Religion is an integral part of human life. Do not delude yourself with the illusion that she means nothing to you. There have been many attempts to refute the existence of God, but the question arises: where are these people now? Faith in God remains. Even now, in the age of nanotechnology development, religion remains an essential factor in human life, because it gives hope for life after death.
What is a religion that does not have its own leaders. In Christianity, it is customary to call such religious leaders priests, but the same story shows us how often people who call themselves shepherds do nothing but shear their flock. However, there are also such followers of this vocation who are trying to make this world cleaner and better, at least not to let it turn into hell.
In this article, the reader will get acquainted with a very interesting priest, who can be called the first Internet preacher.
Young years
Priest Konstantin Parkhomenko comes from the city of Novosibirsk. His birth coincided with the celebration of Partisan Day. As for the church calendar, it was born inCommemoration of one of the 70 apostles who subsequently preached along with the 12 apostles. So, his birth took place on June 29, 1974.
His family was not distinguished by piety or the desire to know the Truth, his parents were ordinary people. Father worked in one of the local editorial offices, mother taught at a music school.
Young Konstantin was rather cool about religion, his range of interests consisted of playing the guitar and practicing martial arts.
Future priest Konstantin Parkhomenko went through a thorny path to his conversion. Which one - he does not admit, but it is quite clear that only some serious trials could turn the young man's worldview and turn his thoughts to God.
Appeal
In 1987, the greatest event in the life of the future priest takes place. As priest Konstantin Parkhomenko himself admits, he felt the grace that he received in the sacrament of baptism. This event was not just a ritual to be done. In fact, in it he felt the immediate presence of God nearby.
After baptism, he behaves like an active member of the Orthodox community. In the period from 1989 to 1991, he helps in the reconstruction of the temple, which was transferred to the diocese by the city.
In 1990, another event occurs that once again changes the life of a young man. The future priest Konstantin Parkhomenko, whose biography has already changed more than once, due to chance or, according to the basics of Christian doctrine, by the will of the Lordmeets Archpriest Viktor Norinov, who advises the guy to enter the seminary.
Teaching in the Seminary
Priest Konstantin Parkhomenko, at the insistence of his confessor, chose the seminary for his studies. It was located in the spiritual and intellectual center of Russia. The city of Petrov so impressed the imagination of the young man that he wandered for a long time through the narrow streets of the city. Here he indulged in reflections on human destiny and place in this world. The theological seminary showed that he was a capable student, he had no problems with his studies, but at the same time he was developing an understanding that the modern society, which positions itself as Christian, is completely unfamiliar with the basics and main tasks of Christian life. Reading daily several pages from the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, Constantine came to the conclusion that it was necessary to preach the teachings of Christ to the people who surround him.
At this time, missionary activity began to attract him, but his full potential as a preacher could only be revealed when he graduated from the seminary and entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.
Teaching at the Theological Academy
After graduating from the seminary in 1995, Konstantin entered the academy. There is no doubt that the city of Petrov had a very great influence on his worldview. After all, it is here that the educational institution that gives the best is located.education for clergy. Theological seminary gives an awareness of the great mission that is entrusted to the pastor. This is the preaching of the Word of God.
Besides studying, the future priest Konstantin Parkhomenko began to engage in missionary work. His activities were so diverse and wide that many teachers wondered where the young man had so much strength and energy to constantly speak and talk about Christianity. It should be noted that this activity helped him find his future wife.
Family
He is married to Elizaveta Parkhomenko and has five children. Father Konstantin is a lucky man who was able to find not only a wife, but also a life partner who fully shares his views on life and supports him in everything. Together with his wife, Father Konstantin published several books. The family life of the spouses is based exclusively on the Holy Scripture and Tradition of the Church. It has an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Children are brought up in the spirit of the Orthodox tradition, which affects them only positively. The couple confess that they cannot live one without the other.
Missionary activity
Even during the years of study at the academy, missionary work became one of Konstantin's favorite activities. This did not go unnoticed by the clergy. After several successful performances, he was appointed head of the missionary department of the academy. At the same time, he reveals his potential as a preacher. Konstantin conducts events daily, preaches in schools,institutes, kindergartens. Soon he begins to engage in more responsible work, he preaches to an already stronger audience, speaks to policemen, soldiers, also visits nursing homes, and does not bypass people with disabilities. As he himself later admitted, preaching among the mentally ill and people undergoing compulsory treatment for drug addiction was the most difficult for him.
In addition, he often speaks on the radio, is the organizer of such projects as "Theos", and the Christian channel "OKO", which he later headed.
In 2001 he was appointed as a presenter on the radio "Grad Petrov", where he still works. In addition, he records various videos daily and uploads them to YouTube.
Priestly activity
At the end of the academy, without leaving missionary activity, he is appointed reader of the Holy Kazan Cathedral. In 1999 he was ordained a deacon and left to serve in the same cathedral. In 2000, after undergoing internship, priestly consecration was performed on him. Priest Konstantin was sent to the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena, not far from the village of Repino.
The authority of the young priest was so great that a large number of people came from all over the city to listen to his sermons and participate in worship. It has never been a mystery to anyone that the priest Konstantin Parkhomenko where he serves, a huge number ofparishioners.
In 2001 he was transferred to the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity.
In 2007, he headed the department of the St. Petersburg diocese dealing with family and youth issues.
In 2010, by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest for services to the Church.
Literary activity
Batiushka is the author of a large number of books and articles that acquaint the reader and the general public with Christianity. It should be noted that in his works the author tries to convey to the reader in the simplest and most accessible language that Christianity and its essence lie not only in the correct image of the sign of the cross on one's body. Christianity calls on a person to become better, reject various passions, rush to the Creator in order to achieve eternal life.
Priest Konstantin Parkhomenko writes books that allow the reader to meet real Christianity, they are bestsellers of Orthodox literature. These are, for example, works such as "On Angels and Demons", "Raising a Child in a Christian Family", "Life Beyond the Threshold of Death" and others.
Repeatedly the priest received for them not only church awards, but also secular awards.
Orthodox Youth Center
Father Konstantin strikes with his ability to work, because in addition to all of the above, he heads the Orthodox youth center. Back in 1995, in parallel with the creation of a project on television, then a student at the academy Konstantin was engaged in the creation of an Orthodox center foryouth. Even then, the future priest understood that only work with people should be the main task of the Church.
Therefore, it is natural that he created a society of young people who profess the same religious and moral values.
The center is engaged in volunteer activities, holding various charity events, in addition, you can meet your future soul mate here.
Church awards
Due to his active life position, priest Konstantin Parkhomenko was repeatedly awarded various church and secular awards.
In 1998 he was awarded the distinctive sign of the Great Martyr Tatiana.
In 2006 he received the Order "Heart of Danko" for his contribution to the spiritual revival and activities among young people.
In 2012 he was awarded a medal with the image of the Apostle Peter.
Thus, the priest Konstantin Parkhomenko is an excellent role model, because there are not so many people, even among the clergy, who are so zealously ready to serve people. More often, unfortunately, you come across successful managers in cassocks than good priests. However, having such an example as the above-described priest, you understand that there are still conscientious ministers with pure thoughts.
