world of the Old Believers was, so to speak, under a bushel, it was hidden, unnoticed by either society or the state. Only in recent decades the situation finally began to change. Today, the academic world and the secular public of our country have not only recognized the cultural merits of the Ancient Orthodoxy, but have also actively participated in their study and popularization. Every year the number of cultural events related to the Old Believers is growing: dissertations are written, books are published, exhibitions are opened, monuments are erected.
Over the past year, many cultural events took place in our country, which were in some way related to the Old Believers.
On October 6, 2022, a scholarly conference and an exhibition of archival materials “The First Rybakov Readings” was held at the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church at Rogozhskoye. The conference program included three components: announcements and scholarly reports; two exhibitions (an exhibition of manuscripts and drawings by academician B.A. Rybakov from his archive, and an exhibition of painting of the International Art Foundation “White stone architecture of the pre-Mongol period”); a tour of Rogozhskoye for the participants was organised.
November 15, 2022, near the building of the Orthodox Old Believer Humanities Institute named after Archpriest Avvakum, the monument to Archpriest Avvakum was solemnly unveiled. The reviving educational institution will bear the name of the famous ascetic. The opening of the monument was attended by the Deputy Head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow, the Head of the Department for Relations with Religious Organizations K.L. Blazhenov, chief researcher of the department of manuscripts of the State Historical Museum E.M. Yukhimenko, rector of the Orthodox Old Believer Humanitarian Institute named after Archpriest Avvakum I. Yu. Trushkova. The authors of the project are sculptor, Honored Artist of Russia, full member of the Russian Academy of Arts, academician A.A. Shcherbakov and architect, member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the Moscow Union of Artists M.A. Shcherbakov.
At Rogozhskoye, attention is paid to the preservation of historical memory. In December 2022, 18 portraits of Old Believer patrons of the arts, trustees of the Rogozhskoye Spiritual Center, were installed in the House of Clergy. These portraits are copies of photographs taken in 1911–1912. The portraits show trustees of the Rogozhskoye Almshouse from different years, chairmen of the Community Council, and major donors. These are prominent industrialists and entrepreneurs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The work of Old Believer artists and photographers sparks great interest of the public. In December 2022, the exhibition “Hidden Russia. Nativity at Rogozhskoye” opened at the Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts. The author of the paintings is a master of lyrical-dramatic landscape, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, sculptor, TV presenter of the “Soyuz” channel, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts Oleg Ivanovich Molchanov. On the opening day, the exhibition was visited by the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Committee on Budget and Financial Markets Anatoliy Dmitrievich Artamonov.
January 20 this year at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory a photo exhibition opened dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the return to their homeland (then the USSR) of the Nekrasov Cossack Old Believers and the 40th anniversary of their triumphal performances at the Historical Concerts at the Conservatory.
February 19, this year, at Rogozhskoye there was an concert of folk-spiritual singing “Don’t despond, my soul.” Amateur and professional choirs from Moscow and the Moscow region presented spiritual poems from their repertoire.
Our publishers also make us glad.
In March of this year, head of the Center of Local History, Moscow Studies and Crimea Studies of the Heritage Institute, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor V.F. Kozlov became a laureate of the National Award “Best Books, Publishing Houses, Projects of the Year – 2022.” This high praise was awarded to his book “Old Believer Moscow. Story. Spiritual centers. Heritage”.
This year a new book appeared, “The History of the Old Believers” by Dmitriy Urushev, a writer and historian. This is a complete work on the history of Christianity and Old Believers in Russia, covering the period from the Baptism of Russia through the church schism of the 17th century to the historic visit of President Vladimir Putin to the Rogozhskoye Old Believer spiritual center. The book is perfectly structured, divided into many small chapters, and will be of interest to everyone – both hereditary Old Believers and those who are still just interested in the native Russian Orthodox faith.
At the end of April, this year, at the Museum of Russian Icon on Goncharnaya Street in Moscow, a lecture was held by Old Believer priest Vasiliy Andronikov, which was called “Old Russian Orthodox Znamenny chant in the Old Believer environment.” The lecture was accompanied by a performance by the male choir of the Rogozhskoye Intercession Cathedral under the direction of reader Vitaliy Moskvichev.
The series of lectures “The Church Singing Art of Ancient Russia” was conceived by the specialists of the Museum of Russian Icon as a story about the singing culture that dominated Russia from the time of the adoption of Christianity until the church schism of the mid-17th century.
Four cultural events took place in the Old Believer spiritual center at Rogozhskoye in Moscow on the days of commemoration of Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women: the presentations of two books and the openings of two exhibitions.
On the morning of April 29, this year, parishioners and guests of Rogozhskoye viewed an exhibition of photographs “I will open my mouth,” dedicated to modern Old Believer choirs. The exhibition was installed in the open air on the square in front of the church-bell tower on the eve of the Feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women and remains available for viewing.
Then, those gathered proceeded to the House of Clergy, where the famous local historian and researcher of the Moscow Old Believers V.F. Kozlov presented them with the just published “Guide to Rogozhskoye.” The second book that was discussed on this day was “The History of the Old Believers” by Dmitriy Urushev. The events in the Clergy House ended with the opening of an exhibition of paintings by husband and wife artists Dmitriy Gusev and Marya Shadchneva “Living Water”. Old Believer artists have been engaged in fine art for many years. The exhibition that opened is a new milestone in their creative journey.
For several years now, the program of the celebration of the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women on Rogozhskoye has included two major events: the concert of hymns at the Intercession Cathedral and the performance by Old Believer choirs at the Moscow International House of Music. This time twelve groups presented their programs at Rogozhskoye. Five choirs presented their program at the House of Music. A choir from Nizhny Novgorod arrived especially for a performance at the Moscow International House of Music. As in the Intercession Cathedral, the host of the concert was Andronik Dumnov.
From June 2 to June 6 this year the 9th Book Festival was held in Moscow on Red Square. Old Believers took part in it under the patronage of the publishing project “April 7th”. During all five days of the book festival, the Old Believers stand was open to visitors.
On June 8, this year, the archive of academician Boris Rybakov was opened in the Parish House at Rogozhskoye. Scholars, guests, teachers of MSDU, and its director A.I. Shatokhin were present and spoke at the opening. Organizing of the archive was initiated by S.Yu. Pervov, keeper of the Rybakov archive. In the fall, through the efforts of Svyatoslav Yuryevich and the staff of the MSDU, the first Rybakov readings were held at Rogozhskoye. Boris Aleksandrovich Rybakov (1908–2001), a famous archaeologist, researcher of Slavic culture and history of Kievan Russia was the son of Alexander Stepanovich Rybakov, the first rector of the Old Believer Theological Institute.
Other creative projects were also realized this year.
The Old Believer male choir “Paraclit” has completed an audio recording of the Gospel sticheras of Theodor the Christian. This is the second, final part of the sticheras. The first part of the sticheras was presented by “Paraclit” in November of the last year. The choir continues to study ancient Russian znamenny and demestvenny chants. This year, a new album dedicated to Russian saints is being prepared for release.
“Agafya and Sonechka” is the title of a new film about the famous taiga hermit, made by Old Believer Anatoliy Bochkariov with the financial support of Old Believer philanthropist Sergey Kondrashov. The pre-premiere screening took place in the capital’s “October” cinema.
September 7, this year, in the city of Noginsk (formerly Bogorodsk) a monument to the outstanding Old Believer industrialist and philanthropist Arseniy Ivanovich Morozov was unveiled. The solemn event was timed to coincide with the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Bogorodsko-Glukhovskaya manufactory. The location of the monument on the embankment of the pond was determined by voting by the city residents. The bronze monument was made by sculptor Alexander Sviyazov. Arseniy Morozov is depicted in full height, leaning on a walking stick. The monument was created at the expense of the honorary citizen of the city of Noginsk, director of the Founding and Mechanical Plant Karen Albertovich Arutyunyan. Deputy of the State Duma Vyacheslav Vasilyevich Fomichiov took part in the production and installation of the monument.
Results of the work of the Theological School for the 2022/2023 academic year
(Director of MSDU A.I. Shatokhin)
Over the past period, the School continued to work on training and educating future Sunday school teachers, ustavschiks, and golovschiks.
In the past 2022/2023 academic year, 9 students graduated from the Theological School.
At the end of January 2023, the Theological School was moved to the building of the former Morozov hospital at Rogozhskoye. The educational process was not interrupted while renovations were made, and now it is a cozy school with 3 classrooms, a library, a teacher’s room, and a refectory.
For the new academic year, 10 full-time students and 6 part-time students were enrolled.
This year, Friday lectures were resumed, and students went on three excursions.
About the work of the Excursion and Pilgrimage Service of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church
In 2008, the Excursion and Pilgrimage Service was created at the Rogozhskoye Spiritual Center, headed by the director of the MSDU A.I. Shatokhin. The main principle of the work of this Service is that only Old Believers should lead tours about Rogozhskoye. For this purpose from 2008 to 2023 about 20 tour guides from among teachers and students of MSDU were trained.
Almost every week Rogozhskoye is visited by several excursion groups, including schoolchildren, students, and pensioners, for whom excursions are provided free of charge.
About the work of the Museum, Library, and Archive Department of the Metropolis
(headed by priest Alexey Lopatin)
The book by V.V. Bochenkov “To give an answer with gentleness…” is the result of many years of work of this department. It is dedicated to the heritage of Old Believer writers and scholars (nachyotchiks) of the 19th–20th centuries. It provides the reader with an exhaustive bibliography of important church figures, including such major ones as bishops Arseniy of Uralsk and Mikhail (Semyonov), Fyodor Melnikov, Dmitry Varakin, and many others. This work became possible as a result of the analysis and systematization of documents from the Archive of the Metropolis, which the department had been doing for many years. This book is a significant contribution to the study of the Old Believers and the apologetic heritage of our Church.
In January next year, a round date is coming: the 150th anniversary of the birth of the famous writer Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov). The department has completed the preparation of a new, sixth, volume of his works. It will comprise his articles, published in the journals “Old Believer Thought” and “Word of the Church.” As in the previous volumes, the book will include an introduction and notes, as well as the necessary scholarly and reference apparatus.
At the beginning of this year, as part of his collaboration with the Theological School, V.V. Bochenkov gave a lecture “Old Believer scholars (nachyotnichestvo) as an intellectual phenomenon.”
With the participation of the employees of the Kremlin Museums and the State Historical Museum, a description of the sacristy of the Intercession Cathedral on Rogozhskoye has begun.
The Metropolis Library received 76 books, which were described and added to the library inventory.
The Archive of the Metropolis received and described documents on the history of the Old Believers of the Soviet period.
During the last year, department employees provided consultations to those having questions on issues, mainly related to searching in the archive and the library.
CONCLUSION
God-loving participants of the Consecrated Council! I express my gratitude for the fact that in such a difficult time of formidable events in our country and abroad, you found the opportunity to come to the Council and discuss issues that alarm the parishioners of our Church and the entire community of Russia. I hope that the upcoming Council will be held in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding and the search for ways to strengthen and expand the activities of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, aimed at saving human souls and preaching the true Orthodox faith.
In recent difficult times, when, with the multiplication of our sins, disasters increase, in fulfillment of the words of the Apostle Paul: “troubles from robbers, troubles from relatives, troubles from gentiles, troubles in cities, troubles in the desert, troubles in the sea, troubles among false brethren” (2 Cor. 11:26), in fulfillment of the words of the Lord Himself: “nation rises up against nation and kingdom against kingdom,” civil wars and deadly epidemics flare up (Matthew 24:7), our hope and protection is the Most Pure Mother of God and Her Divine Veil.
The Lord has called us to live in an era of great changes and historical events. Today, the question of whether or not Russia will exist as a great and mighty power where the Orthodox faith is preserved on the agenda of the history of civilization. We are experiencing a moment of awakening of the Russian people, its unity in the fight against the satanic forces of evil; Russia is carrying out the mission of battle with the antichrist, assigned for us by God.
Everyone in his place must do everything possible for victory, as was the case during the Great Patriotic War. We need a complete victory and capitulation of the forces, displaying aggression and hatred towards Russians and other peoples of Russia. We need peace after completing the tasks that were stated at the beginning of the special operation: liberating Ukraine from fascism, ending the oppression of Russians, and eliminating the NATO military threat on our borders.
The other day, the President of the Russian Federation said that 2022 was not the beginning of the war, but the desire to end it, because it was started by the West back in 2014 and even earlier.
We will pray that by the grace of God and through the intercession and Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, Russia will win, that the true Orthodox faith will be strengthened in our country, that our Fatherland will become stronger and prosper. I hope that from all the formidable trials that God sends us, we will emerge stronger, more united, and spiritually courageous. The enemy will certainly be defeated, and victory, with God’s help, will be ours, for truth is behind us and God is with us.
May the God of peace and love and my archpastoral blessing be with you all! Amen!
Metropolitan Korniliy of Moscow and All Russia
