Alexander Torik is today a public figure, known to a wide range of readers thanks to his books. Although the author himself does not fully agree with the status of the writer, since he considers himself primarily a priest who uses the form of fiction for spiritual and educational purposes. Let's get acquainted with how the pastoral and writing path of Alexander Torik developed, what his books are about, and what he preaches to his contemporaries and the growing generation.
Biography
Alexander Torik, whose biography begins in Moscow, was born on a serene September 25th day in 1958. Childhood passed in Mytishchi. He spent his school years in Ufa, where he moved with his parents at the age of seven. Then he graduated from a pedagogical college, where he received the speci alty of a drawing teacher.
But Alexander did not have a chance to work in his speci alty - in 1977 he againended up in the capital. Here he entered the Moscow Art Theater, where he studied at the production department for several years. This year was a turning point in the fate of the future shepherd, who believed in the Lord and began to attend the temple. Here begins acquaintance with Orthodox shrines. At first, Alexander visited Moscow churches, later he followed the spiritual instructions to the monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Pastoral Path
Since 1984, the path of serving the Lord began in the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Aleksino, in the Moscow region. The first five years of service passed here: first as an altar boy, a year later as a regent, and a few more years later as a deacon.
In 1989 Alexander was transferred to Kolomna. Here he served as a deacon in the women's Novo-Golutvinsky monastery. Then there was a service in the Noginsk Epiphany Church.
In the summer of 1991, Alexander Torik received the consecration of the priesthood and became rector, this time in the village of Novosergievo (Noginsk district). The place of service was the church of St. Abbot Sergius of Radonezh. In 1996, he initiated the creation of a garrison church, where he was also rector. This year was marked by the first literary work - the brochure "Churchification".
1997 brought sickness. Father Alexander underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. By the grace of God, he survived, but his he alth deteriorated noticeably.
In 2001, the rector received an award from the Orthodox Church - the rank of archpriest. The following year he was inducted into the stateclergy of one of the temples of the city of Odintsovo. However, he did not manage to serve there for a long time. Due to deteriorating he alth, the archpriest left the ministry. He has been writing since 2004.
The Writer's Way
The first book was written in 1996. The need for its creation was clearly presented to the priest. Many people in those years went to church, but had a very vague idea of what Orthodoxy was.
Answers to many common questions, Archpriest Alexander Torik, combined and independently published a small booklet called "Churchification". It simply and clearly outlined the basics of Orthodoxy and the rules of church life for people starting their path to God. The book gained popularity and was translated into several languages.
Leaving the ministry, Alexander Torik devoted himself entirely to literary creativity. And in 2004, the book "Flavian" saw the light.
Later, in 2008, another spiritual and educational brainchild appeared in the form of the fairy tale "Dimon". Its distinctive feature is that it is intended for people from fourteen to one hundred and fourteen years old. Then came "Selaphiela", "Rusak" and other books.
Flavian
The idea of creating a story-parable arose long ago. I wanted to write a fascinating and at the same time useful book. After all, it is known that what is uninteresting does not attract readers. This is how Flavian appeared, which, having burst into the book world, gained unprecedented popularity. A clear indication of this isthe fact that the circulation is literally “swept away.”
However, it was not possible to fit my twenty years of ministry experience into one book, thanks to this, the continuation of the Flavian parable appeared.
The book was liked by readers both church-going and those who have not yet embarked on this path. A casual style that simply tells about ordinary people and the same ordinary miracles. Words from Scripture and the Apostles, sounding from the lips of the heroes of the story, pour into the soul of the reader.
In addition to enthusiastic responses, there are also opposite ones, reproaching the book for an abundance of miracles. To which the author, who visited Athos many times, responds with the words of an Athos monk who says that miracles are not such a rarity in life. And this is true! But the fact that people just stopped noticing them is a big problem.
Readers also have a lot of questions. Everyone is especially concerned about the reality of Father Flavian. Is there such a priest? Or is it a fictional, so-called collective image? The author speaks about his main character with love, since the image of Flavian is based on a completely real person - Father Vasily Gladyshevsky. He was the rector of the church in the village of Aleksino, Moscow Region, where Alexander Torik carried his first ministry. The originality of Father Vasily was in his love for people, in his sacrificial self-giving to everyone who came to him. Alexander Torik told us about all this in an easy and attractive way. Reviews of this book only emphasize the need for such a literature.
About spiritual responsibilitywriter
Alexander Torik today is known not only to the Orthodox, but also to people who are far from religious. Articles are written about him, TV shows are filmed, someone praises his books, and someone reproaches him for the absence of some special literary qualities. Ignoring all this worldly fuss, he continues to do the work entrusted to him by the Lord - using an artistic word, to lead people to God. Here, Archpriest Alexander Torik reminds people of the spiritual responsibility that the author of this or that work of art bears before God.
After all, it is the author, as the bearer of a certain spirit, who must remember that everyone who comes into contact with the work feels this spirit. And it is very important what the work carries in itself.
Here comes to mind Ivan Krylov's fable about a writer and a robber, in which this problem of responsibility for one's own words is raised. Ivan Andreevich very accurately emphasizes the power of the writer's words. Alexander Torik sees the goal of art as uniting with God, saving the soul and, finally, finding happiness.
Missionary and publishing activities
Archpriest Alexander Torik is now dedicating his time to this. Where does he serve? This question can be answered as follows: he continues to serve the Lord, although now he is no longer in the parish. He sees literary preaching as his main purpose, although he does not forget the parish service, periodically celebrating the liturgy in one of the churches in Moscow.
Alexander Torik fulfills his pastoral duty. In support of this, sermons, articles,meetings with parents and children. Given that the publication of books requires a special approach, together with like-minded people, the archpriest organized and headed the Orthodox publishing house Flavian-Press.
