Metropolitan John Snychev: biography, years of life, photo

Vladyka John Snychev. This name is known not only in large Russian cities, but also in the most seemingly God-forgotten places in Russia. This seemingly inconspicuous lean old man became a real idol of many Russians. When the whole Russian land with its numerous population was buried under the yoke of overseas preachers who were trying to erase its essence from the face of the earth, destroy its natural heritage and destroy the centuries-old traditions of the Russian people, the quiet voice of Vladika John spoke about what should be taken in his heart Only Christ and the Church. And do not listen to more deceptive theories and false sciences. Amazing purity was Vladika John Snycev. His biography is full of amazing events. It is especially striking how this person throughout his life felt the presence of the Lord in everything: in deeds, in events and, of course, in his soul.

Early life

Born John Snychev in 1927 on October 9. His real name is Ivan Matveyevich Snychev. The birthplace of the metropolitan was the village of Novo-Mayachka, located in the Kakhov district of the Kherson region. John's parents were peasants. They were far from God's teaching and did not have a particular religiousness. Therefore, their children were not taught the belief in God and piety. Despite the fact that John Snycev grew up in an ungodly family, the craving for faith was present from the very childhood. And yet, this belief had no basis and no evidence, so the boy was always outside the Church. As time went by, the boy grew up, his parents could not satisfy his spiritual quest, did not know how to satisfy his inquiries. He had to come to everything by his efforts.

The search for the meaning of life

When the future metropolitan turned fifteen, he began to think more deeply about the meaning of life. Later, when the metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, John Snychev recalled his youth, he said that he was bitterly aware of the disappeared soul's disappearance after death. He could not accept the fact that after death a person disappears without a trace. He even wept bitterly, so deeply did he care. The boy always felt incredible power, which helped him cope with life's difficulties. He was immersed in deep thought about the meaning of being, about human existence. His searches and spiritual torment did not pass without a trace. The Lord just waited for the right moment to open the curtain of truth.

Prophetic dream

Somehow Ivan dreamed a strange dream. As if he was standing in the middle of a plowed field. In his hands, he had extraordinary miraculous seeds. He scattered them and surprisingly they sprouted and fruited immediately. There were so many fruits that they could hardly fit on the field. Ivan decided to check them for maturity. To his surprise, not a single fruit has matured yet. So, checking the fruits, he reached the middle of the field, on which he saw the lying Life-giving Cross, the very one where Christ was crucified. Joy's joy was beyond limit. He could not think of anything else. I took the Cross, put it on my back and carried it. When Ivan walked with his burden, terrible weather reigned, the wind blew, thunder rumbled, it poured rain. When he reached his village, a familiar nun approached him and said: "I know you, you foolish ...". This dream convinced Ivan that he really was not of this world. This was a kind of confirmation of his divine origin.

Spiritual insight

The Lord could not watch indifferently how the young John Snycev tears his heart with deep emotions. He specifically led the metropolitan to faith. In 1943, after the arrival of spring, the private houses of the village, in which Ivan lived at that time, began to be filled with praying old women who gathered together for joint prayer. At one such meeting, I managed to visit Ivan. Here he first plunged into the atmosphere of Orthodoxy, and his heart responded to prayers. Finally, the future metropolitan John Snychev saw divine providence on the evening of August 1, 1943. On this memorable day, Orthodox Christians honored the memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, followed by the festival of God's prophet Elijah. The conduct came to Ivan directly on the dance floor. Suddenly he was seized with thoughts of the sinfulness of this world. He felt with all his inner senses all the abomination and viciousness of modern human existence. The demons appeared to him, twisted in human form, and for a moment it seemed to him that he was plunged into an infernal abyss. At that very moment a fire of sincere faith caught fire in the boy's heart. God's word dispelled all his doubts, and he was firmly convinced that after death, a person by his actions falls into either the heavenly kingdom or the hellish worlds.

God's favors

The end of November 1944 for Ivan became a turning point. He was drafted into the army. The young man was not very happy about this event, however, the Lord heard his prayers, and a few months later Ivan was released from military service due to illness. He was taken to the church of Peter and Paul in Buzulka by a sexton. Thanks to his diligence and good service, the young man was noticed by Bishop Manuel, who took him to his cell-attendants. On July 9, 1946, the novice John was appointed deacon at the instruction of the elder - the bishop. And on January 14, 1948, he received the title of Priest. The saint fully relied on John. He dipped him in all the affairs of the diocese, gave him complex assignments, asked to settle internal conflicts. From the very beginning, Vladyka was authorized to resolve human passions.

Training

September 1948 was a turning point for John. Archbishop Manuel, under whose head John was, was exiled to Potma. The novice had to enter the seminary of Saratov, which he brilliantly graduated from. In 1951 he entered the Leningrad Theological Academy, which he graduated with honors four years later. He was awarded the degree of candidate of theology and left at the department of sectology.

In December 1955, Archbishop Manuel returned from exile, who was temporarily appointed to the Cheboksary department. Father John continued to help the Archbishop in his spare time. Together they made up works. In the autumn of the same year, John was appointed a teacher of the Minsk Theological Seminary and tonsured in a mantle.

Work days

Tirelessly industrious was John Snycev. Facts from the life of the Lord are constantly confirmed. In the early autumn of 1957, Archbishop Manuel of Cheboksary invited John to Cheboksary. He accepted the invitation with respect and went to the holy elder. For two years John helped the Archbishop in writing monumental works, for which he was gifted in March 1959 with a gift in the form of a cross with ornaments presented by His Holiness Patriarch Alexis I.

In the autumn of 1959, John was appointed assistant inspector and part-time teacher in the Theological Seminary of Saratov. Only one year he was a priest in this position and already in 1960 he took the post of clergyman in the Intercession Cathedral of the city of Samara. At the same time, John also worked on the master's thesis. For many years he spent helping his mentor Archbishop Manuel, from whom he inherited a craving for research.

In the spring of 1961, John received the rank of hegumen. Three years later, the Archimandrite was honored at Easter. In December 1965, John became bishop of Syzran. At the end of the winter of 1966, Bishop John, after defending his master's thesis, received a master's degree in theology. In the fall of 1972, the bishop was entrusted with the administration of the Cheboksary diocese. In 1976, John Sychev was honored with the rank of Archbishop. In June 1987, he went to the Holy Land in Jerusalem. In 1988, in the Theological Academy of St. Petersburg, the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, John Snychev, gave lectures on the newest history of the church, for which he was later awarded the title of doctor of ecclesiastical sciences.

In August 1990, the permanent member of the Holy Synod, John Snychev, headed the diocese of St. Petersburg. One of the founders of Peter's Academy, John Snychev during the period of his reign increased the number of churches three times. In many cathedrals, after a major overhaul, divine services resumed.

Educational activities

Great contribution was made to the church science by John Snychev. The works written by the archbishop today are of great value. An example can be such works as "Standing in Faith. Essays on Church Troubles "," Science of Humility. " Letters to the monastics "," Autocracy of the spirit. Essays on Russian Identity "," How to prepare and hold a post. How to live in a modern unspiritual world, "" Spiritual Staff, "" Voice of Eternity. Sermons and Teachings. " The spiritual thread of the Russian people, as well as the plunge of Russia into an ungodly distemper, could be traced in the writings of the Lord. In his writings, Metropolitan John Snycev touched on such important topics as the significance of Russian history, the revival of the self-consciousness of the Russian people.

Memory of the Lord

Vladyka left this world on November 2, 1995. The cause of death was a heart attack. However, it is suspected that Metropolitan John Snycev was poisoned, which was the reason for his sudden death. His grave is not remarkable. It has a simple cross made of wood and a small metal plaque engraved with the name of the Metropolitan. However, his contribution to the Russian Orthodox Church is invaluable. The power of his spirit, embodied in the writings of John, still inspires many Christian followers.