Metropolitan Simon of Ryazan. Is it easy to be a ruler? Simon, Metropolitan of Moscow

Born into a believing peasant family. Father - Mikhail Gavrilovich - for some time was the chairman of the collective farm. Mother - Anna Dmitrievna - was especially religious, in connection with which Sergei attended church from childhood. In the family, besides him, there were two more children: daughter Nina (then nun Nonna) and son Alexander.

He graduated from the 10th grade of the Vyatka secondary school in the Nekrasovsky district (1942), the Yaroslavl Chemical and Mechanical College (1947), worked as an electrical engineer, assistant to the head of the electrical department at a rubber products factory in Yaroslavl. He continued to visit the temple, met with hieromonk (future archimandrite) Abel (Makedonov), hieromonk (future metropolitan) Nikodim (Rotov), ​​and then with Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov Dimitri (Gradusov), who recommended him for admission to the seminary.

According to contemporaries,

spiritual education

Graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary (1955), the Moscow Theological Academy with a Ph.D. Holy Scripture Old Testament»).

Monk, teacher, bishop

On December 28, 1958, he was tonsured a monk with the name Simon - in honor of the Monk Simon of Radonezh, a student St. Sergius.

Since 1959 - a teacher at the Moscow Theological Seminary, then the Moscow Theological Academy.

Since 1964 - Associate Professor at the Department of Byzantology of the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1964-1965 he was rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Trinity Patriarchal Metochion in the village of Lukino, Moscow Region.

In 1965-1972 he was an inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

He was awarded the Orders of Friendship (1995) and Honor (2000). Since 2001 he has been an honorary citizen of the city of Ryazan.

Activities and personal qualities

Vladyka Simon's obituary said:

According to the memoirs of the deacon of St. Nicholas Church in the town of Rybnoe, Ryazan diocese,

During the period of his administration of the diocese, the number of parishes increased several times. Eight monasteries (four men's and four women's) were opened in the diocese, the Ryazan Theological School was founded (1990; Bishop Simon taught liturgy there) and an Orthodox gymnasium in the name of St. Basil of Ryazan (1995), at the Faculty of Russian Language and Literature of the Ryazan State Pedagogical University named after S. A. Yesenin, a department of theology was created. Vladyka was the editor-in-chief of the Ryazan Church Bulletin. For almost 10 years he was a member of the Mixed Theological Commission for Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue, participated in its meetings in Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea and other countries, and made presentations.

Vladyka especially revered St. Basil of Ryazan. The author of theological and church-historical works, including those dedicated to the Holy Prince Roman of Ryazan, Bishop of Ryazan and Murom Gabriel (Buzhinsky). In 1988, he published an article in the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate about the Grand Duke of Ryazan Oleg Ivanovich, in which he defended his reputation from historians who believed that this historical figure was an ally of the Tatar-Mongol Khan Mamai during the Battle of Kulikovo. He considered Grand Duke Oleg a patriot of Russia and a defender of the interests of the Ryazan land, supported the popular veneration of the prince in the diocese. He offered to canonize Prince Oleg, but was refused by the Holy Synod. He paid special attention to the revival of the Mother of God-Nativity Monastery in Solotch, founded by Prince Oleg, in which the prince himself and his wife Evpraksia are buried.

While at rest in the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, Metropolitan Simon continued to serve the liturgy and preach, received many guests, including students of the Orthodox Gymnasium named after St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov). With his active participation in the monastery, a wooden St. Nicholas Church was built.

Bishop Simon Museum

On February 15, 2007, a museum dedicated to the memory of Metropolitan Simon was opened in the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery. It is located in his monastery cell. Among the exhibits are the Metropolitan's ecclesiastical vestments, his ecclesiastical and secular awards, rare photographs, and the bishop's manuscripts.

Proceedings

• Founder of Russian biblical science and exegetical school. // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. 1968, no. 2.
• Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy M. D. Muretov and his works on the Four Gospels. // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchy. 1972, no. 4.
• Holy Blessed Prince Roman, Passion-bearer of Ryazan // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. 1979. No. 12
• His Grace Gabriel, Bishop of Ryazan and Murom (+27 April 1731) // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. 1984. No. 2.
• Oleg Ivanovich, Grand Duke Ryazan // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchy. 1988. No. 1.
• His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon and His Service to the Russian Church // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. 1990. No. 4.
• glorification Life-Giving Trinity// Journal of the Moscow Patriarchy. 1993. No. 6.
• Works, Epistles, Words and Speeches. Ryazan, 1998.
• Sermons.
• I sing of Your grace, Lady: Sermons delivered in Ryazan churches on the feasts of the Mother of God. Ryazan, 2004.

Metropolitan Simon(in the world Sergei Mikhailovich Novikov; February 5, 1928, Zholnino village, Danilovsky district, Yaroslavl region - September 1, 2006, Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery, Nekrasovsky district, Yaroslavl region) - Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Ryazan and Kasimov. Honorary citizen of the city of Ryazan.

Family and youth

Born on February 5, 1928 in the village of Zholnino into a believing peasant family. Father - Mikhail Gavrilovich - for some time was the chairman of the collective farm. Mother - Anna Dmitrievna - was especially religious, in connection with which Sergei attended church from childhood. In the family, besides him, there were two more children: daughter Nina (then nun Nonna) and son Alexander.

He graduated from the 10th grade of the Vyatka secondary school in the Nekrasovsky district (1942), the Yaroslavl Chemical and Mechanical College (1947), worked as an electrical engineer, assistant to the head of the electrical department at a rubber products factory in Yaroslavl. He continued to visit the temple, met with hieromonk (future archimandrite) Abel (Makedonov), hieromonk (future metropolitan) Nikodim (Rotov), ​​and then with Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov Dimitri (Gradusov), who recommended him for admission to the seminary.

According to contemporaries,

Sergei began to collect documents for admission, which turned out to be a very difficult task. His faith in God had long been mocked. ridiculed in the newspapers. They tried to distract by drawing them into a cheerful company and trying to accustom them to beer ... But Sergey remained adamant and firm in his faith in the Lord God. Upon learning of Novikov's intention to become a priest, the authorities of the factory where he worked were alarmed. He was called, persuaded to stay at the plant, promised a promotion, high salary, an apartment, but all in vain ...

spiritual education

He graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary (1955), the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree in theology (1959; subject of the candidate's work: "Metropolitan Philaret as an interpreter of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament").

Monk, teacher, bishop

On December 28, 1958, he was tonsured a monk with the name Simon, in honor of St. Simon of Radonezh, a disciple of St. Sergius.

Since 1959 - a teacher at the Moscow Theological Seminary, then the Moscow Theological Academy.

Since 1964 - Associate Professor at the Department of Byzantology of the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1964-1965 he was rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Trinity Patriarchal Metochion in the village of Lukino, Moscow Region.

In 1965-1972 he was an inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

October 11, 1972 appointed Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov. The consecration was performed on October 14 at the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy. It was headed by Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy (Ridiger).

Activities and personal qualities

Vladyka Simon's obituary said:

Fulfilling various administrative obediences, Metropolitan Simon never ceased to be a pastor, and he considered serving the Church of Christ, the celebration of Divine Services, his main duty and main calling. The selfless archpastoral service of Metropolitan Simon, his amazing gift of words, attentive and benevolent attitude towards a person, encyclopedic knowledge attracted many people to him.

According to the memoirs of the deacon of St. Nicholas Church in the town of Rybnoe, Ryazan diocese,

When Vladyka Simon found out about my desire to become a deacon, he invited me to his place and got to know me better. When he found out that I was an artist, he talked to me about art, telling about the artists and their work such unique facts that I did not know. Vladyka loved poetry and knew the history of art well. He personally taught me the basics of the diaconal ministry.

Metropolitan Simon, in the world Sergei Mikhailovich Novikov, was born on February 5, 1928 in the village of Zholnino, Danilovsky District, Yaroslavl Region, in the family of peasants Mikhail Gavrilovich and Anna Dmitrievna Novikov. He was baptized in the St. Nicholas Church of the neighboring village of Nikolo-Otvodnoe. Then no one could have thought that he would later become a metropolitan and glorify not only Yaroslavl, but also the Ryazan land.

There were three children in the family: older sister Nina (later nun Nonna), Sergei and younger brother Sasha.

In 1932, the Novikovs had a misfortune - their two-story house burned down. I had to buy a new one. The family moves to the neighboring village of Kishanovo - Anna Dmitrievna was from there. Her relatives helped with the move. By that time Serezha was 4 years old.

Mikhail Gavrilovich from an early age taught children to peasant labor. They had a large farm: a garden, a garden, a cow, a piglet, chickens, ducks ...

When Sergei grew up, his father began to take him with him to haymaking (Mikhail Gavrilovich was the chairman of the collective farm). Sergey quickly learned to mow and became one of the best mowers in the area. The teenager liked this kind of peasant labor. Even when he was Vladyka Simon, in the rank of bishop, when he came to Kishanovo, he took up the scythe and mowed the grass near his wooden house.

Sergei grew up as an ordinary boy: he played with his peers, swam in the river, caught fish and crayfish. But, having started studying at the Nikolo-Otvodnenskaya school, he began to devote almost everything free time reading. Mom sometimes even reproached him for it. Father, on the contrary, interceded: "Nothing, nothing, mother, knowledge - they will always come in handy in life."

Sergei's parents were pious people, believers. Mutual respect reigned in their family. Metropolitan Simon retained the most favorable impressions of his family and subsequently said: “The upbringing of kindness should begin from childhood, when the child’s soul is pure. If mercy reigns in the family, care for each other, for their neighbors, then the child will grow up sympathetic, kind.

In the Novikov family, every day began with a prayer, to which the mother taught the children. The whole way of life, the way of the house were permeated with the Christian spirit: everyone worked on the land, went to church on holidays, children observed fasts from an early age, knew a lot of prayers. And all this, despite the fact that the father of the family was the chairman of the collective farm and the life of the Novikovs was in full view of the fellow villagers. Severity and love, wisdom and simplicity organically combined in the parents of the future ruler.

“She instilled in me a love for the church,” Metropolitan Simon recalled of his mother, “from the age of six, as I remember, it was Easter night, my mother and I walked to the temple of God in the spring thaw. I remember the ringing of bells, which had not yet been removed. This bell ringing stayed in my memory for the rest of my life. I saw this feeling in the words of Ivan Aksakov's poem:

Come, weak one.
Come, joyful
They call for vespers
To a blessed prayer.

And the sound of peace
Everyone asks in the soul,
The neighborhood is calling
It spreads in the fields.

This is the feeling of repentance that I, a six-year-old, received. And already in the family I saw sacrificial love.

To awaken faith in Christ, to awaken the Orthodox faith - this requires sacrificial love.

The parish church that Seryozha went to with his mother is located in the village of Nikolo-Otvodnoye. The people call it Nikolskaya, although the main chapel was consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Word. When Sergey began to study in primary school He attended church services whenever possible. “Therefore, probably, I was already nicknamed Monk then,” he later recalled.

After graduating from the 3rd grade in the village of Nikolo-Otvodny, Sergey continued his studies at the seven-year school in the village of Vyatskoye, Nekrasovsky district.

In 1942, the young man received a secondary education, and in 1943 he entered the Yaroslavl Chemical and Mechanical College. In Yaroslavl, he still attended church services, especially in the Feodorovsky Cathedral. In Yaroslavl, Sergei became friends with the son of a priest, a boy close to him in spirit and views.

Coming home for the holidays, he always brought sweets as a gift. At home, he helped his parents with the housework and, as always, read a lot. On holidays he went to church and took with him his three-year-old niece Lida, daughter of Nina's sister.

By that time, Sergei's father was no longer working as the chairman of the collective farm. He looked after a herd of breeding bulls. Sometimes he took contracts for deforestation. Once I took Sergey with me. At that job, Sergei met a young girl. They developed a liking for each other. The girl's sympathy grew into love. But Sergei did not give free rein to his reciprocal feelings, apparently foreseeing himself otherwise - to remain a virgin for the sake of Christ. And that girl for the rest of her life remembered the nobility friendly relations that have developed between them.

In 1947, after graduating from a technical school, Sergei was sent to work as an electrical engineer at a rubber products factory, in the village of Volgostroy near Yaroslavl. This plant, releasing a small amount of peaceful products, was actually a military one. Near the village was the village of Feodorovskoye with a church in the name of the Smolensk Icon Mother of God.

The meeting with Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) dates back to the same time, which served to Sergei Novikov's further choice of monasticism as the path of his personal life achievement. On the evening of the Feast of the Transfiguration in 1947, Sergei Novikov went to the Feodorovsky Cathedral of Yaroslavl, where Hierodeacon Nikodim, who had just been ordained by Archbishop Dimitry (Gradusov), was serving. His ministry made a vivid impression on the future bishop: “I did not take my eyes off the young hierodeacon, and the consciousness ripened within me that I should also be a monk. And I flew from the service, as if on wings.

It is interesting that at that time three future metropolitans prayed in the Yaroslavl Feodorovsky Cathedral - Boris Rotov (Metropolitan Nikodim), Vladimir Poyarkov (Metropolitan Yuvenaly) and Sergei Novikov (Metropolitan Simon).

Here, in Yaroslavl, in 1950, Sergei met with Father Abel (Makedonov), who arrived from Ryazan, who had a significant influence on the bishop and became his first confessor and prayer partner for life.

Father Abel, the future archimandrite, abbot of the Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, and then the abbot of the Ryazan St. John the Theologian Monastery, arrived in the Yaroslavl diocese from Ryazan, where he served as the second priest of the St. George Church in the village of Gorodishche. He was young, had neither a special spiritual education nor theological knowledge. All his scholarship consisted of seven classes of an ordinary Soviet, atheistic school. Father Abel was ordered to leave the Ryazan region in 24 hours because his sermons, kindness and wisdom attracted many parishioners of the St. George Church in the village of Gorodishche to him. Father Abel was a friend of Metropolitan Nikodim. “On Saturday, after work, I went to pray for the Vespers in the village of Fedorovskoye... After the service, a young priest in a half-mantle came out of the altar. I approached him for a blessing... Soon I got to know Fr. Abel closely. After the service, he invited me to his home.” Both of them were young then - father Abel was 23 years old, Sergei Novikov - 22. Both had a high spiritual disposition, so they became friends. This friendship has become a real treasure for them.

Vladyka Simon often later, in conversations with close people, recalled his communication with Father Abel in Yaroslavl. Truly, he was a man of God who was able to absorb the experience of Orthodox asceticism, in fact to fulfill the gospel commandments, imitating the work of the holy fathers. Father Abel was a man who preserved the succession of monastic traditions. In his spiritual ascent, he chose the saving royal path, walking along it and deviating neither to the right nor to the left.

Through Father Abel, Sergei became known to both the Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov Dimitry(Gradusov), former Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov (1944-1946). Vladyka Dimitry gave him, as a zealous parishioner, a ticket to life - a recommendation for admission to the Moscow Theological Seminary.

Sergei began to collect documents for admission, which turned out to be a very difficult task. His faith in God had long been mocked. ridiculed in the newspapers. They tried to distract them by drawing them into a cheerful company and trying to accustom them to beer. But Sergei remained adamant and firm in his faith in the Lord God.

Upon learning of Novikov's intention to become a priest, the authorities of the factory where he worked were alarmed. He was persuaded to stay at the factory, promised a promotion, a high salary, an apartment, but all was in vain. Sergey's heart aspired not to earthly blessings, but to heavenly ones.

On the advice of his mother, Sergei went for a blessing to a blessed one, who blessed him with a small paper icon. On the way back, Sergei looked at it for a long time, but did not understand which saint was depicted on it. And only later did I learn that it was an icon of St. Basil of Ryazan.

Thus, the blessed one predicted that he would serve in the Ryazan cathedra.

In 1951 Sergei entered the Moscow Theological Seminary.

Sergey was a diligent and creatively thinking student. From the very first years of his studies, he not only memorized his lessons, but also wrote down his thoughts on theological topics.

It is known that even before entering the seminary, he wrote poetry.

Being a seminarian, the young man was not limited to the course curriculum. I read Russian classics - Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky. About the last writer, he jokingly said: "Reading Dostoevsky is a punishment, and not reading is a crime."

Sergei was very fond of church singing and was happy to carry out choir obediences in the academic Intercession Church. Here, students learn the rules of liturgical life in the Church. He also appreciated and loved the akathist to St. Sergius.

In addition to the choir obedience, Sergei participated in the baking of prosphora, which was considered a difficult but honorable obedience. After all, even St. Sergius tried to bake prosphora for worship himself.

In 1955 Sergei Novikov graduated from the seminary and entered the Moscow Theological Academy. While studying there, Sergei decided to fully devote himself to the Lord and become a monk, following the words of St. Moses: "The farther from the world, the closer to God."

December 17, 1958 Novikov joined the brethren of the Holy Trinity Lavra. And ten days later, on December 28, the abbot of the Lavra, Archimandrite Pimen (Khmelevsky), tonsured him a monk with the name Simon, in honor of St. Simon of Radonezh, a disciple of St. Sergius.

On January 18, 1959, Bishop (later Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia) Pimen (Izvekov), in the Church of the Resurrection in Sokolniki, Moscow, ordained Father Simon as a hierodeacon, and on April 12, as a hieromonk.

“The forces of heaven are surrounding the cross…” – Sergei Novikov wrote in his poetic experience, being a pupil of the seminary. Having accepted monasticism, in one of his student notebooks, he noted that “if the Lord did not protect his slaves, then who could bear the desert (monastic) life ...”

In 1959, Hieromonk Simon graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a straight honors student with a candidate of theology degree. Father Simon was appointed a teacher at the Moscow Theological Seminary, and then at the academy. could be heard. They listened to him so carefully.

On January 2, 1964, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Russia elevated Father Simon to the rank of archimandrite. In the same year, he was approved as an assistant professor in the Department of Byzantology and appointed rector of the Transfiguration Church of the Trinity Patriarchal Metochion in the village of Lukino, near the Peredelkino station near Moscow.

From 1965 to 1972 he was an inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary. All pupils of Father Simon remember him as a wise educator, as a loving mentor and call the years of his inspectorate golden years for the seminary and academy.

“If someone was guilty, he, having received news of this misconduct, came to the room where the guilty person lived, and told something from the lives of the saints. Everyone listened attentively - he spoke very interestingly. And the one who was to blame understood that this story was addressed to him, and if he did not correct himself, then the next time there would not be a story, but something else. This is how he affected his disciples.”

Remembering that period in the life of Bishop Simon, Metropolitan of Voronezh and Borisoglebsky Sergiy said: "It was the most blessed time in post-war history Moscow theological schools, because the joint ministry of the Academy's inspector, Archimandrite Simon, its then rector, Archimandrite Filaret (now Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus) and Archpriest Alexy Ostapov (now deceased) formed a good administrative and prayer union. Students felt at the Academy, like in their own family, like at home. Believe me, with the departure of Bishop Simon to the Ryazan See, the Theological Schools were orphaned, although we were glad that our inspector is now a bishop. There has never been such home comfort, such warmth, such love at the Academy, which warmed every student and teacher.”

By the beginning of the 1970s, under the inspectorate of Archimandrite Simon, a remarkable teaching staff had formed in the Moscow Theological Schools. These are Honored Professor K.E. Skurat, Professors A.I. Osipov and B.A. Nelyubov, Associate Professor Archpriest Valentin Asmus and others.

A highly spiritual elder, Archimandrite Tikhon (Agrikov), who in 1963 received the title of Associate Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, also taught. Under the supervision of Archimandrite Simon, he was the confessor of the seminary and the academy. But not only students of theological schools confessed to Father Tikhon. The Lord endowed him with a special gift - to convert young people to faith and kindle this faith in them.

Teenagers, young girls, pupils and students of secular educational institutions came to him from Moscow. The scientists also came.

The activities of archim. Tikhon could not go unnoticed by the Soviet authorities. The real persecution of the old man began. The KGB created a group of women who persecuted the old man.

Father Simon received Archim. Tikhon to live in his cell, hoping to protect him from persecution. But the women began to attack the cell, trying to get through the window. Finally, archim. Tikhon was forced to leave the monastery. He left for the Caucasus. But even there they did not give him rest, and he lived in seclusion either in Sukhumi or in Transcarpathia.

Archimandrite Simon felt sorry for this highly spiritual elder, regretted his departure, but he could do nothing. Archimandrite Simon (Novikov) then learned humility, patience and complacency from Archimandrite Tikhon (Agrikov), who is now revered as an ascetic of faith and piety at the end of the 20th century.

Another blessed elder, with whom Fr. Simon had a close relationship, was Archimandrite (later Schema-Archimandrite) John (Maslov), who began his service to the Lord in the Glinsk Hermitage. Already in this monastery, despite his youth, Father John was revered as a spirit-bearing elder. For a high prayerful disposition, the Lord endowed him with the gifts of prudence and insight.

Therefore, after the departure of the confessor of the Academy, Archimandrite Tikhon (Agrikov), the spiritual guidance of teachers and students was entrusted to Father John (Maslov). But he was then only 33 years old, and he himself studied at the academy! But the gifts of God were so gracious in him that not only teachers and students confessed to him, but also Father Inspector Simon himself.

Subsequently, he recalled: “For the first time after Father John came to us at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, we confessed with our common confessor, Elder Tikhon (Agrikov), in the schema of Panteleimon. When Father Tikhon passed away within the walls of the academy, I began to confess to Archimandrite John (Maslov).

Father John is a man of very high spiritual life. I saw him as a mentor. There wasn't a day when I didn't consult him. I tried to do everything he said. His words always came true, the advice turned out to be useful, and this strengthened confidence in him.

For his part, Archimandrite John felt a blessed elder in Father Simon and, in turn, confessed to him. The third spirit-bearing mentor was Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) for Father Simon.

Thus, Bishop Simon brought from the Moscow theological schools not only deep theological knowledge. “He who treats pious men ... gets used to imitate their virtues,” said Reverend Anthony Great.

Metropolitan Simon adopted a high spiritual disposition from his mentors and throughout his life shared with others the wisdom that they endowed him with.

By a decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod dated October 11, 1972, Archimandrite Simon (Novikov), inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, was determined to become Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov.
Naming Archimandrite Simon as Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov on October 13, 1972, on the eve of the Feast of the Intercession Holy Mother of God, in the Church of the Intercession of the Moscow Theological Academy was headed by Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy (Ridiger, later His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia).
On October 14, 1972, on the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, at the Divine Liturgy in the Intercession Church of the Moscow Theological Academy, the same bishops consecrated Archimandrite Simon to the bishopric. This was the first consecration headed by Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger) of Tallinn and Estonia.

In his speech for the nomination as a bishop, Vladyka Simon said: “I know the words of Moscow Metropolitan Filaret: “Bishopric is not an honor for me, but a feat.”

On October 22, in the evening, on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Korsun, Bishop Simon performed his first episcopal service in the Borisoglebsky Cathedral with a large gathering of believers.

So Vladyka began to manage the diocese, which, like other dioceses in Russia, was going through hard times. The time of his entry into the position of manager coincided with the intensification of propaganda of atheism on the part of the state. Since 1972, an atheistic research center began to operate in Ryazan. It was the main branch of the Institute of Scientific Atheism of the Academy of Social Sciences under the Central Committee of the CPSU. This center held scientific and atheistic conferences both in Ryazan and in the regional regions. In all higher educational institutions There were clubs "Atheist" in the city.

In addition, the society "Knowledge" functioned in the city, which was actively engaged in the promotion of atheism. He was placed in the building Ilyinsky temple. And in the altar they arranged a toilet. The toilet in the altar was also in the Assumption Cathedral of the Ryazan Kremlin. The cathedral itself was used as a planetarium.

Total control was established over church activities through the KGB, commissioners for religious affairs and through parish councils, which were created by special services and commissioners from the Council for Religious Affairs.

The abbots of the temples were not the heads of their parishes and did not have any authority. Everyone was in charge of the parish council. Many temples were not repaired, dilapidated and fell into an extremely neglected state. This was in the hands of the godless authorities. Under the pretext of unsuitability of buildings for worship, churches were closed. By the time Bishop Simon arrived in the Ryazan diocese, there were only 51 parishes

Bishop Simon, who headed the Ryazan cathedra during the period of post-Khrushchev repressions, to some extent followed the path of Vasily Ryazansky, who, after Batyev’s invasion, “gathered the squandered, comforted the mourners, encouraged the discouraged.”

In order to inspire the believers, Bishop Simon conducted a constant reception of priests and laity, and he himself went to those who could not come to him for some reason. In the most remote corners of the diocese, despite the bad weather and impassability, the Ryazan bishop reached to encourage his flock, to pray with them, to kindle the light of faith, hope and love in the souls of people. And the parish life in the diocese gradually revived.

The Ryazan bishop knew how to establish good neighborly relations, to live in peace and harmony even with those who had a negative attitude towards him.

“Humility,” Bishop Simon said, “breathes kindness and conquers even malice. It brings people together and makes them related, wins involuntary self-respect and strengthens sympathy. Where there is humility, peace and joy will always flourish. It is easy to live with a person who has acquired the virtue of humility, it is easy to work with him.

Communicating directly with his flock, the Ryazan bishop considered prayerful, spiritual communication to be the main thing. He was very fond of worship, especially in cathedral, which was then the Borisoglebsky temple. Once upon a time there was a wooden Borisoglebskaya church in its place, in which St. Basil of Ryazan served since 1291.

In addition to divine services in the churches of Ryazan, Vladyka also served in the churches of the region. After the service, he always delivered sermons in which he called on his flock to participate more often in church prayer to improve morally and find the strength to deal with their shortcomings.

“Christian worship,” Vladyka Simon wrote in one of his articles, “is the source of spiritual life for believers. The holy sacraments are performed in the temple, without which it is impossible not only to be saved, but even to begin salvation. Only with the help of Divine grace, which strengthens our weak forces, can we improve morally ... "

In 1978, Vladyka Simon was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and he began to perform archpastoral duties with even greater zeal. Constant both direct and prayerful communication with his flock, divine services and sermons of the Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov Simon attracted to Orthodox faith more and more more people. This is evidenced by the increase since the beginning of the 1980s of the sacraments and rituals.

In 1982, 30% of those born in Ryazan were baptized, which was more than two times more than in Russia as a whole.

Under these conditions, there was an acute shortage of clergy. And Archbishop Simon was forced to ordain people without spiritual education recommended by the parishes. He received great spiritual help in this matter from Archpriest Peter Cheltsov, rector of the Pyatnitskaya church in the village of Velikodvorye, Vladimir diocese. Father Peter, now glorified as a saint, gave him recommendations for the ordination of this or that person. Young priests practiced by participating in divine services with senior priests, and spiritual education received in absentia.

It was necessary for the Ryazan bishop to supply people without the necessary knowledge to the deacons. But in order to ordain a clergyman, the Ryazan bishop had to go through "fire, water and copper pipes." After all, ultimately, the ordination depended on the commissioner, in whose power was the final decision - to register or not to register the ordained.

During the years of Bishop Simon's management of the diocese, the number of parishes increased four times, about two hundred churches were opened and consecrated.

In 1988, the St. John the Theologian Monastery was transferred to the diocese, the revival of which was "inextricably linked with the revival of Orthodoxy, with the spiritual and moral life of the land of Ryazan." Bishop Simon put a lot of effort into its development, to the restoration of other churches and monasteries, he was especially zealous in the transfer of the Church of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, where the relics of St. Basil of Ryazan are buried.

In 1990, the first convent- Vyshenskaya Holy Dormition Hermitage in the Shatsk region. Before closing it was monastery, in which St. Theophan Vyshensky lived at rest (in seclusion). The buildings of the monastery were occupied by a psychiatric hospital. Temples are destroyed. The sisters of the monastery settled a few kilometers from the monastery - in the town of Bykova Gora. Nun Nonna (Znamenskaya) was appointed Abbess of the monastery.

During the same years, 11 all-Russian saints by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch were numbered among the Council of Saints of Ryazan, St. Theophan, the recluse Vyshensky, the righteous Matrona Anemnyasevskaya, Blessed Lyubushka Ryazanskaya (Sukhanov) and Vasily Petrovich Kadomsky were canonized. The relics of five locally venerated saints were unearthed: Saints Theodoret, Misail, Gabriel, Meletios and Righteous Sophronius of Iberd. Bishop Simon paid special attention to the glorification of the Ryazan New Martyrs and Confessors, the discovery of their relics.

In 1993, the Assumption Cathedral of the Ryazan Kremlin was transferred to the diocese for joint use with the museum-reserve. Two theological educational institutions were opened in Ryazan: in 1990 - the Ryazan Theological School, where Bishop Simon was a teacher of liturgy from the first day of its existence, in 1995 - the Ryazan Orthodox Gymnasium in the name of St. Basil of Ryazan.

In Ryazan, thanks to Vladyka, a lot of Orthodox literature is published: the Vyshensky Pilgrimnik magazine is published, with the blessing of the governor of the St. John the Theologian Monastery, the all-Russian newspaper Blagovest is published, and the Ryazan Church Bulletin is published, the editor-in-chief of which was Vladyka Simon himself. In each issue one could find his articles or messages, words. The archpastor, together with the clergy and flock, supported all good undertakings, he blessed the creation of the Orthodox program "Grains" on Ryazan television, and a film dedicated to him was shot on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the repose of St. Basil of Ryazan.

Thus, Bishop Simon's sermon sounded not only from the pulpit, printed publications, television programs - all this also became a manifestation of the preaching ministry of the Ryazan archpastor.

In the regional center on the basis of the Ryazan State Pedagogical University. S. A. Yesenin and the Regional Institute for the Development of Education created an experimental Center for Orthodox Pedagogy. At the city library. S. A. Yesenina - Orthodox Youth Center. September 1, 2001 at the Ryazan State Pedagogical University. S. A. Yesenin, a department of theology was opened at the Faculty of Russian Language and Literature.

The Ryazan diocese became very dear to the heart of Metropolitan Simon. Archpriest Vladimir Pravdolyubov, who for many years served as a pastor in Ryazan, cites an interesting case to confirm this: “When Vladyka Gleb (Smirnov) expected to be here in Ryazan, Vladyka Simon was nominated to the metropolitan, to the Patriarchate, but he refused. Vladyka Gleb said: "Vladyka Simon refused a big post - he fell in love with the Ryazan diocese so much."

Vladyka Simon occupied the Ryazan and Kasimov sees for thirty-one years. Here, in Ryazan, his hierarchical service fully revealed his multifaceted talent: as a leader and business executive, historian and theologian, preacher and writer, mentor and educator, patriot and public figure. Back in 1988, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen wrote to Vladyka: “You are known in our Church as an exemplary archpastor who takes care of the well-being of the entire Ryazan diocese, of the deanery of the flock entrusted to you.”

His Holiness Patriarch Pimen has always set Vladyka Simon as an example to other archpastors. In August 1988, Bishop Simon led a pilgrimage group sent to Mount Athos to participate in the patronal feast of St. Panteleimon of the Russian Monastery. Vladyka Simon, famous theologian and a preacher, for almost ten years he was a member of the Mixed Commission for Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue. He participated in commission meetings in Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland, South Korea and other countries, where he certainly made presentations. Only the deterioration of his health over the years forced him to ask the Holy Synod for exemption from travel.

Assessing the thirty-year archpastoral path of Bishop Simon, Metropolitan Sergius of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk said: “The Lord blessed Metropolitan Simon to perform episcopal service in one chair. This is the great mercy of God. And now we can regard this as the result of his attitude to his duty as a bishop. In the Soviet period of the life of the Church, the state policy was to change the bishops in the cathedra as often as possible, so that they could not become aware of the problems of the diocese, so that the people could not fall in love with their archpastor, merge with him. To Vladyka Simon, the Lord judged that all these obstacles would pass him…”

For any careless word, especially uttered in a sermon, a clergyman in those years could be subjected to rebukes. Bishop Simon endured all the hardships associated with relations with the Soviet authorities. “He lived in those times when it was not safe for a priest to say a word. Every month or two, the first secretary of the Ryazan regional committee invited Bishop Simon for a talk. He did not grovel, did not humiliate himself. Although you know what power was then! "You don't want me to be here? - asked. - Well, I'll leave, I'll go to serve, where the Lord God bless! Under him, three or four first secretaries were replaced, and each invited him to a conversation. The secretaries left, but the bishop remained.

Vladyka Simon responded to all exciting events modern life, supported good deeds and humane aspirations, was an indispensable participant in the events held in the diocese Orthodox readings, scientific and practical local history and pedagogical conferences, symposiums, round tables. In 2000, with his active participation, an agreement was signed between the administration of the Ryazan region, the regional Duma, the administration of Ryazan, the city council and the Ryazan diocese on joining efforts for the spiritual and moral revival of society, strengthening Russian statehood and law and order in the city of Ryazan and the region. The diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Simon, began active work on spiritual and moral education in the military educational institutions of the city of Ryazan.

By decree of February 25, 2000, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

In addition to external activities, Bishop Simon paid great attention to the spiritual education of his flock, primarily through worship. He loved to serve, visited remote rural churches. Vladyka Simon could, after celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the morning, go to the other end of the region to serve an akathist. He served slowly, calmly and solemnly. People, seeing the reverent attitude to the divine services of their archpastor, his care and attention to the flock, aspired to his services. This is how it is written about Vladyka Metropolitan in the book “Honorary Citizens of the City of Ryazan”: “Hundreds of believers flock to his services. Sometimes in public transport you can hear an involuntarily overheard conversation: “Vladyka Simon himself will conduct the service ...” And people go and go to pray with him, both old and young, in order to rest their souls and receive divine grace - a spiritual charge from church fellowship, to listen preaching of the angel of the land of Ryazan, as some believers and clergymen call him behind his back.

Vladyka Simon was very attentive to the clergy and people of God who came to him. Received visitors daily from ten in the morning until late in the evening. As Father Savva (Mikheev), a former cell-attendant of the Metropolitan, now Bishop of Resurrection, Vladyka Simon and last years of his management of the diocese, he received everyone who came to him, answered the phone calls from the clergy at any time. The clergy felt the paternal love of their bishop and answered him with filial gratitude.

In consideration of his diligent archpastoral service, Metropolitan Simon was awarded the Orders of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir of the 2nd degree, of St. Sergius of Radonezh of the 1st and 2nd degrees, and of the Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow, 2nd degree. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented Metropolitan Simon with the Order of Honor "for his great contribution to the strengthening of civil peace and the revival of spiritual and moral traditions." In September 2001, Metropolitan Simon was awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city of Ryazan.
Vladyka Simon was also widely known for his scientific research. He is the author of theological works: “Metropolitan of Moscow Filaret (Drozdov) as an interpreter of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament”, “St. Basil, Bishop of Ryazan”, “Holy Mount Athos” and many others.
Fulfilling various administrative obediences, Metropolitan Simon never ceased to be a pastor and serving the Church of Christ, he considered the celebration of divine services his main duty and main vocation. The selfless archpastoral service of Metropolitan Simon for the good of the Church, labors for the glory of the fatherland, an amazing gift of words, an attentive and benevolent attitude towards people, and encyclopedic knowledge attracted many people to him.
However, time took its toll, and the forces began to leave Metropolitan Simon, the burden of managing the Ryazan diocese weighed more and more on him. On May 7, 2003, by the decision of the Holy Synod, in connection with his 75th birthday and in accordance with the submitted petition, Bishop Simon was retired.

Metropolitan Simon chose the Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region as the place of his solitary life, just like St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) a century and a half ago. Having settled in the ancient monastery, Vladyka did not hide the fact that he wanted to seriously study the works of St. Ignatius there and contribute to their dissemination in the world.

He did not choose, did not look for a place for his rest. I arrived in the spring of 2003, the trip was short. He examined the monastery, and in the summer he came for good.

At the time of Vladyka's arrival, the territory of the monastery was in such ruin that at first he lived with his sister in the village of Kishanovo, and visited the monastery only when divine services were performed. With the joint efforts of the parishioners and the brethren, the restoration of the church of St. John Chrysostom began, flower beds were laid out, and in the spring even birdhouses were installed on the trees. The people of Ryazan also organized a fundraiser for the construction of two solid wooden houses in the monastery for Bishop Simon and the Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov Mikhei, who also moved here to rest. Both buildings, erected in the old traditions, turned out to be very similar both in size and style.

Many Yaroslavl residents fell in love with the elder - they noted his humility and love for people. Often, on days of special celebrations on the Yaroslavl land, he took part in divine services in the Feodorovsky Cathedral, and when his health allowed, he led the celebration Divine Liturgy. Many people remember his clever sermons and penetrating quiet voice.

Many guests came to Metropolitan Simon - he met everyone with a bishop's blessing and a friendly word. Recalls R.F. Popova: “How he always waited for guests and prepared for their arrival! Tables were laid to feed the tired pilgrims on the road. Vladyka confessed to everyone, everyone confided their secrets to him and received a blessing ... When Vladyka was at rest, numerous lay pilgrims, as well as clergy, came to him from all over the country. And no one left disappointed. It was visited by astronauts, famous doctors.

Often, students of the Yaroslavl Orthodox Gymnasium in the name of St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) visited Metropolitan Simon. These meetings will remain in the memory of the guys for a long time. During conversations with the students, Vladyka talked about his research, sometimes taught the children, and took special interest in their progress. Many took care of Vladyka: the ruling bishop of the Yaroslavl diocese, Archbishop Kirill, and priests, monks, and laity.

For the last months of his life, Vladyka Simon was seriously ill, but he endured the illness. We can say about this time: the power of God is made perfect in weakness. Even

in retirement, he remained active: he read a lot, worked, and thanks to his aspirations and efforts, a wooden church was erected in the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery in honor of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of the World of Lycia. He put a lot of effort into restoring the desecrated monastery. Jealousy for the house of God forced Bishop Simon to find a marble throne, which had once been in this temple, and after the devastation was taken to Yaroslavl as a pedestal for a monument to Lenin. Vladyka achieved the return of this shrine to its rightful place - to the altar of a new wooden church. Vladyka was unspeakably happy about this. After all, at one time St. Ignatius himself served as a priest at this throne.

Metropolitan Simon, seeing how the St. Nicholas Church was being built, felt peace, was cheerful and blessed, although his health was greatly shaken. He underwent surgery on his leg and had difficulty recovering. I could no longer walk. I felt the approach of death. And shortly before her, he said: "Let's consecrate the St. Nicholas Church, and it will be time for me to go to the Lord." The temple was consecrated on August 11, 2006, and on September 1, at 4 o'clock in the morning, after two strokes, the blessed bishop completed his earthly journey at the age of 79.

The funeral service took place on September 4 at the Nikolsky Church of the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery, built under the care of the bishop. The funeral service was performed by five bishops, among whom were the Archbishop of Ryazan and Kasimov Pavel and the former vicar of the Ryazan diocese, and now Bishop of Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Kineshma Joseph (Makedonov). The funeral service was led by His Eminence Kirill, Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov.

Hundreds of people from Yaroslavl and other regions and, of course, from the Ryazan diocese came to see off one of the oldest hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church: representatives of the clergy, the leadership of the region and the city; people who knew Vladyka closely, and ordinary laity, whom the archpastor served more than one

decade. And these are only those who could come. Constantly - both day and night - requiems were performed. The priests drove up and drove up. replaced each other in

serving at the tomb of the deceased bishop. Mentally with Metropolitan Simon on this day

said goodbye to everyone who knew and loved him, considered him his spiritual mentor, who at least

once met him, who carried the joy of meeting with the wise shepherd through the whole

life. Metropolitan Simon was buried at the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery at the altar

Temple in the name of St. John Chrysostom. In his eulogy, the Archbishop

Ryazansky and Kasimovsky Pavel emphasized: "We believe that he will lift up his prayers for all of us before the throne of God." I recall how, during a visit to Ryazan in 2000 to participate in the Days of Slavic Literature and Culture, the then manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and now Metropolitan of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk, Vladyka Sergiy (Fomin) called Metropolitan Simon "the conscience of the Russian Church." Archbishop Evlogy (Smirnov) of Vladimir and Suzdal, a disciple of Vladyka Simon, emphasized: “We ask the Lord to repose him with the saints, for there were many saints in him, which surprised us at every conversation with him and even when looking at him.” The well-known contemporary theologian Deacon Andrey Kuraev called Bishop Simon

"a man of holy life."

“Humility and meekness are what adorn a person, make him pleasant and sweet to those around him. And if a warm loving heart is added to this, then all this makes a person “the salt of the earth, a candle that is placed on a candlestick to shine for everyone in the house,” said His Eminence Simon in his report on November 27, 1998. And these words were the fruit of many years of monastic career. Truly he followed the call of the apostle: “Look into yourself and into the doctrine; do this constantly: for by doing this you will save yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).

Such a case can indirectly testify to the high spiritual experience of Metropolitan Simon. Archpriest Sergius Pravdolyubov, rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Golenishchev, Moscow, making a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, seeking spiritual guidance, turned to one confessor. Revealing to him some difficulty that had arisen in his life, he heard the question: “And who blessed you for this?” When Father Sergius named Bishop Simon's name, the confessor agreed with the archpastor's decision: "Well, if Bishop Simon, then there can be no questions."

During the life of Vladyka Simon, sermons were published, which are notable for their brevity. According to Bishop Savva of Voskresensky, Metropolitan Simon worked out for himself such a requirement for a sermon - to combine the brevity of the teachings of Archpriest Rodion Putyatin with the depth of the theological wisdom of St. Basil the Great.

Every year on September 1, on the day of his repose, and on February 5, on the birthday of Vladyka Simon, people gather who knew and loved him, keeping fond memories of him. They watch the footage of the chronicle - a film about the bishop, share with each other memories of the events of those years when he was on Ryazan land, when they traveled to the Yaroslavl diocese to visit the archpastor who was at rest. This unites them all, and they feel his invisible presence.

Used sources and literature:

1. http://www.srcc.msu.su/bib_roc/jmp/07/01-07/08.htm
2.http://babayki.orthodoxy.ru/mitropolit-simon-novikov.html
3. Metropolitan Simon (Novikov). Biography, memoirs, Evsin I.V., Ryazan, Zerna publishing house, 2008

During the reign of Metropolitan Simon, mainly on his initiative and always under his chairmanship, Councils were repeatedly convened to resolve the most important issues of church life. At the Council of the Year, convened for the improvement of the Orthodox Church, a conciliar response was drawn up to the Grand Duke John III about monastic landownership.

Metropolitan Simon was a supporter and patron of St. Joseph of Volotsk.

He took an active part in the Council of the Year against the heresy of the Judaizers. His support played a decisive role in the outcome of the quarrel between Volokolamsk abbot Joseph Volotsky and Archbishop Serapion of Novgorod. Shortly before his death, Metropolitan Simon " according to the Grand Duke's word"took" forgiveness"at Serapion.

Proceedings

• "Instruction to the clergy" , St. Petersburg, 1841-1842, vol. 1, No. 109.
• "A letter issued to the Monk Kornily Komelsky dated February 1, 1501," Muravyov, A. N., Russian Thebaid in the North, St. Petersburg, 1855, 60, 61.
• "A district message about alms collected by the Svyatogorsk elder Gerasim (1495-1505)," Historical acts collected and published by the Archeographic Commission: in 5 vols., St. Petersburg, 1841-1842, vol. 1, No. 103.
• "Message to the clergy in Perm on the observance of pastoral duties (August 22, 1501);" "Message to the laity in Perm against pagan customs (August 22, 1501)," Historical acts collected and published by the Archeographic Commission: in 5 vols., St. Petersburg, 1841-1842, vol. 1, No. 112.
• "Message to Pskov regarding the decision of the council of 1503 on widowed priests (July 15, 1504)," Acts collected in the libraries and archives of the Russian Empire by the Archaeographic Expedition of the Academy of Sciences: in 4 vols., St. Petersburg, 1836, vol. 1, 383.

Literature

• Solovyov, S. M., History of Russia since ancient times: in 6 books., (3rd ed.), St. Petersburg, 1911, book. 1, 1400, 1412, 1544, 1555, 1558, 1560.
• Karamzin, N. M., History of the Russian state: in 3 books. out of 12 t.(3rd ed.), St. Petersburg, 1842-1843, vol. 7, approx. 383.
• Shemyakin, V. I., Moscow, its shrines and monuments, M., 1896, 125, 127, 207.
• Dimitry (Sambikin), archbishop, Months of the saints, the whole Russian Church or locally revered: in 14 no., Kamenetz-Podolsk, Tver, 1892-1902, no. 8, April, 199-204.
• Life of Saint Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod, Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1912, 14, 15, 19, 22, 25, 45.
• Stroev, P. M., Lists of hierarchs and abbots of monasteries Russian Church , St. Petersburg, 1877, 5, 138.
• Bulgakov, S. V., Desk book for clergy, Kyiv, 1913, 1405.
• Golubinsky, E. E., The history of the canonization of saints in the Russian Church(2nd ed.), M., 1903, 366.
• Ratshin, A., complete collection historical information about all the monasteries and remarkable churches that were in antiquity and now exist in Russia, M., 1852, 97.
• Sergius (Spassky), archbishop, Full Mental Words of the East(2nd ed.), Vladimir, 1901 - 1902, vol. 2, 372.
• Denisov, L. I., Orthodox monasteries Russian Empire: a complete list of all 1105 currently operating in 75 provinces and regions of Russia, M., 1908, 427.
• N. D[urnovo], Nine hundredth anniversary of the Russian hierarchy 988-1888. Dioceses and bishops, M., 1888, 13.
• Filaret (Gumilevsky), archbishop, Review of Russian spiritual literature: in 2 books.(3rd ed.), St. Petersburg, 1884, 122.
• Moscow Cathedral Monastery of Miracles, M., Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1896, 45.
• The Lives of the Saints, in Russian, set forth according to the guidance of the Menaia of Saint Demetrius of Rostov with additions, explanatory notes and images of the saints: in 12 books, 2 books. add., M., 1903-1911, 1908, 1916, add. vol. 2, 443, approx. 2.
• Moscow necropolis: in 3 volumes., St. Petersburg, 1907-1908, vol. 3, 103.
• Leonid (Kavelin), archim., Holy Russia, St. Petersburg, 1891, No. 522.
• Russian antiquity, St. Petersburg, 1882, April, 83; June, 64.
• Orthodox interlocutor, Kazan, 1867, June, 150.
• Russian archive, M., 1895, book. 1, no. 1, 15; 1900, book. 2, no. 7, 333.
• Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary: in 2 volumes.[Ed. P. P. Soykina], St. Petersburg, b. city, vol. 2, 2061.
• Russian biographical dictionary: in 25 volumes., St. Petersburg; M., 1896-1913, vol. 8, 493-494.
• Macarius (Bulgakov), Metropolitan, History of the Russian Church: in 9 volumes., M., 1994-1997, v. 4, part 1, 68, 78, 82-85, 179.185, 209, 233, 268, 328, 340, 341, 490; vol. 4, part 2, 15.
• Bulanin, D. M., "Simon (nicknamed Chizh)," Dictionary of scribes and bookishness of Ancient Russia, L., 1989, issue. 2, part 2, 336-339.
• Sinitsyna, N. V., "The Russian Church in the period of autocephaly; the establishment of the patriarchate," Orthodox Encyclopedia, M., 2000 - Russian Orthodox Church , 73.

Used materials

• Article Great Biographical Encyclopedia:

Event date: 02/05/1928

Born on February 5, 1928 in the village of Zholnino, Danilovsky district, Yaroslavl province, into a peasant family. In 1943 he graduated from the 8th grade of a secondary school, in 1947 he graduated from the Yaroslavl chemical and mechanical technical school, then he worked as an electrical engineer at one of the military enterprises of Yaroslavl.

In 1951-1955. studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary. In 1955 he entered and in 1959 graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a Ph.D. in theology. On December 17, 1958, he entered the brethren of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. On December 28 of the same year, he was tonsured a monk with the name Simon. On January 18, 1959 he was ordained a hierodeacon, on April 12 of the same year - a hieromonk. Since 1959 - a teacher at the Moscow Theological Seminary, then - the Moscow Theological Academy. On January 2, 1964, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 1964, he was approved as an associate professor at the Department of Byzantology. In 1964-1965. - rector of the Trinity Church of the Transfiguration patriarchal farmstead in the village Lukino near Peredelkino, Moscow Region. From 1965 to 1972 - Inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary. On October 11, 1972, by a decree of His Holiness Pimen, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and the Holy Synod, he was appointed Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov. On October 13, 1972, Archimandrite Simon was named Bishop of Ryazan and Kasimov, and on October 14, Archimandrite Simon was consecrated as a bishop. In 1978 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. At His Holiness Patriarch Pimene was called three times to participate in the meetings of the Holy Synod.

Since 1990 - teacher of liturgy at the Ryazan Orthodox Theological School. On February 25, 2000, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan. Candidate of Theology, Associate Professor, author of theological and historical works.

When Archimandrite Simon took office as administrator of the Ryazan diocese, there were 51 parishes in it. During the years of Bishop Simon's rule, more than 200 churches were opened and consecrated, two theological educational institutions were opened, the magazines "Ryazan Church Bulletin", "Vyshensky Pilgrim", the newspaper "Blagovest" began to be published, the Orthodox program "Grains" began to work on Ryazan television.

In 2001 at the Ryazan State Pedagogical University. S.A. Yesenin (now Russian State University), a department of theology was opened at the Faculty of Russian Language and Literature. On the basis of the Russian State University and the Ryazan Institute for the Development of Education, the Center for Orthodox Pedagogy was created, at the Ryazan City Library. S.A. Yesenin - Orthodox Youth Center. Began to function Sunday schools at temples and monasteries.

By decision of the Ryazan City Council No. 329 of August 23, 2001, "for his great personal contribution to strengthening the interaction of the church with representative and executive authorities, the development of church charity," Metropolitan Simon was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Ryazan." By Decree of the Governor of the Ryazan Region No. 32-pg dated January 24, 2003, "for his great personal contribution to the revival of spirituality, culture and education of the Ryazan Region," Vladyka was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the Ryazan Region."

In 2003 Vladyka Simon turned 75 years old. He retired, choosing the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery in the Nekrasovsky district of the Yaroslavl region as a place of solitary life. This monastery is the resting place of St. Ignatius (Bryanchaninov), the research and dissemination of whose creations the bishop intended to take up in retirement. The monastery is included in one of the pilgrimage routes, after the arrival of Metropolitan Simon here, the number of pilgrims increased dramatically. Through his efforts, within a year, a wooden church was built in the monastery in honor of St. Nicholas.

Awarded with orders: in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir 2nd class, St. Sergius of Radonezh 1st and 2nd class, St. Prince Daniel of Moscow 2nd class, St. John of Rylsky 2nd class, saint Macarius 2nd class, Orders of Honor, Friendship, an honorary medal of the Peace Foundation (thrice), the Gold Medal "For the Strengthening of Peace", the honorary medal "Fighter for Peace", the medal "50 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. ". Veteran of labour.

He died on September 1, 2006, was buried in a crypt near the altar of the church in the name of St. John Chrysostom in the Nikolo-Babaevsky Monastery.

After the death of Metropolitan Simon, two memorial rooms were opened in the Yaroslavl region: one - in the Nikolo-Babaevsky monastery, the second - in December 2008 in the village. Vyatsky, not far from his native village.