Health problems, difficulties in their personal lives, or complete confusion in life in general - with these and other problems parishioners turn to Father Vlasiy from the Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery. There are many stories among the people about such an amazing person, and therefore the flow of pilgrims does not dry out, becoming more and more powerful.
For visitors, the wise confessor has advice and a kind word, strict instructions and warnings, and for some he shows the miracles of the Lord. Father Blasius treats illnesses and becomes a spiritual mentor for those in need, receiving them in his native monastery.
Father Vlasiy: his life and fate
Many who visited the elder say that he seems to read people, sees right through them and the questions they came to him with. The life of this man of God is as amazing as his abilities - not everyone could go through the trials that befell Blasius.
Born on February 8, 1934 (the confessor is now 84 years old), the boy was raised by his religious grandmother throughout his childhood. In Soviet times, faith was strict, so you had to hide your reverent attitude towards God. Denis Akhalashvili’s article says that the child’s own stepfather disliked him, calling him “bastard” and “nun” and making him feel like a stranger.
The family of the future confessor was haunted by tragic events. Father Vlasiy was the seventh child, the only one of 8 who lived more than 3 years. His own father died, and his mother decided to get married again.
After finishing seven classes of school, the boy became a student at the Smolensk Medical Institute and was supposed to become a pediatrician and work with children. The guy successfully passed all the exams, his studies were going well, but secretly from the university management he attended church. When this became known, the student began to be bullied: teachers and fellow students considered it their duty to force the promising physician to renounce his beliefs that were contrary to the reigning regime. He didn't refuse. Choosing between study and church, the minister chose the latter, writing a letter to his mother where he told about his choice.
Having left his studies, the runaway student went to the town of Kozlov, Tambov region, to Father Illarion, who took him to Transcarpathia. Due to problems with law enforcement agencies, I even had to change my name and documents. Soon the former student was tonsured into a mantle and served as a cell attendant in a Ukrainian monastery, closed during the time of Khrushchev.
Having been forced to return to Smolensk, Father Vlasiy had to restore old documents. And again the authorities presented him with a choice: the life of an exemplary Soviet citizen or service to the Lord. The answer remains the same.
On the way to his current rank, Schema-Archimandrite Vlasiy went from cleaning the altar to serving at all-night vigils and polyeleos services of the church, from the Smolensk Cathedral to the St. Pafnutev Borovsky Monastery.
According to stories, the life of his father, then a minister of the Kaluga diocese, was saved by his uniform scufe. During the robbery of the temple, he was attacked and hit on the head with a tire iron, so hard that his skull was fractured. Due to the scarf, the blow was softened a little, and the clergyman was able to be saved.
In 1991, he became Borovsky’s confessor - people lined up to get an appointment. Kind and understanding eyes saw all the unasked questions of hundreds and thousands of parishioners, and gradually the title of miracle worker was assigned to him.
Soon Father Vlasiy was diagnosed with cancer. Having survived 6 operations and numerous blood transfusions, the confessor went to the Greek Athos, to a monastery, where he remained in prayer for several years. One fine day he looked at the world with different eyes. The examination confirmed that the spread of metastases had stopped.
Returning to his native monastery of St. Pafnutiev, Vlasiy again begins church services. Even more people, after a miraculous healing, strive to get to their confessor, who until recently received parishioners unlimitedly (age takes its toll). To the best of his ability, he helps everyone in need.
Return to Smolensk
During the reign of Khrushchev, there were persecutions against the Orthodox Church. The Flora and Lavra Monastery was closed. Vlasiy had no choice but to return to Smolensk. There, as a regent and psalm-reader, he was received into the Assumption Cathedral, which was familiar to him. Soon the young monk became close to Bishop Gideon (Dokunin), who ordained Blasius to the rank of hieromonk and hierodeacon.
In 1972, his religious path led him to Novosibirsk, where he went after the same Gideon, who had already received the appointment of manager of the Novosibirsk diocese.
What and how does Father Vlasiy help people?
There are many testimonies of miracles that took place under the roof of the Borovsky Monastery.
The Komsomolskaya Pravda journalist wrote in her article about the miraculous deliverance of a man from smoking after a few minutes of communication with the elder, about the resolution of a friend’s dilemma regarding her personal life, about the evidence of the healing of a half-blind girl in front of amazed parishioners.
He has a medicine for everyone, and it doesn’t matter, for the soul or for the body - elders like him know something that the Lord bestows on a few pious believers, and they share with the world. A confessor has an incredible effect on people: sometimes looking into his kind, knowing eyes, a person is transformed by himself, straightens his shoulders and returns confidence to his gaze.
Among the visitors to the modest monastery of Vlasius in the monastery are people walking in faith, and non-believers, and Russians, and foreigners, and famous people, and simple humble workers from the people. Everyone is treated equally, because everyone is equal before God.
Visitors talk about various miracles: “The main thing,” they say, “is to listen to what Father Vlasiy advises, and then everything will be fine.”
If you feel an urgent need for a spiritual mentor, life problems or physical ailments weigh you down, know that the time has come! Come to Father Vlasius for advice and help at the Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery! Children can also go - this is not prohibited.
Search and new name
Soon he completely changed his place of residence, leaving for the Tambov region, the city of Kozlov, where he met his spiritual mentor Hilarion (Rybar). They went together to the monastery of Flora and Lavra (Transcarpathia). This was, in a sense, a necessary measure, because a young student who suddenly disappeared was put on the all-Union wanted list.
After five years in the monastery, Peregontsev became a monk. Then he changed his name to Blasius (in honor of the holy martyr Blasius of Sebastia). Then he served as a cell attendant for 11 years with his confessor Hilarion.
How to make an appointment with Father Vlasiy
Previously, it was possible to get to the monastery for an appointment with Father Blasius by making an appointment in advance using one of the contact numbers, but the years have taken their toll, and the schema-archimandrite can no longer devote himself to the problems of parishioners around the clock. The reception is carried out according to the health of the elder: when his health allows, he, with the same zeal and burning eyes, rushes to help those in need, devotes time to everyone.
Since there is no fixed schedule, and they try not to disturb Father Vlasy, people often come only trusting in God’s will and stay in Borovsk for a while.
There is no registration or waiting list - the first-come-first-serve principle works as in the good old days: whoever comes first will be the first to enter.
A little history
The new monastery of the schema-archimandrite at that time was experiencing a stage of revival after historical unrest and restructuring. The St. Borovsky Monastery was founded in 1444 by the Monk Paphnutius. The outskirts of the city of Borovsk (Kaluga region) were chosen for construction. The monastery is located in a picturesque place: on a hill surrounded by forests, where the Isterma River flows into the Protva nearby.
Initially, there was a wooden church in the Borovsky Monastery. In its place in 1467, the white stone Nativity Cathedral was built. It was painted by the then famous master Dionysius. The frescoes contained fragments of the life of the Monk Paphnutius. However, a little more than a century later, the cathedral was dismantled by order of Tsar Fyodor the Blessed, and a five-domed temple was erected in its place. For its construction, beams with paintings from the 15th century were used. Thanks to this, the frescoes of Dionysius and another famous icon painter Mitrofan have survived to this day.
In the 16th century, the Pafnutievo-Borovsky Monastery was surrounded by a stone fence and turned into a border fortress. At this time, another church in the name of the Nativity of Christ, a refectory, watchtowers and entrance towers, and a belfry (later converted into a bell tower) were erected on the territory.
As a fortress, the Borovsky Monastery resisted the Poles in 1610, but was burned. Five thousand people were killed here in one night. Among them were monks. The bodies were buried on the territory in two mass graves. After this, the monastery was restored more than once, destroyed and restored again. The reason for this was the Time of Troubles, the war with Napoleon.
In the second half of the 17th century, archpriest Avvakum, a fighter for the old faith, sat here in prison, in the basement of one of the churches of the Borovsk monastery. Subsequently, he and his wife Anastasia were exiled to Siberia. By the way, today pilgrims are offered as an excursion to look into these very basements and touch the history of the Orthodox Church.
There was a time when the religious complex lost its status as a monastery and was used as a penal colony, an agricultural college and a local history museum. And only in the spring of 1991 the Borovsky Monastery was transferred to the Orthodox Church. And it was at this time that Father Blasius was appointed confessor here. Today, in addition to the monks, workers live here. Most often these are men who have been released from prison and do not have their own housing.
Address of the monastery and how to get there
The monastery where Father Vlasiy hosts the reception is located in the Kaluga region in the city of Borovsk on Dmitrova Street, 1. There are several ways to get to the place:
- By public transport.
From the Kievsky railway station in Moscow there is a train to the Balabanovo station. Having reached the station, change to a bus or minibus going to Borovsk and go to the “Roshcha” or “Ryabushki” stop.
- By car.
When leaving Moscow by car, move along the Kyiv highway towards Kaluga until you turn right to the already familiar Balabanovo. After the turn, move to the intersection with the A-108 highway, where you need to turn right towards Borovsk and move on. After passing Ermolino, turn left first at one and then at the next fork (there will be a sign here). Move one and a half kilometers forward, and you will soon find yourself right in front of Vlasiy’s cell.
Father Vlasiy, who served in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, is definitely a worthwhile figure, and you would not be too lazy to spend either time or energy on a trip to see him! Follow the updates, ask questions by calling the gatekeeper: (48438) 4-37-39.
Reception
First of all, you need to remember that an appointment with a clergyman is not an ordinary trip to the doctor. Here you can’t just come with a problem and immediately get a solution. There is a certain path that a parishioner must overcome.
Father Vlasiy does not charge a fee for the reception. However, the pilgrims still try to thank him. Some leave food, and some leave money as donations to the temple. All these gifts then go to the table of the monks, pilgrims-workers and for other needs of the monastery. According to parishioners, it may take more than a week to achieve an official audience with Father Blasius.
In the Borovsky monastery, in addition to the elder, there is a holy spring of the Monk Paphnutius. They say that bathing in it (at least three times) improves health and heals ailments of the musculoskeletal system.
Also, before the reception, you should confess and venerate the icon of St. Paphnutius. To do this, you should not eat fast food for at least one day. Confession and communion are conducted by the abbot himself in the traditional form (after the service). To make it easier to collect your thoughts, you can write your sins on a piece of paper.
PS
Eldership in Russia appeared even before the revolution. In godless times, secret monasteries were created, where clergy received believers, or people who were desperate and had lost their bearings in life. This holy mission continues to this day. But today in Russia the Orthodox Church already has great importance and influence.
Elder Blasius in the Borovsky Monastery is a vivid example of such selfless love and service to God. For many years the flow of pilgrims to it has not decreased. And everyone receives comfort and help. Miracles happen in the lives of ordinary people, you just need to believe in them.
