Many of our compatriots know that on the territory of Russia there is the Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk diocese. It was formed in 2011. Previously, the Stavropol and Vladikavkaz diocese existed. And when, with the blessing of the Holy Synod, a part of the territory was separated from it, this religious association arose.
The first Christians in the Stavropol land
Christianity came to the North Caucasus very early - back in the first century from the birth of Christ. The apostles Andrew, Bartholomew, Simon Canaite preached here. The diocese of Stavropol keeps one pearl. Believers from all over the world come here to look at the face of Jesus Christ, depicted on one of the rocks of Arkhyz in Karachay-Cherkessia. The time to create the image of the Savior remains a mystery.
The face is drawn according to the Orthodox canon, facing strictly east. It is created in a laconic color scheme, characteristic of Byzantium 9-11 centuries. Perhaps this is the very first image of the Lord in Russia. Arkhyz face was discovered recently, on the eve of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ.
The weakening of Byzantium, the spread of Islam, the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke led to the fall of the Christian religion in the North Caucasus. The revival began under Tsar Ivan the Terrible. After Astrakhan was captured, the Russian Cossacks, striving for new outskirts, set up their first villages there.
Temples of the diocese
The temples of the Stavropol diocese are diverse. So, in Cherkessk stands the Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, which is more than 350 years old. It is said that when the Cossacks moved, they dismantled and took with them the shrine, which was first installed in the Stavropol fortress. And when the place of deployment moved even closer to the foothills, the Cossacks again dismantled the church and took it with them. They put her in the village, which was later renamed the city of Cherkessk. Then the church was postponed twice.
One hundred years ago in the Stavropol Territory there were 250 churches and three monasteries, more than two hundred parish schools. In addition, there was a theological seminary, and the public organization St. Andrew-Vladimir Brotherhood in its composition numbered about five hundred people. Then, during the years of repression in the territory of Stavropol, only three churches remained active.
Stavropol Deanery
The metropolis of Stavropol includes several deaneries: the first, second Stavropol district and the third Stavropol district, as well as Mikhailovsky, Grachevsky, Novoaleksandrovsky, Medvezhensky, Izobilnensky, Don and Svetlograd deaneries. The diocese of Stavropol today has 142 active churches. The number of clergy has reached 137 clergy.
The diocese of Stavropol has been developing rapidly lately. Here a 20 by 20 plan is being implemented, that is, by 2020 they want to build 20 churches in Stavropol. Metropolitan of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssky Kirill spoke about this and other pressing issues in his speech at the parliamentary meeting as part of the sixth diocesan Christmas readings.
By the way, his worldly name is Leonid Nikolaevich Pokrovsky. He was born in 1963 in the city of Miass, Chelyabinsk region. Father, grandfather and great-grandfather were priests. In 1884, the future metropolitan enters the Moscow Theological Seminary and brilliantly finishes it. He also studied at a theological seminary in Sofia. In 1989, he was tonsured a monk at Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. In the same year they ordain in the hieromonk. July 18, 2012 Father Cyril was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.
Women's cloister
The metropolis of Stavropol, in addition to churches, also has a female monastery. This is the John and Mariinsky Monastery, located in the city of Stavropol, and on the territory of the psychiatric hospital. The shrine is a small two-story house with twelve inhabitants. The nuns keep a garden, raise a bird, collect medicinal plants, meet and place pilgrims. They spend many hours in prayer.
Mother Superior John (in the world of Anna) is the Mother Superior. She received this holy dignity with the blessing of the archpastor. She grew up in a believing family. Father served as a monk, and his mother, shortly before her death, became a monk. Anna got married. Her husband served as a priest. But after Anna’s daughter got married and her mother passed away, she decided to become a monk. The marriage was dissolved. The husband also became a monk, then he was appointed bishop in Rybinsk.
The diocese of Stavropol received mother and her sisters. At first it was very difficult, but soon with God's help everything was settled. Other nuns came for her. Older women have found their shelter here, and with the young mother-in-law she has long conversations and does not bless everyone to become nuns.