Metropolitan Alexander of Astana: "Perceive the priesthood as an invaluable gift of Christ"

The permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander , who celebrates the 35th anniversary of the service in a sacred dignity, spoke about his childhood and youth, spiritual mentors, and training in the Leningrad Theological Seminary . - Your Eminence, these days you celebrate a landmark date in your life - the 35th anniversary of the ministry in a sacred place. Please tell us, at least in general terms, about the initial stage of your Christian becoming. - During my childhood and youth, the society educated the young generation with convinced atheists. The propaganda of materialism, the formation of a view of religion as a remnant of the dark past, ridicule of faith and believing people, a negative attitude toward priests, "ministers of worship" - all this was laid in school education and upbringing. Pioneer and Komsomol organizations, parental and social assets, and the scientific intelligentsia were actively involved in the atheistic work of the youth. However, with such a powerful atheistic pressure, there always remained young people in whom the spark of faith did not under any circumstances quench. My small homeland - the ancient Vyatka region - even after decades of ungodly persecution preserved the former beauty and grandeur of Orthodox culture. Miraculously surviving temples-martyrs - scolded, half-ruined - continued to remind of God and testify of the strength of the spirit of the people who built them. But the main thing - despite persecutions, oppression and ridicule, people always remained deeply devoted to Christ. It is they - the wise shepherds and pious laity - who saved in those difficult years for future generations the treasure of their native Orthodoxy. Before my eyes passed their earthly path "in simplicity and godly sincerity" (2 Corinthians 1:12). An example of their lives, their sincere, ardent faith, they also contributed to my spiritual growth. A well-known theologian and preacher of the 20th century, Protopriest Alexander Schmemann said: "If you think about the way faith is transferred from one person to another, it becomes obvious that it is personal experience that inspires you." Indeed, if in your childhood, in adolescence there were adults who taught you faith in God, who instilled in you the skill for prayer, respect for work, kindness toward one's neighbor, this can be called real happiness. This is a good, solid foundation for all future life. - Vladyka, can you tell us about your first mentors? - There is an ancient saying: "A person should not be ungrateful." For each Divine Liturgy, I remember all those who helped me on the path of life, and, first and foremost, the teachers and mentors of my youth. Getting acquainted with the biographies of the confessors of Soviet times teaches us a very important truth: a Christian can not be on a case-by-case basis, remembering his vocation only when you come to worship in the temple. The heroic deed of an Orthodox person is a daily "crucifixion to Christ" (Galatians 2:19) in a service that is imperceptible to others but dedicated to God and neighbor. Looking back, I can not help but be grateful to God for those fateful meetings with spiritual people that He sent me on the path of life - especially in childhood, when the worldview and character of a person is formed. Grateful memory preserved the names of modest elderly women whose white handkerchiefs, according to the famous poem "fastened the temples of the vaults": Taisia ​​Plenkina, Vera Kushova, the nun Love (Klobukova), Antonina Chemanadova, the nun Serafim (Gordeeva) - courageous confessor of faith, spent 20 years in camps and prisons, Antonina Georgievna Fufacheva - grandchild of the famous saint hieroschemonk Stefan (Kurteev). Among these people was the acquaintance of my mother, Anastasia Mikhailovna, - Evdokia Mikhailovna Semakova, with whom I began to go to the temple from the age of seven. Seraphim Cathedral - the only then in the administrative center of the Kirov region, in a city with a population of more than 500,000 people - was in those years the main temple of the diocese. On Sundays and holidays, he could not accommodate worshipers, believers were forced to stand on the street, handing candles and memorial notes to the church. The community of the Seraphim church was a large united Christian family. There people served, each of which in my heart to this day is preserved a grateful prayer memory. It is Archpriest Seraphim Isupov, now almost a 90-year-old elder; Protopriest Alexander Obraztsov, whose father - Archpriest Afinogen suffered for Christ during the years of repression; Archpriest Vasiliy Rychkov, who had no opportunity to study in the seminary at the time of that time, but constantly engaged in self-education - read a lot, studied the Holy Scriptures and creations of the holy fathers, learned theological sciences. Wonderful people and spiritual instructors of their flock were Archpriest Alexis Kryazhevsky, who gave everyone a sample of Christian family life - together with their mother they raised seven children; Archpriest Anany Tartishev - a spiritual old man, whose son was a well-known regent and musician; Protopriest Simeon Petrov - educated pastor, who came to us in Vyatka "from the cell of St. Sergius" at the end of the course of the Moscow Theological Academy in the walls of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra . - Vladyka, please tell us about your first confessors. - At a young age I was fortunate enough to confess and receive answers to important spiritual questions for me from two pastors whose destinies developed in different ways, but they were united in their sacrificial service to Christ and His Church. With gratitude I remember their names - it is the rector of the Trinity Church in the village of Volkovo, Protopriest John Tarasovich Evdokimov and the rector of the Trinity Church of the village of Bystrica, Archpriest Konstantin Gulin. The Holy Trinity Church in Bystric, which is called namolenny, was not closed even during the most terrible persecutions, and the Divine Liturgy never ceased to be performed. Father Konstantin I remembered as a man who loved nature and his native land. He was an experienced beekeeper and willingly shared with his fellow honey from his apiary. Father John Evdokimov spent many 15 years in prison and camp for the confession of his faith. It seemed that hardship and oppression had to harden him, but this did not happen. Consistently preserving in his heart the image of Christ the Savior, he, like many of his brethren, was distinguished by deep humility, obedience to the will of God, patience, boundless love and devotion to our holy mother - the Russian Orthodox Church. It should be specially noted that the church youth of that time received Christian education not only from the clergy, but also in communion with altarsmen, psalmists, singers, candlesticks, parishioners of different ages, each of whom, according to the apostle, served each other the gift that he received from God (1 Peter 4:11). I remember well how, with two simple church women, Taisia ​​Dmitrievna Plenkina, who worked as a cleaner in a dental clinic, and a dressmaker Vera Alexandrovna Kushova-we went on pilgrimage to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery , the Pyukhtitsa Monastery , the Riga Desert. So I, a 12-year-old boy, discovered the mysterious and lofty world of the monasteries of our Church. In the Riga desert my meeting with Father Tavrion (Batoz) took place, and in the Pskov-Pechersky monastery I had a chance to communicate with the well-known all-Russian old man - Shikhigumen Savva (Ostapenko). During one of our conversations, Father Sawa taught me a simple, but at the same time profound instruction on inner content: "Do you want to be happy in this world?" The old man asked. - Yes, my father, of course, I want to! - Do you know what is needed for this? "No," I said, "tell me, please!" "I'll tell you the words of the Monk Pimen the Great," answered Father Sawa. "Work hard, pray a lot, and do good to people." And somehow they deeply touched me these words in my soul, so much that they became the motto of my entire subsequent life. I have often had to be convinced of the wisdom of this simple patristic teaching - indeed, a person experiences genuine joy of being only when he is not working hard, in prayer as a son turns to God, has a peace of mind with the Lord and his neighbors, who does a lot of good. - Your Eminence, how and why did you have a desire to enter a spiritual school? - Like all teenagers I was fascinated by games in hockey, football, tennis, checkers and chess. I liked to go to school, read books. But already at the age of 12 the question of the further way in life for me was solved unambiguously - in my mind a firm intention was formed to enter a theological seminary and subsequently serve the Church of Christ. This desire was supported and approved by my spiritual father - Protopriest John Evdokimov. He himself did not manage to study in the seminary, but it turned out only to finish the pastoral courses. My confessor understood how important it is for a future servant of the altar of the Lord to acquire systematic knowledge in the field of theological and practical disciplines. Studying in the senior classes of the school became for me a time of preparation for entering the seminary: reading spiritual literature, studying the liturgical statute, and addressing various pastors with the various questions that appeared. Father John wrote me a recommendation. It was not easy for him to take this step - he was afraid, because he understood that such an act on his part would provoke the wrath of the authorized Council for Religious Affairs. He, the elder, could be removed from the register again, deprived of registration, as it often happened during his long period of service. With tears, he told me: "I can not help but support a person who, during this difficult time, goes to the Church and wishes as I become a priest." "What is the pastoral calling, lord?" - It's a very difficult question. It is probably impossible to give an unambiguous answer. There are many different definitions formulated by authoritative church teachers. I can say one thing - the pastoral vocation should not just be realized by a person, it must be "suffered". The decision to enter the seminary and, especially, the adoption of the sacred dignity can not be unfree, it is not accepted by obedience from the confessor or by the urgent recommendations of relatives. The search for shepherding must result from the search for the Kingdom of God. The desire to become a priest, a deacon, a monk must be internally connected with readiness for sacrificial service to one's neighbor, a willingness to sympathize with a person, according to the apostolic word, to rejoice with those who rejoice and cry with weeping (Romans 12:15). At the same time, every priesthood seeker must realize his own unworthiness, see his infirmities, rely on the mercy of God and perceive the priesthood as an invaluable gift of the Shepherd Christ and as a special life cross. It is important that in his soul a person should feel the sounding voice of God calling for a feat long in all his life. - What are your memories of the years of study in St. Petersburg theological schools? - My entry to the Leningrad Theological Seminary was in 1975. This was a special time when the rector of theological schools was the Archbishop of Vyborg Cyril (Gundyaev) (now - His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia), who had great authority among the students and the teaching corporation. Vladyka the rector took exams from us, and on their results I was immediately identified in the second class. Serious preparation for my mentors - Vyatka pastors, provided me with a decent baggage of various knowledge. The influence of the lord-rector on students and myself was enormous. Especially memorable were his informative sermons, which were never reduced to mere edification and moralizing, but always touched on the most burning and exciting questions. The special atmosphere of the spiritual school was largely determined by the fact that at the head of the Leningrad diocese was the ever-memorable Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) - a wise hierarch, a prominent church figure, a man of great diligence and sacrifice. All of us were impressed and inspired by his services. Vladika Nicodemus paid much attention to the educational process. On his behalf, translations into Russian of foreign theological publications were made, the library of the spiritual school was regularly replenished and became as a result of this treasury of various kinds of knowledge. This was especially important for students who entered the spiritual school of the northern capital of Russia from small provincial towns and villages. Metropolitan Nikodim and Archbishop Kyrill took great care not only about the educational and upbringing processes, but also about the material component of student life. A great influence on the formation of future clerics was provided by the academic temple and, of course, by the laurel of the prince Alexander Nevsky, whose holy relics we often prayed for a long time. Without any doubt, the face of the spiritual school was determined by his teaching corporation. Some teachers such as the professor of dogmatic theology, Archpriest Liverius Voronov, have traveled a long way and on their personal experience knew what repressions and persecutions are. Father Liverius was a very sincere person, but at the same time cautious, weighing every word said. I remember the lessons of the Biblical history of Igor Tsezarevich Mironovich, a wonderful expert on the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. His lively, fascinating lectures shone with a deep love for the Holy Scripture, which he set as his task to the listeners. With gratitude I recall Professor N.D., who survived the Leningrad blockade. Uspensky is a well-known liturgist, a serious scholar and major specialist in the field of history and art history, professors - archpriests Vladimir Sorokin, John Belevtsev, George Telpis and many others. - During your studies in the seminary and academy, Archbishop Meliton (Solovyov) became an elderly saint, your spiritual mentor. Lord, tell us about him. - During five years during my education in the city's spiritual schools on the Neva, I happened to be a subdeacon of Archbishop Melikhon (Solovyov), Archbishop of Tikhvin. At that time the old man was already over eighty. He had a long life behind his shoulders, full of sorrows and hardships. But the human grief he saw around him, and the trials he suffered, only filled the soul of the saint with even greater compassion. It was one of the people gifted by God, a rare gift of communication. Vladyka Meliton often recalled the story of his childhood meeting with the great righteous of the Russian land, St. John of Kronstadt. Father John said to the boy: "Love the Church of God, and you will never harm her." These words, transmitted by Vladyka Meliton, entered my soul forever. And his remarkable saying was also remembered: "It is better to make a mistake in love than in dislike of people." I try to follow this principle myself in life and encourage others to use this approach in communication. Years later, I clearly understand that in these and other words of His Eminence Meliton was his rich spiritual experience, he had deep knowledge, drawn from the patristic heritage and experienced with all his heart. Being subdeacon of Archbishop Meliton, I happened to travel with him to various temples and cities of the vast Leningrad diocese. I remember trips to Veliky Novgorod. Here then there were wonderful pastors, experienced confessors and bright preachers - Archpriest Anatoly Malinin and Archpriest Iosif Potapov - a disciple of Bishop Athanasius (Sakharov). In the majestic St. Sophia Cathedral at the time there were museum expositions, and the main church was a small church in the name of the Apostle Philip. All of us wanted to join the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" that was in the Sophia Cathedral. Having bought tickets to the museum, we approached the stand where an ancient miracle-working image was behind the glass, and, waiting until there were guides and caretakers nearby, reverently worshiped the great shrine of the Russian land, asking for the help and support of the Queen of Heaven. In 1975, during one of the trips to the diocese, we visited the city of Petrozavodsk, where my acquaintance with Archimandrite Chrysanthus (Chepil) took place . This clergyman, who soon became a bishop, and years later the first metropolitan of the Vyatka land, was destined to exert a tremendous influence on my future life. Returning to the question of the priestly ministry, I would like to ask you how you, Vladyka, perceived the main event in the life of each priest - consecration to the holy dignity? What happens to a person during consecration can not be described in words. How exactly the grace of God affects the ordained person, and what happens on the spiritual level at the moment of consecration is a mystery to our mind. Fathers and teachers of the Church, and in particular - the Reverend Simeon the New Theologian and St Gregory Palamas, testify that at this moment the soul is covered, as it were, with a kind of divine fire or light that imperceptibly, invisibly alters and ennobles the very nature called to the priesthood. It is important to note this point - in the priestly consecration, in the words of the famous theologian of the twentieth century, Archimandrite Cyprian (Kern), there is a "wedding of the priest with his flock". It is profoundly symbolic that at the time of the round of the protege around the Holy See, the same prayers are performed as in the sacrament of the Wedding. From that moment the life of the pastor no longer belongs to himself. Having received the Gift of God, the priest is obliged not to hide him under a mess, but to use all his strength and talents to serve believers and seek faith. The Old Testament prophet sternly denounces negligent ministers: "Woe to the pastors who have grazed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? "(Ezekiel 34: 2). One of the main tasks of the shepherd is to draw people to Heavenly Father, to help them feel the "Kingdom of God that came in power" (Mark 9: 1), to inspire, to give strength, firmness and determination in following Christ along the path of his commandments. As for me personally, then, with the adoption of the sacred dignity, two strong and deep feelings came: on the one hand - spiritual joy, and on the other - a sense of great responsibility. And these two feelings accompany me during all 35 years of service at the Throne of God. Joy - from the granted Above the opportunity to raise "about all and for all" the heavenly sacrifice of the Eucharist, from the ministry of the Church of Christ, the people of God. But this joy is always mixed with deep feelings for the flock, for the clergy and laity, for the diverse aspects of church life. Even now, when it is possible, by the grace of God, to accomplish what has been planned, to do something good and useful - to arrange different aspects of the diocesan and parish life, to restore the crumbled shrine or to create a new church, to hold a large educational event or charitable action - there is still a feeling that this is not enough, that all the work done can be called only the beginning, and ahead a huge field of activity. Sometimes human limitations are felt, lack of opportunities to fulfill what was planned, but then the well-known words spoken by the Lord to the apostle Paul are fully appreciated: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12: 9). - On the day of the 35th anniversary of your priesthood that you, as archpastor, would like to wish the young priests who have just embarked on the path of their ministry? - It must be remembered that the priestly ministry is the continuation on earth of the great and glorious deeds of the apostles of Christ. It requires dedication, loyalty to duty and courage. To this one must be inwardly prepared, and with the hope of the grace of God, always a feeble physician and a scanty replenisher, carrying with joy and patience the obedience given from God. It is important to remember that to whom much is given, so much will be required (Luke 12:48). At the moment of ordination, the Holy Spirit invisibly descends upon the shepherd, by whom, as the apostle Paul says, our love of Christ is poured out into our hearts (Rom 5: 5). It is love - unhypocritical, sacrificial, evangelical - that should become the main motive and creative force in the life of every priest, deacon, monk. The people, exhausted by sorrows, tired of everyday worries and all sorts of problems, expect this active feeling from the ministers of the Church, manifested in the readiness to listen and understand, give kind advice, express sympathy, support and console. I would like to address the words of my spiritual father, the archbishop of Tikhvin Meliton (Solovyov), received by him from the righteous father of John of Kronstadt, to all of us: "With all our heart we must love the Church of God!" Only by loving the Church of Christ can we really open God to ourselves, to reveal Him to the people, to reveal the beauty and strength of the native Orthodoxy to all those who seek salvation.