Priest Alexander Volkov: We need to be open and honest towards society

Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov
(born 1982), priest, rector of the Moscow Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Born on March 13, 1982 in Moscow.

Since 1995 - altar boy of the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov Moscow, since 1999 - senior altar boy and sacristan of the same church.

In 2001, he was blessed to wear a cassock by Metropolitan Sergius (Fomin) of Solnechnogorsk.

During the years of altar service in the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, he also performed various parish and church-wide obediences related to the organization and conduct of missionary trips of the parish of the church, church-wide events within the walls of the church - Congresses of Orthodox Youth, Conferences through the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Since 2003, he has been a freelance employee of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church in the position of assistant. In this position, he repeatedly visited theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church as part of inspection groups led by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, deputy chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In July 2004, he took part in the All-Diaspora Congress of Orthodox Youth in San Francisco (ROCOR) as part of an official group from the Russian Orthodox Church led by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov.

In 1999, he entered the full-time department of the Philological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology. In 2004 he graduated from the Faculty of Philology and defended his diploma on the topic “Treatise of Patriarch Photius “On the Holy Spirit” translation and philological commentary.”

During the years of study at the department, he completed a summer internship at the universities of Athens (2000), Cyprus (2001), and also repeatedly visited the borders of Greece and Cyprus for pilgrimage and educational purposes.

In 2001-2002, he took part in the translation from Greek of the works of Archimandrite Emilian (Vafidis), abbot of the Simonopetra monastery on Mount Athos, which were published as a separate book by the publishing house of the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University - “Archimandrite Emilian. Knowledge of God, Worship. God-thinking. M. 2002."

In 2002, he married Varvara Andreevna Butneva.

In 2004, he was drafted into the army and served in units of the Space Forces, military unit 26179.

On October 18, 2005, he was ordained to the rank of deacon by Bishop Alexander (Agrikov) of Dmitrov and was enrolled on the staff of the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University in Moscow.

Since 2006, he worked in the Press Service of the Moscow Patriarchate, which in 2009 was transformed into the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. He was the editor of the “Orthodox Moscow” section on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate “Patriarchia.ru”.

Since 2009 - Deputy Head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On June 5, 2012, he was appointed head of the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On December 27, 2015, he was ordained to the priesthood with the laying on of a nabedrenka and kamilavka in the newly consecrated Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Yasenevo, Moscow, by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [1].

On June 7, 2016, he was released from obedience in the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University and was appointed rector of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow [2].

Since 2022 - member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 2022 and 2022 he participated in meetings of the Supreme Church Council [3].

On September 11, 2022, he was relieved of his post as head of the Patriarchal Press Service [4].

On December 7, 2022, he was appointed executive secretary of the editorial office of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate [5].

Raises three sons and a daughter.

Russian Orthodox Church

Since 1995 - altar boy of the Church of St. mts. Tatiana at Moscow State University, since 1999 - senior altar boy and sacristan of the temple.

In 2001, the head of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, blessed the wearing of a cassock.

During the years of altar service in the Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, he also performed various parish and church-wide obediences related to the organization and conduct of missionary trips of the parish of the temple to the Kostroma and Barnaul dioceses, general church events within the walls of the temple - Congresses of Orthodox Youth, conferences of the Educational Committee.

Since 2003 - freelance employee of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church in the position of assistant. In this position, he repeatedly visited theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church as part of inspection groups led by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Deputy Chairman of the Educational Committee.

In July 2004, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he took part in the All-Diaspora Congress of Orthodox Youth in San Francisco (ROCOR) as part of the official group from the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 2004 he graduated from the Faculty of Philology of Moscow State University. During the years of study at the department, he completed a summer internship at the universities of Athens (2000), Cyprus (2001), and also repeatedly visited Greece and Cyprus for pilgrimage and educational purposes.

In 2001-2002 took part in the translation from Greek of the works of Archimandrite Emilian, abbot of the Simonopetra monastery on Mount Athos, which were published as a separate book by the publishing house of the Church of St. mts. Tatiana at Moscow State University (Archimandrite Emilian. Knowledge of God, Divine service. Thought on God. M. 2002).

In 2004 he was drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

On October 18, 2005, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov ordained him to the rank of deacon and, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, was enrolled in the staff of the Church of St. mts. Tatiana at Moscow State University.

In 2005-2009 - employee of the Press Service of the Moscow Patriarchate, editor of the “Orthodox Moscow” section.

Since 2009 - Deputy Head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On April 20, 2011, he was awarded the right to wear a double orarion.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' dated June 5, 2012, he was appointed head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On December 27, 2015, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill ordained him to the rank of priest.

By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of June 7, 2016, he was released from obedience in the Church of St. mts. Tatiana at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov and appointed rector of the temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Solntsevo, Moscow.

Since 2022 - member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

By order of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill dated September 11, 2022, he was relieved of his post as head of the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

At the Diocesan Assembly of Moscow on December 20, 2022, he was appointed chairman of the Information Commission of the Moscow City Diocese.

On November 28, 2022, he was appointed executive editor of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Notes

1. ↑ 12
   [st-tatiana.ru/2015/12/28/ierej-aleksandr-volkov-tak-ustroil-gospod-za-chto-ya-ego-vsegda-blagodaryu/ Priest Alexander Volkov: “This is how the Lord arranged it, for which I thank you always"]
2. ↑ 12345678
   [www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/253369.html Alexander Volkov, priest] on the website “patriarchia.ru”
3. ↑ 12345
   [www.taday.ru/text/37104.html Deacon Alexander Volkov - Tatiana’s Day]
4. [old.st-tatiana.ru/text/1473727.html This is what True Love looks like | House Church of the Martyr Tatiana Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosova]
5. ↑ 12
   [old.st-tatiana.ru/text/57446.html The All-Diaspora Congress of Russian Orthodox Youth in San Francisco has ended | House Church of the Martyr Tatiana Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosova]
6. [old.st-tatiana.ru/text/57581.html Senior altar boy of the university church Alexander Volkov was ordained a deacon], official website of the home church of the Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University, October 20, 2005
7. [www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1456267.html For the holiday of Holy Easter, the Primate of the Russian Church awarded liturgical awards to a number of clergy of the capital and stauropegial monasteries]
8. [www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2268868.html Deacon Alexander Volkov has been appointed head of the press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus']
9. [www.pravmir.ru/glava-press-sluzhbyi-patriarha-kirilla-rukopolozhen-v-svyashhennicheskiy-san/ The head of the press service of Patriarch Kirill was ordained to the priesthood] // “Orthodoxy and Mie”

Excerpt characterizing Volkov, Alexander Alexandrovich (priest)

“That’s the thing,” she said significantly and also in a half-whisper. – The reputation of Count Kirill Vladimirovich is known... He lost count of his children, but this Pierre was beloved. “How good the old man was,” said the countess, “even last year!” I have never seen a more beautiful man. “Now he’s changed a lot,” said Anna Mikhailovna. “So I wanted to say,” she continued, “through his wife, Prince Vasily is the direct heir to the entire estate, but his father loved Pierre very much, was involved in his upbringing and wrote to the sovereign... so no one knows if he dies (he is so bad that they are waiting for it) every minute, and Lorrain came from St. Petersburg), who will get this huge fortune, Pierre or Prince Vasily. Forty thousand souls and millions. I know this very well, because Prince Vasily himself told me this. And Kirill Vladimirovich is my second cousin on my mother’s side. “He baptized Borya,” she added, as if not attributing any significance to this circumstance. – Prince Vasily arrived in Moscow yesterday. He’s going for an inspection, they told me,” the guest said. “Yes, but, entre nous, [between us],” said the princess, “this is an excuse, he actually came to Count Kirill Vladimirovich, having learned that he was so bad.” “However, ma chere, this is a nice thing,” said the count and, noticing that the eldest guest was not listening to him, he turned to the young ladies. – The policeman had a good figure, I imagine. And he, imagining how the policeman waved his arms, laughed again with a sonorous and bassy laugh that shook his entire plump body, as people laugh who have always eaten well and especially drunk. “So, please, come and have dinner with us,” he said. There was silence. The Countess looked at the guest, smiling pleasantly, however, without hiding the fact that she would not be at all upset now if the guest got up and left. The guest's daughter was already straightening her dress, looking questioningly at her mother, when suddenly from the next room several men's and women's feet were heard running towards the door, the crash of a chair being snagged and knocked over, and a thirteen-year-old girl ran into the room, wrapping something in her short muslin skirt, and stopped in the middle rooms. It was obvious that she accidentally, with an uncalculated run, ran so far. At the same moment a student with a crimson collar, a guards officer, a fifteen-year-old girl and a fat, ruddy boy in a children's jacket appeared at the door. The count jumped up and, swaying, spread his arms wide around the running girl. - Oh, here she is! – he shouted laughing. - Birthday girl! Ma chere, birthday girl! “Ma chere, il ya un temps pour tout, [Darling, there is time for everything,” said the countess, pretending to be stern. “You keep spoiling her, Elie,” she added to her husband. “Bonjour, ma chere, je vous felicite, [Hello, my dear, I congratulate you,” said the guest. – Quelle delicuse enfant! “What a lovely child!” she added, turning to her mother. A dark-eyed, big-mouthed, ugly, but lively girl, with her childish open shoulders, which, shrinking, moved in her bodice from fast running, with her black curls bunched back, thin bare arms and small legs in lace pantaloons and open shoes, I was at that sweet age when a girl is no longer a child, and a child is not yet a girl. Turning away from her father, she ran up to her mother and, not paying any attention to her stern remark, hid her flushed face in the lace of her mother’s mantilla and laughed. She was laughing at something, talking abruptly about a doll that she had taken out from under her skirt. – See?... Doll... Mimi... See. And Natasha could no longer speak (everything seemed funny to her). She fell on top of her mother and laughed so loudly and loudly that everyone, even the prim guest, laughed against their will. - Well, go, go with your freak! - said the mother, feigning angrily pushing her daughter away. “This is my youngest,” she turned to the guest. Natasha, taking her face away from her mother’s lace scarf for a minute, looked at her from below through tears of laughter and hid her face again. The guest, forced to admire the family scene, considered it necessary to take some part in it. “Tell me, my dear,” she said, turning to Natasha, “how do you feel about this Mimi?” Daughter, right? Natasha did not like the tone of condescension to childish conversation with which the guest addressed her. She did not answer and looked at her guest seriously. Meanwhile, all this young generation: Boris - an officer, the son of Princess Anna Mikhailovna, Nikolai - a student, the eldest son of the count, Sonya - the count's fifteen-year-old niece, and little Petrusha - the youngest son, all settled in the living room and, apparently, tried to keep within the boundaries of decency the animation and gaiety that still breathed from every feature of them. It was clear that there, in the back rooms, from where they all ran so quickly, they were having more fun conversations than here about city gossip, the weather and Comtesse Apraksine. [about Countess Apraksina.] Occasionally they glanced at each other and could hardly restrain themselves from laughing. Two young men, a student and an officer, friends since childhood, were the same age and both were handsome, but did not look alike. Boris was a tall, fair-haired young man with regular, delicate features of a calm and handsome face; Nikolai was a short, curly-haired young man with an open expression on his face. Black hairs were already showing on his upper lip, and his whole face expressed impetuosity and enthusiasm. Nikolai blushed as soon as he entered the living room. It was clear that he was searching and could not find anything to say; Boris, on the contrary, immediately found himself and told him calmly, jokingly, how he knew this Mimi doll as a young girl with an undamaged nose, how she grew old in his memory at the age of five and how her head was cracked all over her skull. Having said this, he looked at Natasha. Natasha turned away from him, looked at her younger brother, who, with his eyes closed, was shaking with silent laughter, and, unable to hold on any longer, jumped and ran out of the room as quickly as her fast legs could carry her. Boris didn't laugh. - You seemed to want to go too, maman? Do you need a carriage? – he said, turning to his mother with a smile. “Yes, go, go, tell me to cook,” she said, pouring out. Boris quietly walked out the door and followed Natasha, the fat boy angrily ran after them, as if annoyed at the frustration that had occurred in his studies. Of the young people, not counting the countess's eldest daughter (who was four years older than her sister and already behaved like a grown-up) and the young lady's guest, Nikolai and Sonya's niece remained in the living room. Sonya was a thin, petite brunette with a soft gaze, shaded by long eyelashes, a thick black braid that wrapped around her head twice, and a yellowish tint to the skin on her face and especially on her bare, thin, but graceful, muscular arms and neck. With the smoothness of her movements, the softness and flexibility of her small limbs, and her somewhat cunning and reserved manner, she resembled a beautiful, but not yet fully formed kitten, which would become a lovely little cat. She apparently considered it decent to show participation in the general conversation with a smile; but against her will, from under her long thick eyelashes, she looked at her cousin [cousin] who was leaving for the army with such girlish passionate adoration that her smile could not deceive anyone for a moment, and it was clear that the cat sat down only to jump more energetically and play with your sauce as soon as they, like Boris and Natasha, get out of this living room.