In the fall of 2009, the religious community was stirred by the tragic news. Priest Daniil Sysoev was killed in his own parish. Together with him in the building of the Church of the Apostle Thomas was the regent Strelbitsky, he was wounded during the attack. Who was this priest in the Orthodox world? What caused the terrible tragedy?
The Path to Religion: Biography
Daniil Sysoev was born in January 1974 in a family of Moscow intellectuals. Father and mother worked as teachers and were engaged in painting.
Daniel accepted Orthodoxy in 1977. Parents tried to observe church customs in the family and their son was baptized deliberately. After the child's initiation into the Orthodox faith, religious aspirations in the family strengthened. They began to participate in divine services more often, for these purposes they attended church, where the head of the family served as an altar boy.
As his son grew older, his father began to take him to work in the church of the settlement of Afineevo. So, Daniel began to be imbued with the religious Orthodox faith. The boy watched the work of people close to church affairs, listened to choral singing at the temple,interested in prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures. The future priest rendered all possible assistance at the church, participated in prayers, sang in the kliros. This is how the communion to the Orthodox faith happened.
At the age of fourteen, a young man participated in the restoration of the Novoalekseevskaya Convent in Optina Hermitage. There he showed himself as a zealous admirer of the Lord Jesus Christ, which pleased the rector Artemy Vladimirov. He blessed him and advised him to study at the Moscow Theological Seminary.
Three years later, Daniel entered a church school in Moscow. He was a diligent student, studied many literary works, the Law of God. Daniil Sysoev was appointed reader in 1994. He combined his studies with singing in the choir.
Daniel was ordained a deacon a year before graduating from the seminary. The consecration was led by Bishop Eugene of Vereya. Seminary Daniel finished well. This made it possible to easily submit documents to the Moscow Theological Academy. In it, he studied in absentia.
Orthodox activities
During the period of study at the academy, Daniil Sysoev worked as a cleric in the church in Gonchary. The active clergyman simultaneously taught the word of God in the upper grades of the gymnasium. In 1996, labor activity began in the Krutitsy Compound. Father Daniel provided support to people who fell under the influence of sects and occult scammers. He was a member of the psychological organization of the Counseling Center. The team was headed by Hieromonk Anatoly Berestov.
From the time of studying at the MTA, Father Daniil Sysoev was knownadherent of the idea of the truth of the Orthodox faith. Actively discussed with teachers and students. He did not recognize compromises and deviations from the canons of Orthodoxy.
At the age of 26, he graduated from the MTA with a Ph. D. in theology. He was ordained a priest in 2001. The ceremony was personally held by Patriarch Alexy II.
Two years later, with the blessing of the Moscow Patriarchate, he founded a monastery for preachers in the south of Moscow. Over the next three years, a wooden church was erected here - the forerunner of the future sanctuary of the prophet Daniel. The temporary shelter was called the Church of the Apostle Thomas. Orthodox religious meetings and discussions were held there. Daniil Sysoev prepared preachers to take to the streets of the city in order to bring the Orthodox faith to the masses.
Family
In his youth, during his studies, he married Yulia Brykina. Julia's father is a big businessman. The wife of Father Daniel herself is successfully engaged in writing. Three children were born in the marriage. The names of the girls were ancient and beautiful: Justina, Dorothea and Angelina.
Teaching practice
Besides teaching preachers, Father Daniel taught a course in liturgy and missiology. He taught at the Perervinskaya Seminary. The priest helped create schools of preachers in other cities of Russia (Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Murmansk).
Murder
The famous priest's missionary activity was not of an aggressive nature. Among the parishioners, Daniil Sysoev preached gently and without attacks on other religions, because the power of his wordwas convinced. He was an active and active person, took part in disputes with adherents of Islam. In heated debates, he did not agree with the tenets of this faith and with its representatives. Father Daniel received threats in his address all the time, but he was not afraid and had already gotten used to them. The nature of his activities meant many who disagreed with his speeches.
On the evening of November 19, 2009, a killer broke into Father Daniel's parish. Two shots at close range wounded the clergyman in the head and chest. The attacker's face could not be seen, it was hidden behind a medical mask. Next to Father Daniel was the regent Strelbitsky, who was also wounded in the chest area. After the attack, the perpetrator fled. On the night of November 20, 2009, Father Daniil Sysoev died in the hospital.
He was buried on November 23rd. The funeral service was held in Yasenevo, where his body was interred. A huge number of people attended the funeral, the public was shocked by the arrogance and nature of the death of the priest. The Moscow clergy headed by Patriarch Kirill arrived to say goodbye to Father Daniel. The Patriarch performed a funeral prayer near the last resting place of Daniil Sysoev. The grave of Father Daniel is located at the Kuntsevo cemetery in Moscow.
Memories
Father Daniel left a memory of himself in the hearts of people. He was remembered as a well-read person, he had the talent to remember a lot of information. Easily found a common language with people, differed from religious preachers by simplicity in communication and lack of pride.
Noteshit me
Daniil Sysoev's wife, Julia, after his death, published several books on religious topics. Her first work is "Notes of the Popadya". The book is designed to erase the boundaries between the common man and the priest. It reveals the secret of the life of the clergy and their families.
The first book was a success, and in the future Julia published several more works. In one of them, “God does not pass by,” the theme of a change of religion is revealed. So, the missionary activity of Father Daniel found a response in the works of his wife. And even after his tragic death, ideas and devotion to the faith of Christ live in people close to him.
Philosopher about Father Daniel
Arkady Mahler met Father Daniel in 2005. This event took place in the apartment of mutual friends at the table. Arkady was surprised by Daniel's simple manner of communication, the absence of excessive pathos in speeches and arrogance, often inherent in priests. Daniil Sysoev did not stand out for his special charisma or psychological tricks in conversation. He behaved modestly and tried not to offend anyone.
Daniil Sysoev's sermons came from his heart, so they were devoid of spectacular pauses and filled with conviction that he was right. He only wanted to convey his thoughts to the listeners, convince them of sincerity and call for calm discussions about the Orthodox faith.
Father Daniel was open to people, always ready to help and become a mentor. He brought people light and true faith in God. He reminded the priests of antiquity who carried religion to the masses. God was in all his conversations and actions. The man was devoted to his work, did not know fatigue.
Missionary work occupied his whole being. A crowd of listeners constantly arrived, and they were completely random people from everywhere. People came to the sermons from the street, this showed the character of Father Daniel. He did not divide them into friends and foes. In the photo, Daniil Sysoev often has a recognizable light, slightly sly smile.
Memories of Father George (Maksimov)
Father George received a call immediately after the tragedy with a request to pray for the servant of God Daniel. He immediately hurried to the church of St. Thomas on Kantemirovskaya. I managed to arrive at the moment when Father Daniel was taken out by an ambulance, and he was still alive. By midnight, it became known about the death of Daniil Sysoev. At that time, a service was being held near the temple, as they were not allowed inside (the police and the Federal Security Service were working).
This priest is remembered as a truthful and sincere man. He never lied, he was not a hypocrite. God was at the core of his life. Father Daniel remained in my memory as a bright, sincere believer, friend.
Instruction for Immortals
In addition to missionary and teaching activities, Daniil Sysoev conducted conversations with parishioners directly in the church of St. Thomas. After his death, the publication of the works that have survived was taken up by mother Julia. One of these publications was the book "Instructions for Immortals".
It contains lectures by Father Daniil Sysoev, parables deciphered during his lifetime and being prepared for publication. Due to the fact thatthe book was published after the death of the priest, Julia's actions were criticized. Mother herself notes that Father Daniel's blessing for the appearance of this collection of lectures was given to them personally, and there is nothing illegal in their appearance.
Beginnings
Chronicle of "The Beginning" by Daniil Sysoev was released in 1999. The book describes the foundation of the Earth from ancient times to the present day in an easy and understandable language. The priest clearly explains the role of Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark in the creation of the world. The text is written in a unique, individual style.
In the book you can find answers to all questions about the origin of life on Earth and the meaning of being. It puts in its place all the available biblical knowledge, structures thoughts about the emergence of peoples. Father Daniel presents to the public evidence of the Divine creation of the world, confirming this with modern scientific discoveries.
The main secret of Christians
The book contains an interpretation for new believers. For many people who have accepted Orthodoxy, the course of worship and understanding of the process of the Liturgy and the All-Night Vigil is not easy. It is for such believers that the book was written.
It reveals the meaning of the language of the clergy, the beauty of the church action. Father Daniil Sysoev in "The Main Secret of Christians" tells about the differences in daily services and prayers on Holy Holidays. Reveals the meaning of actions and conveys in simple terms the essence of what is happening under the church vaults. Reveals to the reader the secret meaning of communion.
“Islam. Orthodox view”
Book withThis title was published after the death of Father Daniel. It is based on the lectures of the priest. In them, Daniil Sysoev analyzes Islamic dogma. The analysis is based on the study of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and is conducted through comparative theology.
Father Daniel during his lifetime was a connoisseur of the Koran. According to people who knew him personally, he knew him in great detail. In the course of his missionary activity, Daniil Sysoev spoke critically of the Islamic religion, thereby making himself many enemies who openly threatened his life.
In each chapter of the book “Islam. Orthodox View” is a critical comparison of this religion with the faith of Christ. The reader is presented with reasoned conclusions, supported by references to sources.
In conclusion
Father Daniel predicted his tragic death at the hands of a murderer. His death was worthy for a preacher and missionary. The offender was subsequently discovered in the Republic of Dagestan. It turned out to be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, Beksultan Karybekov. He was eliminated in the process of capture.
The calls of the Moscow clergy to reveal the entire chain and arrest those who ordered the murder were not heard, and the case was closed.
Father Daniil Sysoev will remain in the memory of his contemporaries as a bright and active person, carrying God's word to the people. After his conversations and disputes with representatives of Islam, some Muslims accepted Orthodoxy. In many ways, this explains such aggressive behavior and the terrible result of radical Islamist groups in relation to the priest. HoweverLike-minded people of Father Daniel believe that even one person brought to Orthodoxy is already a victory, and all efforts were not in vain.
Daniil Sysoev always gently and without aggression conducted sermons with Muslims, disputes with them were conducted sincerely and were interesting to the audience. The priest was the first person who managed to establish peaceful contact with representatives of the Islamic faith and practice disputes and conversations about faith without mutual aggression and pressure.
