Bishop Savva of the Resurrection: Savva Mikheev, bishop from the Novospassky Monastery, Bishop is ill, Metropolitan, Archbishop

Immediately after the baptism of Rus', the translation of prayers and Holy Scripture into the Slavic language began. This is for a better understanding of the wisdom hidden in Scripture and the correct administration of all sacraments. Since those distant years, all sacred services and prayers were written only in Old Church Slavonic.

However, on March 23, 2022, something unprecedented happened - Archimandrite Savva Mikheev concelebrated the liturgy using the “Church Russian” language. According to the bishop, the prayers, read in a new way, acquired new meaning and depth for him. However, the church community assessed the innovation differently. Savva received both positive and negative messages.

Metropolitan Savva of the Resurrection, in 2022 he will turn 40 years old. Now he is a member of the Holy Synod, heads the Tver Metropolis and heads the Office of the Moscow Patriarchate. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

It must be said that Bishop Savva from the Novospassky Monastery is an interesting and unusual person. First of all, he is famous for his publications and his young age for such a high position. Mikheev now holds the post of manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and at the age of 39 took a permanent seat in the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Savva Mikheev gets an education

It must be said that Savva’s biography begins simply. The future ruler was born into a family of ordinary Soviet workers on May 10, 1980. The country was supposed to host the Olympics, and a few years later a full-scale reformation of the political and economic system.

The Metropolitan's hometown is Perm. However, he did not live there for long and soon the family moved to Kasimov, which is now in the Ryazan region. In 1986, the church stopped being oppressed in every possible way and more and more people began to attend services again and baptize their children. Alexander, which is what Savva was called in the world, was also baptized that year. The father performing the sacrament of baptism was called Sergei Serebryakov.

May 10, 1980

birthday of Metropolitan Savva of the Resurrection

In 1987, Alexander entered high school. During his studies, the Soviet Union collapsed. In its place a dozen republics arose. The central republic received a new name - the Russian Federation - and an economic system. In 1997, Mikhey successfully completed his studies at school. The young man did not think long about his further education and almost immediately entered the Moscow Theological Seminary.

Alexander zealously set about mastering new sciences and showed unprecedented success in his studies. Very quickly, teachers began to notice the promising student. In 2000, when Mikheev completed his 4th year at the seminary, Archbishop Eugene, being at that time the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, read the ordination over Savva as a reader. The following year, Mikheev successfully completed his studies at the Moscow Seminary.

According to his assignment, he was sent to serve under Metropolitan Simon of Ryazan and Kalinovsky. He, the Metropolitan, appointed a young man to teach liturgy and homiletics at the Ryazan Theological School. In addition, Micah became Father Simon's secretary.

Savva serves in various dioceses

In the late autumn of 2001, or rather on November 27, an important event happened in the fate of young Alexander. Metropolitan Simon of Ryazan and Kasimov tonsured Mikheev a monk with his church name – Savva (in honor of Saint Savva the Sanctifier). The sacrament took place within the walls of the Ryazan Theological School. A few days later, on December 2, Savva was elevated to the rank of hierodeacon. On December 4, Mikheev was ordained hieromonk. At the same time, Savva receives new responsibilities - the monk serves for some time as an assistant to the vice-rector for educational affairs.

May 21, 2002

During the feast of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, Savva Mikheev is awarded a legguard

This is an important and significant part of the vestments of the Russian Orthodox priest. The awarding of the gait is considered an important milestone in the life of a minister of the Russian Orthodox Church. Savva was always aware of the need for education.

Therefore, in 2002, the hieromonk entered correspondence studies at the MDA (Moscow Theological Academy). In mid-October 2002, Mikheev took the post of vice-rector of the Ryazan Theological School (RDU) for academic affairs. On Easter 2003 (April 27), Savva received another church award - the Pectoral Cross.

Without stopping there, Alexander Mikheev decides to get a second higher education. For this purpose, he immediately enters the 2nd year of the Ryazan State Pedagogical University. On December 9 of the same year, he began teaching dogmatic theology at the Russian State Pedagogical University in the department of theology.

In the spring of 2005, on March 15, Archbishop Pavel of Ryazan and Kasimov added Savva to the staff. The reason is simple - due to a number of circumstances, only women remained in the diocese around Paul. All the rest went to other clergy and dioceses. Mikheev did not refuse the archbishop. But Paul left the young priest the right to leave the diocese at any time.

Archbishop of Rostov and Yaroslavl Kirill. Under his leadership, young Savva gained administrative experience, heading the deanery and treasury of the diocese. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

Savva receives higher education and works in the Yaroslavl clergy

After some time, the hieromonk was enrolled in the clergy of the Yaroslavl diocese at the personal request of Archbishop Kirill of Yaroslavl. Here Mikheev served as a cell attendant for the elderly and retired Metropolitan Simon. At the same time, other responsibilities fell on his shoulders:

Dean of the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery;
Treasurer of the diocese;
Secretary of Archbishop Kirill.

But Savva did not serve long in the Yaroslavl-Rostov diocese. In 2007, he was appointed assistant vice-rector for educational affairs at the Yaroslavl Theological Seminary. In the summer of the same year, Mikheev downloaded MDA.

He becomes a candidate of theology with a protected topic - “Savior-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery of the Yaroslavl Diocese (history, architecture, shrines).” In February 2008, he successfully graduated from YSPU with a degree in Theology. He continues to serve at the Yaroslavl Theological Seminary. He was elevated to the rank of abbot on April 19, 2009.

Ten days later he was appointed assistant to the dean of the Rostov region. At the same time, Savva was appointed rector of the Ascension-Annunciation Church in the city of Yaroslavl. On October 12, 2009, Archbishop Kirill of Yaroslavl blesses Mikheev for admission to the All-Church doctoral program.

Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery - this ancient monastery became the topic for Savva Mikheev’s candidate work at the Moscow Theological Academy. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

It is interesting that all students of the All-Church postgraduate and doctoral studies are sent abroad. In particular, Mikheev was sent to study English at St. Clare's College, Oxford, England.

According to the bishop himself, during the time spent there, he managed to take a break from the administrative routine and completely devote himself to learning. After returning from abroad, the Holy Synod appoints Father Savva as rector of the Novospassky-Stauropegial Monastery in the city of Moscow.

Scientific works, publications:

Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery of the Yaroslavl diocese (history, architecture, shrines)
Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery in Rostov the Great. - M.: Novospassky Monastery Publishing House, 2014. - 304 p. — (Materials on the history of the Church).
Avraamiev Epiphany Monastery in Rostov the Great: architecture in its cultural and artistic development // doctorantura.ru, 2014

Articles

New academic year at RPDU // Ryazan Church Bulletin. Ryazan: Historical and Archival Department of the Ryazan Diocese - 2002. - No. 9. - P. 18-19
Meeting of the pedagogical council of the Ryazan Orthodox Theological School // Ryazan Church Bulletin. — Ryazan: Historical and Archival Department of the Ryazan Diocese. 2003 - No. 7. - pp. 11-12
Meeting of the pedagogical council of the Ryazan Orthodox Theological School // Ryazan Church Bulletin. — Ryazan: Historical and Archival Department of the Ryazan Diocese. 2003 - No. 9 - P. 9-14
Meeting of the pedagogical council of the RPDU // Ryazan Church Bulletin. — Ryazan: Historical and Archival Department of the Ryazan Diocese. 2004 - No. 6 - P. 51-52
Elder-bishop // Russian monk: magazine. 2008 - September. — pp. 41-44
The example of the holy noble prince Vasilko // Rostov Bulletin. — 2009, March 13. ["Renaissance", No. 11]
Venerable Abraham, Archimandrite of Rostov: on the question of time // Church Historical Bulletin. — M.: Society of Church History Lovers. 2010 - No. 16-17. — P. 43-46
Monastic chronicles of the 19th century // Yaroslavl Pedagogical Bulletin. 2011 - No. 2, - volume 1, - P. 17-22 (co-authored with A. E. Videneva)
On the question of possible prototypes of the Epiphany Cathedral of the Rostov Avraamiev Monastery // Bulletin of the Oryol State University. - Orel, 2011. - No. 6 (20). - P. 201-203.
The architecture of the Epiphany Cathedral of the Avraamiev Monastery in the context of the artistic and symbolic program of the era of Ivan the Terrible // Scientific notes of the Oryol State University. Series: Humanities and social sciences. 2011 - No. 6 - pp. 298-303.
St. Nicholas gate temple of the Rostov Abraham Monastery and gate churches of Ancient Rus' // Church and Time: scientific, theological and church-social magazine: Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. — ISSN 2221-8181. 2014. LXIX N 4 (69). - October-December 2014 - pp. 117-127.
Bell tower in the structure of the architectural ensemble of the Rostov Avraamiev Monastery // Bulletin of PSTGU. Series V. Questions of the history and theory of Christian art. 2012. - Issue. 3 (9). — P. 106—111.
Vvedenskaya Church of the Rostov Avraamiev Monastery and refectory churches of Russian monasteries of the 16th-17th centuries. // Bulletin of PSTGU. Series 5: Questions of the history and theory of Christian art. 2012. Issue. 1 (7). — pp. 112—118
Bishop of Resurrection Savva: Revitalizing parish activities is impossible without the participation of the people of God - members of the parish // prichod.ru, April 18, 2013
Continuity of conciliarity: Local Council of 1917-1918. in the history and modern life of the Russian Church // patriarchia.ru, June 10, 2015
About the will of Novospassky Archimandrite Apollos in 1854 // Current issues of social sciences: sociology, political science, philosophy, history: collection. Art. by mother LVIII intl. scientific-practical conf. - Novosibirsk: SibAK, 2016. - No. 2 (54). - pp. 10-15. (co-authored with A. E. Videneva)
On the history of the restoration of the temple of St. Savva of the Consecrated Moscow Novospassky Monastery in the middle of the 19th century // The era of Prince Vladimir and the development of Russian statehood: materials of the All-Russian scientific and practical conference. Yaroslavl, 2016. - pp. 266-281. (co-authored with A. E. Videneva)
On the chronology of royal and patriarchal visits to the Novospassky Monastery in the first half of the 17th century // Collection of abstracts of the XXXV International Conference dedicated to the problems of social sciences. M., 2015. - P. 5-8 (co-authored with A. E. Videneva).
Metropolitan Savva (Mikheev): Patriarch Philaret and the Novospassky Monastery // tvereparhia.ru, February 4, 2019

Interview

Savva (Mikheev), abbot.
All life is service to the Church [conversation with Archpriest Boris Sabinin] // Yaroslavl Diocesan Gazette. — 2008, December. — P. 33-35.
“Mono means one” Interview of Bishop Sava to the magazine “Heir”. 2012. - No. 45.
Bishop of Resurrection Savva: Publication of documents of the Local Council of 1917-18 is a vital task // patriarchia.ru, June 14, 2012
Bishop of Resurrection Savva: Christians have the most reliable way of protection // pravmir.ru, September 7, 2012
Bishop of the Resurrection Savva: A return to the patristic tradition is the future of modern monasteries // patriarchia.ru, January 30, 2013
Bishop of Resurrection Savva: Study is a kind of outlet for a clergyman, be it a presbyter or a bishop // patriarchia.ru, March 28, 2013
Bishop Savva: Since the day of tonsure, I have never regretted that I became a monk // website of the Moscow Theological Academy, October 7, 2013
The only thing that can unite us is Orthodoxy // Orthodoxy and Modernity, Saratov, 2014. - No. 29 (45)
Bishop of the Resurrection Savva: The temple is not only a place where we offer prayers, it is also a school where we should study // patriarchia.ru, September 19, 2014
New churches in New Moscow. Conversation with Bishop Savva of the Resurrection // patriarchia.ru, October 25, 2014
Bright evening with Bishop Savva of the Resurrection (broadcast from 02/11/2015) // Radio “Vera”, February 11, 2015
Elder-Bishop // Newspaper “Blagovest”, September 2, 2016
Bright evening with Met. Tversky and Kashinsky Savva (10/12/2018) // Radio “Vera”, October 12, 2018
"The Church is the people." Metropolitan Savva - about ministry and the Tver land // “Arguments and Facts - Tver”, October 24, 2018
Metropolitan Savva (Mikheev) of Tver and Kashin answers radio listeners’ questions // “Radonezh”, 10/02/2018

Bishop Savva's everyday life

The Russian Orthodox Church highly values responsible and experienced priests. Therefore, on May 30, 2011, by the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Savva was appointed Bishop of Resurrection, vicar of the Moscow diocese.

Personally, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' elevated Mikheev to the rank of archimandrite in the Moscow Kremlin on June 28 of the same year. Officially consecrated Bishop of Resurrection, vicar of the Moscow diocese on July 11.

Patriarch Kirill is the face of the modern Russian Orthodox Church

The sacrament of ordination was performed by:

Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna;
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill;
Bishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk;
Bishop Benjamin of Rybinsk;
Metropolitan of Saransk and Mordovian Barsanuphius;
Archbishop of Petrozavodsk and Karelian Manuil;
Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov Pavel;
Archbishop of Vereisky Eugene;
Archbishop of Sergiev Posad Feognost;
Bishop of Trinity Pankratiy.

In December 2011, Bishop Savva Voskresensky, by decree of Patriarch Kirill, was appointed responsible for the Southwestern region of the capital. Including for all subsequent new territories included in this administrative region. On March 19, 2014, he was appointed first deputy manager of the Moscow Patriarchate. In September, he graduates from the All-Church Doctorate and defends his doctorate.

The topic of the doctoral dissertation is “The Abrahamic Epiphany Monastery of the city of Rostov the Great - architecture in its church-historical development.” Receives the doctor's cross from the hands of Patriarch Kirill (November 11, 2014).

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill took an active part in the fate of Savva of the Resurrection. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

Bishop Savva of the Resurrection was regularly appointed to various presiding positions. There he always made wise and balanced decisions. For example, on April 6, 2016, Mikheev was elected a member of the presidium and deputy head of the World Russian People's Council.

On February 1, 2022, on the initiative of the Holy Synod, he became part of a group that prepared information events for the 100th anniversary of the Bolsheviks coming to power and the beginning of the persecution of the Church. In 2022, Bishop Savva is sent to the Tver and Kashin diocese in office. Here he is appointed head of the Tver Metropolitanate.

July 18, 2018

elevated to the rank of metropolitan personally by Patriarch Kirill.

After which he left for Tver. Here Mikheev began active work to establish new contacts and strengthen old relationships. For example, he advocated closer relations with the laity and the creative intelligentsia.

In 2022 he returned to Moscow. On February 26, he accepted the position of Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate. This position automatically made Mikheev a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

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Notes

[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1909320.html “Regulations on diocesan vicariates of the Russian Orthodox Church”]. // Patriarchia.Ru
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2027814.html Vicariates of the city of Moscow] (Russian). — Patriarchia.Ru.
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3736993.html A regular meeting of the All-Church Dissertation Council was held]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1435119.html Abbot Savva (Mikheev) was appointed abbot of the Novospassky stauropegial monastery in Moscow]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1498800.html Hegumen Savva (Mikheev), abbot of the Novospassky Monastery, was elected vicar of the Moscow diocese]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1550521.html On the day of remembrance of St. Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1559158.html Archimandrite Savva (Mikheev) was named Bishop of Resurrection]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1559533.html On the day of remembrance of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill led the consecration of Archimandrite Savva (Mikheev) as Bishop of the Resurrection, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese]
[www.moseparh.ru/vic/v/ Vicariates of the city of Moscow]
[www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3609264.html The request of Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg for retirement has been granted]. // Patriarchia.Ru
[www.pravoslavie.ru/92262.html Bishop Savva of the Resurrection was elected deputy head of the World Russian People's Council / Pravoslavie.Ru]