Archimandrite Melchizedek (Pavel Artyukhin) was born on May 2, 1962 in Moscow. He became an Orthodox minister, rector of the Church of Peter and Paul in Yasenev, the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Yasenev. Archimandrite Melchizedek (Artyukhin in the world) also became the press secretary of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism.
Biography
In 1984, having served in the army, he became a student in a theological seminary in Moscow. There he studied for 4 years. In 1986 he was tonsured a monk. Then Pavel Artyukhin became Melchizedek. Archimandrite Alexy, Viceroy of the Holy Trinity of St. Sergius Lavra, tonsured him personally.
After graduating from the theological seminary, he entered the theological academy in Moscow, in the correspondence department. In 1988, he arrived at the Optina Desert Monastery. There he served deanely for several years. In 1990, the future archimandrite Melchizedek received the rank of hegumen. In 1992, the Academy was graduated by him. In 1997, Patriarch Alexy II issued a decree appointing him rector of the Peter and Paul Church in Moscow, Yasenev.
Soon he became abbot in the monastery courtyard. In addition, he became abbot during the construction of the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin on Aivazovsky Street. It began to be erected in 2008. And after 5 years, the dignity of Archimandrite Melchizedek Artyukhin was transferred to the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Awards
The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of which he is the head priest, won in the contest "The Best Implemented Project in the Field of Investments and Construction". Archimandrite Melchizedek received the corresponding award in 2014.
In 2016, he stated that he had heard that the pope was going to repent and return to the Orthodox faith. This sounded in the capital's church in front of the parishioners.
Details
Archimandrite Melchizedek personally described his biography in numerous interviews. So, he became a clergyman when he was 25 years old. In his conversations, Artyukhin, Archimandrite Melchizedek, admitted that he originally intended to live as a monk. He called this decision subsequently maximalist.
The decision to become a monk came to his mind when he was 17 years old. Then he realized that his life does not belong to him. And he decided to give it to the Lord. He did not understand in those days that he could simply become a clergyman. But he found a lifestyle suitable for himself. The future archimandrite Melchizedek already at that age found a confessor in the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. He studied monastic life from within. For this reason, even before entering the theological seminary, he already had a clear idea of what his life in the monastery would be like. At the same time, he understood that he had to unlearn, go through the army, and only then he would become a monk. He dreamed of living in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. And so, in fact, it all happened.
Despite the fact that the decision was made at a young age, Archimandrite Melchizedek never regretted it. He notes that there are many difficulties in family life, and not just in monastic life.
About relations with parents
In the conversations and sermons of Artyukhin, Archimandrite Melchizedek, there was a story that his parents were against entering the theological seminary. So, his mother asked him not to become a monk. And Artyukhin convinced her that he would not. And when his mother periodically visited him in the monastery, every time she asked him to abandon the idea of monasticism. Despite the fact that Archimandrite Melchizedek in his sermons and conversations admitted that he was going to write a petition to the monastery in his first year, he told his mother that he was not going to do this.
At that time, his confessor was hegumen Venedikt. He said that you should not do this without the blessing of the mother. However, the archimandrite understood that his mother would never allow him to. Hegumen Venedikt encouraged him to wait and pray. There was no prospect in communication with the mother.
Becoming a Monk
But some events influenced her mood. For example, one dream, despite the fact that many priests advise not to believe dreams in cases when they are not a reflection of thoughts about the Last Judgment. And when dreams cause sadness and longing, they should not be taken into account. It is believed in the church environment that dreams come from God and from a demon.
In a dream, Artyukhin entered the Trinity Cathedral. There was no one there, when I suddenly saw how the higher ones were discussing who to take as a novice in the monastery. They lacked people. And then they were visited by the idea to take Artyukhin. He lit up with happiness, went up to them and admitted that he dreamed about it. He woke up with tears of happiness in his eyes.
The dream turned out to be a positive omen. At the same time, he did not understand how to talk to his mother. Soon she came to him herself and unexpectedly said that Paul would become a monk. He tried to distract from the topic that hurt her, but she, through her reluctance, said again that he would become a monk. He wondered why she had decided so. She cried and reluctantly told that she could not sleep the other day. She was terribly saddened by the fact that she was constantly alone. The husband left when Paul was 7 years old, and she raised two sons alone. One of them started a family, and the second went to seminary. And she stayed with her elderly mother, who could die at any moment.
In a dream, she heard a voice telling her that her son would become a monk. This did not please her at all, but her voice was very life-affirming, and she realized that this would be so.
Total
Against her own will, mother gave Artyukhin a blessing. He told this to the confessor, and he said that 3 years of prayers were not in vain. Then Artyukhin wrote a request for admission to the monastery. And soon he was taken to the monastery. This happened 14 days before the 1986 big fire. And the future archimandrite lived in building 50, which burned to the ground. Five seminarians perished in it. There was no mobile connection at that time. And when Artyukhin saw his mother, being in a monastic robe, a full gamut of feelings was reflected on her face: she was glad that he was alive, and in complete despair, since he was in a monastic cassock. He led her to the ashes and told her that if he had not been accepted as a monk, he could have died with those seminarians. She ceased to object, choosing to give her son service, rather than losing him for good.
About the sermons
In the sermons, Archimandrite Melchizedek, Artyukhin, indicates that the Lord responds to human desires. At least that was what happened to him. If there are no signs from above, you must have a strong desire to achieve something in this life.
For example, in the case of monasticism, if a person at least doubts whether he should become a monk or choose a family life, it is worth giving preference to the latter. Since when a person lights up for real, there is not a single doubt in him.
All the events that took place in the life of the archimandrite happened against the backdrop of his firm desire to become a monk. In the sermon, Archimandrite Melchizedek notes that there is no fair wind among those who are not sailing. Primary desire. So, when someone in childhood plays soldiers, he wants to become a soldier later, when he drives the puck in the yard, he wants to become a hockey player. First of all, a person accepts a thought, and then begins to implement his idea in stages. The main thing is to catch fire on some business, desire, and then strive to achieve the goal. Then the Lord will help. If there is a desire and a calling, the will will be inclined to this.
Arguing in a sermon, Archimandrite Melchizedek Artyukhin points out that the main motive for a person to want to become a monk is love of God. People go to monks for several reasons - even those who are very sinful sometimes aspire to monasticism. And the abbots welcome any reason. Those who start poorly can finish well.
About education
It should be noted that Artyukhin has a medical education. That is what allows him to focus on the main thing, to accurately determine the causes of spiritual ailments, as he himself believes. He adores those who have talents in the medical field. He considers it an excessive pride to hope for prayers alone.
Man needs medicine, and doctors should be read, archimandrite believes. At the same time, someone knows him as a talented teacher. And every clergyman is essentially a teacher of faith.
About the Synodal Department
In conversations Artyukhin also discusses the role of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism. In his opinion, this department performs the most important function in the modern church. Sites about monasteries reflect his activities. Thanks to this, monasteries have the opportunity to share with the outside world information about spiritual life, about what is happening in them. Other portals sometimes take the most interesting articles. And some materials are in demand not only among Orthodox resources, but also among some secular ones. The latter print similar materials more and more often. Conferences, forums are the most important part of the life of modern monks. Discussing topical issues, they rethink church traditions, exchange experiences of spiritual life, and meet with each other. All this is necessary for monasticism to continue to exist in the 21st century. Everyone who has not been to any conference has the opportunity to read about what was happening on it on the Monastic Herald website.
About the most difficult obedience
Archimandrite considers obedience in Optina desert to be the most difficult. He was responsible for how everyday life went on in the monastery, for the discipline of the whole fraternity, and it was big, for how everyone treated obedience. In addition, the archimandrite was constantly on the move, participated in the negotiations. And he needed to follow his spiritual development. But in the future, the experience gained during this period greatly helped him cope with new difficulties that arose on his life path.
An interesting fact is that archimandrite in his conversations emphasizes the important role of the Internet and mobile communications for modern development. At the same time, excessive publicity can harm the inner monastic life. For this reason, it is necessary to use these benefits wisely.
In conversations
In his sermons, the archimandrite notes that the most terrible thing in spiritual life is to calm oneself. Like, that you will correct, you will necessarily change, but then. For this reason, it is important to keep track of your thoughts. With external liveliness, you can stay dead. And vice versa.
Archimandrite repeatedly cited the story of Elder Karp. He was paralyzed and blind, lived in the Optina desert. Many lamented him, felt sorry for him, sympathized and expressed words of support to him. But Karp was genuinely surprised at this. He said: "Although I am lying, I look at God." And the archimandrite advises to find this spiritual core to everyone. It encourages us to rejoice that a person is already standing on his own feet, alive - and this is not a trifle. Such a person is generally rich, and he is not supposed to whine.
the main idea
Elder Ambrose, whom Archimandrite Melchizedek often talks about in his sermons for parishioners, advised him never to condemn anyone, to honor everyone. What happens inside a person is much more important than everything external. So, if the ship floats on water, it does not sink. But as soon as water got inside him, began to penetrate into his body, he was drowning. For this reason, evil cannot but touch a person, but it should not come from himself.
A person’s heart should look like water - if a stone is thrown into it, it will shake, but there will be no trace of it in a moment. And sometimes a person is faced with evil and malevolence, but you must always protect your inner person. Do not allow external forces to be stronger than their internal.
The inner man must be constantly cultivated. Otherwise, it will come to naught, will be forgotten in the seas of everyday troubles. And every day through reluctance you need to continue to do this. Since "the kingdom of God is in need and the needy (who use the effort) delight him."