4 September 2018 Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill arrived in Saint Petersburg to lead the events dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the death of his teacher and spiritual mentor, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nikodim (Rotov; 15 October 1929 — 5 September 1978), reports patriarhiei.
Upon arrival in the Northern capital, the Primate went to the St. Petersburg theological Academy. It is with the works of the Lord Nicodemus is not only the revival of theological science and education in religious schools on the Neva, but also the salvation of the Academy from shutting down during the Khrushchev persecution.
At the main entrance of the Academy, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met operating Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy and rector of the Spbda Bishop of Peterhof Seraphim.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the academic temple of Apostle and Evangelist John the theologian.
From the temple, his Holiness moved to the Assembly hall where took place the memory evening dedicated to 40-anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Nicodemus.
In the events marking the anniversary of the death of Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nicodemus involved: Metropolitan Krutitskii and Kolomna Yuvenaly; Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for external Church relations; Metropolitan Feodosia and Kerch Plato; the Metropolitan of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd Irenaeus; the Metropolitan of Ekaterinodar and Kuban Isidor; the Metropolitan of Novgorod and Staraya Russa Lev; the Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye Kirill, Metropolitan of Penza and Nizhny Lomov Seraphim; the Archbishop of Brussels and Belgium Simon; Archbishop of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Seraphim; Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop of Vyborg and Priozersky Ignatius; Bishop Markell of Tsarskoye Selo; Bishop Nazariy of Kronstadt; the Bishop edinetsky and Briceni Nicodemus; the Bishop of Borovichi and pestovskiy Ephraim; Bishop of Tikhvin and Lodeinoye pole, Mstislav; the Bishop of Gatchina and Luga Mitrofan; Bishop Arseny Yuriev; lukhovitskiy Bishop Peter; Bishop of Peterhof Seraphim; Archpriest Sergiy, Kutsevich, Secretary of the St. Petersburg diocesan administration; Archimandrite Nestor (Zhilyaev), honorary rector of the Trinity Church of S. Nazar’yevo, Odintsovo district, Moscow region; Archpriest Paul Krasnotsvetov, rector of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg; Archpriest Vasil stojkov, the parish Church of St. John the merciful in Otradnoe, Leningrad region; Archpriest Gennady Barto, rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral life guards Izmailovsky regiment in St. Petersburg; Archpriest Vladimir Khulap, Provost of the St. Petersburg theological Academy; Archpriest Bogdan soiko, rector of the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral St. Petersburg; Archpriest Vladimir Sorokin, rector of the Prince Vladimir Cathedral, Professor of Saint Petersburg theological Academy; Archpriest Victor Golubev, rector of Holy Trinity Church “the Easter Cake and Easter” of St. Petersburg; Archpriest Gennady Zverev, the rector of ascension (St. Sophia) Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo; Archpriest Alexander Early, teacher of St. Petersburg theological Academy, a cleric of the Cathedral of Saint Sophia of Velikiy Novgorod; the clergy of St. Petersburg metropolis; teachers and students of St. Petersburg theological Academy.
The gathering in the auditorium were welcomed by the Bishop of Peterhof Seraphim. In his speech, the rector of Spbda, in particular, noted: “Metropolitan Nicodemus is the man who acted in a situation of militant atheism, but with firm faith looked to the future, when the Church in our Homeland once again able to freely and openly preach, teach and educate the people entrusted to her spiritual care and responsibility. Relying on this, the Bishop did everything that came the revival of the Church, whose witnesses we all are today”.
A report on the life and Ministry of the Church Metropolitan Nikodim, was made by the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy.
“The legacy of Metropolitan Nicodemus, the disciples and successors of the, probably, the chief of his works to the Russian Orthodox Church might in full force to give people the light of Christ’s Truth, — said the ruling Bishop of the diocese of St. Petersburg. In the history of our Church is that the person in whose name referred to the whole period. Such a man is undoubtedly his Eminence Metropolitan Nicodemus. He’s not just lived their time, giving strength for the good of Christ’s Church, but anticipated the present orientation to the future. “I need to fight, — he said — and will judge me story””.
“The activity of the Hierarch was multifaceted. In addition to obedience, which he performed in his time, from 1963 to 1978 (almost 15 years), he was the ruling Bishop of the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) diocese — thirties since its establishment — said Metropolitan Varsonofy. For the first time during the existence of this important Department it was headed by the youngest Metropolitan. He was only 34 years old. It was unusual for that time Bishop. Instead to sit quietly on the chair as I wanted the power, the Lord began to reform many aspects of Church life, bringing them up”.
“Special care required of the Leningrad theological schools, which, when Metropolitan Nicodemus become a visiting card of the diocese and the Russian Church. It is no secret that the Soviet authorities in the early 60-ies of the planned closure. It is known that the Archbishop has agreed to lead the Leningrad Department only in order to avoid this. Understanding the importance of religious education for future priests, he had to save the Academy from closure, created Afro-Asian Department, where he received theological education of foreign students. After that, the issue of the abolition of the institution will not arise,” said managing Director of the Moscow Patriarchate.
“For 49 years, Bishop Nicodemus was already a very sick man who has had six heart attacks. Doctors prescribed rest and treatment, but even being in a hospital bed, he was worried about his flock. Here are the lines he wrote to his Holiness Patriarch Pimen: “During my illness in the past year more actively to conduct services in the churches of the diocese, and to receive visitors had to the vicar Bishop, the most Reverend Meliton, I often came Secretary, and we regularly had contact by phone.” The last service in the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Nikodim made on August 5 at the Holy Trinity Church “the Easter Cake and Easter”. A month later, on 5 September, he departed to the Lord. Completing a small insight into the life of this amazing man, I would like to say that his example and selfless service to the Russian Orthodox Church he had entered her story not only as a prominent social and Church worker, but the Archbishop, who by the word of our Lord Jesus Christ laid his life for people”, — concluded the Metropolitan Varsonofy.
Then was presented a literary-musical composition to the memory of Metropolitan Nikodim, accompanied by demonstration photos and videos. In the composition includes a video interview of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, Metropolitan of Krutitsa and Kolomna Yuvenaly, Archpriest Paul Krasnotsvetov, Archpriest Bogdan soiko, Archpriest Nikolai Teteryatnikova, Archpriest Alexander Early, Archpriest Vasily Stoykov, archdeacon Andrei Mazur and other materials.
The Church sang hymns male choir of St. Petersburg theological Academy (conductor I. A. Soloviev), female choir of St. Petersburg theological Academy (conductor acting Andryakova), mixed choir of the St. Petersburg theological Academy (conductor nun Xenia (Kanshina)), choir of the St. Petersburg theological Academy (conductor A. A. Maximov).
At the end of the evening with a brief speech of his Holiness Patriarch Kirill:
“Your Eminence, Metropolitan Varsonofy! Dear brethren archpastors! Dear teachers, professors, students and everyone who participates in this wonderful evening!
I don’t think that after everything heard and seen need some more words. I just wanted to sincerely thank everyone who exactly planned this evening, which I am sure will remain in the memory of each of us. This is a very decent chance on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the death of Vladyka Metropolitan Nicodemus to remember his unique personality and his very special way of life. The Kingdom of heaven is the ever-memorable Metropolitan Nikodim, and all of us — those who knew him in life, and those who do not know, but maybe after tonight something felt and understood, — I wish in your own life, in the devotional service of the Lord to display at least part of what made this great man. God rest his soul and eternal rest!”
Was proclaiming the “Eternal memory” his Eminence Metropolitan Nikodim.
His Holiness donated an icon of the Academy of saints Cyril and Methodius, and for library of Spbda — old English Bible from the Patriarchal library.