Osipov Alexey Ilyich is one of the world's leading experts in the field of theology, catechist, professor, who has been teaching at the Moscow Theological Academy for many years. A publicist, a lecturer with extraordinary oratorical talent, whose sermons are distinguished by deep knowledge, accessibility of material for every listener and subtle humor.
Skillful, interesting presentation of information makes his lectures popular both among established adults and young people, for example, students who have just begun their long journey in life. The biography of Alexei Ilyich Osipov contains many events, almost all of them related to professional activities, while very little is known about the childhood, family and personal life of the eminent theologian.
It is gratifying that this modest, passionate man, who celebrated his 80th birthday in 2022, continues to work without slowing down and bring the foundations of the Orthodox faith to the masses. The man devoted his entire adult life to God and science, but, contrary to the example of most servants of the Almighty, he refused to be ordained, explaining his decision by the fact that his true calling was teaching.
Childhood
Osipov Alexey Ilyich was born on March 31, 1938 in the small town of Belev, located in the Tula region. There is little information about the family and close relatives, as well as about the early years of the future theologian; it is known that his parents were ordinary employees: his father was a military man, and his mother Olga Mikhailovna worked in a local store.
Due to the specifics of the father’s professional activity, the family was forced to change several places of residence, but in the end the Osipovs moved to the Smolensk region and settled in the city of Gzhatsk, which was later renamed Gagarin.
Alyosha Osipov in childhood with his family and father Nikon
Alexey Ilyich speaks sparingly and reluctantly about his own childhood, each time emphasizing that public confession was abolished back in the 6th century BC. Already in those distant times, people understood that a person should confess alone with a priest, so the professor says that he has nothing to say to a large audience.
When the future theologian was about seven, his mother began visiting the church, where Father Nikon (A. A. Vorobyov) was the rector. Over time, the priest had a fundamental influence on the worldview of young Alexei, and a few years later he became the guy’s spiritual mentor.
Until his death in 1963, Abbot Nikon was for Osipov an example of a virtuous Christian, a fair and competent teacher, a wise and sensitive friend. Alyosha graduated from school in 1955 in Gzhatsk. At that time the boy was very short (his growth was stunted due to a spinal injury).
Later, at his speeches, the theologian spoke about this moment and the memory that was etched in his memory associated with his mentor, Abbot Nikon. During the summer holidays, the church minister measured the boy’s height with a ruler and put a notch on the door, each time adding: “Well, look, you’ve grown up again.”
Alexey Osipov and Abbot Nikon
Father Nikon strengthened Alyosha’s faith so much that he grew up, and when the boy came to school on September 1, everyone was amazed - he became taller by as much as 15 cm. Now Alexey Ilyich explains this phenomenon by the power of his spiritual father’s conviction and has been cultivating this in himself for many years unique quality.
Body Detection
Olga was already preparing to celebrate six months of mourning for the missing Alyosha. Suddenly she unexpectedly received news that the body of her young man had been found in the water. The current carried the dead body to a dam near the city of Lomonosov. Forensic experts determined that the causes of death could be the following:
- Lesha drowned in an accident;
- The actor fell through the ice while fishing (in February such cases are not uncommon in St. Petersburg and its suburbs);
- a man committed suicide;
- Alexei was killed (probably for the purpose of robbery) and his body was thrown into the river.
The actor's relatives and friends are inclined to the third version. They recall that recently Lesha was often in a depressed mood and complained of a lack of love and positive emotions.
Youth years
When Alyosha Osipov reached the age of joining the Komsomol, the young man unequivocally refused to become a member of this organization. The young man did not voice the reasons for his action, but most likely they lie in the religious beliefs instilled in Alyosha by his mother and spiritual mentor.
After graduating from school, the future professor of theology had a question about where to go to study next. The administration and teachers of the school suggested that the gifted boy apply to the university, but his spiritual father advised Osipov to choose a different path.
Over the next three years, the aspiring theologian, under the guidance of his constant mentor, prepared to enter the Moscow Theological Seminary. The main emphasis in preparation was on studying descriptions of the lives of the holy fathers and interpretation of the foundations of the Christian faith.
A. I. Osipov at one of the conferences dedicated to ecumenism
Armed with the mentor’s recommendations and successfully passing all the preliminary interviews, Alexey Osipov was immediately enrolled in the 4th grade graduation class of the institution, which the young man graduated with flying colors the following year.
As Alexey Ilyich later said, even the seminary teachers could not provide students with such profound knowledge in theology, which he received from his mentor. Then Alexey Osipov enters the Moscow Theological Academy and also successfully graduates in 1963, writes a dissertation, receives a PhD in theology and is sent to work in one of the Smolensk churches.
He did not work in his new place for long. Almost immediately, at the invitation of a higher educational institution of the Russian Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church), the young man goes to graduate school for further studies.
Mature age
In 1964, at the age of 26, Alexey Osipov, after completing a course at the academy, completed his postgraduate studies.
Teaching
After completing the course, the young man receives an invitation to work at the academy and remains to teach the basics of theology and the new discipline of ecumenism (pan-Christian cohesion) at that time. While engaged in teaching, at the same time Alexey Ilyich lectures on the basics of theology, the Christian faith and Western religions in the 1st year at the academy and in the 5th year at the seminary.
A.I. Osipov spent almost his entire life teaching.
In 1969, the young scientist became an associate professor, and in 1975 he received the title of professor at the Theological Academy. Since 1990, for three years he has been working at the academy as the editor-in-chief of the printed publication “Theological Bulletin”.
Work in the Russian Orthodox Church
In 1964, Alexei Osipov received the position of secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church commission, which was preparing materials for the compilation of a religious and ethical encyclopedia, the publishing of which was planned to be carried out in Athens. From 1973 to this day, the professor has been one of the most active employees of the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexey Ilyich was a member of:
- educational committee at the Holy Synod until 1986;
- Jubilee Local Council in 1988;
- coordinating committee for interaction between the RF Armed Forces and the Russian Orthodox Church from 1994 to 1995;
- permanent Presidium of the World Russian Councils of several convocations from 1995 to 1997;
- Synodal working group to create the foundations of the concept of the Russian Orthodox Church;
and also participated in dialogues between the Russian Orthodox Church and other religious denominations.
A.I. Osipov is happy to share his accumulated knowledge with both ordinary people and church ministers
However, it is worth noting that at present the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to the worldview and lecture material of Professor Osipov varies. In the field of apologetics (basics of theology), Alexey Ilyich is clearly recognized as the greatest specialist.
But regarding Dogmatic Theology, his judgments are subject to doubt. According to the verdict of the Synodal Commission, Alexei Ilyich’s lectures go beyond the scope of Orthodox dogma, based on the revelation of God.
Social and political activities
- A. I. Osipov is actively immersed in the events of the public and political life of his native country:
- From 1967 to 1987 and from 1995 to 2005, the professor was a member of the editorial board of the collection “Theological Works.”
- From 1991 to 2016, he was co-chairman (from religion) of the international confession “Science. Philosophy. Religion".
- Participated in assemblies of the World Council of Churches, conferences of European churches and the Christian Peace Conference.
- He was present as an honored guest at world church and public conferences and assemblies in Russia and abroad.
- He gave lectures on television, at meetings of believers, as well as at meetings with students of theological seminaries and academies.
In addition, Professor Osipov is regularly invited to give his most interesting and instructive lectures, and is asked many questions, which he is happy to answer in detail. His speeches are regularly broadcast on the Orthodox TV channel Soyuz.
In addition, Alexey Ilyich is productively engaged in journalism. The professor's works are regularly published in Russian publications (Theological Works, Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate) and foreign media.
Professor Osipov is a regular participant in various church conferences and denominations
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
| 2001 | Gladiatrix | Flavius |
| 2002 | Russian special forces | Drozdov (“Drozd”), captain of the special unit “GRAD” of the FSB of Russia |
| 2003 | Gangster Petersburg. Film 4. Prisoner | Igor, Antibiotic's bodyguard |
| 2003 | Don't quarrel, girls! | Roma |
| 2003 | Secrets of the investigation 3 (film No. 3 “Disappearance”) | Nikolai Kolchin, security officer |
| 2003-2004 | Poor Nastya | Nikita Khvorostov, groom of Baron Korf |
| 2004 | Cop Wars 1 (film No. 2 “Not Child’s Games”) | friend of Roman Shilov, former boxer, electronics specialist |
| 2007 | Sinbad's Last Voyage | Volume |
| 2007 | Leningrad | Barlow |
| 2007 | Amber Baron | Alexey Bushmin, former security guard of the governor |
| 2008 | Always say "always" 4 | Oleg Rudentsov, Nadya's husband, racer |
| 2008 | Kings can do anything | bodyguard |
| 2008 | Contract wife | Lyosha, Natalya's boyfriend |
| 2008 | Answer me | Utkin's assistant |
| 2008 | Two from casket 2 | Ivan Volkov, former operative nicknamed “Magadan Wolf” |
| 2009 | Liteiny, 4 | Gordeev |
| 2009 | Flying squad | Andrey Grushin |
| 2009 | Sea Devils 3 | Alexander Frantsevich Burlak (“Varyag”), captain 3rd rank |
| 2009 | Always say "always" 5 | Oleg Rudentsov, Nadya's husband, racer |
| 2010 | breath with me | Sergey, foreman |
| 2010 | Golden trap | Foal |
| 2010 | Always say "always" 6 | Oleg Rudentsov, Nadya's husband, racer |
| 2010 | find me | bandit nicknamed "Big" |
| 2011 | There will be no double | Lyolik, the gloomy bandit |
| 2011 | Fellow police officers | Ivan Titov, detective of the homicide department |
| 2011 | Communal apartment | Victor, former prisoner |
| 2011 | Potato gingerbread | Alexander, guest worker from Belarus |
| 2011 | Weapon | security guard in the office |
| 2011 | Bespectacled man | Sergey, head of the Sibiryak security service |
| 2012 | Flint | Alferov, senior police lieutenant |
| 2012 | Masha and the Bear | Valery Buyanov, head of security service |
| 2012 | Sign of good luck | Anatoly |
| 2012 | Brotherhood of the Airborne | Pavel Goryachev, restaurateur |
| 2012 | Shock therapy | Alexey Arsenyev, Mikhail's brother |
| 2012 | My favorite monster | Sergey Volkov |
Personal life
Like all popular and public people, in addition to their professional and creative activities, their personal life is of great interest. World-famous professor of theology A.I. Osipov was no exception. For decades, spectators and listeners of lectures have been concerned about the scientist’s marital status: does he have a wife and children?
But Alexey Ilyich never talks about his private life, believing that it is not a matter of public knowledge. The professor is modest and does not try to attract attention to his person with anything other than his own works.
Lectures and sermons by Alexey Osipov
Theologian Osipov Alexey Ilyich actively gives reports and lectures on radio and television, writes and publishes books, audio and video discs with recordings of his lectures. He is actively invited to meetings in various audiences.
Speeches by A.I. Osipova are distinguished by their excellent language, understandable to everyone present, without any unctuousness. Every time after meeting with him, viewers and listeners ask the professor questions and receive comprehensive answers to them, so each lecture by Osipov is an interesting discussion about various aspects of Orthodoxy, as well as about different aspects of the spiritual life of a person and society.
Listen to A.I. Osipov can be found on his personal website on the Internet, where all recordings of speeches and interviews of recent years are collected, as well as new lectures by Professor Osipov.
The topics that are touched upon in the conversations are very broad: from questions about Christianity, what Christianity is, what it gives to a person, to answers to everyday questions that concern every person: how to get rid of grief, depression, despondency, about the principles of Orthodox upbringing of children, about the basics morality, marriage, love.
Books by A.I. have been published. Osipov, containing his main thoughts and theses:
- "God";
- “From time to eternity: the afterlife of the soul”;
- “The Path of Reason in Search of Truth”;
- "Love, marriage and family";
- "Become a saint";
- “Hegumen Nikon (Vorobiev). Letters on spiritual life";
- "Spirit Bearers"
Professor Osipov has a lot of friends and supporters, but he also has critics and ill-wishers. Alexey Ilyich has repeatedly said in interviews that he is ready for a constructive dialogue with any opponents, as long as the accusations are supported by any evidence. Osipov advises everyone to have their own opinion on matters of faith; for this he recommends studying the lives and revelations of the holy fathers, to the study of whose works he devoted his entire life.
Interesting Facts
The works of Alexey Osipov are highly appreciated by the Russian Orthodox Church, for which the professor of theology has multiple awards from the Russian Orthodox Church: the Order of St. Sergius of Raddonezh Ι-ΙΙΙ degrees, the Order of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' Ι-ΙΙΙ degrees, etc.
A.I. Osipov maintains his own official website https://alexey-osipov.ru/, where almost all of his lectures are posted in the public domain. Therefore, those who wish can familiarize themselves with them freely. In addition, on the portal you can ask the professor any question related to religion, and the theologian will answer it in detail.
