Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky Mark.
Compatibility - 11/29/2021
Pilgrimage should not turn into religious tourism. These are different things, despite the fact that the “destination” in both cases is the same. It seems that people go to the same places, see the same things, and even, perhaps, venerate shrines, but pilgrimage is, first of all, prayer.
Pilgrimage is a labor of the soul
You need to understand that pilgrimage is the most important journey in a person’s life. Previously, people divided travel into “sacred” ones, which were described in detail in travel notes, diaries, and “profane” ones, that is, worldly ones. The latter were considered less important and were hardly described. Nowadays, everything is happening the other way around. People travel to other cities and countries, mainly for entertainment. A lot of guidebooks are published for them with tips on where and how to relax.
Pilgrimage is a labor of the soul. Not everyone wants to work, and this is the disease of modern society.
There are many known cases when a pilgrimage internally turned a person who, it would seem, had nothing to surprise him with - he had been everywhere, seen everything. An acquaintance asked me to help organize a tour of Venice for him. I gave him the contacts of Archpriest Alexy Yastrebov, rector of the parish of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Venice, author of the guidebook “Shrines of Venice.” Later, this acquaintance with sparkling eyes told me: “Father Alexy changed my attitude towards this city!”
Pilgrims come to the Holy Land to pray
I lived in the Holy Land for 7 years. This time was remembered for the atmosphere of enthusiasm. We read literature about the pre-revolutionary pilgrimage to the Holy Land, about life in Palestine. We felt with all our hearts that we were living in a period of revival of the pilgrimage of Russian people to the Holy Land. This, of course, was very inspiring, and I wanted the pilgrims, coming here, to see and learn as much as possible.
The program of stay in the Holy Land was very intense, and people had almost no time for rest and sleep. I tried to have as many liturgies as possible. First of all - at the Holy Sepulcher, in Gethsemane, in Bethlehem. In addition, they served in the Mountain Monastery and often returned to the Holy Sepulcher. I myself tried, whenever possible, to go with groups to the liturgy - either served or prayed with pilgrims, and I was happy to have such contact with shrines.
I remember one group came from Sinai. At night they climbed the mountain, then spent the night in the Mountain Monastery, and in the morning they went to Gethsemane. When I told the abbot of the Gethsemane monastery about this, he was surprised: “What are you talking about! You’ll kill them!” I say: “The pilgrims come here to pray, but they will sleep at home.”
In 1999, on the eve of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ, I tried to ensure that each group attended the liturgy in the Bethlehem Church. There is a special touching atmosphere there. And always after the service, the Patriarchal Vicar in Bethlehem, Archimandrite Anastassy, found the opportunity to speak to the pilgrims, bless them with icons, and treat them to coffee. People left the temple inspired: their faces came to life, their eyes shone with joy.
Our task now is to help people discover holy places, to return that spirit of pilgrimage that our ancestors had.
“Why, why is he doing this?” ask free-thinking bloggers who, like many of us, came across a photograph on the Internet where Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky diligently wringing out a cloth during the wet cleaning of one of the wards of the Ryazan emergency hospital.
Comments on the photo generously fan out, criticizing, sympathizing or supporting what they saw.
“They probably saved a new cloth and a bucket especially for this shot, and a staff photographer with an umbrella set the light. And the cleaning lady Marivanna was waiting “in ambush”, preparing to intercept the mop from the bishop’s hands after a successful shot,” some argued.
“A shepherd must serve! Cleaners should wash the floors. I don’t see a feat!” others were indignant.
“Bishop with a rag? Strange. The bishop in Russia is a big boss. Why did he take the rag? There’s something behind all this…”, thought a third.
“Or maybe he wants to spend one of his days like this, not in a metropolitan way? Maybe a person just gets pleasure from it...” a fourth suggested.
There were also fifths, sixths, tenths...
What if you imagine that your day is scheduled minute by minute: meetings, conferences, conversations. You talk a lot about goodness, mercy, about something heavenly and lofty. And not only do you talk, but you also decide a lot, visit a lot, and get tired a lot. And you don’t always see the result. And then I washed the floor and it was clean. And people felt better because of it, in just 10 minutes.
According to eyewitnesses, those who do not know the bishop watched the floor cleaning in silence. And who knows - they were also in a hurry to talk “with the priest.” They say he is very easy to talk to.
We managed to talk with Metropolitan Mark on the third visit. “Call at 23.15. The lord will have four minutes before he reaches the turn. -...And what’s there, around the bend? – we asked, but did not develop the topic.
We're calling. In the receiver is a friendly, rather cheerful voice of a man whose day is far from over. We ask uncomfortable questions about the “bishop with a rag”, to which many of us would answer sharply and ask not to bother us anymore. The Bishop seems to nod his head as a sign of patience and explains:
— This is a long-standing ascetic tradition that a monk (and a metropolitan is a monk - editor's note) should do some simple, even dirty physical work, for example, washing floors. Especially in the hospital. I have been sticking to it for more than ten years, because it is in my spirit, I like it. I get joy and pleasure when I do this. This is how I rest. And in general, I want to do something for the sick, with my own hands. The Lord, over there, washed the feet of his disciples. This is a natural thing. What's wrong with that?
I never wanted to be seen with a rag in my hands. Mine - that's all. The main thing for me is that it is clean. I love order and cleanliness.
The fact that this photo was taken and published was an accident. I don’t know who did it, maybe one of the patients. I don’t ask everyone to leave or turn away while cleaning the floor. And I don’t look at who is following me or taking pictures. Although, I remember, it seems that one of the doctors did it.
To be honest, I don’t think this needs to be talked about at all. I'd rather do my job quietly."
(Sergey Anatolyevich Golovkov) was born on March 31, 1964 in Perm in the family of a church choirboy. In 1981 he graduated from high school.
In 1982-1984 he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. In 1984 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated first class in 1988.
In the same year he was admitted to the Moscow Theological Academy. While studying at the academy, he was twice awarded the Patriarchal Scholarship.
On November 21 of the same year he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and on January 7, 1991 - to the rank of hieromonk. In 1992 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in history. Ancient Church candidate's dissertation on the topic “Blessed Diadochos of Photikie and his theological and ascetic views.” By the decision of the Holy Synod of August 12, 1992, he was appointed a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem. On the feast of Pentecost 1997, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' at the Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem was elevated to the rank of abbot.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 28, 1999, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. By decree His Holiness Patriarch On January 26, 2000, he was appointed rector of the Moscow Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Khoroshevo.
On May 3, 2000, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the DECR, elevated him to the rank of archimandrite. On January 14, 2004, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, he was ordained to the rank of bishop by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and a council of bishops.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 31, 2009, Vladyka Mark was relieved of his post as deputy chairman of the DECR and appointed secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate for foreign institutions. The Holy Synod also entrusted Bishop Mark with the temporary administration of the Vienna-Austrian and Hungarian dioceses.
In consideration of his diligent service to the Church of God, on February 1, 2010, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
In December 2010, he was entrusted with the care of parish churches in the North-Western Administrative District of Moscow (Assumption Deanery).
Since March 22, 2011 - member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated December 31, 2011, he was appointed manager of the Northwestern Vicariate within the boundaries of the Northwestern and Zelenograd administrative districts of Moscow and the Northern Vicariate within the boundaries of the Northern administrative district of Moscow and included in the Diocesan Council of Moscow ex officio .
By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of April 8, 2013, he was appointed acting. rector of the church of St. prpmts. Elizabeth - Patriarchal Metochion in Pokrovsky-Streshnevo, Moscow.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 16, 2013, he was appointed temporary administrator of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Italy.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 25, 2014, he was appointed chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate with the temporary retention of the post of head of the Moscow Patriarchate Administration for Foreign Institutions.
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Supporting the Construction of Moscow Cathedrals.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of October 22, 2015, Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk, appointed by His Grace of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky, head of the Ryazan Metropolis, was relieved of the administration of the Vienna-Austrian and Hungarian dioceses and the post of head of the Moscow Patriarchate Office for Foreign Institutions (magazine No. 62).
On November 4, 2015, during the Liturgy in the Patriarchal Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan.
Education:
- 1988 - Moscow Theological Seminary.
- 1992 - Moscow Theological Academy (PhD in Theology).
Place of work:
Patriarchal Award Commission (Chairman)
Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate (Chairman)
Church awards:
- Order of St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow II Art.
- Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh II Art.
- Order of the Holy Sepulcher of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church
- Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov II Art.
- Order of Friendship
- Commander of the Hungarian Order of Merit
A country: Russia
Biography:
Born on January 22, 1977 in the family of a priest in the village. Tugoles, Shatursky district, Moscow region. In 1994 he graduated from secondary school No. 5 in Shatura.
In 1994-1996 studied at the Ryazan Theological School. In 1998 he graduated from Samara Theological Seminary.
On November 22, 1998, the rector of St. Petersburg theological schools, Bishop Konstantin of Tikhvin, made him a reader in the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. In the same year he entered SPbDA. In June 2002, he defended his thesis on the topic “Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church in the light of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament.”
In August 2002, he was appointed teacher of the subject " Bible story"at the Ryazan Theological School.
On October 27, 2002, in the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian of the Ryazan Theological School, Metropolitan Simon of Ryazan and Kasimov was tonsured into a mantle with the name Ignatius in honor of the Hieromartyr Ignatius, Bishop of Skopinsky.
On October 31, 2002, in the Church of the Holy Righteous Lazarus in the city of Ryazan, Metropolitan Simon ordained him a hierodeacon, and on November 4 of the same year in the St. Nicholas Church in the city of Skopin, Ryazan region, he was ordained a hieromonk.
On July 23, 2003, Archbishop Pavel of Ryazan and Kasimov appointed him vice-rector for educational work of the Ryazan Theological School. Since September 2003, he has been appointed teacher of the subjects “Pastoral Theology”, “Homiletics” and “Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church”.
On Easter Day 2004 he was awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross.
In 2004-2006 was a postgraduate student at the Moscow Theological Academy at the Department for External Church Relations.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 6, 2005, he was appointed vicar of the newly opened Cnaco-Preobrazhensky monastery Ryazan.
On the recommendation of Archbishop Paul, on the day of Holy Easter 2007, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II elevated him to the rank of hegumen.
In 2008 he graduated from Ryazan State University them. S.A. Yesenin, majoring in Jurisprudence.
On May 27, 2009, by decree of Archbishop Pavel of Ryazan and Kasimov, he was appointed first vice-rector of the Ryazan Theological Seminary.
On the occasion of Holy Easter 2010, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill awarded him the right to carry a club.
In 2010, he underwent professional retraining at the Moscow Academy of State and Municipal Administration, upon completion of which he was awarded a qualification to conduct professional activities in the field of state and municipal administration, management of organizations, enterprises of various forms of ownership and personnel management. Since August 2010 - candidate for the degree of Candidate of Economic Sciences at the Moscow Academy of State and Municipal Administration.
In 2011, he was appointed first deputy director of the Ryazan branch of the autonomous non-profit organization of higher professional education " Smolny Institute Russian Academy education".
By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 27, 2011 (magazine No. 70), he was elected Bishop of Shakhtinsky and Millerovsky.
On August 18, 2011, during a service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of archimandrite; At the end of the all-night vigil, His Holiness the Patriarch led the ceremony of naming Archimandrite Ignatius Bishop of Shakhtinsky.
On August 21, 2011, at the Novospassky Monastery, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill led the consecration of Archimandrite Ignatius as Bishop of Shakhtinsky and Millerovsky.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 27-28, 2011 (magazine No. 168), he was relieved of the post of abbot (abbot) of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery in Ryazan.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 26, 2012 (journal No. 138), he was confirmed in the position of rector (hieroarchimandrite) of the Intercession Verkhnemakeevsky Monastery in the village. Verkhne-Makeevka, Rostov region.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 30, 2014 (magazine No. 35), he was appointed Bishop of Vologda and Veliky Ustyug.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 25, 2014 (journal No. 83), he was confirmed as the Holy Archimandrite of the Spaso-Prilutsky Dimitriev Monastery in the city of Vologda and the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in the city of Kirillov.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 23, 2014 (magazine No. 94), the title “Vologda and Kirillov” was determined (in connection with the formation of the Veliky Ustyug diocese); appointed head of the Vologda Metropolis and temporary administrator of the Veliky Ustyug diocese.
November 4, 2014 for Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 25, 2014 (journal No. 135), he was appointed rector of the newly formed Vologda Theological Seminary.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of February 26, 2019 (magazine No. 5), he was appointed chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate, while retaining responsibilities for archpastoral care of the Vologda Diocese.
Since February 26, 2019, he has been a member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, chaired by His Holiness the Patriarch.
Date of Birth: March 31, 1964 A country: Russia Biography:Born on March 31, 1964 in Perm. In 1981 he graduated from Perm high school. In 1982-1984. served in the ranks of the Soviet Army.
In 1984 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, after which in 1988 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy. In September 1990, he was appointed assistant to the head of the Church and Archaeological Office at the MDA.
On October 19, 1990, at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he was tonsured a monk, on November 21, he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and on January 7, 1991, to the rank of hieromonk. He taught the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament at the MDS. In 1992 he graduated from the MDA with a PhD in Theology.
On January 14, 2004, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, he was consecrated Bishop of Yegoryevsky, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 31, 2009 () he was relieved of the post of deputy chairman of the DECR and appointed secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate for foreign institutions. The Holy Synod also entrusted Bishop Mark with temporary administration of the dioceses.
By decision of the Holy Synod of February 26, 2019 () from the post of chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.
By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of February 26, 2019, he was relieved of his position as rector of the church Life-Giving Trinity in Khoroshevo, Moscow.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of August 30, 2019 (), in addition to the obedience carried out, the administration of the Budapest-Hungarian diocese was entrusted with the naming of the title within the said diocese “Budapest and Hungarian”.
Education:1988 - Moscow Theological Seminary.
1992 - Moscow Theological Academy (PhD in Theology).
Place of work: Patriarchal Award Commission (Chairman) Place of work: Moscow Patriarchate (Head of the Award Commission) Place of work: Ryazan Metropolitanate (Head of the Metropolitanate) Diocese: Ryazan Diocese (Ruling Bishop) Diocese: Diocese of Budapest (Ruling Bishop) Awards:Church:
- 2014 - St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow II century;
- 2019 - St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow III century;
- Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh II century;
- Order of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem Orthodox Church).