April 14, 2022 to the rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village. Akulovo, Moscow region, the famous Russian confessor, mitred archpriest Valerian Krechetov turned 80 years old.
The Lord blessed Father Valerian with many gifts, a loving soul and a grateful heart, multiplying his seed,
“like the stars of the sky and like the sand that is on the seashore” (Gen. 22:17).
What is the secret of a person's long and happy life on earth? How to overcome the demographic crisis in Russia? What is the significance of the personality of Elder Kirill (Pavlov) for his contemporaries? Father Valerian answered these and other questions.
Education
Krechetov Valerian has both secular and spiritual higher education.
1959-1962 - study at MLTI. The father always guided his sons on the true path and prepared them for the priesthood. He said: before being ordained, you need to acquire a secular education in order to survive in prison. After all, before, clergy were very often persecuted and imprisoned. The brothers chose the forestry institute because convicts were sent to logging. Then Valerian volunteered to develop virgin lands. He became a navigator in the Air Force, but worked as an engineer in the forestry enterprise. Soon he got married. Natalya Konstantinovna Alushkina became Krechetov’s wife Valerian.
1962-1969 – study at MDS. After some time, Valerian Krechetov transferred to work as an engineer in the Patriarchate, from where he entered the seminary. In one year, he was able to pass exams for four seminary courses as an external student.
Parish of Archpriest Valeriana Krechetova
How to get to Father Valerian? The parish of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where the preacher serves, is located in a small village. Akulov. The Akulovsky temple has not been closed since 1807. During the difficult years of repression, services were held in the chapel of St. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This temple at that time became a spiritual stronghold, where persecuted clergy and many believing Muscovites found refuge.
Since 1970, Father Valerian has been the rector here. Father is so endearing that people come to his services from different parts of Moscow and the Moscow region. The parish flock only grows every year, large families appear, who attend the temple in their entirety. In addition to his pastoral work in caring for parishioners, Father Valerian Krechetov carried out diocesan obedience for several decades: he was a diocesan confessor. In 2010, he became a member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Sermons and Conversations
The spiritual ministry of Father Valerian consists not only of the activities of the rector, but also of active preaching and educational work with parishioners. Nowadays, many sermons and talks are published in the media. In them, the missionary talks about the main problems facing the spiritual path of modern man. He pays particular attention to the following topics:
- spiritual and moral education of the younger generation;
- the need for regular visits to temples;
- religious misconceptions;
- spiritual mentoring.
The priest's missionary activities include the duties of a confessor for the Moscow diocese. The power of the words of the rector of the Intercession Church attracts not only local parishioners, but also clergy and representatives of secular authorities to the village near Moscow.
Improvement
During the service in the priest’s temple, the church and its territory acquired a well-groomed, beautiful appearance. Through the efforts of the abbot, many objects were restored and built. He led:
- Construction of a House for church workers (parable). For 200 sq. m there is a prosphora room, a refectory room, and a kitchen.
- Improvement of the territory belonging to the Sunday school. In addition, the area was decorated with a flower garden.
- Restoration of the temple paintings. External and internal walls, domes, bell towers, and basements were restored.
- Construction of a baptistery and baptistery.
- Improvement of the Sunday school grounds. In addition to decorating the area with flower beds, the Sunday school was presented with an exact copy of the Miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Inexhaustible Chalice”.
- The construction and painting of a temple consecrated in honor of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. The new temple was consecrated on the 200th anniversary of the main temple in 2008. The consecration of the temple was performed by Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna.
- Asphalting the parking lot and churchyard.
- Providing central water supply to Sunday school.
Tent camp "Solnyshko"
In the summer, high school students spend their holidays and gain physical and spiritual strength at the Solnyshko Summer Family Tent Camp, which is located in the forest in a picturesque place on Lake Seliger in the Tver region. There are no communications here. While in the camp, children and adults learn in practice the Orthodox way of life based on the Gospel commandments. They pray daily, take part in divine services, sing and read at services, observe fasts, and participate in recreational, sports, cultural and educational events.
The priests advocate for regular missionary and catechetical conversations and lectures, and for organizing pilgrimages to shrines and historical places.
Elders in Ukraine
There are not many clergy on the territory of Ukraine endowed with the gift of clairvoyance. These include:
- Alypiy (Pogrebnyak) - Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, retired since 1997.
- Elder Seraphim. Lives in Svyatogorsk Lavra. An amazing personality, there are many grateful reviews about him. You can contact him by first specifying the appointment schedule.
Body icon with chain “Matrona of Moscow” - a spiritual and beautiful gift for loved ones - buy for 1,490 rubles
In addition, you can visit the Pochaev Lavra. It is located in Western Ukraine (Ternopil region, Pochaev). with gifts from above live there You can talk to them without an appointment and usually there is no wait.
Bibliography
What do parishioners say about their spiritual father, who is Archpriest Valerian Krechetov? Reviews are always grateful and kind. In addition to the main service, mitered prot. Valerian is a spiritual writer whose books are sought after with great excitement and read with genuine interest, which can be read in reviews and heard from parishioners. Valerian Krechetov's books are addressed to a wide range of Orthodox readers. Some want spiritual consolation, others want advice, and others want admonition and instruction. Everyone will find something they like. We present annotations of some of the books.
- “Bring my soul out of prison,” 2012
The book is addressed to different categories of people: from beginning Christians to churchgoers. The human soul needs spiritual growth. Each time, defeating sins and making efforts on ourselves, we rise one step higher on the path to salvation. At the same time, fasting and sincere regular prayer are the main helpers on the path of ascension.
- “How can we equip ourselves?”, 2013
In the book, Father Valerian teaches how to combine the movement of the mind and heart into a single impulse. Our heart and our mind must simultaneously want what we ask of God. Then we can get what we ask for. The author draws a parallel between our souls and the souls of saints. The souls of saints are always tuned to the same wavelength, but we are always carried somewhere: now to the left, now to the right. Parents themselves must take care of their souls and give their children a pure and bright filling. These are the main ideas presented in the book.
- “The key to the present is in the past”, 2014
The book includes interviews given to the Pokrov magazine and Radonezh radio. Prot. Valerian, answering questions, explains that all our problems and troubles come from the past. Therefore, the key to a happy life can only be found by correcting the mistakes of the past. Father answers questions about happiness, joy, worthy change, correct life in the Church, etc.
- “Martha or Mary?”, 2006, 2012
The first book with this title was published in 2006 and was noted by believers as interesting and educational. Therefore, in 2012, a continuation of the first edition by Valerian Krechetov was published. The books cover complex topics. O. Valerian explains complex things in simple language. At the end of his creation, he remembers Fr. Nikolai Guryanov.
- “Our struggle is against flesh and blood...”, 2011
The book contains the sermons of Valerian Krechetov. Spiritual warfare is the main theme of this book. The struggle is not on the material, but on the spiritual level, which is waged in the hearts of people and is the most difficult. Conquering spiritual warfare is the main task of a Christian.
- “About the most important”, 2011
The title of the book speaks eloquently for itself. It really contains the main conversations of the priest. The book touches on important issues: life and death; sin and repentance; fear of God and fear of the enemy; family happiness. These and many other topics are raised in this publication.
- “From earthly vanity to true life”, 2012
The book contains spiritual conversations that touch on the most pressing issues. Why fast? How to deal with offenders? Frequency of communion and unction. Why do we need misfortune? How not to lose spirituality in the hustle and bustle of society? What is more important - the temple or the presence of good deeds? These and many other questions are discussed in this book, after reading which the reader will be able to find physical and spiritual strength within himself.
- “Reflections before Confession”, 2014
The new book is intended for people preparing to confess, as well as for those who doubt the need for repentance. Father explains in simple and accessible language the meaning of this great sacrament. Is it necessary to confess if you haven’t killed or robbed anyone? Why repent? What should you say in confession if you haven’t done anything wrong? To these and many other questions, Fr. Valerian gives clear, lively and insightful answers. Anyone who reads this book will feel the need to repent.
Actual information
Great elders are the same people. No person has yet been able to live eternal life in the material world. Everyone leaves sooner or later . Unfortunately, some clergy passed away not so long ago:
On February 2, 2018, Archpriest John Slugin, who served as a cleric at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Moscow, died. He was 77 years old;- On October 13, 2022, Elder Naum from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra passed away to God. Reviews of the clergyman were passed from mouth to mouth, many people dreamed of meeting him. The priest was one of the most revered elders of the Orthodox Church;
- On February 20, 2022, Archimandrite Kirill passed away. At the time of his death he was 97 years old. The memories of people who were lucky enough to meet the elder formed the basis of the book. The editor of the publication was clergyman Viktor Kuznetsov;
- On December 1, 2022, after a long struggle with the disease, Archimandrite Dionysius (Shishigin) died. Father was devoted to service until his very last days. He not only met people personally, but also transmitted sacred knowledge in his articles. His works can be found on major Orthodox resources. One of the most important creations of the archimandrite is the work “Patriarch Pimen and His Time,” to the writing of which he devoted part of his life;
- Archimandrite Jerome (Shurygin), whose last years were spent in Chuvashia, departed to the Lord on August 28, 2013, on the day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. But even now extraordinary phenomena are associated with it. People who came to his grave noticed that real miracles began to happen to them. Everything they sincerely asked for came true. The grave is located in the city of Alatyr, where pilgrims often visit it. The archimandrite was a resident of the Assumption Pskov-Pechersky Monastery for more than 40 years;
- And pilgrimages do not stop at the burial place of the Saransk elder Theophan. Father Theophan was a very bright and sympathetic person; everyone who knew him during his lifetime loved the holy father. He was a confessor at the Makarovsky Ioannovsky Theological Monastery in Mordovia. Now people come to the elder’s grave, as before, for advice, help and healing. They say that miracles began to happen more often.
Blessed memory of the great elders, whose whole life was service to God and people. But those who need help should not despair. In Russia and Ukraine, those endowed with the gifts of the Lord are still alive and faithfully fulfilling their duty. Not one of those who turned to these wise people for support has yet regretted their decision.
However, it is worth thinking about the words of the old nun Matrona. She argued that before going to the elder, she should pray to the Lord to give him the correct answer to the question. One way or another, the future depends not only on the orders of the sages, but also on whether these advice will be followed.
Awards
For his services to the material Church, Fr. Valerian has received many awards. He was awarded:
- Gaiter.
- Kamilavka.
- Pectoral Cross.
- Received the title of archpriest.
- Mace.
- Pectoral Cross with decorations.
- Order of the 3rd degree of St. Daniil of Moscow.
- Order of the 3rd degree Ven. Sergius of Radonezh.
- Mithra.
- Order of the 2nd degree Ven. Sergius of Radonezh.
- The reward according to which he can serve with the royal doors open until the Lord's Prayer.
