The first Archpastor, Archbishop Gaius Takaov, was not at all easy. Historically, the diocese united two regions: Saratov and Penza. This was the difficulty of management. Due to the fact that on the Saratov land there were no premises for the bishop, consistory, they were placed in Penza. The diocese has 176 temples and churches throughout the region. It has many highly revered shrines, including the Kazan Nizhelomovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, the Penza Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich himself presented to the townspeople.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which found refuge in the Vadinsky Monastery, as well as the
Trubchev Icon of the Mother of God, which has long been located in the Trinity-Scanov Monastery, are especially revered. The holy relics of Innocent, the priest John, attract crowds of suffering Orthodox.
First person
The bishop of the diocese is Seraphim, Metropolitan of Penza and Nizhnelomovsky. In the world of Domin Sergey, he took tonsure on April 2, 1999, was born and raised in the city of Kamenka. He received a spiritual education at the Saratov Seminary, and in 1997 he was ordained a priest. Soon, in the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God, the "Life-Giving Spring", which is located on the territory of St. Tikhvin Kerensky Monastery, was tonsured a monk. He received the name in honor of the holy martyr Seraphim.
Since 2009, he worked at the Penza School, and since 2011 he began to teach at the theological seminary. Despite the "young age", this talented and dedicated clergyman became a metropolitan on February 1, 2014, and in May of that year he was promoted to rector of the Theological Academy of the city of Penza. At the same time, he became the holy archimendrite of the Nizhnelomovsky Kazan
Monastery.From young nails
Currently, the Penza Orthodox Gymnasium, which has its own unique history, is open in the region. But it was like that. In the 90s of the last century, a Sunday school was opened on the territory of the Assumption Cathedral, in which on weekends the children enjoyed studying the Law of God. The importance of the church increased over the years, and it became clear that the school should grow and develop. So in 1998 the Orthodox gymnasium opened its doors, in which little Penzens began to study. In 2007, the institution received the status of a municipal general education and received the name "Gymnasium in the name of St. Innocent of Penza." In the institution, children from grades 1 to 11 are trained according to the established program. With her, the Church in the name of St. Innocent works, in which services are regularly held. The Diocese of the Penza Region pays attention not only to school-age children, but also to the smallest townspeople: the Early Development School operates on the territory.
Diocese Parishes
As mentioned above, over 170 parishes throughout the Penza Region are in charge. The largest of them are the Spassky
Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, the Intercession Cathedral. Thousands of pilgrims stretch to the Temple of the noble princes Peter and Fevronia of Murom, the
Temple of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Church in the name of the Holy Blessed Matrona of Moscow and many other parishes.
Each village of the Penza region has its own temple, to which the “national path” does not “overgrow”. A large number of parishes are located in nursing homes and boarding schools, correctional facilities, clinical hospitals and other medical institutions. The Russian people have always been extremely devout, and the inhabitants of the Penza land are no exception.
The Archbishop of the Diocese is subordinate to the Trinity Convent, the Transfiguration Monastery, the Nizhnelomovsky Kazan-Bogoroditsky Convent, the Assumption Convent. In these holy monasteries, day and night, brothers and sisters pray for the peace, tranquility and prosperity of the Russian land. The monasteries of the Penza diocese are famous throughout the country and gather hundreds of pilgrims within their walls.
Welcome
With open arms, the Penza diocese is waiting for guests. The pilgrimage department organizes trips for both children and adults to the territory of temples and monasteries of the region, Russia and neighboring countries. Everyone can choose a tour for their pocket, purpose and duration. Every day pilgrims are sent on Orthodox trips. In the company of other Orthodox and experienced guides, everyone can meet any holiday in the territory of a magnificent temple or monastery with a long history.
I’m doing good
It is no secret that all the churches and monasteries of Russia cannot exist without parishioners. With the help of charitable money and donations from pilgrims, new monasteries are built and existing ones are restored, equipment is purchased, and the needs of the parishes are paid. Everyone who has the opportunity should contribute to the common cause and support those who pray for us day and night.
So, the Penza diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church needs material means. Residents of the village Shemysheyka are looking forward to the opening of the church in the name of Nicholas the Wonderworker. It began to be built on the money of one businessman who sponsored the laying of the foundation, the erection of the walls of the bell tower and the church. Later, the money ended and construction stopped. Many thanks to the man who made a huge contribution to the birth of the new church, but still requires a lot of material and financial means in order to continue what was started.
Diocese Office
Despite the fact that the church is a spiritual body, it needs a firm and rational hand that can rationally conduct the affairs of the parish. The diocesan administration includes departments of religious education, youth affairs, cooperation with the Armed Forces, social service and mercy. The pilgrimage department, the union of Orthodox women, the department for counteracting alcoholism and drug addiction, and the union of Orthodox youth are working. The Penza diocese in modern realities is forced to cover with its attention all spheres of human life.
On a note
Each of us has been to the temple at least once in his life, lit a candle in front of the icon, asked the Lord God for something of his own, secret and hidden. Despite the progress and leap of civilization, the spiritual component of our life has not sunk into oblivion. We must all help churches and temples in which we pray for our health and well-being. As far as possible, you need to visit holy places, make pilgrimage excursions. During them it is important to follow certain rules: to be clean both spiritually and physically. Each woman should be dressed in appropriate clothes: a scarf on her head, a skirt below her knees, and her shoulders must be covered. Men are not allowed to visit the holy cloisters in flip flops, shorts, open T-shirts.
Refuge of the soul
Now you know what kind of land this is - the Penza diocese. Photos clearly demonstrate how temples and monasteries flourish. During the year during which Vladyka Seraphim began to lead the diocese, many parishioners of the churches note dramatic changes for the better. With his light hand, regular meetings began with the pupils of the colonies, orphanages and boarding schools for children and the elderly. All sorts of literary contests on Orthodox subjects contribute to the fact that the importance of the church is growing in society. The Penza diocese encourages every Orthodox to visit churches as much as possible, take communion and confession, show compassion and be human in relation to others.