Today, among the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church, there are many true servants of God, whose labors revive the faith trampled down over the years of atheistic arbitrariness, and the people return to their spiritual origins. These people include the head of the St. Petersburg Metropolis, Metropolitan Varsonofy (Sudakov).
Childhood and youth of Bishop Barsanuphius
The future archpastor was born on June 3, 1955 in a simple large family living in the village of Malinovka, Saratov Region, and was named Anatoly in holy baptism. In those years when atheism was elevated to the rank of state policy, a child could receive primary religious education only at home. This duty was assumed by his mother Antonina Leontievna, who made every effort to make the children faithful followers of the teachings of Christ.
Like most of his fellow villagers, Anatoly Sudakov, after graduating from school, worked for a year, waiting fora summons from the draft board, and then, when he finally turned eighteen, he said goodbye to his relatives and went to serve in the army. A strong and intelligent country boy was assigned to Germany, where he spent two years as a driver of tank units stationed in Brandenburg and Potsdam.
From military overcoat to monastic cassock
No matter how endless the years of service seemed, but they are finally over. Having retired to the reserve and returning home, Anatoly had to decide the main question - which path to choose in life, and what to devote the days allotted to him by the Creator. It was here that the Word of God, sown in childhood by his mother, gave abundant shoots. Barely throwing off his military overcoat, yesterday's tanker put on a surplice of the altar boy of the Archangel Michael Cathedral in the city of Serdobsk, located in the Penza region.
In 1976, on the advice and blessing of the rector of the cathedral, the servant of God Anatoly, leaving a quiet provincial town, went to Moscow, where he entered the theological seminary. Soon he finally established himself in the decision to devote himself to monastic service, and, having spent half a year as a novice of the Lavra, he took monastic tonsure with the name Barsanuphius in honor of the eponymous Bishop of Tver, who was canonized as a saint. From now on, the day of his namesake was April 24 - the day of remembrance of the holy saint of God.
The beginning of spiritual ascent
Immediately after being tonsured a monk, Metropolitan Barsanuphius began to climb the steps of the church hierarchy. Already througha month later he was ordained a hierodeacon, and six months later a hieromonk. After that, until 1982, he served as an assistant sacristan.
During these years, his capacity for work and perseverance surprisingly manifested itself. Having set himself the goal of obtaining a spiritual education, hegumen Varsonofy, without interrupting his main duties, managed to graduate from the seminary in three years, instead of the prescribed four, which allowed him to enter the Moscow Theological Academy in 1982.
In the circle of wise mentors
Fulfilling the obediences entrusted to him in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the future Metropolitan Barsanuphius in his writings relied on the advice of wise mentors. Among them were the confessors of the Lavra, Archimandrites Naum and Kirill, the abbot of the Lavra, Archimandrite Eusebius (Savvin), and many other persons who shared their spiritual experience with him.
He also had to closely communicate with the future Patriarch of All Russia, and in those years, Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy (Ridiger). Hegumen Varsonofy met with him, and even served with him several times during his visits to the Pyukhtit convent in Estonia, where he regularly visited during vacation time.
Subsequent ministry and ordination to the bishopric
The years of study at the Theological Academy ended with the defense of a dissertation, after which the newly minted candidate of theology was assigned to the city of Kuznetsk, Penza region, where he spent almost two years as rector of the local Kazan church. The next place of his ministry was the Assumption Cathedr althe city of Penza.
The hierarchal ministry, towards which the graduate of the Theological Academy has been steadily moving over the past years, originates in 1991. Then, by the decision of the Holy Synod, a significant territory was allocated from the Penza diocese, which became an independent administrative and church unit, and was called the Saransk diocese. It was entrusted to lead it to Archimandrite Barsanuphius, and in the light of this decision, taken by the patriarch, on February 8 of the same year he was consecrated (ordained) as a bishop. A week later, Vladyka arrived at the place of his new ministry.
Bishoping service in the entrusted diocese
The rich experience of diocesan administration, which Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga has behind him today, was laid the foundation for in the newly formed Saransk diocese. Thanks to his tireless work, more than two hundred new parishes and fourteen monasteries appeared on the territory of the region. In addition, under the care of Vladyka, a theological seminary was opened, and a number of religious publications saw the light of day. The evaluation of his activities was the elevation to the rank of archbishop, committed in February 2001.
At that time, the St. Petersburg Metropolis was headed by Metropolitan Vladimir (Kotlyarov), whose successor was destined to become Bishop Barsanuphius. The Bishop of Saransk closely cooperated with him as part of a working group created by the Holy Synod to develop a document formulating the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on interreligious issues.relations.
Elevation to the rank of Metropolitan
The next important step on the way of the archbishop's ministry was his appointment to the position of the manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and confirmation as a permanent member of the secretary of the Holy Synod. In connection with February 1, 2010, by a patriarchal decree, Archbishop Varsonofy was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
A year earlier, he was instructed to head the Award Commission, created shortly before that under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Metropolitan Varsonofy performed this honorable duty until 2013.
Creation of new dioceses
Metropolitan Varsonofy's service as head of the Saransk diocese was marked by the creation of two new church-administrative formations separated from its composition. They were the Krasnoslobodskaya and Ardatovskaya eparchies. Guided by a deep knowledge of the specifics of the work entrusted to him, Vladyka repeatedly pointed out that in order to exercise effective administration, no more than one hundred and fifty parishes should be subordinate to the diocesan bishop, since their larger number makes attentive and consistent leadership difficult.
His initiative was approved by the members of the Holy Synod and led to appropriate structural changes. At the same time, Metropolitan Varsonofy was appointed acting head of the newly created Mordovian Metropolis.
Head of the St. Petersburg Diocese
In March 2014, an event occurred that became a milestone inlife of Metropolitan Barsanuphius - by the decision of the Holy Synod, he was determined to take the vacant position of the head of the St. Petersburg and Ladoga diocese. Having succeeded his predecessor, Metropolitan Vladimir (Kotlyarov), Varsonofy of St. Petersburg, as he has been called since that time, with his characteristic energy, he set about arranging the affairs entrusted to him.
St. Petersburg Metropolis is a complex and responsible area of work. It was established in 1742 and during the synodal period, in the absence of a patriarch, it was considered the first in honor and seniority in the Russian Orthodox Church. Until 1783, it had the status of a diocese, but then, after its then head, Archbishop Gabriel (Petrov), was elevated to the rank of metropolitan, it became known as a metropolis. In the subsequent historical period, it retained this name, since it was always headed by metropolitans.
This status was officially fixed by the decision of the Local Council of 1917-1918, but a quarter of a century later it was abolished. In its current form, the metropolis was formed by the decision of the Holy Synod, whose meeting took place in March 2013, and a year later it was headed by Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.
Active public position of a servant of the Church
Vladyka is the author of numerous publications that have been published both on the pages of periodicals and as separate publications. Among them are works on theology and church history, as well as appeals to the flock related to specificburning issues.
In addition, the head of the St. Petersburg Metropolis often becomes a participant in various television and radio programs in which he gives interviews, acquainting the general public with his views on the most significant aspects of the religious, political and economic life of the country. The reception room of Metropolitan Barsanuphius often becomes the site of impromptu press conferences for representatives of various media.
Today Bishop Barsanuphius is sixty-one years old, but despite this, he is full of strength and energy. There is no doubt that no matter what place of service the Lord has prepared for him, he will always remain His faithful servant and worthy son of the Russian Orthodox Church.
