In the summer of 2016, all Orthodox Christians were shocked by the terrible news of the brutal murder of Hegumen Daniil Sokolov.
About Maxim Sokolov
In 1973, in Moscow, in the city of Pushchino, Maxim Sokolov was born. He was an ordinary boy from a simple family. He rode a bicycle, drove pigeons. In 1991, after graduating from school, entered the military school, but in the second year he left, deciding to serve in the army. After the army he entered college, but here he was not to his liking. Relations with the girls Maxim did not add up, he was very timid and modest. He spent a lot of time reading books, thinking about life. Especially loved Maxim Sokolov works of Fyodor Dostoevsky. As Bishop John later said, it was Dostoyevsky who became the cause of the deep faith of the future hegumen Daniel.
Novice
Serving God and preaching the Christian faith Maxim began a novice in the Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery, which is in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Having come here, the future hegumen Daniil Sokolov never regretted his choice, never doubted his faith. After all, as he thought, whatever he started, wherever he went, everything was not the same, everything was not to his liking. Perhaps the Lord Himself led him this way. Monastic tonsure was performed in 1999, in the same year already Daniil Sokolov was ordained a deacon, and followed by a priest. Hieromonk Daniel stayed at the Troitsko-Danilov Monastery for ten years. Until 2009, he served with Bishop John. They made a huge contribution to the restoration of the monastery, nurtured the parishioners. Moscow Sacred Seminary Maxim Sokolov successfully graduated in 2005 and began to help the monks led by Hegumen John to restore the Assumption Adriano-Poshekhonsk Monastery. In Pereslavl, whence he began his spiritual path, Daniel returned in 2012 in the capacity of the acting abbot of the monastery.
Hegumen
After two years of service in the monastery, the abbot, on March 19, 2014, Daniel, by decision of the Holy Synod, was appointed hegumen. So hegumen Daniil Sokolov appeared. Parishioners and monks fell in love with him for his meek temper, love for people and kindness. Hegumen Daniil Sokolov loved children, helped the orphans in every possible way, visited military units. Soldiers could talk with him for a long time about all the hardships of the service, Daniel helped them with word and prayer. Suffering, deprived and unfortunate people came from all the cities to just stay on his service so that a spark of hope for the best arose in the soul, as the hegumen helped to believe.
To die is not to disappear from memory
Hegumen Daniil Sokolov died on July 7, 2016. He was brutally murdered by the novice Alexander Shuleshov, inflicting dozens of knife attacks. The monks began to worry that the hegumen was not present at the morning service, which never happened. One of the novices went to his cell and found the lifeless body of the abbot already dead. The murder of Hegumen Daniil Sokolov was a real tragedy for monasticism, parishioners and the entire Russian Orthodox Church. He was described as a living icon: quiet, calm, with a gentle temper. He loved everyone and everything, never raised his voice, prayed a lot for the health of all people, for the repose of the untimely dead. He himself accepted new novices, including his future murderer, in every way helping them and instructing them on the right path. Due to this information the police refused the version that the hegumen was killed because of the personal aversion of the novice.
Alexander Shuleshov was found in the forest, along the Volga route he walked on foot, opposite to the monastery that had become his home. At the time of detention, he offered no resistance. During the interrogation confessed that he wanted to receive money and expensive icons and church relics. But since the monastery is one of the poorest in the territory of Russia, he received a refusal from the hegumen. Money and gold he simply did not have. Alexander got angry and killed his mentor, which he now sincerely regrets. The funeral took place on 10 July. Hegumen Daniel Sokolov remained in the hearts and memory of all believers as one of the best fathers, a true messenger of God.