Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov was born on March 18, 1941. He is the rector of the church of St. Nicholas in Kuznetsy. In addition, he was the rector of the St. Tikhon Orthodox Humanitarian University. It is noteworthy that his whole family was most closely connected with Orthodoxy.
Family
Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov was named after his grandfather, who died in prison in 1940. He was a member of the council under Patriarch Tikhon. He was born in the simplest family, but thanks to the efforts of the manager of the estate, he became literate. He quickly got excited about the idea of studying at a theological seminary. Having already graduated from it, he found a wife, and then Nikolai Vorobyov, the father of Archpriest Vladimir Nikolaevich Vorobyov, was born. From an early age, he showed great talent for music and sang on the kliros.
In 1910, the ancestors of Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov moved to the capital. There, my grandfather became a graduate of the Archaeological Institute, and my father became a high school student. Also, the grandfather of Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov began to conduct services in the Sorrowful Church. This place wasshelter for handicapped children. In the courtyard there were apartments for the family of the clergyman.
After 8 years, my grandfather was transferred to the church of St. Nicholas in Plotniki on the Arbat instead of the deceased rector. In 1924, the first arrest of my grandfather took place. He spent approximately 6 months in prison. The second arrest took place in 1930. It is noteworthy that the investigator turned out to be a young man named Kazansky, a former neighbor of the family of the future rector of St. Tikhon University, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov. He knew his grandfather, whom he interrogated personally, showing particular cruelty. As a result, grandfather was exiled to Sevlag for 10 years. Already in 1933, he was "written off" from there due to the fact that he was unwell. He was sent to the city of Spassk near Kazan. In 1938 he was arrested again, and a year and a half later he died of a heart attack. A year later, the biography of Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov began. He was named after his recently deceased grandfather.
Second grandfather
His second grandfather is P. P. Ryabkov. He was a general in the tsarist army, a participant in the First World War. He was demobilized when he became unwell and died in Saratov in 1921. The parents of the future author of spiritual guides with repentance, confessions, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, were natives of this particular city. They were teachers.
Childhood
The most vivid memories of the archpriest's childhood are connected with the people around him. There were always a lot of different people around his relatives. The family lived in a communal apartment, and under these conditions the family tried to keep in touch with believers.
In the 40s and 50s, it was impossible to go to church on a regular basis. This threatened expulsion from school, dismissal from work. However, the mother of Vladimir Vorobyov took the child to confession. In those days, the rector of the nearest church said that Vladimir would become a priest.
From an early age, Vladimir was drawn to serve. Probably, this desire was provoked by stories about his grandfather, whom the family loved very much. In those years, representatives of the church intelligentsia gathered in churches. They strove to be family friends.
Youth
Growing up, Vladimir felt the desire to become a historian, but his father informed him that his future had already been determined - since he was a believer, no one would trust him to write scientific papers. And Vladimir stopped planning to enter anywhere, but a year later he succumbed to persuasion. He entered the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University. The study was interesting, then he began to work in his speci alty. Vladimir in his heart wanted to serve in the church, but in the 60s this was out of the question.
Adult years
Already later, Vladimir found his spiritual fathers. He met with historical figures who personally knew Patriarch Tikhon, Metropolitan Peter and many holy people. At one time his spiritual father was John. When Khrushchev's power ended, some changes began in church life.
One day, Father John fell ill, and he was taken to the capital. It was necessary to deal with his confession and communion. At that time it was difficult to do this, and at that moment Father Vsevolod was suggested to John's entourage. He agreed to takethese ordinances.
And then Vsevolod became the spiritual father of Vladimir. One day he died, and then Paul became the spiritual father. He was a perspicacious old man who knew how to answer unasked questions. She was a strict and demanding person. At the same time, he lived in love.
Seminary Admission
By the end of the 70s, Vladimir received a blessing for the priesthood from Vsevolod. And the difficult process of admission began. In those days, one had to work at the church to enter the theological seminary. And at the same time it was necessary to abandon the Academy of Sciences. Nobody hired Vladimir to work at the church. But one day he got lucky.
Vladimir became an altar boy in 1978. Already after 6 months he entered the theological seminary. It was also difficult, with admission there were some subtleties. Vladimir was warned about them in advance, and he was among those enlisted.
Already after Vladimir began to serve in churches. Several times he was summoned to the executive committee, dissatisfaction with his activities grew. He was transferred to a church on the outskirts of the city. In the 1990s, he recorded a record for a children's church choir.
In the same years, Vladimir created catechism courses, Brotherhood in the name of the All-Merciful Savior. He rented premises and engaged in preaching activities. Soon, Vladimir from among his associates was elected rector of these courses. On their basis, a theological institute was born. Patriarch Alexy II agreed to the foundation.
Ministries
Main resultuniversity activities in those days was the understanding that it is important to accredit the educational program. This was a big step towards the legalization of church life in modern Russia. At first, university staff worked for free.
At the moment, Vladimir notes that it is important that the Church understands the importance of education. He believes that, being uneducated, it is impossible to be a missionary. Due to the fact that believers work in many areas of life, they are integrated into society.
Achievements
Besides all this, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov also wrote a great work. "Father Arseny" is a collection of memoirs about the life of an old man. The brotherhood, which Vladimir created, has become one of the largest in the country. Vladimir opened Sunday schools, camps for children, canteens for the poor. He also opened the Orthodox Word bookstore. He taught at the university he opened.
Besides this, it is Vladimir who stands at the origins of organizing the study of the history of the Russian Church in the 20th century. He made a great contribution to the glorification of the New Martyrs in Russia. The archpriest collected voluminous material about the persecutions that were organized by the Soviet authorities against the Orthodox. Vladimir also became a member of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints.
Family
At the moment, Vladimir has 2 daughters and 2 sons. The son of Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov Ivan became a priest. In addition, he is a candidate of historical sciences. Daughter Varvara began to teach music. SonNikolai became a graduate of a medical university. Daughter Ekaterina married a priest.
Awards and works
Vladimir Vorobyov has dozens of departmental and church awards. He also has two state awards. His main work is "Repentance, Confession, Spiritual Guidance". The archpriest himself notes that he really wants to see less suspicion in society. He notes that this is a natural relic of past eras. People are used to seeing KGB agents in everything, they are used to not trusting each other. And this evil and aggressive energy remained in the country. Moreover, it continues to flourish and will not completely disappear soon, according to Vladimir.
He notes that even among believers, at first there was a great degree of distrust towards the Orthodox University. Many decided that Vladimir was an adventurer and sought to reform the Church. However, this turned out not to be the case. There are already several thousand graduates at the university opened by Vladimir. Many make missionary trips to the most remote corners of the country. Hundreds of study guides are produced annually.
During the decades of the existence of this educational institution, both the students themselves and the learning process have changed in many ways. The number of speci alties has increased significantly, and the level of education has risen. Many young people aspire to be Orthodox and get a good education. And the Institute gives them many opportunities for this. It is possible to receive two diplomas at the same time - the state and the diploma of the theological school. Lastacts as evidence that a person is ready to accept a new dignity.
