People come to faith in different ways. Some through illness, others through the loss of a loved one, and still others through insight. The latter fell to a Moscow youth of 22 years old, whom everyone today calls igumen Luka in Ryazan. His biography, church ministry and social activities will be discussed in this article.
Biography
The biography of Hegumen Luke Stepanov begins on August 4, 1966. True, then he was given the name of Igor Ilyich Stepanov. From childhood, he showed talents in literature and sports. So already in school years he actively participated and took first places in contests of readers, performed in various radio programs.
In addition, I.I. Stepanov successfully engaged in athletics. And after serving in the army he entered GITIS, which he graduated with honors. During the training, the future abbot taught acting and stage speech courses.
When I.I. Stepanov turned 22 years old, he was baptized. And already in 1994, having finally decided to connect his life with the service of God, he labored in the courtyard of the Athos Panteleimonov Monastery. And two years later he became a monk. All this happened unexpectedly for his relatives and friends, despite the fact that Stepanov had a beautiful bride, whom he had previously planned to marry and even perform a wedding ceremony with her. Subsequently, Abbot Luka (Stepanov) admitted that he had several reasons for such a serious step. One of them was reading the Bible and awareness of their moral mistakes. He realized that simultaneously two gods (Melpomene and Jesus Christ) could not serve. Therefore, he made such a choice.
Stepanov’s path as a clergyman began at the Vyshensky Assumption Monastery. He received his second higher education at the Orthodox St. Tikhon Theological Institute at the Faculty of Education. And in 2002 he was accepted by the head of the theology department at the RSU named after S.A. Yesenin.
In 2008-2012. Hegumen Luka (Stepanov) headed the Ryazan Orthodox Gymnasium in the name of St. Basil Ryazansky. In parallel with this service, he studied at graduate school. And in 2012, the abbot defended his dissertation on the theme of “The Social Ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th - early. 20th centuries. ”, Received a degree of candidate of historical sciences.
Church service
Abbot Luka (Stepanov) reached his current rank in Ryazan only in 2013. Up to this point, his “spiritual staircase” included the rank of hierodeacon, to whom he was ordained in 2001. Soon he became a hieromonk and rector of the Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin and St. mts. Tatians, and today operating at Ryazan State University. And only 12 years later, Luka Stepanov became hegumen (rector) of the Transfiguration Monastery in Pronsk (a village in the Ryazan Region), where he continues to serve at present.
In addition, the spiritual path led Hegumen Luke to the post of Secretary of the Diocesan Council, dealing with theological education of the Ryazan Diocese. Also in 2016, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Diocesan Church Court in Ryazan. And now the abbot is also the chairman of the commission for Orthodox education, spiritual education in the same Ryazan diocese.
Social work
Despite being employed in the clergy, hegumen Luke (Stepanov) has a rich social activity. Although it will be more correct to say church-social activity. After all, all the thoughts and good deeds of Hegumen Luke are directed towards the educational channel, to strengthen the Orthodox faith in Russia. He is the author and host of the television program "Soul Supper", which is broadcast on the Soyuz TV channel and Ryazan television.
Hegumen Luka (Stepanov) also has headings in Ryazan newspapers and is the author of three books on the Orthodox theme “A couple of affectionate”, “Internet catch ...” and “What's not clear, dear ?!”. His works are in a “question-answer” format and are aimed at ordinary readers, that is, lay people. They provide answers to pressing questions about pastoral life, the difficulty of choosing a life path, the impact of the Internet, social networks on the consciousness of modern man. Copyright books are distributed in periodicals and in online publications.
You can meet Abbot Luka (Stepanov) not only in Ryazan, but also in the Internet space. He actively participates in the All-Russian project "Father-Online", where he always and in detail answers questions of absolutely everyone.
Journalism
In addition to books, Abbot wrote more than a dozen articles on the site "Pravoslavie.ru". In them he talks about fasting, shepherding, obedience and prayer, answers sore questions of believers, helps with good advice in overcoming any difficulties associated with the crisis of faith and overcoming fears, sinful temptations. Here, every person, regardless of age and even religion, can find useful information for himself, understand the difficulties of understanding the world around him.
Awards
Hegumen Luke (Stepanov) was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov III degree. The award was based on the special contribution of the clergyman in church and social activities, as well as the revival of monasteries and temples.