Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky. Should the church be modern? Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky: The main journey in a person’s life is pilgrimage
Archbishop Egorievsky Mark(Golovkov) about the problems of pastoral ministry and the most common temptations. About how priests live and how not to become a cynic.
Archbishop Mark of Yegorievsk - interview
If you take a quick glance at most discussions about church life, both among non-church people and in the church environment, it turns out that the most painful points are money and the relationship between the priest and the bishop. Outsiders are interested in where the priest got such a car, the priest solves problems of repairing or restoring the temple around the clock (again, money), the relationship between the priest and the bishop is often difficult on both sides.
Our conversation today is with the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Office for Foreign Institutions about the problems of pastoral ministry and the most common temptations. Vladyka Mark – vicar His Holiness Patriarch, manages two vicariates of the city of Moscow: Northern and Northwestern, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Khoroshevo.
Romantics work for free
– Vladyka, if we start from the beginning, what worries us most about today’s priests?
– We see a decrease in the desire for shepherding among active and successful people. People often come to the seminary from disadvantaged families, from rural parishes, where life is difficult, wages are limited, families are single-parent.
– Why don’t active and successful people become priests?
– The reason is in the general atmosphere of life and in what values are put at the forefront in society.
Not long ago I was talking with one guide, the conversation came up about romanticism, and the guide said: “I recently had a group of schoolchildren and I asked, who are romantics for you? And I heard an answer that amazed me. Romantics are those who work for free.” Not a word about optimism, about interesting tasks, accomplishments, or exploits.
That's the atmosphere modern society. The priesthood does not attract everyone, because there are different goals and often a low standard of living.
– Priests today live very differently.
– Social stratification of the clergy is an acute problem today.
Many priests lead very modest lives and receive very little money. One priest (he is now serving abroad) in response to my question said that in Russia, in a regional city, he received two thousand rubles a month: five hundred for teaching at a seminary and one and a half thousand for serving in a church. Needless to say, such an amount is extremely small for a young man who needs not only to support himself, but also his family.
On the other hand, there are real sybarites among the clergy: they have an inflated level of consumption, they believe that a priest should dress beautifully, drive a good car, and vacation abroad in prestigious places.
The general pursuit of money and well-being is not alien to priests. All this causes people to be surprised or disappointed. Listen to the conversations of the clergy - what are they about? What reward did you receive for the demand, what is the salary at the parish. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon.
– Is there a solution for this problem?
– It is very difficult to change the consciousness formed under the influence of the values of this world, television, and the media. It is difficult for a person to get rid of these stereotypes. But something is being done. For example, a document is now being prepared within the framework, which emphasizes the need for selfless service. It is important to bring to the attention of seminarians that the desire to get rich is an obvious sign of not being called to the priesthood. Of course, these are just words. But the future shepherd must constantly remember this.
Begged Mercedes
– And if the priest is given a very expensive gift, say, a six hundredth Mercedes. Can he accept it and use it, or should he exchange it for some cheaper model?
“I haven’t heard of 600th Mercedes being given to priests very often.” Maybe there are such cases, but very few. Most often, priests beg for such a gift or are simply very supportive of such an idea. Of course, cars are given to the clergy, but not so expensive.
A reasonable priest will not drive an outrageously expensive car, because cars, unfortunately, are what are most visible. It is not clear what kind of furnishings a person has at home; not everyone knows what apartment the priest lives in, or how much his apartment costs. But the car is what all people see. And, of course, they judge by the car.
I remember how several years ago I gave a talk to the police in the north-west and they asked me a question: look, you drive expensive foreign cars. I say: “Look, I came to you on the Volga!” By the way, priests who can be accused of luxury are, as a rule, not focused on sacrificial pastoral service, do not have a large number of children, and from the very beginning are aimed at acquiring money.
The root of the problem is the lack of sacrifice and the corrosive influence of the environment, which destroys a person and gradually draws his attention only to some attributes of life, attributes of well-being, and not to the essence of his calling.
– What else today can push a person away from the Church, from the priest?
– People are confused when they do not see the fundamental difference between a spiritual person and a worldly person, when priests are too worldly.
– What do you mean – too worldly?
– For example, if, instead of inviting parishioners to pray or on a pilgrimage, he invites them to a secular picnic or conducts conversations not about the salvation of the soul, but ordinary everyday conversations about everyday topics - this creates for a non-church or little-churched person a justification for his position in life.
Why strive for anything if priests are the same people? Why do I fast if the priest does not fast? Why don’t I drink if my dad is already drinking his second bottle? How can I refrain from slander and hypocrisy if the priest has been irritably slandering someone for the second hour?
On the other hand, there should be no artificiality in church life. It is impossible to talk only about spiritual topics. Because sometimes you can see the opposite situation, when a person starts playing with spirituality.
– What does it mean to “play spirituality”?
– The priest begins to make comments in such a tone, as if he himself is a super-holy person: but you are not married, but you smell of tobacco, but you were late for the service yesterday, and so on.
If the priest makes conversations about spirituality that are not supported own life, is pharisaism. These conversations are aimed not only at caring about the salvation of the soul, but at the desire to attract attention to oneself, the desire to please people, including the desire to convert these conversations, this attention to oneself, into some material components.
When this is done deliberately, for show, it causes people to be rejected.
I remember how the wife of one famous person spoke disparagingly about one famous clergyman, calling him an artist.
People sense falsehood and pay attention to how appropriate the priest’s behavior is, how natural, how appropriate it is to the place, position, and most importantly, how much it stems from the person’s soul.
Who becomes a cynic?
– I once asked a famous journalist about professional cynicism. He said that journalistic cynicism is far from...
– I cannot agree with this statement. People tend to praise their own and criticize someone else's. Although cases of cynicism can be found everywhere, including among Orthodox Christians.
I was once told an incident that happened at an Orthodox university several years ago. One person, a former graduate of Bauman University, was going to take a test, which was taken by two teachers from a secular university. They asked the examinee: “Where do you work?” And at that time he needed money, there were difficulties and he worked somewhere as a loader. Hearing his answer and looking at the student with a disdainful look, they said: “So it can be seen.” And they did it in front of him. They didn’t know what kind of education he had, they didn’t know the circumstances of his life. They just humiliated me in front of everyone. After such an execution, he dropped out of school.
And it happens that the priest imposes his services. He strives to become, invites people to confess to him, creates a kind of spiritual army of his flock, and this happens not because of the desire of the people themselves, but thanks to his personal activity.
I can cite many similar cases. I remember a case when one day a man came to the monastery with his wife, and his mother abbess immediately said to him: “Are you not married? That’s it, get married now!” The man was taken aback, they got married, but there was a feeling that it didn’t happen quite right.
Voluntariness is important everywhere. It happens that the priest begins to scare people.
Frighten with saints
- Diseases?
– Sometimes they even scare saints! Here we have a saint in the monastery, and if you don’t donate, or treat him badly, or don’t thank him, then that’s it!
This raises an important question in spiritual practice - how we attract people to Christ. It is dangerous if instead of Christ we bring people to ourselves.
A priest came to a European country from Russia. He came to care for his spiritual children. He even formed a small community. It would seem, what's bad here? However, he constantly repeated that “the priests who serve in your country are graceless, they are spiritually weak, give me notes, I will pray for you, and if someone does not listen, I will stop praying, and you serious illnesses will be comprehended." His spiritual children collected donations for him, went on pilgrimage to him... Only a few years later, some of the parishioners “saw the light.” For many, this became a difficult test of faith.
– Is it possible to formulate the basic rules of behavior between a priest and parishioners?
– First of all, of course, priests need to remember that a person comes to God, and not to a priest, that there should not be a cult of personality in the Church. The pastor should not dominate, should not suppress the personality of the parishioners.
Secondly, the priest should under no circumstances scare anyone. One day a frightened mother and daughter came to me. It turns out that the priest told the girl: maybe you’ll get hit by a car. And she began to be afraid to cross the road.
It is important that the priest explains spiritual truths to parishioners, encourages them to Christian life, but does not force them. He taught me to live in a state of freedom and responsibility.
And, of course, it is important that main goal The priest was concerned about the soul, and not about his pocket.
“When asking priests about the results of the division of dioceses, I often heard: “Fortunately, we haven’t seen the bishop and still don’t see him.” What can you say about this confrontation between priests and bishops?
– First of all, this is evidence that there are abnormal or one-sided relationships. Often the cause of disorder is in the material sphere. Sometimes the priest believes that the parish is almost his patrimony, his property.
One priest once said the following words in the presence of his bishop: “You know, I am very sensitive about the transfers of priests and clergy, and I generally believe that priests should be transferred with their consent. I still need to work hard, buy an apartment for my son, an apartment for my son-in-law”...
– Did they transfer him or leave him?
- They transferred after a while.
And there are cases of unfair attitude of the bishop towards the local priest: the impression arises that the parish has too much income, but in reality this is not the case. It is clear that money is needed everywhere to maintain seminaries, to social activities, for the functioning of dioceses and so on. But when an unfair attitude of a bishop towards a priest arises, this is also the ground for conflict.
It is important that the priest feels that the bishop treats him with respect. That the bishop is his protector. It is also important that the priest himself perceives the archpastor as his father, and not as a hindrance to his own well-being. You need to be able to establish the right relationships with people.
– How to install them? It's real?
- Of course, it’s real. It is important here that everyone understands their place and their measure. The bishop - the limitations of his power, and the priest - that the interests of the church are the main interests, and the interests of the family and welfare are in the background. The material interests of a priest should not harm church life.
– Of course, material interests sound very mundane, and yet – I still want to eat! What if there are still children?
– I understand this situation very well, because the development of church life also requires money. A priest may need money not only to purchase an apartment or a car, but also to repair the church and maintain employees. Need money. However, they have an amazing ability to corrupt people.
There is never enough money for anyone. Especially in the Church. But I wouldn't say it's always bad. It's better to have a little less than a little more.
Have you read the article Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk: how do the priests live?
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— It so happened that immediately after the decision of the Synod I was not able to come to Ryazan, since, due to previously received blessings, I had to travel several thousand kilometers with the blessing of the Patriarch to illuminate two churches - the first Orthodox church in Cambodia and another temple in Thailand. Only today I set foot on Ryazan soil. It is symbolic that he celebrated his first liturgy here as Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky in the church in honor of the icon “Joy of All Who Sorrow.” I will not talk about the significance of this temple for Ryazan. The temple is special, prayed for. Today it was a large number of people at the worship service. It was a joy to pray with my new flock,” noted Metropolitan Mark, starting the press conference.
Journalists were interested in his first steps in his new position.
- Now His Holiness the Patriarch has removed some of my obediences. But I still have the financial and economic management of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Award Commission. I will have to combine this with the position of ruling bishop. You need to look around first. I have one task - to serve God and people, to help people. Therefore, those who want to work, work for the glory of God, who have good, good initiatives, will always find in me an assistant and co-worker. I am an open, simple person and ready to respond to initiatives and a variety of aspirations. It doesn’t matter who they come from - from a man in a cassock or a secular person. The most important thing is that it be positive and aimed at benefiting people,” said the bishop.
The Metropolitan is not talking about innovations yet. He only clarified that “any step must be taken after careful study,” and in the activities of the diocese, in his opinion, all areas are important.
- The task of the church is to bring the word of God to people. As part of this task, it is necessary that the church be as open as possible to people, so that people do not feel that the church is a narrow clan, a class stratum. Here we need to develop youth activities, interact with public organizations. In a word, we need to be modern in the best sense of the word, work for the benefit of people and try to ensure that people’s best expectations are realized, including with the help of the church,” Metropolitan Mark emphasized.
The manager of the Ryazan Metropolitanate was also asked a question that is causing controversy among the residents of Ryazan - about the construction of churches in parks. The Metropolitan noted that he is in favor of having as many green areas as possible. But at the same time, he emphasized that parks appear where churches are built. At a press conference, he supported the proposal of social activists that in new microdistricts places for churches should be determined at the planning stage. Metropolitan Mark also called the issue of developing parishes that are located in the outback serious.
“We talked and tentatively set a date for the metropolitan council, so that together the three bishops of our Ryazan Metropolis would discuss all the issues that we, the Bishop, have, we would listen to the fathers. Of course, we will also take into account this feature of the Ryazan diocese (a large number of remote parishes). Every place has its own characteristics. They need to be taken into account. There are different approaches. There is an approach when a person is interested in the process. Typical bureaucratic approach. We are interested in the result. We will do everything to ensure that the results are good,” Metropolitan Mark explained his position.
A separate topic was his acquaintance with Ryazan. The first time he came here was in his youth - in the 1970s he was passing through. Then in 2000 he came to meet with Metropolitan Simon of Ryazan and Kasimov. By the way, he met the latter twice. The second time was in the Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery of the Yaroslavl diocese, where Simon was in retirement. In this man, who headed the Ryazan department for more than twenty years, Metropolitan Mark especially noted love and respect for his neighbors.
He added that “for a believer there is no place for chance in life,” and Ryazan appeared in his life more than once. In particular, the Metropolitan said that he had previously replaced Bishop Paul, who then became Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky, in managing the diocese in Austria and Hungary. A couple of years ago, Bishop Mark invited Paul to visit Austria and Hungary again. He brought an icon of the Ryazan saints to the bishop’s apartment. Now Metropolitan Mark saw in all this “semantic touches that inexplicably led to the Ryazan See.”
Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky is convinced that the apostolic time has now come in Russia. People need missionaries, and that's main responsibility priests and bishops. It is no coincidence that at present there are quite a lot of young priests, because in order to revive church life, young forces are needed. And every believer, no matter whether he is a monk or a layman, is called to the extent own strength to be a witness to the Truth.
Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky. Biography
Metropolitan Mark was born on March 31, 1964 in Perm. In the world his name was Sergei Anatolyevich Golovkov. In addition to Sergei, there were two more sons and three daughters in the family. The father of the future Vladyka, Anatoly Grigorievich Golovkov, studied at the Saratov Theological Seminary and, in addition permanent job in the world, served as a subdeacon, sang in the choir. At one time he served as treasurer of cathedral city of Perm. Since in Soviet time There were few churches; I was constantly making something around the house for the church where I served, while not forgetting about other churches.
He, together with his wife Anna Vasilievna, raised his children in the Christian spirit, which at that time was equated with a feat. Anatoly Grigorievich understood that children need to instill love for God so that they have a religious worldview. To do this, he introduced them to reading which he collected long years. Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky said that his father had antique literature on a religious theme; among the books there were pre-revolutionary publications of theological academies.
Metropolitan Mark's mother was distinguished by rare kindness and hard work. The boy’s memory was imprinted on how she told children about the exploits of holy ascetics and read about the lives of saints. Anna Vasilyevna, as long as the archpastor remembers, always served in the diocese and sang in the choir.
The youth of the archpastor
It is a great success and happiness to be born into a family where spiritual life is at the forefront. But this requires perseverance and unwavering convictions. At that time, being a believer meant going against everyone, challenging society.
Sergei Golovkov, like the rest of the Soviet children, went to a regular school and was even accepted into the Octobrists and Pioneers. There was nothing reprehensible in this, because then no one demanded that he renounce Christ for this, they simply gave him a tie and attached a badge. But the future Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky Mark knew his goal. After graduating from ten years of high school, the young man decides to enter a theological seminary, but at that time only those who served in the army were accepted into such places. Therefore, Sergei, without submitting documents to other universities, went straight to the admissions office of the military registration and enlistment office.
Sitting opposite the doctor, he noticed that on one piece of paper (and this was a description from school) it was emphasized: “I was brought up in a religious environment.” This became the reason for the head of the commission to yell at him: “How will you, a believer, serve?” But the young man already knew how to control himself and calmly replied that he was like everyone else. The Metropolitan remembers his years of service with warmth. The Lord protected him from flagrant cases of hazing and other troubles; at this time he matured and gained experience of life away from his family and friends.
Years in seminary
The calm, kind Sergei Golovkov made many friends. At that time, interest in faith and religion gradually began to manifest itself among different segments of the population. For the most part, the seminarians consisted of children who grew up in religious families, children of priests. There were, but much less frequently, young men who grew up in atheistic families and came to the Academy in defiance of their parents.
At that time (perestroika had already begun), samizdat began to publish many books on religious topics, and the Theological Academy began to attract people interested in faith, reading, delving deeply into the works written by the great ascetics of Christianity. It is not surprising that many adults who graduated from a secular institute applied to the Academy and sat straight into the second year.
First of all, seminarian Sergei Golovkov valued that friendship, sincere communication between students and teachers. For him, the seminary was like (Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky said in an interview) a family. They (the seminarians) then united into one flock, rallied around the Lord, there were never quarrels between them, there was no falsehood. Everyone tried to value their friendship and time spent with each other.
Monasticism
In 1990, Sergei Golovkov was tonsured a monk with the name Mark in honor of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. That same year he was ordained a hierodeacon, and a few months later - to the rank of hieromonk. On August 12, 1992, Priest Mark became a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.
For him, Israel, without exaggeration, became a second homeland. To a young man Not yet thirty years old, and already there was a need in the homeland of Christ to communicate with many “parallel worlds,” as he himself spoke about it.
Service in the Holy Land
Firstly, Jerusalem is the place where people first heard the Divine sermon; these are holy places: Golgotha, Gethsemane, the Holy Sepulcher, Bethlehem, which undoubtedly encourage prayer and spiritual contemplation. Secondly, this is the Russian world, mission employees, monks, compatriots working in Israel. Thirdly, this is an acquaintance with archpastors and priests of Orthodox churches and other denominations: catholic church, Protestant, AOC (Armenian Apostolic Church) and everyone had to communicate and cooperate.
In Jerusalem, Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky received a unique opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere pre-revolutionary Russia, see and hear the fragments of this majestic empire.
The Metropolitan recalled the unusual noble ringing of Russian bells during services in the Trinity Cathedral, and this ringing reminded him of his lost fatherland. He saw gifts: icons, church utensils, vessels that were presented as gifts to the Jerusalem Church in the pre-revolutionary period and which were used in worship. IN modern Russia similar relics are in museums.
Revival of Christianity. How to achieve this?
The fact that the Russian Orthodox Church is now under close attention, a lot is said and written about it - this proves that every person, the Russian people, has a Christian soul and it declares itself. So says Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky. Feedback about the spiritual side of the people pleases the bishop, despite many negative manifestations in society. In his opinion, there are not enough workers in the church, as evidenced by the Gospel: “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” There are not enough people who would serve the Church not for profit and vain glory. There is not enough unity, there are many quarrels, discord between parishioners, and this separates and divides people. We need to learn unity and as soon as possible.
On February 26, before the Great Pentecost, Metropolitan Mark of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky led Vespers in the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in the city of Ryazan. The Bishop said that the Holy Great Lent (Lent) is a time when believers must overcome the tyranny of the flesh and not drown in the storm of worldly cares.
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Books
- History of the Christian Church (audiobook MP3 on 6 CDs), Alexander Annin, Nikita Voronov, Nikolai Lisovoy, Mikhail Pervushin. “The cycle “History of the Christian Church” was released thanks to the cooperation of “Radio Russia” with the Russian Orthodox Church. Thanks to the cooperation of people united by the desire to introduce our people... audiobook
- Kind words. Sermons and conversations, Archbishop Mark (Golovkov). The book includes sermons and conversations that reveal the meaning of the Gospel stories, the meaning religious holidays, events in church history, and also touches on various issues...
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. Taught at MDS Holy Bible New Testament. 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.
Education:1988 - Moscow Theological Seminary.
1992 - Moscow Theological Academy (PhD in Theology).
Place of work: Ryazan Metropolitanate (Head of the Metropolitanate) Diocese: Ryazan Diocese (Ruling Bishop) Place of work: Patriarchal Award Commission (Chairman) Place of work: Moscow Patriarchate (Head of the Award Commission) 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).