Righteous, saints, holy martyrs ... Many are familiar with these Christian concepts, even those who have never classified themselves as believers in God. One of these people is Alexander Feofanovich Petrovsky. What kind of man was that? How did you live your life, and how did you win universal love?
Alexander Petrovsky - the beginning of the journey
In the city of Lutsk, Volyn province, on August 23, 1851, a son, Alexander Petrovsky, was born into the family of a deacon. His biography is very rich and interesting.
Then no one knew yet that years later this boy would become an archbishop and be counted among the saints. After graduating from grade 4 and having received a good education at the law faculty, the young man began to live with his mother. And after her death, Alexander received a small inheritance and began to lead a wild lifestyle. This went on long enough until one day an almost mystical event occurred.
Returning home late at night, Alexander went to bed in his room, which was separated from the former mother’s room by a curtain. Suddenly, the curtain opened, and he heard the voice of his mother, who asked him to leave this lifestyle and go to the monastery.
Life and service in the monastery
This event had a huge impact on the young man and became fateful. Very soon Alexander Petrovsky, photo which is presented in the article, really went to the monastery and took tonsure.
His path to the dignity of the archbishop was long and difficult. Since 1900, for 10 years, he is hieromonk, governor, archimandrite Alexander Petrovsky and, finally, rector of the Lubensky Monastery (in 1911). Over the years of service here, the clergyman became famous for organizing the famous procession from the monastery to Belgorod, in which hundreds of people took part.
And from 1917 to 1919 he was rector of the Pskov-Pechersky monastery and rector of the skit church in the Poltava province. These were difficult years - churches were closed, and priests found refuge in the formed monastery. Among the 12 priests who served here, there were wonderful people with great talents in various fields - asceticism, singing, preaching, and icon painting.
A large number of people from all over the district gathered for a service, which was always very inspiring. Alexander Petrovsky paid much attention to folk singing. Being himself a wonderful singer, he invited everyone to take part in chants. And people sang!
Eyewitnesses recalled what a slender folk choir was heard over the monastery during the service. In subsequent years, the future archbishop and holy martyr earned ever greater fame and universal recognition. In May 1937, the Soviet bishop Alexander Petrovsky was awarded the honor of owning the Kharkov diocese.
Popular recognition
Bishop Alexander Petrovsky possessed outstanding traits of character — sincerity, philanthropy, kindness, and attention to other people's grief. At the same time, he was a very lively and pleasant person in communication. His stamina and endurance manifested themselves in all deeds and undertakings.
So, in the Kharkov diocese, he was faced with monotony and routine, but did not impose new orders, but simply showed how the service should actually go. Usually on Easter, the service is held for three days. The local flock was not accustomed to this, because the third day was a working day. The new bishop called on everyone to postpone work and come to the service on the third day.
The people listened to him, and the church was full. Alexander began to sing with his beautiful tenor and urged the flock to support him. Never before had such an inspired and harmonious hymn been heard over a church. At the end of the service, both the choristers on the choir and the common people were happy and thanked the bishop for this lesson.
1937 in the fate of Bishop Alexander Petrovsky
It is no secret that 1937 was very difficult for the whole of then-Russia. And Bishop Alexander fully experienced all his negative effects. In those years, churches in Kharkov were closed everywhere. In the end, only one of them remained operational. People without fear gathered there from all over the city, because it was located on the outskirts. However, the authorities got there too.
An order came to the church, according to which the temple was to be shared with the Renovationists. From that moment, the Orthodox bishop and the Renovationists had to conduct Sunday services in turn. The flock was extremely indignant at this decision. As a result, it was decided to build a wall and give the renovationists one of the chapels.
Despite the disagreement of the authorities, the wall was built in two weeks. From that moment on, no more than 40 people gathered in the service of the Renovationists, while the other part of the church was crowded. People gathered from different places and were ready to stand idle for an hour waiting for service. Here, Alexander Petrovsky habitually called on the people to take an active part in chants, and every Sunday the inspired “Come, Lord!” Was carried over the church.
Arrest and charge of counter-revolutionary activity
Such activities could not go unpunished at that difficult time for the country and the whole people. In June 1938, the archbishop was arrested and charged with counter-revolutionary propaganda. A year later, a military tribunal sentenced him to 10 years in prison. By the way, the prisoners respected the convict, but two years later, on May 24, 1940, Archbishop Alexander Petrovsky died in prison.
Life after death
Vladyka was buried in the village of Zalyutino. For many years this place has served as a place of pilgrimage for believers.
Currently, the holy relics of the archbishop are in the city of Kharkov, in the Holy Annunciation Cathedral. After his death, services in the church continued for a long time, until 1941, when the last of them took place. The flock, as well as during the life of the ruler, performed chants in a friendly choir.