Father Stakhiy (Minchenko) - Rector of St. Nicholas Church

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

In the vast territory of Russia there are many highly spiritual, highly moral and virtuous people. One of these people was Stanislav Minchenko, better known as Father Stakhy. During his long life, he did many good deeds both for the entire Russian Orthodox Church as a whole and for individuals. Let's talk about him.

The beginning of life's journey

Father Stakhy was born on March 16, 1942 in a village called Dry Berezovka, Voronezh Region. Grew up with his brother Vladimir. They were raised by the same mother. Peace and tranquility reigned in the family, the boys never quarreled, united to help their mother. They did not shy away from work, plowed a garden, planted crops and even baked bread themselves. Although their mother was a woman of good character, she kept both sons in strict control.

Father Stakhia's life as a child could not be called easy. The school was very far from home;snow-covered road. They lived modestly, so often the boys did not even have winter boots. But, despite a lot of chores around the house and the lack of warm shoes, Stakhiy never missed school, he was drawn to gaining knowledge.

Neither his mother, nor his brother, nor his teachers and classmates would ever have thought that an ordinary boy from the rural hinterland would someday become the confessor of hundreds of Russians, receive honorary church awards and restore the dilapidated St. Nicholas Church.

Activities

Stanislav began his first activity in the church as a child. Despite the fact that there was no less than 10 kilometers between his house and the nearest church, every Sunday he went to the temple. There he helped the priest at the altar.

But after that, he did not immediately get into the seminary. He served in the Soviet army, then worked as a driver. Soviet upbringing was by no means religious, and parents did not even think about sending their children to theological seminaries, which, however, were few in those years. Only closer to the 90s was he able to enter the seminary, and his visit to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra pushed him to this. It was there that he felt a connection with God and decided to embark on a spiritual path.

He studied at the seminary by correspondence, in his free time he had to work hard at a brick factory as an engineer. Father Stakhia already had a wife and children by that time. They supported his idea of becoming a priest and treated it with special sensitivity and understanding.

Already in 1992 hegraduated from the seminary. He received many awards for his work in the church. One of the first was a purple skufiya presented to him by Bishop Evlogii. In 1997, he was awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross. Three years later, Patriarch Alexy granted him the rank of archpriest. In 2006, he became the confessor of the Alexandrovo-Kirzhachsky deanery district. He received his last award from His Beatitude Vladimir, who honored him with the Order of St. Demetrius Metropolitan of Rostov.

Succeeded him and see the world. The elder visited many shrines not only in Russia, but also in Egypt, Athos, Cyprus and the island of Corfu. Everywhere he prayed for the parishioners of his church.

St. Nicholas Church: revival

Oh. Stakhiy is also known as the revivalist of the rural church. In 1992 he was sent to St. Nicholas Church. It was almost completely destroyed, few of the parishioners visited it. Father Stakhiy put a lot of effort into restoring the church, he painted the walls himself, ennobled the territory. Today, this place is famous not only for the Vladimir region, but for the whole of Russia as a whole. This church deservedly bears the unspoken title of a miracle of the Russian hinterland.

On the territory of the temple there is a refectory, a baptismal church, a holy spring, which has been neglected for a long time. The temple can accommodate 1500 people. As during the life of the elder, after his death, people still go to the village of Filippovskoye for the sake of this temple.

Helping people

For help to the old mana huge number of people applied. Among them were honest workers with their own problems, singers, artists, statesmen. They came from afar, from the Urals, Siberia, Greece, France and America. In one day, Father Stachy could host 500 people.

With his prayer, he could heal people from terrible addictions such as drug addiction, drinking and smoking. He accepted everyone and was ready to listen to everyone, no one left him without an answer. He helped in matters of the heart, and prayer, and his advice.

Father Stachy: significant dates

July 21, 1981 is a date that has become one of the most important for Father Stakhia. It was then that he accepted ordination, in other words, he performed ordination, an initiation that gives him the right to perform Christian rites and sacraments. It was after this event that Father Stachy began to call him, in honor of the apostle from the seventy Stachy.

On August 25, 1981, he began his religious activity, as expected, from the lowest level, becoming a deacon of the Prince Vladimir Church (Vladimir).

In March 1984, he moved to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, to the same position (Alexandrov).

December 30, 1990, when behind him was already, albeit unfinished, but still a seminary and service as a deacon, he was first appointed a priest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Alexandrov).

Two years later, on April 19, he was appointed rector of St. Nicholas Church (Vladimir region)

In April 2003 he was awarded the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow IIIdegree, in March of the following year he received another award - the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir III degree.

Death

The days of Father Stakhia's reception, unfortunately, have come to an end. On May 15, 2016, in the evening, the elder died. He passed away at the age of 75 of his long and highly spiritual life. Many people came to say goodbye to him. His grave is located right next to the temple, which he took on his shoulders half-ruined and during his service there he managed to literally revive from the ashes. People came to him for advice and help, and everyone left with what they came for. Some immediately gave up all their addictions, others found the answer to the question that tormented them for many, many years. His memory will live on for a long time.