Nizhny Novgorod diocese. Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitanate of the Russian Orthodox Church

In accordance with the historically established tradition and modern documents, a local church is meant under the diocese, which is headed by a bishop. Various ecclesiastical institutions are united in the diocese - from monasteries to monasteries and temples, as well as missions, brotherhoods, educational institutions, etc. The bishop in this structure occupies a predominant place on the basis of the succession of powers from the holy apostles themselves, and governs it with the participation of the clergy and the worldly Community.

The boundaries between dioceses today often coincide with administrative boundaries. They are established by such body as the Holy Synod. Although there are exceptions to the rules. For example, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Exarchate in Belarus have more dioceses than regions in these countries.

When was the diocese founded in Nizhny Novgorod?

The Nizhny Novgorod diocese has a long and interesting history of origin and existence. It was going to be founded in the middle of the XVII century, when numerous Old Believers began to move to the "Nizov land" from the European part of the Russian Empire, as well as followers of Stepan Razin. This created the prerequisites for the formation of foci of unrest in the region, which could later be turned against the state. Therefore, in 1672, to strengthen the Orthodox faith and peace, the Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox Diocese was established, headed by Archimandrite Filaret, who was the head of the Pechersky Monastery. He ruled the diocese for 10 years and sat in the Novgorod Kremlin, which began to be considered the residence of this church unit at the time.

How the Diocese of Nizhny Novgorod was destroyed and revived in the twentieth century

In the years of Soviet power, the diocese, renamed Gorkovskaya, was almost completely destroyed. In 1918, many simple monks, church superiors, bishops, archpriests were shot or drowned with bound hands in the Volga. Similar atrocities were repeated in 1938, the center of crimes against the clergy was Mochalny Island. The last temple of the diocese was closed just before the Great Patriotic War.

However, the unfavorable situation on the fronts forced the Soviet leadership to begin the revival of the Orthodox faith as early as August 1941. Then the Troitsko-Vysokovskaya church was re-opened, the parishioners of which donated about one million Soviet rubles for military needs. In the future, the number of open and restored churches increased, and to date, the Nizhny Novgorod diocese has about 220 churches, nine monasteries, almost 180 parishes and 17 deaneries (groups of parishes that are close to each other).

Since 2012, the Nizhny Novgorod diocese is part of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitanate along with the Lyskov, Gorodets and Vyksa dioceses on the decision of the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since February 2003, the head of the diocese is Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, Bishop George of the Russian Orthodox Church (Vasily Timofeevich Danilov).

In the Nizhny Novgorod diocese today one Vicariate is singled out - Balakhna. Its head is a vicar, bishop (now Iliya Bykov), who is not the ruling bishop. The remaining vicariate, which was part of the diocese, were abolished or passed into the status of independent dioceses.

Seraphim of Sarov - the main patron of the Nizhny Novgorod lands

50 years after the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, in 1991, the relics of Seraphim of Sarov returned to the Diveevsky Monastery. They arrived in Moscow at the end of July and were sent to the Nizhny Novgorod region by the cross. This saint from the early years was kept by God. In particular, when building the temple, which led his parents, he remained unharmed when he stumbled and fell from the bell tower.

Then, in a dream, he was healed of a serious illness and recovered miraculously from the dropsy after the vision of the Mother of God, who appeared to him with the two apostles and told John that Seraphim was "of our kind."

Later Seraphim of Sarov performed many prayer feats and healings. Some saw how during the prayer he stood above the earth, and subsequently testified about it.

In addition to Seraphim of Sarov, more than twenty saints and many new martyrs are considered the patrons of the Nizhny Novgorod land, among whom there are priests killed for their faith in 1918 and 1937-38.

Reconstruction of Nizhny Novgorod churches

In recent years, many temples of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese have been gradually turning from a decline to a flourishing, and everyone can take part in this process. Currently, work is underway to reconstruct the Cathedral of the Theodore in Gorodets, the church and chapel in Nizhny Novgorod (on the site of the demolished Savior-Transfiguration Cathedral and in honor of St. Igor), the temple in the Transvolga (in honor of the Savior Trinity), the Church of the Blessed Virgin in the village of Glukhovo Etc. These religious buildings can be seen during the pilgrimage.

One- and two-day religious tours through the pilgrimage center

The pilgrimage center of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese contributes to the attraction of believers to the temples and holy places, and was given the blessing to organize trips to the holy places of the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well as other regions of Russia and abroad from the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitan Georgy, who has headed this ecclesiastical unit since 2003. This organization has a registration in the register of tour operators in Russia and offers about five dozen excursions of religious and conventional directions. Among them one can find one-day excursions to Diveevo, Vysokovsky Monastery, Murom, Arzamas to the source of the twelve holy keys, to Suzdal, to the Holy Protection Convent, to Kideksha, which is the oldest village founded in Suzdal even before coming to these Lands of the Slavs. Almost all excursions are conducted by Orthodox guides and include participation in this or that church ministry with possible communion and confession.

In addition to one-day trips, the pilgrimage center of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese organizes two-day tours to Kazan (to the face of the Kazan Mother of God), Optina Pustyn, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Kostroma, Serpukhov, etc. A special trip to Diveevo with a full range of services at the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov And other saints and great martyrs. The program includes an excursion to the Seraphim-Diveevo Convent, which, according to plan, is more like a city.

Grove of the Virgin and a trip to the Holy Land

It is known that the plan of this religious monument was painted by Saint Seraphim, who never visited this place. This gives grounds for believing that the monastery is planned with the blessing of the Almighty and by his providence. According to tradition, the nunnery was founded after the appearance of the Mother of God to Mother Alexander, and it is considered one of the four Divine Missions on our land. The program of such pilgrimage also includes a visit to the Grove of the Mother of God, about which St. Seraphim said that after the coming of the Antichrist the unclean will pass everywhere, and this groove will not jump, as the Virgin herself measured it with her belt.

In addition, the pilgrim center organizes trips to holy places abroad. For example, you can visit the Holy Land during Lent, including staying at the Greek monastery on Mount Tabor, visiting the monastery in Nazareth, exploring the Jordan, the Church of the Nativity, the place of the ascension of the Lord and other holy places. The pilgrimage center has representatives in the Holy Land and provides the opportunity to participate in the Liturgies in various temples, cross the Cross, visit Bethlehem, participate in the All-Night Vigil. Such trips usually take about a week, and a group of believers is accompanied by a priest.

Church and popular chants in the performance of the male choir

The Nizhny Novgorod diocese is also known for its magnificent bishop's choir. It consists of eleven people, including clergymen in the rank of deacons to bishops who perform church and singing works: chants, kantas, prayers, etc., as well as chants and songs of contemporary and ancient authors and composers. The choir of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese is popular with parishioners, it gives charitable performances and has already released two CDs of church-popular music. These songs have found recognition even in the hearts of hardened rockers who admit that they have never heard spiritual music in such a good performance. The choir often performs unaccompanied by musical instruments.

How should the servant of the church sing? Protodeacon Andrew shares his opinion

A special participant in the church choir is the protodeacon of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, Father Andrei. His powerful baritone is not inferior in strength to the sound and richness of sonic tones to the legendary bass of the Russian singer Fyodor Chaliapin, and maybe even surpasses him in something. During the first twenty-five years of his life, Father Andrey was associated with worldly music, until he visited the Annunciation Monastery, where he became acquainted with the church chant. After that, he began to visit temples more often and listen to music, and, after all, asked permission from the schema to work at the temple. A few years later he was ordained deacon.

Protodeacon Andrew (Zheleznyakov) believes that the deacon should have experience of service and be able to sing, but without praising his voice data, however good. It is believed that the priest reading the service should completely abandon earthly worries and sing for the Creator, the Creator, who gave man both life and all his abilities. Only in this case it is possible to act so that the meaning of the prayer will reach even those who do not know the Old Slavonic words. It seems that the episcopal choir of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese is singing in such a way that it attracts the flock and the worldly listeners. Protodeacon Andrew so shocking listeners in his voice that many people want to confess and talk with him.