In the summer of 2016, all Orthodox Christians were struck by the terrible news of the brutal murder of Abbot Daniil Sokolov.
About Maxim Sokolov
In 1973, in the suburbs of Moscow, in the city of Pushchino, Maxim Sokolov was born. He was an ordinary boy from a simple family. Riding a bike, chasing pigeons. In 1991, after graduating from school, he entered a military school, but dropped out in his second year, deciding to serve in the army. After the army he went to college, but even here he did not like it. Maxim did not develop relationships with girls, he was very shy and modest. I spent a lot of time reading books, thinking about life. Maxim Sokolov was especially fond of the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky. As Bishop John later said, it was Dostoevsky who became the reason for the deep faith of the future hegumen Daniel.
Acolyte
Serve God and preach the Christian faith Maxim began as a novice in the Holy Trinity Danilov Monastery, which is located in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Coming here, the future hegumen Daniil Sokolov never regretted his choice, never once doubted his faith. After all, as he thought, no matter what heI started, no matter where I went, everything was not right, everything was not to my liking. Perhaps the Lord himself led him on this path. The monastic tonsure was made in 1999, in the same year Daniil Sokolov already received the rank of deacon, and then a priest. Hieromonk Daniel stayed in the Trinity-Danilovsky Monastery for ten whole years. Until 2009, he led services with Bishop John. They made a huge contribution to the restoration of the monastery, fed the parishioners. Maxim Sokolov successfully graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary in 2005 and began to help the monks, led by Abbot John, restore the Dormition Adriano-Poshekhonsky Monastery. In Pereslavl, from where he began his spiritual path, Daniel returned in 2012 as acting rector of the monastery.
Hegumen
After two years of serving in the monastery as rector, on March 19, 2014, Daniel, by decision of the Holy Synod, was appointed abbot. So hegumen Daniil Sokolov appeared. The parishioners and monastics fell in love with him for his meek disposition, love for people and kindness. Hegumen Daniil Sokolov loved children, helped orphans in every possible way, visited military units. The soldiers could talk with him for a long time about all the hardships of the service, Daniel helped them with a word and prayer. Suffering, deprived and unfortunate people came from all cities just to be in his service, so that a spark of hope for the best would be born in their souls, which the abbot helped to believe in.
To die is not to disappear from memory
Hegumen Daniil Sokolovdied July 7, 2016. He was brutally killed by the novice Alexander Shuleshov, inflicting several dozen blows with a knife. The monks began to worry that the abbot was not present at the morning service, which never happened. One of the novices went to his cell and discovered the already lifeless body of the abbot. The murder of Abbot Daniil Sokolov was a real tragedy for monastics, parishioners and the entire Russian Orthodox Church. He was described as a living icon: quiet, calm, with a meek disposition. He loved everyone and everything, never raised his voice, prayed a lot for the he alth of all people, for the repose of the untimely dead. He himself accepted new novices, including his future murderer, helping them in every possible way and guiding them on the right path. Due to this information, the police abandoned the version that the abbot was killed because of the personal hostility of the novice.
Alexander Shuleshov was found in the forest, walking along the Volga highway in the opposite direction from the monastery that became his home. During the arrest, he did not resist. During interrogation, he admitted that he wanted to get money and expensive icons and church relics. But since the monastery is one of the poorest in Russia, he was refused by the hegumen. He didn't have any money or gold. Alexander got angry and killed his mentor, which he now sincerely regrets. The funeral took place on July 10. Hegumen Daniil Sokolov remained in the hearts and memory of all believers as one of the best priests, a true messenger of God.
