In the summer of 2012, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod, significant changes took place in the structural organization of life of the Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, by a decree of July 26, a certain part of the Kursk diocese was removed from its composition and received administrative independence as the Zheleznogorsk diocese of the Kursk region.
New administrative structures on the Orthodox map of the country
The same decree provided for the creation of a larger structure - the Kursk Metropolis, which, in addition to the Kursk diocese, as well as the newly formed Zheleznogorsk, also included Shchigrovskaya. The diocese of Zheleznogorsk with its administrative borders covered a significant territory, which included six districts of the Kursk region - Khomutovsky, Lgovsky, Dmitrievsky, Fatezhsky, Konyshevsky and Zheleznogorsk.
Servant of God, placed at the head of the diocese
The archpastoral care of the newly formed diocese and its leadership were entrusted to Bishop Benjamin (Korolev). This worthy minister of the Church of Christ began his career as a teacher in the children's art school in Oryol. After graduating from a musical school in the class of folk instruments and being a very gifted person, he was preparing to devote his life to art, but the Lord designated him a different, higher ministry.
Having entered in 1996 as a novice in the Znamensky monastery of the city of Kursk and having taken monastic tonsure a year later, he forever connected himself with the Church. Over the course of two decades, the journey from a simple grave to an archpastor, he has always been a model of a wise shepherd and a talented administrator. In July 2012, it was he who was entrusted with the Zheleznogorsk diocese. Bishop Benjamin, like no one else, according to members of the Holy Synod sitting in those days, was worthy of this high mission.
Deaneries of the Zheleznogorsk diocese and their leaders
As is known, in accordance with the church charter and established traditions, each diocese is divided into smaller church-administrative structures called deaneries. They unite the parishes located in close proximity to each other, and are headed by specially appointed persons bearing the title of Deanery. The Zheleznogorsk diocese includes six such deaneries - Khomutov, Lgov, Dmitriev, Fatezh, Zheleznogorsk and Konyshev.
Vladyka Veniamin appointed the most experienced clergymen, who proved their competence, to hieromonk Sofroniy (Dolgov), as well as archpriests Alexy (Kalashnikov), Maxim (Potapov), Vasily (Bovsunovsky), Nikolai (Kobelev) and Nikolai (Mynyu) to lead them.
The most important administrative bodies of the diocese
Also, under his archpastoral care all the most important internal structures were formed. Among them are the diocesan council, which he personally headed, as well as the diocesan court chaired by Archpriest Michael (Zyurkalo), the Audit Commission led by Archpriest Victor (Teliatetskiy), departments for social service, interaction with law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, etc.
Work done with youth and Cossacks
From the first days of its formation, the Zheleznogorsk diocese and its leadership make every effort to engage young people in a full-fledged religious life. For this purpose, a wide range of various events is being held, an important place among which is the organization of thematic campaigns, sports competitions, as well as classes in circles, one way or another, related to the Orthodox culture. An important place among them is given to the choral studios created in various deaneries.
The diocesan leadership and work to strengthen ties with the Cossacks, widely represented in this region of Russia, are not ignoring. In this important matter, the newspaper "Orthodox Herald", which the Zheleznogorsk diocese has been publishing for many years, is of great help. An encouraging fact is the desire of many Cossacks to move from the category of readers to the number of authors publishing articles and notes on the newspaper. Statistics show that their number is increasing every year.
Religious education and catechesis
And finally, one cannot fail to mention the work launched by the department of catechesis and religious education, headed by priest Andrei (Budnik). It is no secret to anyone that over the decades of total atheism experienced by the country during the communist period, the level of religious knowledge among the population was minimized, and most of our fellow citizens have the most superficial, and sometimes distorted, ideas about Orthodoxy.
Nevertheless, the number of people willing to receive holy baptism is increasing every year. So, in order to approach the font, people fully recognize the depth and significance of the sacrament to be performed, and a course of preliminary studies is conducted with them. In addition, Sunday school for children is being created by the forces of hotel parishes, which will help them learn the basic principles of the Christian faith.
Trips to the holy places of Russia and abroad
The pilgrimage service "Archangel" of the Zheleznogorsk diocese invites everyone who wants to bow to the greatest shrines of Christianity to visit holy places both on the territory of Russia and far beyond its borders. In particular, in January of the coming year, a trip to the Holy Land is planned with visits to places related to various periods of the Savior's earthly life and many events described in the New Testament. It is dedicated to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
Those who went on this trip will be able to visit Jerusalem, bow to the main shrine of Christianity - the Holy Sepulcher, follow the same path that Jesus went to Calvary, visit the Upper Room of Zion and see with his own eyes the place from where He ascended before the eyes of His disciples and followers.
In addition, the program that the Zheleznogorsk diocese prepared for the pilgrims includes visiting a number of other cities in Israel, such as Jaffa, where the apostle Peter, Galilee preached, where two thousand years ago the words of the Sermon on the Mount, Tabor Mountain, which saw the light of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and many other areas of this amazing country.
But not only abroad offers to go diocesan pilgrimage service. Russia is also rich in places where the light of Orthodoxy shone, and the Zheleznogorsk diocese provides an opportunity to see them. This is Moscow, to the holy monasteries of which trips are organized monthly, and Pskov with its monasteries, dating back centuries, and the unquenchable foci of the Christian faith, lit on the islands of Lake Ladoga and the White Sea, as well as many other places.