Iliy Nozdrin: biography of the elder, miracles, how to get an appointment

Schearchim. Iliy (Nozdrin)

Iliy (Nozdrin)
(born 1932), Schema-Archimandrite, spiritual father of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church and its Commission on the organization of the life of monasteries and monasticism In the world Nozdrin Alexey Afanasyevich, born 8 March [1] 1932 in the village of Stanovoy Kolodez, Oryol district, Oryol region, in a pious peasant family. Father - Afanasy Ivanovich Nozdrin, mother - Klavdiya Vasilievna. At baptism he was named in honor of Alexy, a man of God. Had three brothers and a sister. His grandfather, Ivan Nozdrin, was a great lover of truth, did not accept the new order, and was the headman of the Church of the Intercession in Stanovoy Kolodez. In 1942, both his grandfather Ivan and his father Afanasy died after being seriously wounded at the front [2]. After the death of her husband, the mother did not remarry, taking care of the children and housekeeping.

Alexey was baptized in the church of the neighboring village of Lukino. As he himself later assumed, he began praying at the age of three. The family gave him only indirect spiritual education, but he grew up as a very religious boy and already in childhood he was called “Divine,” “God’s man.” An incident in 1947-1948 became widely known in the village and district when, having been robbed and praying with tears before the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Alexey found a hot wheat loaf on the ground.

In 1949 he graduated from Stanovokolodez secondary school.

He served in the army, where the foreman persuaded him to join the Komsomol. Upon returning home, he deeply repented of this, seeing it as a sin against God, and immediately burned his Komsomol card.

In 1955-1958 he studied at the mechanical engineering college in Serpukhov. After technical school, I was assigned to work in the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd region. There was one active church in the city, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, where John Bukotkin served as the second priest, who became Alexei’s first confessor. He talked a lot and for a long time with the priest, and began to pray in the barn at night. Father John invited him to enter the Saratov Theological Seminary and helped arrange this, although at great risk to himself.

After the closure of the Saratov Seminary, he was transferred to the Leningrad Seminary, then studied at the Theological Academy. In Leningrad, he decided to become a monk, received the blessing of Father John Bukotkin, and was tonsured with the name Ilian, in honor of one of the forty martyrs of Sebaste. The tonsure was performed by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), who then ordained him as a hierodeacon and hieromonk.

During his years in the Leningrad diocese, he worked a lot in various parishes.

Since 1966, he spent ten years in the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. Reading in 1967 a book about the then not yet glorified Venerable Silouan of Athos became an important step in his spiritual life for him.

On March 3, 1976, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was sent to carry out monastic obedience on the Holy Mount Athos, to the Russian monastery of the Great Martyr Panteleimon. He was among the handful of monks who helped preserve monastic life here, maintain the monastery's connection with the Russian Orthodox Church, and prevent the widely discussed and expected transfer of the Panteleimon Monastery to the Greeks in Greece. He carried out obedience in the monastery on Stary Russik, in a secluded dwelling hidden in the mountain gorges. During the Athos period, Father Ilian was also entrusted with clergy within the walls of the Panteleimon Monastery.

At the end of the 1980s, he was called back to his homeland and sent to the rebuilding Optina Pustyn as the confessor of the brethren. He arrived there in 1989, when the monastery was still an overgrown ruin. Soon he was tonsured here into the great schema with the name Eli in honor of another Sebastian martyr. He embarked on the path of senile service in Optina, which lasted 20 years. His numerous spiritual children, and even people who had only a moment of communication with him, testified to the decisive significance for them of his image, actions and instructions. But seekers of revelations often left him in bewilderment, because... it seemed that he was saying common truths known to everyone.

Elder Eli and Patriarch Kirill

On Easter, April 4, 2010, he was elevated to the rank of schema-archimandrite in the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [5].

Childhood and youth Ilya Nozdrina

Before we begin the story about the life path of the last elder of Rus', Ilya Nozdrin, we should find out in what sense the term “elder” is most often used. Eldership, as a special institution of mentoring, originated in the Orthodox tradition since ancient times. The origins of this phenomenon originate in a special way of monastic life.

Schema-Archimandrite Iliy Nozdrin

Those who knew the future primate of the Orthodox Church when he was very young said that deep faith in the Lord, humility and piety lived in the heart of the righteous man from childhood. In the world of the future monk, the name was Alexei Nozdrin.

From the age of three, the boy himself was going to church; he enjoyed attending services, where he prayed as best he could. This happened during the years of struggle against religion, when faith in God was not only not welcomed, but also became the reason for arrests and executions.

Interesting to know! For their reluctance to join the collective farm, Nozdrin’s family was expelled from their native farm. Later, when they were allowed to return, Alyosha’s grandfather forged iron boots for himself and walked in them, protesting against collectivization.

God's blessing came to the Russian people through little Alexei. In 1943, he found a German tablet, which contained a map of German fortified areas on the Kursk Bulge. This tablet, along a chain of adults, reached the hands of Marshal Rokossovsky himself, and thus the little, unknown boy was able to contribute to the turning point battle of the Great Patriotic War.

The Sovietization of all aspects of public life did not bypass the future monk. Alexey was forced to join the ranks of the Komsomol members, which he later greatly regretted. Realizing his mistake, he burned his membership card and again returned to what supported him on all paths - the Christian faith. It was faith that he regarded as the only source of joy and spiritual grace.

Schema-Archimandrite Eli (Nozdrin) as an example of official eldership

A message appeared that the so-called. “Missionary expedition of the Russian Orthodox Church” led by Schema-Archimandrite Eli (Nozdrin) , who is called “an old man known to the entire Orthodox world for his spiritual strength, wisdom and meekness.”

The message, in particular, says that “after the service, the parishioners... waited for the appearance of the spirit-bearing priest, who is already called the Elder of the Russian Land, to touch him, to come under his blessing.”

Let us present the testimony of some Orthodox believers, which allows us to doubt the “eldership” and “spiritual wisdom” of the universally respected Schema-Archimandrite Elijah.

First of all, I want to say that I am opposed to calling Father Elijah an elder. In my understanding, he is not. Eldership presupposes not only spiritual experience, but a certain spiritual community and continuity, and what kind of continuity does Father Elijah have? Which of the elders of the 70-90s does he have a spiritual community with? I would say that at one time he was appointed to be the elder of Optina Pustyn ... Which is not surprising. This branch stretches from Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), who was a complex personality, and most likely worked for the KGB, plus on top of everything he expressed and professed heretical views, and the shameful sin of ecumenism, which stretches for the Russian Orthodox Church MP, lies on his conscience.

Father Elijah was tonsured by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), who then ordained him as a hierodeacon and hieromonk. There is silence about the Pskov-Pechersk stay of Father Elijah within the monastery walls (from 1966 to 1976). 10 years - no information.

Much more is known about Father John (Krestyankin) during this period (he appeared in Pechory in 1967). And about his monastic path. At that time, some of the elders were still alive, who began to spiritually care for Father John.

As a matter of fact, Father Iliy was sent to Optina in the late 80s with a certain “task” - the opening of the monastery and its life were to take place under the supervision and control of church authorities, who were still closely connected with the KGB and the CPSU. Father Eli was “his” man. He was perfectly suited to the position of confessor. But then unexpected obstacles arose. It turned out that there are other views that run counter to the “party line.” But it became clear that this “party” would stop at nothing. However, Father Eli himself was far from completing the “task.” He just showed amazing cowardice. And Father Melchizedek (Artyukhin) carried out the party line...

Soon after the Local Council of 2009, Schema-Abbess Iliy became the confessor of his fellow student at the Theological Academy, the newly elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, and moved to Peredelkino, to the metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. However, this does not surprise me... The clan of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) won an unexpected victory. I hope it's temporary. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, from the same cohort. In fact, the close connection between the authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church has not disappeared anywhere, and those who were at one time close to secular power ended up in the highest echelons of church power. This is continuity!

I can’t say anything about Father Elijah as a monk and priest. Because his spiritual life is the mystery of God. And I must show respect for his monastic order. At least formal. But I wonder if there were other examples of appointment as an elder in the history of the Church? When and to whom was a powerful PR campaign carried out in the media?

Most of the saints and elders of the USSR era and even after 1991 were persecuted to one degree or another, either by the authorities or by their own brothers, and often lived in disgrace (however, this was also the case in general church history). Here is an amazing example when an old man is also “promoted” from above . Of course, opal is not a sign of holiness. But in this case, we are talking about something else...

I read what they write on some Orthodox forums about Father Elijah - the style of speech is simple - religious exaltation. Completely alien to the Orthodox spirit. Orthodox information sites are literally “packed” to capacity with conversations, interviews and instructions from Fr. Or me. They are already writing that this is “almost the last true elder” of the Russian Orthodox Church (https://www.pravmir.ru/starik-i-vechnost/)

Fortunately, Father Eli does not consider himself such. In this he is honest before God.

In fact, at the moment, the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church MP are the “spiritual children” of the odious Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).

https://sergeev555.li...urnal.com/74660.html

II.

Those who lived in Optina for a long time, after the appearance of Abbot Elijah in Optina, should remember the scandal with the photograph of Pope John Paul II in the cell of this “elder”.

And only when many of the brethren grumbled and refused to go to confession to Elijah, the portrait hanging not far from the icons was removed.

I heard this from my confessor, Abbot Nikon, one of the restorers of Optina, a man of prayer and a faithful warrior of Christ.

https://heres-rus.liv...rnal.com/39572.html

III.

Was familiar with Fr. Nikon, if we are talking about the Abbot of Optina Nikon, who recently labored at the Optina metochion in Moscow and has already died.

He was in disgrace - that's for sure. I also know about. Elijah and I know some details from his life from Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim (Tomin), who was the dean of the monastery on Holy Mount Athos when Fr. Eli (then still hieromonk Ilian) labored there as a librarian. There, too, he had a portrait of the Pope in his cell, which embarrassed the brethren.

And one day a cardinal arrived on Athos. The brethren ignored his arrival, and Father Ilian came out to meet the cardinal with a cross, as if he were a bishop. After this, the brethren stopped communicating with him and after some time Fr. Ilian returned to Russia.

He said that it was hard for him there. Because on Athos only abbots are in free mode, and hieromonks must bear obedience like ordinary monks. And he returned to Russia to receive the abbess here. He took monastic vows, received the abbess and wanted to return to Athos, but Father Eulogius invited him to Optina not as an elder, but as the confessor of the brethren. From Optina, Iliy wrote a letter to Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), but never received an answer.

I think that Father Elijah is not a bad person. It's just that his faith is distorted. He believes that Catholics are not heretics, but our brothers in Christ. He spoke about this in front of me to a monk from Optina Hermitage and spoke with fanaticism.

He showed Father Elijah a letter from Elder Ambrose, where the Elder condemned the heresy of the Latins, and Father Elijah sneezed at him for what it was worth, calling him “Satan” and “schismatic.”

Father Iliy is a simpleton. He can’t even put two words together, watch his video conversations - they are all contradictory and paradoxical.

Simplicity is good, but the main gift of a true elder is prudence . The elder will never praise someone who harms the Fatherland, but Fr. Iliy reveres Gorbachev, who destroyed our state. Father Iliy even blessed his children to print portraits of Gorbachev and distributed them in the church.

I do not condemn the Church, and certainly not speak out against the Church, talking here about Fr. Ilie. Don't bother blaming me for this.

I just want to warn people about the danger that awaits them when turning to Father Elijah. I think that the article published here has the same goal.

Schema-Archimandrite Eli attracts with his “humble” appearance. But try to start a conversation in front of him about Catholics, call them heretics and you will see how his “humility” disappears like steam. For some reason, the communists will immediately become to blame for everything. This is how Father Iliy reacts to any political issue.

An even greater problem with his religion is the Origenian heresy. He believes that everyone will be saved, regardless of faith. And he thinks that this is his manifestation of love. ""God is love". He cannot make anyone suffer,” says Fr. Eli.

I don’t know what this is: a charming delusion or a heretical belief?

Time will tell, and the Lord will judge. Sorry if I confused anyone. Be carefull. And I advise the enemies of the Church who blaspheme the Patriarch and the priesthood to pay attention to their sins, and if you don’t see them, then go to the temple of God. There are plenty of good shepherds out there who are sincerely seeking salvation.

https://pnevmatovvasily.livejournal.com/

IV.

“Elder” Iliy (Nozdrin) as a weapon of information warfare

How is Orthodox anti-Sovietism propagated?

1. A person is taken who has the image of “deserved authority” (in some cases this image is artificially promoted).

2. He is encouraged to speak on camera on issues in which he is a priori incompetent.

3. After obtaining the required result, the information field is pumped with ready-made material.

4. Orthodox Christians reverently absorb the offered ear noodles, because... “this is the elder and confessor of the Patriarch .”

5. PROFIT!

The confessor of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin) acted as the “deserved authority” in this case.

For example, about the “gravedigger” of the great power (or “evil empire”) of the USSR B.N. To Yeltsin, “elder” Iliy spoke like this: “If I had power, I would make a monument to him. He, like St. George the Victorious, with all this synclite - the Central Committee - threw out the party ticket... He went to be torn to pieces... His merit is that millions, billions of people turned to God, and the Church became normal.”

It is obvious that the thorough anti-Sovietism of Schema-Archimandrite Elijah was used as a weapon of information warfare against our Motherland.

Holy Fire

The spiritual path of Ilya Nozdrin

Alexey studied at school and got a job. Every day after work he came to the church in the city of Kamyshin, where he lived. The priest of this church, seeing the young man’s desire for God and a godly life, advised him to enter a theological seminary.

The decision to continue his studies at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary radically changed Alexey’s life. There he met the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill. There he was tonsured a monk under the name Ilian. He received his spiritual name in honor of one of the forty Sebastian martyrs.

Important! The life of a Christian is impossible without repentance. In Orthodoxy, it is not customary to call priests “holy fathers,” as is common in the Catholic tradition - priests are people just like everyone else, and therefore can commit unseemly acts.

In order to overcome sinful acts or thoughts, a person must repent and confess the sin. Many priests have their own confessor to whom they come to confess or get advice. His Holiness the Patriarch, like all Christians, goes to confession. His confessor is Father Eli.

Patriarch Kirill and Father Iliy Nozdrin

Metropolitan Nikodim Ilian Nozdrin was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. After receiving his clergy, he served in several parishes and monasteries until he was sent to Optina Pustyn as a confessor. There he was tonsured into the great schema under the name Eli.

It is important to know! The Great Schema is the highest level of monasticism in the Orthodox tradition. It implies complete renunciation of worldly concerns, necessary for spiritual unity with God.

Elder Eli was awarded the Order of Honor in 2022. This award is given to people who have special merits in preserving spiritual traditions and leading activities aimed at preserving friendship between peoples. Father Iliy was also awarded the Orders of Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov, First Class.

Confessor of Patriarch Kirill

Elder Iliy has been carrying out the honorable mission of confessor to His Holiness the Patriarch since 2004.

During this time, he was distinguished by enormous charitable activities. Thanks to the elder, destroyed temples are restored and new ones are built.

State Duma deputies awarded him the title of “Honorary Citizen of the City of Oryol” for his charitable and missionary activities.

The life of an old man

The strict way of life in the Optina Hermitage is the same for young monks and revered monks. Elder Eli lives a simple life, devotes himself to spiritual work and helping people. He wears an ordinary cassock and does not enjoy any special benefits. The elder does not stop studying the Holy Scriptures, the lives of the Saints, and patristic literature.

Elder Elijah at a service in the Transfiguration Church

Unlike other monks, Father Eli often leaves the walls of the monastery, traveling around the cities of our country. In many cities there are those who are waiting for his help and advice.

The life of his monastery proceeds under the spiritual guidance of Father Elijah. Yet he spends most of his time receiving lay and even atheist visitors.

Important! In society, elders are wise people who strive for Gospel perfection and are able to lead others.

Schimandrite's instructions

About salvation

The elder says that you can save your soul and enter Eternity by living in the world. By renouncing the world, you can achieve true spiritual heights. Beginners often have confusion in their souls: some people think that only monks should fulfill the commandments.

Others, living a secular life, strive to bring their way of life closer to a monastic one, forgetting about their family and professional responsibilities, which is also unacceptable. Each person chooses his own path in life, and must follow it, entrusting his destiny into the hands of the Lord.

About prayer

By prayer, the elder meant a mental appeal to God. Using verbal means of communication, a person can turn not only to his neighbor or himself, but also to the Creator, praising Him and asking for His mercy.

Elder Eli: “Prayer is the food of our soul”

Such movements of the human mind are the most complex, but they cannot be avoided. Without constant memory of the Almighty, we will not be able to resist the temptations that beset us every day.

About fate

Something cannot happen in a person’s life that God does not allow. When talking about something bad, people spit over their shoulders, thereby revealing their disbelief. A Christian cannot believe in chance without believing in God's Providence. In the hands of the Lord is not only the well-being and life of an individual person, but the fate of the whole world as a whole.

About the time

Time is given to a person so that he has the opportunity to improve his soul and achieve salvation. It is difficult to even estimate the value of this resource. A person’s future directly depends on how many good deeds he has done and how much time he has devoted to communicating with the Lord. If a person did not appreciate this Divine gift and wasted time, sudden death will find his soul unprepared for the transition to Eternity.

About love

The path of all who want to come to God begins with the acquisition of humility. Pride is subordination to Satan, since it prevents sincere repentance, and without repentance one cannot talk about faith.

The elder called love and humility the basis of Christian life

Even illness is sometimes the result of a lack of humility. Through it, the Lord leads a person to repentance, since a weak person is unable to become proud and resist God’s will. Hand in hand with humility comes wisdom, but wisdom not as a human quality, but as a Divine quality.

Prophecies of Elder Elijah

The elder’s words about the future of Russia became the most famous. The elder testifies that faith in Russia is beginning to gradually revive, despite the fact that achievements in our spiritual sphere were thrown back two centuries.

Now the Russian people will have to make considerable efforts in the fight for their ideals. Only then will faith and true piety be united with love of work and many national traditions. Faith will rise from its knees and a new stage of its revival will begin.

Speaking about what should be placed at the head of the state ideology of Russia, the elder named the Christian faith, strength of spirit and patriotism. Only in cohesion and unity does the elder see the salvation of the Russian people.

How to get an appointment with Elder Elijah

From all corners of our vast homeland, people come to Father Eli in search of help, advice and guidance. Previously, for this you had to go to Optina Pustyn, but since 2009 the elder has been receiving visitors in Peredelkino, near Moscow.

Elder Elijah does not have any specific regulations or schedule for taking them. In search of a meeting with the elder, people come to Peredelkino several times. Believers do not despair if they were unable to catch Father Elijah on the spot: people believe that the meeting will happen when it should happen, and they trust in the will of the Lord.

You can meet Elder Elijah in Peredelkino, Moscow region

On one day, the elder can receive only a few people, because a personal conversation with each visitor takes a lot of time. The elder comes to the service and receives people after it.

Father Eli receives visitors in the Transfiguration Church or refectory after the morning service. The reception lasts from 9.00 to 16.00, after which the elder goes to rest. If one of the visitors comes with an urgent matter, the elder can continue the reception after 18.00.

By car from the capital you can get to the Transfiguration Church along the Minskoye or Borovskoye highway. You can get to the temple by train or bus from Odintsovo station or by train from Moscow, departing from Kievsky station.

Elder Eli: “You cannot solve problems without God” (+VIDEO)

Moscow region, Peredelkino station. There are usually always a lot of people here. From early morning people from all over Russia flock here. To take a blessing, ask for advice, chat, or just stand next to Elder Eli (Nozdrin). There are whole stories about his prayerful help among the people. Someone found themselves in a difficult situation, someone, out of curiosity, takes a turn and waits in the wings. Many people don't wait...

While still in the car, cameraman Vyacheslav and I saw Georgy Bogomolov. This is Elder Elijah's assistant.

Cameraman Vyacheslav and I greet Georgy and unload the equipment: lights, cameras, extension cords and quadcopter, bags and backpacks. All this is in order to convey the mood and atmosphere that reigns in one of the most visited corners of our country.

We didn't know if this interview would happen.

– On Friday, the priest refused to Channel One. We’ll see how it goes,” said Georgy.

While we were setting up the quadcopter, Georgiy was already surrounded by a crowd of people. He was telling something to a woman who had made a vow to God. And apparently she was very worried that she would not fulfill her vow.

“Nothing is impossible with us, but with God everything is possible,” Georgy turns to this very woman. “It’s just that we, who grew up during the communist five-year plan, are accustomed to this: they said, we have to build it and that’s it.” The city is on edge, everyone is nervous.

The quadcopter takes off. On the screen we see what only birds can see: colored domes, huge crosses, a forest that stretches behind the temple complex.

Church of the Transfiguration in Peredelkino. Photo: Pravoslavie.Ru

The day is still in full swing, but we are moving to the house, where from minute to minute Father Eli, at 83 years old, will begin to receive people.

The building is located in the courtyard of the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. By the way, the Transfiguration Church remained one of the few operating in the Moscow region during the years of Soviet power. In the summer, the house where the priest receives is partly protected from the sun by mighty trees. Now the entire territory is visible tens of meters ahead.

Guests gathered at a large table: women and several girls. Everyone is intently waiting for the moment when they can talk one-on-one with the elder.

– About Borodino, about the Battle of Kulikovo. Like in confession. The problem and the name,” Georgy addresses the assembled people. - That's all. Some can even write down thirty! Without thinking that in this case another person did not get to the priest. That is, always remember about others. God will reward you, believe me!

Father Eli is talking with another visitor. Vyacheslav types a picture. George is in control of the situation. I'm drinking tea.

– Tomorrow from one to three I’m waiting for you. I love you, hug you, kiss you! - Georgy addresses someone at the entrance.

So the hours passed. Then the priest, accompanied by George and assistant Dmitry, went to another building. We continued to collect material. All without unnecessary fuss. Late in the evening, Father Eli returned to the people.

“Father Eli can receive people until late, late in the evening,” said the assistant in the kitchen.

We talked with Father Rafail (Romanov), Elder Elijah’s cell attendant. He is the author and performer of the famous song “Who Respects the Bees.” Our conversation lasts about twenty minutes. Father Ily (Nozdrin) comes into the room where we are talking.

Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin). Photo: Pravoslavie.Ru

– Father Eli, thank you very much for agreeing to give an interview to the Pravoslavie.Ru portal.

The first question: how to tell people about Christ today?

– To say that the world was created by God. That our dogmas are only about the Truth. What is the Holy Scripture, the Bible - the New Testament and the Old Testament. That our life in the Church is, first of all, based on the New Testament, which continues the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the time from our first parents Adam and Eve until the Nativity of Christ. The history of the present world and civilization is determined by the New Testament. This is obvious, because we even begin our chronology from the Nativity of Christ.

God, who created the world, is the Master of the whole world. And our whole life

It is also said that man is the crown of creation, he is above all. This is how the tsar used to be, or how the president is now. But any ruler in history rules within the limits of his capabilities. And God, who created the world, the Universe - not only our planet, but also the Sun, and the entire cosmos - he is the Master of the whole world. And our whole life.

Man, as the highest creation, is specially designed: both externally and internally. He has reason, emotions and will - the first and main quality of his soul. And God preserves it.

They say: why does evil exist? There is evil. But evil is a violation of the will of God and a deviation from the will of God. The first evil happened in the angelic world, when some of the angels abandoned the Lord. They rebelled against God and by their retreat lost the property that they originally had. So they became demons. These are evil spirits. And they constantly fight with God. But the power, naturally, remains with God. The Lord, in His Wisdom, has not yet completely isolated them. It is said in the Gospel: Satan was cast out of heaven like lightning. And he continues his atrocities - this cannot be ignored.

Unhappy are those people who do not take into account the existence of God and do not take into account the presence of dark power

Unhappy are those people who do not take into account the existence of God and do not take into account the presence of dark power. That is why they suffer a lot of troubles. Of course, they lose a lot.

– Father Elijah, now non-traditional relationships between the sexes are being actively promoted. It’s just that real advertising campaigns for vice are underway. And in general, relationships between people are reduced to instincts. What does this lead to?

– We know that all good things come from God. All! And the world itself in all its greatness and beauty is from God. The life of a person who lives with God passes in the balance of spiritual forces. Yes, and physical too. Just as God Himself is eternal, so human life is destined for eternity. But there are also dark forces. Problems cannot be solved without taking into account the presence of God, His good will, His omnipotence and His love for man. But a person will never be able to build his life correctly if he does not take into account the existence of a dark force in history. And we don’t know how long this current period in the life of our planet will last, when God comes to judge.

For a person not to be with God is a temptation from the devil, this is his interference in our lives

There are two main poles in this world: life in God, life with Christ - and the denial of God. But for a person not to be with God is a temptation from the devil, this is his interference in our lives. Then the person is under the heel of the dark force. He departs from the correct concept - the concept of the Divine. But he does not come to the opposite concept, that is, demonic. He wanders as if in the dark. He chooses different things for himself, different concepts, lifestyles, ideas - and everything is wrong. It's like wandering in the dark. Lack of understanding by the person himself of the essence of everything that is happening around him.

Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin). Photo: Pravoslavie.Ru

– Father, how can you learn to pray? And how to pray correctly?

- Wow, dears, there is no higher mathematics here. What is prayer? Prayer is a conversation with God. We eat every day; when it happens differently, it’s not every day. We maintain our physical existence until our last minutes of life. But spiritual, real life goes beyond this world - this is our relationship with God, and it happens through prayer.

First of all, we must correctly understand the essence of our life, that is, know what is needed in order, as stated in the Gospel, to inherit eternal life. The Lord Savior Himself specifically spoke about this: to love God with all your heart, with all your strength, with all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself. When a person does this, then everything falls into place. The correct arrangement of life - both daily and throughout its sequence. Fulfill your purpose in this world correctly.

– Western media have been forming a certain image of Russia for many years now - and this image is extremely unattractive: an aggressor country, the embodiment of evil... Should we, the Russian people, react to this? And if they should, then how?

They are trying to provoke Russia, showing their hostility, and provoke it into some kind of conflict

– You need to understand, first of all, that each country pursues its own policy and its entire internal life; and she is naturally protective of her way of life. Our Russia has always made it a rule: to save not only itself. And attempts to subjugate our Fatherland were repeatedly made by other countries and forces. Starting with the Mongols, continuing with Napoleon, Hitler. They looked at Russia as a place from which they could get something. Naturally, our time is no exception. They look at us with great envy. Envy has always existed in man because of his depravity. This happened both in the First World War and in the Second World War. Now the situation is turning the same way. They are trying to provoke Russia, showing their hostility, and provoke it into some kind of conflict.

We see from the recent unrest in Little Russia - the western border of our Russia. How simply defiant they acted. In particular, the Rostov region was bombed more than once. Of course, our President had self-control. Otherwise, this would have caused great complications, even military ones. Therefore, even now they believe that we are to blame. They try to show this to other nations. What is our fault? Let’s say many people are now talking about Crimea. But Crimea is a genuine part of our Russia. But few people know how great our Russia was. The reasons are clear: there was a revolution, Lenin. He is not a leader - he is a destroyer, a traitor and a murderer. Because of him, Russia suffered terribly. And he committed genocide of the Russian nation, the Russian people. Because of him, tens of millions of people died when they were killed without trial, without investigation. How the Tsar was killed - according to the machinations that this Ulyanov built. A villain in every sense of the word. He is a hater of the Russian people. He said in his burry language that if 10% of Russians remained, then we had achieved our goal. This is the villain of villains. He should have been thrown out of the mausoleum a long time ago. Through him, the Lord does not give us the full development of our Fatherland - until he is removed, he is not thrown out of the boundaries of the center of our Russia - Moscow.

Many people look at us with suspicion because there is still a pro-communist part of society. To some extent, communism still remains. And they are afraid that this will cause big conflicts, big troubles. Our urgent task is to take him out as soon as possible, throw him out of the Kremlin. And this will smooth out many tensions and smooth out the suspicious attitude towards Russia. We will thereby show that we are moving away from communism. Of course, those who are too filled with this communist idea are against it. If it weren't for them, he would have been thrown out long ago. These fanatics are under the influence of a truly satanic communist idea, they cling too much to... no, not the leader. He is a destroyer. And there is no better word. After all, genocide was committed against our nation and all of Russia.

This is one of the most important points, because of which many people look suspiciously at our great Russia, at our well-being. They think that a new war, conflicts and all sorts of troubles might happen again through the communists.

Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin)

– Father Eli, here is the problem – abortion. On the one hand, we talk about ourselves as a great Orthodox country - and the fact that we are truly an Orthodox country is especially evident at Easter, Christmas and major holidays. But, on the other hand, we are almost the leader in the number of abortions. How to deal with this?

– The reason, as I already said, is the revolution. This is the loss of that morality, that morality that our Russia, our Fatherland had. Foundations, strong foundations of our family, our position, morality in general. But all this became disrupted when the slogan was thrown: down with conscience, down with family. My uncle told me about these communist ventures under the motto: everything is permitted. This caused great ruin. And now our Fatherland has fallen behind in population. Our great scientist Mendeleev said: our Russia should have about a billion. How much she lost! Do you understand? Because there was a breakdown in morality. “Rob the loot!” Banditry and any violation of conscience, a deal with conscience, with morality. This is the main reason for the loss of a strong family, many abortions...

When this disgusting corpse is thrown out - there is no better way to call it - then Russia will go its right path, the right direction.

– Today it is not uncommon that elderly parents are sent to nursing homes when they do not want to care for them. What advice would you give to such people?

– It’s all the same – loss of morality, loss of conscience, loss of piety. We need to look into Krylov’s fables more often. How much he denounces our behavior! People don’t understand at all who gave birth to them, who raised them. They lose this attitude towards their parents. This threatens a very terrible thing, the loss of a normal family. If they left their parents, will they have real children who can help them, find time for them when they themselves become old? Will they be able to help them at all in their old age?

– What advice could you give to such children?

There must be faith. There must be fear of God

– First of all, there must be faith. There must be fear of God. The concept that they will be the same - they will end up aged and old. It would be good if they do. Or there may not be such hospices or nursing homes.

– Father Elijah, recently the question of abolishing the Julian calendar has been increasingly raised. You see, New Year - the most joyful holiday - falls on days when you need to fast. What would you say to those who so badly want the Julian calendar to be abolished?

– We have two calendars: old style and new style. The old style is the Julian calendar: named after Caesar Julius. New calendar, new style - Gregorian. Pope Gregory introduced it: he decided to make it accurate when they noticed that our chronology lags behind the astronomical one - some monk calculated this. The Julian calendar lags behind the Gregorian, the new calendar, by several days. After many years, the difference will not be 14 days, but, obviously, 15 days. But here, of course, there is a question of foundations. They take years to develop. For example, we have Old Believers. After the reform of Patriarch Nikon, they remained Donikon. Patriarch Nikon noticed that the Greeks cross themselves with three fingers, and in Russia - two fingers. We cross ourselves in honor of the Holy Trinity with three fingers. And the Old Believers cross themselves with two fingers: like two natures in Christ. With our fingers we also show at baptism that there are two natures in Christ: Divine and human. When Patriarch Nikon sharply introduced his reform, then, of course, such a division arose - many people reacted this way to these sharp reforms. So it is with the calendar, according to which Easter is very accurately calculated. The remarkable scholar-theologian Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov once touched upon the topic of the calendar and gave a lecture for about two hours without leaving the pulpit.

If reforms are made now, and church life is transferred to a new calendar, this, of course, will lead to many misunderstandings. Therefore, it’s not time to do this yet!

(The ending follows.)