Ulyanovsk region has always stood out for its craving for Orthodoxy and a high level of spiritual life. After all, there are many temples and churches on its territory, which are visited daily by a large number of parishioners.
There are also many male and female monasteries, within the walls of which hundreds of novices live and pray. One of the steps aimed at raising the level of spirituality in the region was the creation of the Simbirsk Metropolis. It included three dioceses at once.
Purpose of Creation
The Simbirsk Metropolis was formed by the decision of the Holy Synod in July 2012. It included Melekessk, Simbirsk and Barysh dioceses. The new metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church is located on the territory of the Ulyanovsk region.
It was created to implement the decision taken in 2011 by the Council of Bishops. It lies in the fact that spiritual life should actively develop not only in large, but also in small settlements. Currently, there are more than 200 parishes in the newly created Simbirsk Metropolis, and, as statistics show, their number will only grow.
PoFor this reason, the bishop is physically unable to visit and carefully delve into the life of each temple or church. To fix this, the Simbirsk Metropolis was formed, which includes three dioceses. All of them are located on the territory of the Ulyanovsk region.
Barysh diocese
The structure of the Barysh diocese included, in addition to the eponymous, also Nikolaev, Bazarnosyzgan, Inza, Pavlovsky, Starokulatsky, Radishchevsky districts. Hegumen Filaret, who headed the Zhadovsky Monastery, was elected bishop. The city of Barysh became the center of the new education.
Melekes Diocese
Melekesskaya is another diocese of the Simbirsk Metropolis. In addition to the eponymous, it also included Novomalyklinsky, Dimitrovogradsky, Staromainsky, Sengileevsky, Cherdaklinsky, Terengulsky districts.
The city of Dimitrovograd was chosen as the center of the new diocese. It is in it that the bishop who leads it is located.
Diocese of Simbirsk
The third diocese of the Metropolis is Simbirsk. It consists of the regional center - the city of Ulyanovsk, as well as Sursky, Veshkaimsky, Kuzovatsky, Karsunsky, Mainsky, Tsilninsky, Novospassky districts.
All of the above dioceses form the Simbirsk Metropolis. It includes the entire Ulyanovsk region. The first head of the Simbirsk Metropolis was Archbishop Prokl. At the same time, he is acting head of the Melekes diocese.
Activities
The Simbirsk Metropolis pays great attention todevelopment of spirituality among the inhabitants of the Ulyanovsk region. To this end, various educational events are held, in which clergy and the leadership of the dioceses take part.
Great attention is paid to work among young people. The clergy are doing everything possible to instill in them faith in God, bring them closer to Orthodoxy, and increase their spirituality. To do this, meetings are regularly held with students from schools, universities, colleges, etc.
Many churches, temples and monasteries have Sunday schools where not only children but also adults are taught. Excursions are conducted to the places where the saints of the Simbirsk Metropolis lived, such as Gabriel of Melekessky. Newspapers are published monthly to cover the activities of the dioceses.
The Metropolia devotes much time to activities in military units and colonies located in the region. The ecclesiastics of the dioceses regularly visit them and hold services there. Thanks to this, not only the spirituality of people increases, but also their way of life changes for the better. They become kinder, try to keep all the commandments. Many colonies and military units have chapels where a clergyman is always present.
In the Simbirsk Metropolis, a religious procession is held every year on all major Orthodox holidays. It is attended not only by clerics and parishioners of the dioceses, but also by many residents of the region. During the processions, icons and various church relics are taken out, many of which are fromrelics of saints.
Scandal
Despite the fact that the Simbirsk Metropolis was established relatively recently, a scandal has already erupted in it. He was associated with the appointment of a new metropolitan. It so happened that Anastasia was greeted by numerous parishioners standing near the temple with angry cries. Because of this, he quickly entered the church, covering his face with an icon and being guarded by the Cossacks, who did not allow parishioners to see him.
This attitude is due to the fact that when he headed the Kazan Metropolis, he was involved in a high-profile scandal involving accusations of priests in sexual harassment. Also, against this background, they remembered numerous old testimonies, which directly indicate that Anastasy is a homosexual. The entire Simbirsk metropolia reacted negatively to this. The scandal is not going to subside yet. In addition, it became known that Anastasy has been living with a young guy for a long time.
Despite the fact that such accusations are not supported by exact evidence, this casts a shadow of suspicion on Anastasia. Simbirsk parishioners are not happy with his appointment.
Nevertheless, it is expected that after the creation of the new metropolitanate, spiritual life in the Ulyanovsk region will significantly intensify. For this, much is being done by the clergy with the full support of local authorities.
