In Saransk, there took place celebrations, dedicated to the memory of the patron Saint of the Mordovian ground, Holy righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov, which was headed by the Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk and Metropolitan of Saransk and Mordovia Zinovy, reports patriarhiei.
The celebrations were opened on 4 August all-night vigil in the Theodore Cathedral city of Saransk. The divine service was headed by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk, which was concelebrated by Bishop of Gubkin and Graivoronsky Sofroniy, Bishop of Shchigry and Manturovo paisios, Secretary of the Saransk diocese, the sacristan of the Cathedral Archpriest Victor Khokhlov, Executive Secretary of the Saransk diocesan administration Archpriest Alexei Seleznev, as well as the clergy of the Saransk diocese.
Before the service, Metropolitan Clement passed the head of Mordovia metropolis of shrines, delivered on the occasion of the celebrations in the main temple of Mordovia, — the ark with the relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of all Russia, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
On 5 August, the day of commemoration of the Holy righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov, Theodore Cathedral was made a festive divine Liturgy.
The service was conducted by Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Metropolitan of Voronezh and Liski Sergiy, Metropolitan of Saransk and Mordovia, zenobius, Bishop of Narva and Prigodskiy Lazarus, Bishop of Krasnoslobodsky and Temnikov Clement, Bishop of Gubkin and Graivoronsky Sofroniy, Bishop of Krasnoslobodsky and Temnikov Clement, Bishop of Ardatov and Atyashevskiy Benjamin, Bishop of Shchigry and Manturovo paisios.
Concelebrating with the hierarchs were the representatives of the Mordovian clergy of the Archdiocese, including the sacristan of the Cathedral Archpriest Victor Khokhlov and Executive Secretary of the Saransk diocesan administration Archpriest Alexei Seleznyov.
Sermon before communion, said the cleric of St. Nicholas Church of Saransk father Sergiy Suldin.
At the end of the service the audience was welcomed by Metropolitan Sergiy of Voronezh:
“Your Eminence, dear Bishop Clement! Your Eminence, dear Vladyka Zinovy! Dear brothers and sisters!
On behalf of the hierarchs, who arrived in the Mordovian land, I have the honour to congratulate you all on the holiday when we celebrate the memory of the Holy righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov!
In mundane life he was known as a skilled warrior and commander, never lost a battle, and we know that his victory was based not only on the military art, which he possessed in perfection, but also for his deep faith and constant prayer — truly Christian qualities. Therefore, we thank God the Giver of all good — for what He has blessed glorious Ministry of the Holy righteous warrior Feodor.
We are on Voronezh land, too, honor the memory of this great naval commander, because that is where he started to create a military fleet, and at the time Feodor Ushakov few months he lived in our city, when we took a newly built ship. We know with what love he visited churches in the city of Voronezh, and even then, that piety drew the attention of our residents.
And as Admiral Ushakov overcame stormy sea with a prayer to the Lord, and we are now in constant sailing on the worldly sea on the ship called the Church. And in the gospel, we can see what happens to a ship when it’s run by the people themselves. We remember that only the power of Christ that saved the apostles from death in the sea of Galilee…
The glorification of the righteous warrior Feodor became a sort of spiritual beacon for the Russian society, because it United and faithful people, and those who have not met God; priests and those who serve the Motherland with weapons in their hands. A new Saint has become for us all a symbol of faith, duty and selfless performance of their duties. That’s why with such love people meet his relics when they arrive in a particular city. And for us to come in the Mordovian land, where the Holy righteous warrior Theodore spent the last years of earthly life, is a great happiness.
I first visit the blessed city of Saransk and see firsthand how actively developing your edge, especially after the glorification of Holy righteous Admiral Theodore Ushakov and, therefore, by his prayers that the Lord particularly blesses your people and the works of his hands. The Mordovian earth blooms and is filled with joy because you, dear brothers and sisters, love God and live by faith
Taking this opportunity, dear Lord Zinovy, I once again bring You our sincere fraternal greetings recently passed the anniversary of your 70th birthday. And God forbid, Lord, to You many, many years praised God with these people, and the people glorified God for what You do with them. God bless You for many and good years!”
The participants of the service was also addressed by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga:
“Dear Vladyka! I subscribe to a wonderful spiritual word of the Lord of Metropolitan Sergius. And I would like personally to welcome you and to convey the blessing of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill. Knowing that I was coming here, he asked me to tell you that he remembers all of you — remember your faces, remember repeated visits to the blessed Mordovian land. And, very importantly for us, his Holiness hopes that they blessed the exhibition “the Joy of Words”would serve to educate people in the faith.
The title of the exhibition — “Joy of Words” and “Word” with a capital letter. This Word of life that should bring us joy. Because through the word we know God, through the word we receive faith. How can you believe without faith? The Holy gospel to us and reveals the meaning of human life. Once Prince Vladimir was inspired by exactly the words of the gospel and decided to be baptized.
I remember once upon a time he studied at the Moscow theological Seminary, and old Professor Alexei Ivanovich George took out of his pocket with the gospel, showing it to us, young students, and said: “Read! These are the words of eternity!” So you need the right attitude to your life. Only the word of God is able to nourish the human soul, let us remember it. In this exhibition, which will continue until 12 August, each of you will find useful for yourself and your family, acquaintances or friends a book or something else.
Congratulations to all of you!”
At the end was made by the Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk:
“Today we are in Mordovia special day, because we one heart celebrate the feast day of our Cathedral — the feast day of St. righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov. And to share with us this joy on the Mordovian earth arrived some of the most fertile of the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church, more than thirty-five years served in the rank of Bishop, at the time headed the Management of the Affairs of the Patriarchate of Moscow — his Eminence Clement, Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk, who now heads the Publishing Council of the Moscow Patriarchate, his Eminence Sergius, Metropolitan of Voronezh and Liski.
Dear Bishop Clement! Dear Vladyka Sergius! You raised yourself hard labors to come here and give us all his archpastoral blessing. We sincerely thank you for this and asking your archpastoral prayers and prayers of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, who is very fond Mordovia, because here lived his grandfather and grandmother, buried in this land. And he himself in his youth every summer was here, growing and growing up in the faith that carried and carries our Orthodox people.
We ask You, dear Bishop Clement, please convey to his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, in Mordovia love him, remember him here, waiting and thank you for the special attention and care that he shows to all of us. We hope and believe that under his Episcopal omophorion will continue to live by the word of the gospel that we are commanded to pass through the historic chain of succession from us to future generations, multiplying the light of Christ’s truth.
I wish everyone who lives according to the word of God, to remember that the historical path of our Church was very difficult. And one of the most significant milestones during its existence, was the restoration in 1917, the Patriarchate because Patriarch is a person that unites the life of the Church, calls upon God’s special blessing for this life and has a particular responsibility for Apostolic succession in it. 1918 was the year of the beginning of a terrible fratricidal war, when the turmoil and blood began to spread throughout Russia. And when the Council of bishops of the Patriarchal Ministry, was elected St. Tikhon, he surely knew what awaited him the grief and suffering he sacrificially took along with his congregation. And in subsequent years the blood of many martyrs has sanctified our faith.
I once again congratulate all of you on the holidays that we celebrate today — the feast day of St. righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov and the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Patriarchate in Russia. Let prayer and military exploits of the great Admiral and the Patriarchal Ministry of Patriarch Tikhon would be an example to us, because we all have a special responsibility for the future of our country, our Church and our society.
God bless all!”
In the organization of the services were assisted by the activists of the Union of Orthodox youth of Mordovia and the Cossacks saranskij societies.
After the Liturgy there was a moleben, after which in the Theodore Cathedral opened the exhibition “St. Tikhon. The 100th anniversary of the renewal of the Patriarchy” from the series “Mysteries of Photography”.
Metropolitan Zinovy, Metropolitan Peter, Metropolitan Sergius, bishops, performed divine service and the parishioners of the Cathedral and members of the media toured the exhibition, then headed to Cathedral square, where took place the solemn opening of the exhibition-fair “On the ground, Holy righteous warrior Feodor Ushakov” and the interregional exhibition-forum “the Joy of Words.” The opening ceremony was preceded by a prayer service.
Lord Clement held a presentation of books of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill and gave books as a gift Saransk diocese. Then the Chairman of the Publishing Council and the head of Mordovia metropolis gave an interview to representatives of mass media.
Celebrations continued in Saransk theological Seminary, which hosted the conference “100 anniversary of the repose of the Royal martyrs. New martyrs and Confessors of Russia”.
The event was attended by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga, the rector of the Seminary, Metropolitan of Saransk zenobius, Bishop of krasnoslobodskaya Clement, and the Minister of culture, national policies, tourism and archival Affairs of the Republic of Mordovia A. M. Chushkin, the faculty of spiritual educational institutions, scientists, universities, students.
Participants were welcomed by the Metropolitan zenobius, Metropolitan Kliment, A. M. Chushkin. Then the participants made presentations.
According to the website Saransk diocese