Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) where now? Archimandrite Cyril: Sermons

Oldness still flourished in Rus in ancient times. This is described in detail in the Kiev Pechersk Patericon of 1051 - the source of various historical information about the first Orthodox ascetics. The powerful influence of the elders was not only in Kiev, but also in North-Eastern Russia, where the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra was considered the heart of Orthodoxy . It was from here that the pious path of Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) - Hero of the Soviet Union, a chevalier of military orders and medals began. Among them was the medal "For the Defense of Stalingrad", but more on that later.

This great calling - to serve the people and the Lord God - has long been determined by the purity of his heart, high moral standards and personal holiness. Possessing the gift of perspicacity, he began to heal people from spiritual and bodily illnesses, indicating the righteous path of life, warning against dangers and revealing God's will.

Who are the elders

A person who wants to learn the basics of a true Orthodox faith may have questions about who such elders are, what role they play in the life of the whole church fraternity and parishioners, why their authority is so great, and the memory of many of them is passed on from generation to generation generation. At all times terrible upheavals, wars and revolutions prayed for the people of its defenders - people to whom God revealed his will.

On the elders was written a magnificent book "Optina deserts and its time" by the writer and theologian IM Kontsevich. The very first chapter of this book is devoted to the notion of eldership. It says that there are three church services, regardless of hierarchy, and they are divided into apostolic, prophetic and, finally, teacher. So, after the apostles, disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, there are prophets, in other words, wise old men, whose ministry is determined in exhortation, edification and consolation. They can warn against dangers and predict the future. For these people, as if there are no boundaries of time and space.

Biography of the elder of Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov)

In worldly life, Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov was born in the early autumn of 1919 in a peasant family in a small village in the Ryazan province. He was brought up and grew up in the family of believers. When Ivan was 12 years old, since they did not have a seven-year school in the village, his father took him away to study with his brother in the city of Kasimov, where they fell under the godless course of that time. In that difficult period, the atheistic frenzy of the Soviet five-year plans completely poisoned the consciousness of the people and practically ruined his soul. In the thirties, to be exact, from 1934 to 1938, Pavlov Ivan was trained in the Kasimov Industrial College, after which he was drafted into the army and sent to the Far East.

War as the atonement of human sins

Soon the Great Patriotic War appeared. According to the old man himself, in that fateful period of serious decline moral morality and lawlessness in society reached, and the Lord did not suffer this more, so they were allowed to war. It was in these cruel, bloody years of war and violence that the people experienced all the wild sorrow and tears of despair. And then he reached out to God and turned to him for help. This prayer reached the hearing of God, and the Lord took pity and changed his wrath to mercy. The Elder said that inevitably, misfortunes and calamities will inevitably draw us because we are ignoring the path that the Savior told us in the Gospel. Each of us should think about his words. After all, the mouth of Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) always tirelessly pray for every Orthodox Christian.

How the war affected the lives of Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov

Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov hit the hell of hell: he fought in the Finnish war, went from Stalingrad to Romania, was in Austria and Hungary, and also participated in the war with Japan. In those terrible war years, he, like hundreds of thousands of other people, returned to the true Christian Orthodox faith. Constant death before his eyes and the harsh conditions of life in the war made him think about being and seek some reasonable solution. He had various doubts, and he received all the answers in the Gospel. This divine book on leaves, he gathered in a ruined house in the city of Stalingrad, just after his release. The found Holy Book did not leave him indifferent and aroused genuine interest. The guy was so imbued with her that she became a kind of miraculous balm for his war-torn soul. From that moment, he no longer left her and carried it in his pocket until the end of the war, which he finished with the rank of lieutenant.

Desire to become a priest

The gospel, on all its future path, always comforted and saved, and in 1946 led to the Moscow Theological Seminary at the Novodevichy Convent. And a little later in the same place he graduated from the spiritual academy. In 1954, Cyril's brother went on the path of monasticism in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, where he was entrusted with the obedience of the confessor of the brotherhood of the laurels. Humility and a great love for God and the Orthodox faith was soon marked by the supreme monastic dignity - the archimandrite.

It is simply impossible to re-list the list of all those who turned to Father Cyril for help. He filled the troubled hearts of people with optimism and spiritual joy, which later spread to different monasteries, dioceses and throughout Holy Russia.

Starets-Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) became the spiritual father of many bishops, abbots and abbesses of monasteries, monks and nuns, as well as a large number of laity. When people talk about him or remember, first of all they see before their eyes the serene and emaciated face of a gray-haired old man, his tender, mysterious smile and hear a kind voice. Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) was the confessor of the three most holy patriarchs: Alexis I, Pimen and Alexy II.

Secrets of Archimandrite

In the Holy Trinity Lavra, parishioners often passed from the word of mouth an incredible story that supposedly the elder Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) is the same defender of the legendary Pavlov House, Guard Sergeant Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov. Although everywhere in the official sources it is indicated that a sergeant Yakov Fedorovich Pavlov was holding the defense of Stalingrad under the fascist onslaught for as long as 58 days, along with his 29 comrades.

Reading the early stories about the defense of the House of Pavlov, you constantly find different strange inconsistencies and inaccuracies of those historical events. It's as if someone specially keeps silent about some very important facts of those terrible heroic days. And the most interesting is that the names of people who heroically defended this house are hidden and confused.

Tell me I'm dead.

The very same person does not deny this fact, but does not confirm it either. However, there are data that speak for themselves. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union, as well as the Order of the Patriotic War of the Guard Sergeant Pavlov Ivan received with absolute reluctance to join the Communist Party because of his religious beliefs. How was this possible at that time? But still he received these awards for his personal heroism and courage. So few people were forgiven. Almost immediately after the war, the soldier Pavlov decided to enter the theological seminary. However, the ubiquitous NKVD could not allow such a decision that the Red Army soldier, Hero of the Soviet Union, went to the monastery and became a priest. And so his documents in the seminary were not accepted for a long time.

Vow of silence

But one day, while praying diligently in the church near the crayfish of St. Sergius of Radonezh, an old man approached him, who for some reason already knew in advance all his desires and sorrows, and that's why he advised Pavlov to take a vow of silence. It could only mean that now he swore to keep his secret all his life and in conversations nowhere else to mention the topic concerning this secret. And then in the future, Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) never again told about his front-line awards and exploits. The date of acceptance of his monastic rank coincided with the date of the beginning of the war - June 22, but only in 1954.

By this he embodied himself as the defender of the Russian Orthodox people from all visible and invisible misfortunes. He once repulsed some people from misfortunes by force of arms, and others by the power of Jesus' prayer. This is how Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) forever buried his military past in himself. Even the story was told of how once, just before the anniversary of the Victory Day over fascism, local senior military officials came to talk to the old man in Sergiev Posad about the "paulovsky issue", but the elder did not talk to them and ordered the guests to convey the words in that The spirit that Lieutenant Ivan Pavlov died.

Vision of the Theotokos

There is an amazing story about how once Ivan Pavlov found himself with his detachment in a German captivity, where he was seized by a savage horror. And suddenly the heart remembered the maternal order - to pray. And Vanya began to pray with tears to the Most Holy Theotokos with tears. When suddenly her image appeared, and she turned to him with the words: "Stop and do not move." Ivan stayed on the empty road and stood for a long time, while the convoy of captured Russian soldiers, driven by SS men with submachine guns and barking sheepdogs, did not hide from sight. It was then, on the day of his salvation, he swore to the Mother of God that if he survived, he would become a monk and devote his life to the service of God.

The Virgin came to him for the second time, but only this time she warned him that after his death in Russia the war would start again, and that the Russians would get ready for it with might and main. When one day the old man was asked how to save Russia, he thought for a long time and replied that in Russia it is necessary to raise morality. And when asked about the meaning of life, the Elder saw him in God-worshiping. His answers are always very simple and laconic, but what a huge and wise in them the meaning is laid.

Where is the elder now?

Always with us in his prayers is Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov). 2014 was the 95th anniversary of his life. It is interesting that in his infancy he was christened in honor of John the Theologian, who was an apostle of love. After taking monastic vows, he began to bear the name of Cyril Belozersky, where Cyril means "the sun." And now, if we draw an analogy between these words, it turns out that love, like the sun, illuminates and warms the sinful and feeble people of the entire Russian Orthodox world.

Having front-line wounds, concussion and numerous surgical operations, the blessed archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) bravely achieves the disease. Where is it now? It is this question that interests many. However, the elder was already bedridden for a long time. The stroke happened forever immobilized him. For today, the monk Cyril (Pavlov) is practically deprived of communication with the outside world. Archimandrite now sees and hears. But he does not need consolation and huddled when the forces come back to him, he starts to comfort us and support us, his lips begin to stir in the prayer for Russian Orthodoxy and Russia, which is gaining new strength. Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov), whose health condition is rapidly deteriorating, still performs its special mission to God and to all believers.

For all comers, the works of the old man are available. Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov), whose sermons are published by his native laurels, provides answers to the most exciting questions.

Conclusion

The Greek bishop visited a sick old man and said: "Archimandrite Cyril is now crucified on the suffering cross - one for all of Russia." Hence, once again repeats his Stalingrad feat strong and strong spirit of the Guard Lieutenant, Hero of the Soviet Union in the world Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov, and in monastic arrogance of the fraternal confessor of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra Archimandrite Cyril.