In 1928 in the village of Yekaterinovka Krasnodaredges of the event occurred unnoticed by contemporaries. But, as it turned out, that day was very significant - the Lord sent the true righteous person into the world, which from birth was the future elder schehiarchimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko. That's just not preserved accurate information exactly when there was such a significant event.
Birth of a servant of God Vitali
Some argue that this second child inthe family of the peasant Nikolai Sidorenko and his wife Alexandra was born on May 5, when the Church celebrated the day of the Monk Vitaly, and it was in his honor that the baby was named. However, some admirers argue that this event occurred on the day of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity, celebrated that year on June 3.
The reason for this disagreement will be discussed below,but be that as it may, it is generally accepted that Scheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko, whose photo adorns this article, from the day he was born became the abode of the Holy Spirit, who descended upon him even in the womb. The evidence is innumerable.
They say, for example, how shortly before childbirththere was a dream for his mother in which she saw two suns shining in the sky, and heard a marvelous voice announcing that one of them was now in her womb. The villagers also recalled how the village father, who performed the sacrament of baptism, was dumbfounded when an eight-day-old baby suddenly smiled in his holy font and rose to his feet. There were many other signs of the holiness and God-chosenness of the child, which hitherto are remembered and reverently told by his admirers.
First life adversity
But this is how the world works - it’s worth shining holiness,as the enemy of man will immediately reveal his intrigues. He embittered and confused the hearts of close people, his paternal relatives - a grandmother and two aunts. From birth, they hated the child, and with all the forces with which the crafty demon endowed them, tried to lime him. But the Lord preserved it with His great mercy, and in the future, Archdiocese Vitaly Sidorenko, filled with the spirit of Christian forgiveness, prayed that God would not impute past deeds to them for their sin, for "they did not know what they were doing."
During the war, Vitaly, like many of hispeers, lost his father, who died at the front, and the care of the children fell entirely on the shoulders of the mother. After crying out her widow's grief, she plunged headlong into heavy hopeless labor, which became the lot of millions of women in those war and post-war years. Life coarsened her character, dulling even the feeling of maternal tenderness. Raising her sons, she often resorted to using the belt that remained in the house from her late husband. But even these often flogging, Scheme Archimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko later recalled as a necessary hardening of life.
Young preacher
Gifted from birth with a sharp mind and goodIn memory, the boy studied well, grabbing all the explanations of teachers on the fly. Even in the lower grades, barely grasping the letter, he became addicted to reading the Gospel, which was stored in the house, but was very rare in those atheistic times. Unable to maintain the impression of the holy book, he read it to classmates at school, old women who arranged gatherings, and to everyone who was ready to listen to him.
In the country of "triumphant socialism," similarthe actions were regarded by the authorities as religious propaganda and could have the most devastating consequences, as they were among the unlawful acts provided for in the Criminal Code. Mother, aware of all the danger that Vitaly exposed himself, hid the Gospel from him, but the boy found it and stubbornly stood his ground.
For some time it went away with impunity, butcould not go on like this for a long time. The upshot was that Vitaly was expelled from school, as he threatened teachers with his gospel readings and religious conversations. Even those who sympathized with the young confessor at heart did not want to become his involuntary accomplices.
The beginning of the wandering path
With work on the collective farm, where he worked from nineyears, also went wrong. The boy tried not to miss a single patronal holiday in neighboring villages, and, visiting them, was forced to skip work without permission, which in those days was considered as sabotage, and was strictly punished.
Alienated by school and society and not foundsupport in his religious aspirations, even with his mother, Vitaly decided to entrust the feat of pilgrimage, about the beneficial burdens of which he had heard and read a lot. Having bowed to the walls of his native house, and mentally asking for the blessings of the Blessed Virgin Mary, still a very young lad, he went to the world created by God, but rejecting His holy name.
Wanting to fully feel like a warrior of the KingHeavenly, he consciously refused all that connected a person with the godly authority that reigned in the country. In particular, Vitaly tore and threw away his passport, thereby putting himself in an illegal position. It is with this step that he explains the difficulties in establishing the exact date of birth. From now on, in his wanderings he was doomed to avoid meetings with government officials, who demanded to present documents at every step.
Blessing on the hard and thorny path
Shortly before the end of the war, wandering pathsthey brought sixteen-year-old Vitaly to Taganrog, where he had a chance to meet with the elder, Alexy, who had tied up there. Deprived on the front of vision, this truly God's man invariably amazed those around him with his gift of spiritual vision, accurately predicting the future and revealing to those who came to him the fate of those close to them who fought with the enemy.
Already these days were written and went out of printnumerous books about schiarchimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko. In them, this episode is invariably cited as one of the main moments of his life. The significance of the meeting was that the blind elder Alexy, seeing the vessel of the Grace of God in Vitaly, was the first to bless the young wanderer on the path of monasticism, difficult at all times, and especially during the years of religious persecution.
Stay in the Holy Abode
After wandering for another four years, spending the night wherehaving to eat on God's name (alms of Christ for the sake of), in 1948 Vitaly came to the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, which had not long before opened and was in ruins. With his young strong hands, he pretty much worked on the restoration of the walls wounded by the war, which earned universal love and appreciation, but the brothers could not leave a lively young man - having accepted a man without documents, they violated the law and jeopardized the whole monastery.
On the advice of Hegumen Lavra, Vitaly went tothe dense forests of the Kursk diocese, where, away from the gaze of Soviet power, the Glinsky mansion lurks. It was she who was chosen as his abode by the future schiarchimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko. A book about his life, published in 2004 by the printing press of the Novospassky Monastery, describes in detail the difficult and hardship-free life that a young wanderer plunged into.
Sometimes he, like all other inhabitants, duringFor several days I had to be content with only a piece of stale bread or boiled beets, and sometimes even starve. But it was a great happiness for him that the Lord granted him to live in a holy monastery.
Here, under the tutelage of wise elders, he comprehendedhard science of monastic service. Resigning his pride, meekly carried obedience associated with the hardest and most dirty work, but, most importantly, he studied unceasing prayer, which allowed us to feel an inextricable unity with God. This continued until 1961, when, in the wake of another anti-religious company, the Glinsky Deserts was closed.
In the mountains of the Caucasus
In those years when most monasteries wereabolished, and solitary desertification often remained the only way to preserve the monastic system of life. In this regard, the spiritual mentor Vitaly hieromonk, Father Seraphim sent him to the Caucasus, where monks who chose this path of religious service tied themselves far in the mountains. The future schiarchimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko also wanted to join them.
The book, which has become a detailed description of the circumstanceshis life (mentioned above) tells of how the night before the departure of two old men from the Glinsky monastery devastated by the authorities, secretly sheared him as a monk, and how the pious women who met him in Sukhumi led him to the mountains. Voluntary hermits cordially greeted the newcomer and rendered first aid in arranging in a new place.
Among all that filled his new lifeScheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko, prayer occupied the main place. It began at four in the morning with reading the cell rule and ended late at night, leaving time only for the most urgent business affairs. Strict asceticism, in which the newly arrived monk clothed his existence, amazed the rest of the members of their small fraternity. In food and clothing, he was content with only the most necessary, eagerly distributing to others even what he himself needed.
The First Steps of Spiritual Mentorship
Soon, fearing possible reprisals bylocal authorities, the brethren, having left a barely settled place, went even further in the intermountain of the Azanta River. Retired with them to the wild deserted land and Scheme Archimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko. Prayer and incessant divine thought, combined with the hard work associated with obtaining food, here, as in its former place, became its constant destiny.
Несмотря на удалённость места и отсутствие не only the roads leading to their refuge, but even barely noticeable paths, over time, people recovered to the hermits who sought spiritual support and support in them. Special veneration among those who came was enjoyed by Scheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko. The book published by the Novospassky Monastery paints a picture of how reverently the spiritual instructions that came to him were heeded, and with what warmth and warmth they were addressed to all who arrived.
Service at the Tbilisi Temple
In July 1969, Father Vitaly adopted the scheme,thereby rising to the highest level of monastic service. Soon after, leaving his cell, lost in the mountains, he came to Tbilisi, where he was warmly received by the then Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Zinovy. From then on, he devoted himself entirely to pastoral service. Many living and still spiritual children of Schema-Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko recall with what dedication he helped them to endure life's trials and tribulations.
However, universal love could not ease himeveryday life. As before, having no passport and thus being outlawed, Scheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko could not even get a temporary residence permit and constantly changed his place of residence, taking advantage of the hospitality of pious parishioners.
Saved the position of Metropolitan Seraphim.With great difficulty, he managed to straighten out the documents for the “passportless monk” - that was what the police officers called him. But even more work was worth convincing Father Vitaly himself to accept the signs of God-resisting authority so hated by him. He was not afraid of the prospect of being jailed, but he was really afraid of losing the opportunity to communicate with his spiritual children. Vladyka took advantage of this argument.
The last period of the life of the elder Vitaly
Having received much needed for any personlegality, the father settled in the village of Didube on the outskirts of Tbilisi. His fame as a wise and perspicacious old man, capable of spiritual vision to foresee the future, has stepped far beyond the borders of Georgia. People from all over the country came to him, craving guidance, consolation, and a relief of conscience in the sacrament of confession, or wise advice in a difficult life situation. In addition, it was clearly seen that the prayer of Scheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko miraculously brought healing even to hopeless patients.
In the seventies, the father repeatedly cameto Russia. The purpose of one of these trips was the restoration of the temple in the village of Burdino, Lipetsk region. Returned to believers in 1945, for lack of funds for restoration, he stood in ruins for thirty years. His spiritual father was followed by his many children. Having gathered from all over the country, with their own hands and on their own donations, they restored the defeated shrine.
In addition, in the last period of his lifethe priest had a chance to live for two years in the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, where he stopped when he arrived in Moscow to treat a stomach disease. The walls of the ancient monastery were memorable to him by the days of youth, when he turned out to be a twenty-year-old wanderer in them. Unfortunately, the years of deprivation were so detrimental to his health that the doctors of the capital's clinics were powerless.
Teachings and prayers that embody gospel truths
The cross of old age, adopted from the first days when inpeople stretched his hidden cell, and with honor, Scheme Archimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko carried it with honor to the end of his life. The teachings and instructions addressed to the spiritual children subsequently amounted to more than one collection, which became the handbook of his admirers.
Many people know his words that every dayshould live as if he is the last, and upon its completion must appear before the Heavenly Judge. Or remember the wise teachings not to argue with reproaching and rebuking people, not to become like them, but only to mentally repeat the Jesus Prayer. At first glance, they do not seem original, but this is solely because the teachings are based on eternal gospel truths.
Memorable to many and prayer is a blessing at homeSchiarchimandrite Vitaly Sidorenko. In the Orthodox tradition, it is customary to consecrate every new home, and previously built periodically to cleanse the presence of the forces of darkness in the name of the Lord. A number of sacred texts are pronounced during the performance of this rite. Schiarchimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko also replenished their number. According to the testimony of many, a prayer for the blessing of the house, composed by him, brings peace, peace and prosperity to the homes of believers and those who keep God's commandments.
Waiting for the crown of holiness
Father completed his earthly path on December 1, 1992years, at the age of sixty four years. For several days, the people walked to the Tbilisi Church of the Holy Right Prince Alexander Nevsky, where a coffin with his body was exhibited.
Schiarchimandrite Vitaliy Sidorenko, canonizationwhich the Georgian Orthodox Church is only a matter of time, even during his lifetime he was an example of true holiness. Proof of this can be witnessed by many miracles that occurred through his prayers. And not far off is the day when the akathist Vakhaliy Sidorenko, an akathist, will sound in Orthodox churches, acquiring eternal life by selfless service to God.
