In accordance with historical tradition and modern documents, a diocese means a local church, which is headed by a bishop. The diocese unites various church institutions - from farmsteads to monasteries and temples, as well as missions, fraternities, educational institutions, and others. The bishop in this structure takes the leading place on the basis of the succession of authority from the holy apostles themselves, and administers it with the participation of the clergy and worldly community.
The borders between dioceses today often coincide with administrative borders. They are established by a body such as the Holy Synod. Although there are exceptions to the rules. For example, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Exarchate in Belarus have more dioceses than regions in these countries.
When was the diocese in Nizhny Novgorod founded?
The Nizhny Novgorod diocese has a long and interesting history of origin and existence. They were planning to establish it in the middle of the 17th century, when numerous Old Believers, as well as followers of Stepan Razin, began to move to the "Nizovskaya land" from the European part of the Russian Empire. This created the prerequisites for the formation of hotbeds of unrest in the region, which could subsequently be turned against the state. Therefore, in 1672, to strengthen the Orthodox faith and peace, the Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox Diocese was created, headed by Archimandrite Filaret, who was the head of the Pechersky Monastery. He ruled the diocese for 10 years and sat in the Novgorod Kremlin, which began to be considered the residence of this church unit at that time.
How the Nizhny Novgorod diocese was destroyed and revived in the twentieth century
During the years of Soviet power, the diocese, renamed Gorky, was almost completely destroyed. In 1918, many ordinary monks, rectors of churches, bishops, archpriests were shot or drowned with their hands tied in the Volga. Similar atrocities were repeated in 1938, Mochalny Island became the center of crimes against clergy. The last church of the diocese was closed just before the start of World War II.
However, the unfavorable situation on the fronts led the Soviet leadership to begin the revival of the Orthodox faith in August 1941. Then the Trinity-Vysokovsky Church was reopened, the parishioners of which donated about one million Soviet rubles for military needs. In the future, the number of open and restored churches increased, and today the Nizhny Novgorod diocese has about 220 churches, nine monasteries, almost 180 parishes and 17 deaneries (groups of parishes located close to each other).
Since 2012, the Nizhny Novgorod diocese has been a part of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolis along with the Lyskovsky, Gorodets and Vyksa dioceses by decision of the session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since February 2003, the head of the diocese has been the Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, George (Vasily Timofeevich Danilov).
As part of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese today there is one Vicariate - Balakhninsky. Its head is the vicar, bishop (now Elijah Bykov), who at the same time is not the ruling bishop. The remaining vicariates, which were part of the diocese, were abolished or transferred to the status of independent dioceses.
Seraphim of Sarov - the main patron of the Nizhny Novgorod lands
50 years after the outbreak of World War II, in 1991, the relics of Seraphim of Sarov returned to the Diveevsky monastery. They arrived in Moscow at the end of July and were religious processions sent to the Nizhny Novgorod region. This saint was kept by God from an early age. In particular, during the construction of the temple, which was conducted by his parents, he remained unharmed when he stumbled and fell from the bell tower.
Then in a dream he received healing from a serious illness and was cured of dropsy miraculously after seeing the Mother of God, who appeared to him with two apostles and told John that Seraphim was “of our kind”.
Subsequently, Seraphim of Sarov performed many prayerful feats and healings. Some saw him standing above the ground during prayer, and subsequently testified to this.
In addition to Seraphim of Sarov, more than twenty saints and many new martyrs are considered the patrons of the Nizhny Novgorod land, among whom are priests who were killed for the faith in 1918 and 1937-38.
Reconstruction of Nizhny Novgorod churches
In recent years, many churches of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese from decay gradually move to prosperity, and anyone can participate in this process. Currently, work is underway on the reconstruction of the Feodorovsky Cathedral in Gorodets, the church and chapel in Nizhny Novgorod (on the site of the demolished Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral and in honor of St. Igor), the church in the Volga region (in honor of the Savior Trinity), the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Glukhovo and others. These places of worship can be seen during the pilgrimage.
One and two-day religious excursions through the pilgrimage center
The pilgrimage center of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, which received the blessing for organizing trips to the holy places of the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well as other regions of Russia and abroad from the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitan George, who heads this church unit since 2003, helps attract believers to churches and holy places. This organization is registered in the register of tour operators in Russia and offers about five dozen tours of religious and ordinary destinations. Among them, one can distinguish one-day excursions to Diveevo, to the Vysokovsky monastery, to Murom, to Arzamas to the source of twelve holy keys, to Suzdal, to the Holy Protection Cathedral, Kideksha, which is the oldest village founded near Suzdal even before coming to these lands of the Slavs. Almost all excursions are conducted by Orthodox guides and include participation in a particular church ministry with possible communion and confession.
In addition to one-day trips, the pilgrimage center of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese organizes two-day tours to Kazan (face of the Kazan Mother of God), to Optina Pustyn, to Yaroslavl, Moscow, Kostroma, Serpukhov, etc. A trip to Diveyevo with a full circle of divine services from the relics of the venerable monk is especially popular. and other saints and great martyrs. The program includes a tour of the Seraphim-Diveevo Convent, which, according to the plan, is more like a city.
The groove of the Virgin and trips to the Holy Land
It is known that the plan of this religious monument was painted by Saint Seraphim, who had never been to this place. This gives reason to believe that the monastery was planned with the blessing of the Almighty and in his providence. According to legend, the convent was founded after the appearance of the Virgin to Mother Alexandra, and it is considered one of the Four Departments of the Virgin on our land. The program of such a pilgrimage also includes a visit to the Groove of the Mother of God, about which St. Seraphim said that after the coming of Antichrist, the unclean will pass everywhere, but this groove will not jump, since the Virgin herself measured it with her belt.
In addition, the pilgrimage center organizes trips to holy places abroad. For example, you can visit the Holy Land during Lent, including a stay in a Greek monastery on Mount Tabor, a visit to the monastery in Nazareth, a visit to the Jordan, the Nativity of Christ Church, the site of the Ascension of the Lord and other holy places. The pilgrimage center has its representatives in the Holy Land and provides the opportunity to participate in Liturgies in various churches, walk along the Way of the Cross, visit Bethlehem, and participate in the All-Night Vigil. Such trips usually take about a week, and a group of believers is accompanied by a priest.
Church and popular chants performed by the male choir
The Nizhny Novgorod diocese is also known for its magnificent bishop's choir. It consists of eleven people, including clergymen ranging from deacons to bishops who perform church songs: chants, cantas, prayers, etc., as well as chants and songs by modern and ancient authors and composers. The choir of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese is popular among parishioners, it gives charity performances and has already released two discs of church-popular music. These chants have found recognition even in the hearts of inveterate rockers who admit that they have never heard sacred music in such a good performance. The choir often performs without accompaniment of musical instruments.
How should a church minister sing. Protodeacon Andrei shares his opinion
A special member of the church choir is Protodeacon of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese Father Andrei. Its powerful baritone is not inferior in sound power and richness of sound shades to the legendary bass of the Russian singer Fedor Chaliapin, and maybe even surpasses it in something. The first twenty-five years of his life, father Andrei was associated with secular music until he visited the Annunciation Monastery, where he became acquainted with church hymns. After that, he began to visit temples and listen to music more often, and, in the end, he asked permission from the shiigumen to work at the temple. A few years later he was ordained a deacon.
Protodeacon Andrei (Zheleznyakov) believes that the deacon should have experience in serving and be able to sing, but without praising his voice data, no matter how good it is. It is believed that the priest reading the service should completely abandon earthly cares and sing for the Creator, the Creator, who gave man life and all his abilities. Only in this case can it be done so that the meaning of prayer reaches even those who do not know Old Slavonic words. It seems that the bishop's choir of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese sings in a way that attracts the flock and worldly listeners. Protodeacon Andrei is so shocking with his voice that many people want to confess and talk with him.