Tryphon of the Turkestans about the prodigal son. "Earthly Heaven" of the archpastor

"Earthly Heaven" of the archpastor

Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov; 1861 - 1934) - one of the most prominent and revered hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church XX century, the author of the beloved akathist “Glory to God for everything” - the spiritual testament of the ever-memorable bishop, created by him during the years of persecution of the Church.

“I was born into the world as a weak, helpless child…”

The future Metropolitan Tryphon (in the world Boris Petrovich Turkestanov) was born on November 29, 1861 in Moscow. His father, Prince Peter Nikolaevich Turkestanov (1830 - 1891), was a direct descendant of an ancient princely family from Georgia. He was distinguished by a subtle mind and soft heart, deep religiosity. Great-grandfather - Prince Boris Pankratievich Turkestanashvili, in whose memory the future bishop received a name - went to Russia under Peter I. The mother of Boris Petrovich Turkestanov, Varvara Alexandrovna (née Naryshkina), was the niece of Abbess Maria (Tuchkova) - the founder of the Spaso-Borodino Monastery. Like her husband, she was also distinguished by great piety, she was captivated by everything sublime and beautiful.

There were six children in the family of princes Turkestanovs. In winter, the family lived in Moscow, and in summer - in the old Govorovo estate near Moscow. The entire family structure was subordinated to the measured structure of church life with a series of fasts, fastings, pilgrimages and festive celebrations.

From an early age, the future Bishop used to altar, sang in the kliros, learning the marvelous beauty and depth of worship.

While still a baby, he became seriously ill. Doctors lost hope for his recovery. Varvara Alexandrovna went to the church of the holy martyr Tryphon and prayed for the healing of her son, promising after recovery to dedicate him to God and, if the son was worthy of the monastic rank, give him the name Tryphon.

Boris recovered. Varvara Alexandrovna made a trip with him to Optina Hermitage to see Elder Ambrose, famous throughout Russia.

Meeting them, the elder suddenly said to the people standing in front of him: "Give way - the bishop is coming."

People parted with surprise to see instead of the bishop a young woman with a child.

Boris studied at the classical gymnasium of L.P. Polivanov on Prechistenka, one of the best in Moscow. After graduating from high school in 1883, Boris entered Moscow University. During his studies, he was fond of the theater, participated in amateur performances.

In 1887, Boris became a novice at Optina Hermitage to Elder Ambrose, who blessed him for monasticism.

On December 31, 1889, Boris took monastic tonsure with the name Tryphon in honor of the holy martyr Tryphon - thus the vow given by his mother was fulfilled.

"Glory to you for earthly life harbinger of heaven…”

At the hour of his death, in 1891, the elder Ambrose managed to comfort the young man, telling him that “death is sent by the Merciful Lord to the very best time for a person when his soul is most prepared for it.

Saint Ambrose blessed him to study at the Moscow Theological Academy, where Father Tryphon entered in 1891.

During his studies, Hieromonk Tryphon chose to serve in a transit prison. The clerk monks begged him to give up this service: the criminals, they say, would be able to deal with him. But Father Tryphon continued to serve. As Vladyka later recalled, not a single service made such an impression on him. During Great Lent, he said the prayer of Ephraim the Syrian. The prisoners, shackled hand and foot, bowed. “God grant,” Vladyka said more than once, “that Orthodox Christians repent like these criminals.”

After the blessed death of Father Ambrose, Hieromonk Tryphon came under the spiritual leadership of the elder of the Gethsemane Skete, the Monk Barnabas. He met him while still a high school student. Then the elder made an indelible impression on the young pilgrim who visited the skete with his lofty ascetic life.

“What especially captivated me about him,” Vladyka recalled, “is that the satisfaction of bodily needs for him was never some kind of business for which it was necessary to prepare especially. No concessions to himself, no even the most innocent whim: he did not drink tea at all, wore the simplest clothes, ate the coarsest food ... he never dined properly, otherwise, he would intercept something, and again he would get to work. He never slept properly, but just like that, he would “snuggle up”, as they say, in all his clothes on his wooden bed, with a pillow stuffed almost with cobblestone, and again get up to pray…

My acquaintance with him began in the late seventies, when, as a high school student, I visited the skete caves for fasting during the Petrovsky fast. I have long wanted to get to know him ... but for a long time I did not dare to do this, because many people of secular society have a completely wrong view of ascetics, that is, people of a high contemplative life, especially those who, according to the general opinion, are distinguished by the gift of clairvoyance , that is, foreseeing the future.

They keep thinking that all such people are distinguished by extreme severity towards sinners who come to them. They are even afraid that they will strike them with some severe punishment or confuse the soul with a terrible prophecy.

I confess that in the years of my youth I was not deprived of this prejudice. That was even before meeting Fr. Ambrose, Optina Hermitage and Russian Orthodox monasticism in general.

But then I decided to see Fr. Barnabas. First, after talking for a week, praying earnestly in a small cave temple Chernihiv Mother of God, on the site of which a huge cathedral has now been erected, with fear and trembling, on a wonderful July evening, I knocked on the door of the small wooden house in which Fr. Barnabas.

For a long time he did not open the door to me, at last steps were heard, a latch clicked, and a gray-haired monk of small stature appeared on the threshold, with a soft, kind smile on his lips, with a penetrating glance of dark eyes.

Looking at me, he said in that joyful, affectionate tone, which is so memorable to everyone who knew him closely: “Ah! Dear barin! Well, glad to see you, we all love you here, ”and with these words he blessed me, hugged me with one arm and led me through the dark entrances into his cell, lit by one wax candle.

... Several simple icons in the front corner, in front of them on a lectern there is a copper cross and the Gospel, next to it is a wooden table with several books and brochures of spiritual and moral content, in the corner there is a wooden bed covered with one felt. That's all. But how many great deeds were accomplished in this miserable situation!

How many souls, exhausted in the struggle with themselves and worldly hardships, have received relief and help here! How many people who reached complete despair came out of here cheerful and ready for any feat!

Yes, this poor cell keeps many great secrets, truly it is immeasurably higher and more precious than the luxurious palaces of the earthly rich.”

In 1895, Father Tryphon graduated from the academy with a degree in theology, having defended his dissertation on the topic "Ancient Christian and Optina Elders."

From 1895 to 1901, Father Tryphon was the caretaker of the Moscow Theological School, the rector of the Bethany, and then the Moscow Theological Seminaries.

On July 18, 1901, he became bishop of Dmitrovsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese, and was in this post for almost 15 years.

In a speech at his episcopal consecration, Hieromartyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky), Metropolitan of Moscow (later of Kyiv and Galicia), who considered the Christianization of the Moscow aristocracy and intelligentsia to be extremely important, said: you stand by your origin. Do not miss the opportunity to point out to them the possibility of combining sound scientific knowledge with sincere faith, modern discoveries and improvements with the eternal principles of spiritual life.

Bishop Tryphon often performed divine services, which were very fond of Muscovites, preached a lot, carried out tremendous church and social work, not leaving even his scientific papers. He knew five languages: Greek, Latin, French, German and English. For an amazing gift of words, the believing people called him "Moscow Chrysostom".

Spiritually nourishing many noble people, Vladyka Tryphon never forgot about common people. He often served early liturgies especially for the common people, for which he was awarded the nickname "cook's bishop."

All these years, the father, and then Bishop Tryphon, continued to take care of the elder Barnabas. He consulted with him in all his affairs and received his blessing from him. This continued until the very death of the elder in 1906.

“The last time,” Vladyka recalled, “I made with him Divine Liturgy on Thursday in the first week of Great Lent and forever said goodbye to him. His last words were: “Before, I sometimes traveled around you when I came to Moscow, but now I will often, very often visit you.” With these words, he shook my hand, and I never saw him more alive.

“You illuminate the soul with peace during times of great sorrow and suffering…”

On September 9, 1909, Bishop Tryphon consecrated hospital temple in the name of the holy wives Martha and Mary, heavenly patrons of the monastery founded by Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, now canonized. And on April 9, 1910, during the all-night vigil according to the order developed by the Holy Synod, Bishop Tryphon consecrated 17 nuns of the Martha and Mary Convent to the title of cross sisters of love and mercy.

The next day, at the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Vladimir of Moscow, who was the confessor of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, placed eight-pointed cypress crosses on the sisters, and elevated Elizabeth Feodorovna to the rank of abbess. Grand Duchess said that day: “I leave the brilliant world ... but together with all of you I ascend into more high world- the world of the poor and suffering.

Later, Vladyka Tryphon often visited the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent.

On April 8, 1912, he concelebrated with Bishop Anastassy during the consecration of the cathedral church in honor of Intercession by Metropolitan Vladimir of Moscow Holy Mother of God.

On July 20, 1914, the day the First World War began, His Grace Tryphon overshadowed the audience with the icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God Saint Sergius Radonezh". The icon was painted by the cellar of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Evstafiy (Golovkin) on a board from the tomb of the monk. This image was always at the front during the war.

During the war, Bishop Tryphon voluntarily became a regimental priest and spent a whole year at the forefront in the army.

On February 26, 1915, for courage and bravery while performing divine services on the line of fire and for conversations in the trenches with soldiers during the battle, he was awarded a panagia on the St. George ribbon and the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

On the Polish front, Bishop Tryphon was shell-shocked and blind in one eye. He was forced to return to Moscow.

From June 1916, Vladyka was Rector of the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery. Until the closing of the monastery at the beginning of 1918, he served in all the aisles that marked the Savior's earthly life, and invested in the repair of the monastery. Near the monastery, Vladyka, again at his own expense, built a women's gymnasium, where he lectured about the Optina Elder Ambrose and other ascetics of piety, showing slides.

“The storms of life are not terrible for those who have the lamp of Your fire shining in their hearts”

After the closing of the monastery, Vladyka Tryphon moved to Moscow and did not take part in the administrative affairs of the Church.

For about six months he lived in Povarskaya street with brother Alexander Petrovich, not far from the church of St. Simeon the Stylite, where Vladyka was invited to serve.

Subsequently, when the street was given the name Vorovsky, he joked: "I served on Povarskaya, and now on Vorovskaya."

Then he moved to Znamenka to his sister Ekaterina Petrovna Buturlina, who occupied the second floor of the house with her husband. Here Vladyka had a room and a field church, which he used even at the front. Then I had to move down to the Swiss.

Since that time, a new, most difficult period life of Vladyka Tryphon, which lasted until his very blessed death: he repeatedly had to change his place of residence, instead of a monastic cell, live in communal apartments, and even under these conditions he could not be calm about his future, since the new authorities did not register him and deprived him of food cards.

Vladyka was never arrested or even expelled from Moscow, but he was repeatedly summoned to the GPU for registration. AT last years his life he lived only in houses owned by private individuals.

Vladyka often served by invitation in various Moscow churches: either on Znamenka, or in the Nikitsky Monastery, or at the Athos Compound (Polyansky Lane) ...

Every time his services gathered crowds of worshipers. The most devoted part of the flock rallied even more closely around him, accompanying him and attending all the services.

While formally retired, Vladyka was truly one of the main spiritual leaders of Russian Orthodoxy. A stream of visitors constantly came to him for advice on both spiritual and worldly issues. The believing people have already revered him as a great bishop, a wonderful preacher and a spirit-bearing ascetic elder.

Metropolitan Tryphon was known as the most humble, but also incorruptible hierarch, devoted to the truth of Christ, as a man of holy pious life. His advice and opinions were often decisive not only for the fate of his many spiritual children, but also for many events related to the fate of the Russian Orthodox Church after the October Revolution.

During the renovation period, Vladyka Tryphon did not hesitate to remain faithful to the Patriarchal Church. His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon loved him and often served with him, and in 1923 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. They were two great spiritual pillars that supported the holy Russian Church in a cruel and mournful time for Russia.

Holy Patriarch Tikhon survived several assassination attempts, many interrogations, and imprisonment. He died on April 7, 1925.

With death His Holiness Patriarch a new stage in the confessional path of the Russian Church began - the time of the “long, dark night,” as St. Tikhon himself said.

After the arrest of the patriarchal locum tenens, Metropolitan Peter (Polyansky), the management of the Church passed to his deputy, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) of Nizhny Novgorod.

Archbishop Tryphon deeply respected Metropolitan Sergius and highly valued him as a profound learned theologian and great church administrator. He saw that his tragic attempts to “negotiate” with the godless authorities were dictated by a sincere desire to save the lives of thousands of believers from new waves of repression, and the remaining small islands of church structures from complete ruin.

On August 19, 1927, Metropolitan Sergius promulgated the Declaration of the Church's loyalty to the Soviet state.

Archbishop Tryphon did not serve for some time, but later accepted the prayer "for the authorities", which was added to the great litany.

In 1931 Archbishop Tryphon celebrated 30 years of hierarchical service. He celebrated his anniversary in the church of Cosmas and Damian on Maroseyka. The service was held with special warmth and enthusiasm. After the service, grateful parishioners decorated Vladyka Tryphon's room with greenery and garlands of fresh flowers. For this anniversary, by decree of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), Archbishop Trifon was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

“This is what I least expected,” the Metropolitan later wrote to one of his spiritual children. And in his response to the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, he emphasized that he never aspired to such a high rank, but accepts it with humility as a new stage in his service to the Orthodox Church.

The role of Lord Tryphon increased even more. His word was the law for those who remained faithful to Orthodoxy in the tragic conditions of the then Russian life. People believed that the Lord Himself spoke through him.

“By the influx of the Holy Spirit You illuminate the thoughts of artists…”

Pavel Dmitrievich Korin recalled that he was able to paint Vladyka Tryphon and most of the clergy for his grandiose “Outgoing Russia” from nature only thanks to the blessing of the archpastor.

In 1925, at the bedside of the late Patriarch Tikhon, Korin saw how in these tragic, but at the same time stellar moments, Holy Russia manifests all its powerful spiritual essence. Even by its very majestic outcome, it was a sign of eternity. The artist, endowed with a philosophical mindset, of course, had a keen desire to capture and preserve for future generations the images and characters of these people. But how, in the midst of repressions in Moscow, to persuade pastors and archpastors to pose for him?

Thanks to the recommendation of his friend and mentor Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov, to whom Korin came for advice and help, Bishop Tryphon was the first to agree to pose for the young artist. True, citing sore legs and advanced age - only four sessions.

For these four sessions allotted to him, Korin was able to write only the head of the hierarch. And those perfectly found details for the psychological characterization of the archpastor - a fiery Easter vestment with all the attributes that we see in the picture, the artist searched for and found later. But, despite some disproportion in the image of his hero, the main thing was achieved: the image of Lord Tryphon was captured.

In the future, everyone whom the artist invited to the studio agreed to pose only after they learned about the blessing of the lord, who was respected and honored by all of the then Orthodox Moscow.

"Glory to Thee, who raised us to heaven..."

Shortly before his death, Metropolitan Tryphon became blind in both eyes.

His spiritual daughter Maria Timofeevna recalls the last period of Vladyka's life.

“In 1934, Vladyka fell seriously ill, and on his name day, February 1, he served in the church of Saints Adrian and Natalia, preached a sermon that he was serving for the last time, and asked to pray for him. His last service was on Easter, on Saturday, in the Church of the Small Ascension. It was late mass, he was very weak, he was supported by the subdeacons, there were a lot of people, he, sitting, blessed everyone, and there was a sea of ​​tears, everyone felt that this was the last time, we would not see him in the church again.

Vladyka had long wanted to accept the schema. Metropolitan Sergius sent permission, and everything was ready, but for some reason it was postponed.”

After this service, the Metropolitan, already seated, blessed everyone who was in the church and left, supported by the subdeacons.

In May he fell ill and did not get up again, and on June 5 he dictated his last prayer to his spiritual daughter.

“Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, our holy guardian angels and all the saints, accept my fervent prayer for all my spiritual children, living and dead.

Accept a prayer for all those who do good to me, who are merciful, and grant Your great mercy to everyone: keep the living in peace and prosperity, grant the departed eternal peace and endless joys.

Lord, my God, you see the sincerity of my prayer, as if I can thank them with nothing, only this fervent prayer of mine.

Accept these words of mine, as a deed of goodness, and have mercy on all of us.

Hierodeacon Theophan recalls that even earlier, Vladyka ended his service on the day of the Holy Martyr Tryphon with the words: he feels that he is praying for the last time with his Moscow flock and asks, in case of death, not to refuse to write him down in his remembrances and pray for the repose of his soul. He asked not to make any speeches at his burial and bequeathed to bury him with a monastic funeral, as was the case in Ancient Russia, and put him in a mantle and in a klobuk.

“June 14, 1934,” recalls Father Feofan, “on the day of his death, he, being already blind, asked his spiritual children to “sing Easter” and sang with them himself. The rector of the Church of the Martyr Tryphon wanted to bring the miraculous icon of the Martyr Tryphon to Vladyka, but Vladyka, in his humility, refused, saying that he could not accept such a shrine, because here, in this room, his whole life passes. At his death, there was a staff sister who turned to me and said that she had seen many deaths, but she had not seen such a quiet death as that of Bishop Tryphon.

Metropolitan Tryphon was buried Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), co-served by Archbishop Seraphim (Ostroumov) of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh and Archbishop Pitirim (Krylov) of Dmitrov in the church of Adrian and Natalia, where Vladyka Tryphon loved to pray and where he was miraculous icon Martyr Tryphon.

“His funeral,” recalled Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) of Volokolamsk and Yuryev, “turned into a real demonstration. Unfortunately, I was not at the funeral, although I could have been, I was already eight years old. They buried him at Sukharevka, in the church of Adrian and Natalia, and a huge procession followed the coffin to the German cemetery. In Moscow, religious processions were then prohibited - and yet a mass of people accompanied him in the pouring rain.

The spiritual daughter of Vladyka recalls: “Two bishops, Bishops Pitirim and Seraphim, lowered him into the grave. We served lithium and began to disperse, because everyone was wet to the bone - nature was crying with us.

By the providence of God, at the Vvedensky (German) cemetery, originally intended only for the heterodox, many Orthodox ascetics were buried, who adorned the Russian Church with deeds of prayer and good deeds. Among them was the righteous Alexy Mechev, whose relics now rest in the church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki, of which he was rector. While serving a memorial service at one of the graves in this cemetery, Metropolitan Tryphon said that he really liked it here, and he would like to be buried here.

The Lord fulfilled the desire of His chosen one. They still go to his grave with a prayer Orthodox people. The words of Vladyka are inscribed on a white marble cross: “Children, love the temple of God. The temple of God is the earthly heaven.

"Thank God for everything"

Many of the spiritual children and associates of Bishop Tryphon, who suffered for Christ, have already been glorified by our Church as saints. And the Lord protected Tryphon from prisons and camps. But this does not detract from his feat. In difficult years for the Fatherland and the Church, Vladyka was one of those whose prayers the Russian Church withstood and defeated its persecutors. Vladyka Tryphon can be fully attributed the words of the church chant: "Earthly angel and heavenly man."

In 1929, Bishop Tryphon wrote an amazing akathist to the Lord, which became his spiritual testament.

This akathist has some features that distinguish it from a number of traditional hymns intended for general church use: it is written in modern Russian, and not in Church Slavonic, as was customary, and has a deeply personal character. In the akathist, Vladyka Tryphon boldly introduces his “I” into the fabric of the poetic narrative and turns to the Creator from the depths of his heart, from the depths of his earthly existence.

It is known that this inspired hymn to the Creator and His creation was distributed throughout Russia for decades through church samizdat, and in the 1970s it was first printed abroad.

At the first publications, the authorship of the akathist was erroneously attributed to the priest Grigory Petrov, who died in exile. Later, when the appearance of the akathist in print became possible already in the homeland, the work of Metropolitan Tryphon, indicating its authorship, gained general church fame.

Akathist "Glory to God for everything" invariably amazes us with the beauty and power of love and gratitude to God for everything that the Lord has created in His infinite mercy to us, sinners, even in this material world, where we are only wanderers. What then will the righteous see in the Kingdom of Heaven?

"Glory to God for everything" - in these words the main spiritual experience of the Russian Orthodox Church during the most severe persecution ever endured by the Church of Christ in history.

Let us recall that Metropolitan Veniamin (Kazansky) of Petrograd, innocently convicted and sentenced to death, ended his speech with these same words in 1922 at the trial of the case on the seizure of church valuables.

Christ Himself said: “Be of good cheer: I have conquered the world” (John 16:33), and therefore, no matter how difficult and sad the events earth history The power of God always wins.

There is a deadly battle, and we know that Christ has already defeated the enemy of the human race, but each of us must also win. Resurrection became possible only after Golgotha. The countless sacrifices for Christ of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in the bloodiest 20th century in the history of Russia became their victory, which opened the way to eternal life for them.

This is what the great son of Russia sings about, thanking God for “all Thy known and hidden blessings, for earthly life and for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom of Thy future”, so that, “having multiplied the talents entrusted to us, we entered into the eternal joy of our Lord with victorious praise: Alleluia!

The Akathist, titled by the words that, according to legend, St. John Chrysostom uttered while dying in exile, can be called a “song of thanksgiving,” the inspired response of Metropolitan Tryphon to the call of the Apostle Paul: “Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

(in the world Boris Petrovich Turkestanov). He was born on November 29, 1861 in Moscow. His father, Prince Turkestanov (1830-1891), was a direct descendant of an ancient princely family from Georgia. His great-grandfather, Prince Boris Pankratievich Turkestanashvili, in whose memory he received his name, left for Russia under Peter I. The mother of the future saint was Varvara Alexandrovna, born Princess Naryshkina.

During a serious illness of her son, still an infant, when the doctors lost hope for his recovery, the mother went to the church of the holy martyr Tryphon and prayed for the healing of her son, promising after recovery to dedicate him to God and, if the son was worthy of the monastic rank, give him the name Tryphon. when the baby is well. Varvara Alexandrovna made a trip with him to Optina Pustyn to see Elder Ambrose, famous throughout Russia. Meeting them, the elder suddenly said to the people standing in front of him: "Give way, the bishop is coming." The people who parted were surprised to see a woman with a child instead of the bishop. In 1887, Boris, having received the blessing of his parents, entered as a novice at Optina Pustyn to Elder Ambrose, who blessed him for monasticism.

In 1891, Boris took monastic vows with the name Tryphon in honor of the holy martyr Tryphon, thus fulfilling the vow given by his mother. Soon about. Tryphon was ordained a hierodeacon, and then a hieromonk. Elder Ambrose blessed him to study at the Moscow Theological Academy. During his studies, Hieromonk Tryphon chose to serve in a transit prison. In 1895 Fr. Tryphon graduated from the Academy with a degree in theology, defending his dissertation on the topic "Ancient Christian and Optina Elders." He knew five languages: Greek, Latin, French, German and English.

From 1895 to 1901, Fr. Tryphon was the superintendent of the Moscow Theological School, the rector of the Bethany, and then the Moscow Theological Seminaries. On July 18, 1901, he became bishop of Dmitrovsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese, and was in this post for almost 15 years. Bishop Tryphon often served divine services, which were very fond of the Muscovites, preached a lot, carried out tremendous church and social work, and did not leave his scientific works. For an amazing gift of words, the believing people nicknamed him "Moscow Chrysostom". Vladyka was spiritually connected with many ascetics of the Russian Church — the Optina Elders Anatoly and Barsanuphius (whom he elevated to the rank of Archimandrite), Elder Barnabas of the Gethsemane Skete, and Elder Zechariah. After the outbreak of World War I, the bishop served in the army in the field. On the Polish front, he received a shell shock and was forced to return to Moscow with poor health. In 1916, Bishop Tryphon retired to the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery. After a trip to the front, he returned again in 1917 to New Jerusalem.

Since 1918, Bishop Tryphon lived in Moscow without taking part in the administrative affairs of the Church. A stream of visitors constantly came to him for advice on both spiritual and worldly issues. The believing people have already revered him as a great bishop, a wonderful preacher and a spirit-bearing ascetic elder. His advice and opinions were often decisive not only for the fate of his numerous spiritual children, but also in many events related to the fate of the Russian Orthodox Church after the revolution. Holy Patriarch Tikhon loved Vladyka, often served with him, and in 1923 elevated him to the rank of archbishop. They were two great spiritual pillars that supported the holy Russian Church in a cruel and mournful time for Russia.

After the death of Patriarch Tikhon in 1925, the role of Archbishop Tryphon increased even more. Being formally retired, he was truly one of the main spiritual leaders of Russian Orthodoxy, in 1931, on the anniversary of the 30th anniversary of his episcopal ministry, Archbishop Tryphon was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the word of Bishop Tryphon was the law for those who preserved the true faith and spiritual reason in the horrors of Russian life; the people believed that the Lord himself spoke through their mouths. [Metropolitan Tryphon died on June 14, 1934]

From the article “About Akathist “Glory to God for Everything” and its author”

(1861-1934)

Metropolitan Tryphon (in the world Boris Petrovich Turkestanov) was born on November 29, 1861 in Moscow. His father, Prince P.N. Turkestanov, was a direct descendant of an ancient princely family from Georgia. The mother of the future saint is Varvara (Princess Naryshkina).

During her son's serious illness, Barbara went to the church of the holy martyr Tryphon and prayed for the healing of her son, promising to dedicate him to God after recovery. When the baby recovered, Varvara went with him to Optina Pustyn to see Elder Ambrose. It is significant that Elder Ambrose called on the faithful to part: ʼʼGive way, the bishop is comingʼʼ. Everyone parted and saw Varvara with her son.

Boris studied at the classical gymnasium in Moscow. In 1883 he entered Moscow University, and in 1887 he became a novice at Optina Pustyn to Elder Ambrose, who blessed him for monasticism.

In 1891, Boris took monastic vows with the name Tryphon in honor of the holy martyr Tryphon. Soon Father Tryphon was ordained a hierodeacon, and then a hieromonk. In the same year, 1890, he was offered a position as a teacher and overseer at the Ossetian missionary school. In October 1890, Hieromonk Tryphon returned to Optina to Elder Ambrose. The great Optina elder blessed him to study at the Theological Academy.

In 1891 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy. During his studies, Hieromonk Tryphon chose to serve in a transit prison. After the death of Father Ambrose, Hieromonk Tryphon came under the spiritual leadership of the elder Barnabas of the Gethsemane Skete. From the memoirs of Metropolitan Tryphon about Elder Barnabas: “The last time I celebrated the Divine Liturgy with him was on Thursday during the first Week of Great Lent and said goodbye to him forever. His last words were: ʼʼBefore, sometimes when I came to Moscow I used to travel around you, but now I will often, very often visit youʼʼ. With these words, he shook hands with me, and I never saw him more alive.

In 1895, Father Tryphon graduated from the Academy with a degree in theology, from 1895 to 1901 he was superintendent of the Moscow Theological School, rector of the Bethany and then Moscow Theological Seminaries. On June 28, 1901, Archimandrite Tryphon was consecrated Bishop of Dmitrovsky, the second vicar of the city of Moscow. Later, Vladyka recalled: ʼʼI remember the unforgettable days of my naming especially vividly, when I stood before a host of bishops, asking their prayers with the words of John Chrysostom... Our ancient Assumption Cathedral somehow unusually seems to me, on this day July 1 is the day my consecration, and now I seem to see myself standing among a host of clergymen, making a vow, confessing the faith, and then bowing their heads before the Holy Gospel ... And then, further, I remember my whole past life in this monastery: how gradually worship, how the church system was gradually improved, how our churches were decorated, which I found sooty, forgotten, how the flock of Christ's sheep gradually gathered here, and how beautiful and solemn the services were here, and some holidays seemed especially prominent to me, such as, for example , the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, the eve of the Epiphany, the blessing of water ... prayers with common singing, the lighting of candles, the days of the Great Lent, and especially the first week and the marvelous services of the Passion and bright week; I also recall individual episodes from my life: how brightly and joyfully we always celebrated the day of my Angel and many others ... I remember how brightly and joyfully we celebrated the day of glorification Reverend Seraphim, who truly, as it were, found our monastery as a home, must be because he saw how sincerely we revere him.

In the Epiphany Monastery, where Vladyka Tryphon served services, the service was statutory. Vladyka began the service every day at six in the morning, especially so that the faithful would have the opportunity to go to the temple before work. The common people loved these divine services, the believers began to call the Metropolitan ʼʼMoscow Chrysostomʼʼ. Vladyka was spiritually connected with the Optina elders Anatoly and Barsanuphius (whom he elevated to the rank of archimandrite), the elder Zacharias. His love for the poor led him to become a member of several charitable societies and brotherhoods.

After the outbreak of World War I, Vladyka served in the army. On the Polish front, he received a shell shock and was forced to return to Moscow with poor health. In 1916, Bishop Tryphon retired to the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery, where he remained until the closing of the monastery in 1918.

Vladyka built a women's gymnasium at his own expense not far from the monastery, where he gave lectures. In 1917, when it opened Local Council The Russian Church, which was supposed to elect the Patriarch, was offered to Vladyka to put forward his candidacy, but he refused. After the closing of the monastery, Vladyka moved to Moscow and lived with his brother for about six months; later he moved to live with his sister.

Vladyka served in churches on Znamenka, in the Nikitsky Monastery, on the Athos Compound. The spiritual children of the Lord bear witness to the power of their prayers. spiritual father. Thus, through the prayers of Vladyka, the seriously ill Alexandra Mironovna was healed. Vladyka predicted to her: ʼʼ... You will live and you will pray for meʼʼ. Alexandra Mironovna lived another 15 years after Vladyka's death, although the doctors told her: “We don't even hear the heart. It's even amazing how you can liveʼʼ. Believers often turned to Vladyka Tryphon for advice, asking for his prayerful help.

In 1923, Vladyka was elevated by Patriarch Tikhon to the rank of archbishop. According to contemporaries, Patriarch Tikhon loved Vladyka and often served with him. In 1931, on the anniversary of the 30th anniversary of his episcopal service, Archbishop Tryphon was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

According to the spiritual daughter of the elder Zacharias E. Visconti, the metropolitan came to the dying elder and said: “I need you. May the Lord prolong your life, so that after me you pass to the next world, so that you pray for my soul when it flies through the ordeals. Get up, old man, get up, confess me,

“I can’t, dear Vladyka, I can’t lift my head from the pillow, I can’t”, replied Elder Zachariah.

But when Metropolitan Tryphon asked the elder: “Stand up in obedience”, the elder with great difficulty got up and approached the icons, “confessed” to Vladyka. From the elder, the metropolitan went to the Church of the Great Ascension, where after the service he turned to the faithful to pray for the elder: “Brothers and sisters, I ask you to pray for the ailing elder Zosima ... ʼʼ Vladyka served a prayer service for the health of the seriously ill elder Zosima. By conciliar prayer a miracle happened - in a few days the old man felt better. When he was told about the prayer service served for him in the Church of the Great Ascension, Father Zosima, smiling slightly, said: ʼʼYes, I heard, I heard, this eccentric cinder Tryphonʼʼ. The Elder called Vladyka Tryphon Ogark because he knew that his days were numbered. Soon Vladyka fell seriously ill. When Vladyka reposed, the elder said: “My friend, Vladyka Tryphon, wanted me to live two more years after his death. And so it will be according to his holy prayersʼʼ.

From the memoirs of Vladyka's spiritual daughter, Maria: ʼʼIn 1934, Vladyka fell seriously ill, and on his name day, February 1, he served in the church of Saints Adrian and Natalia, delivered a sermon that he was serving for the last time, and asked to pray for him... He he was very weak, he was supported by subdeacons, there were a lot of people, he, sitting, blessed everyone, and there was a sea of ​​tears, everyone felt that this was the last time, we would not see him again in the churchʼʼ.

Metropolitan Tryphon died on June 14, 1934. They buried him in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Lefortovo, and buried him at the Vvedensky (German) cemetery. To this day, believers come to the grave of the righteous man and ask for his prayers.

(In the early nineties, I was trying to find the grave of the Metropolitan, I was told where to go, I walked and prayed, mentally asking the Metropolitan to help find the places of his burial. Suddenly, a tree creaked loudly, I went up to the tree and saw the grave of Elder Tryphon. Thank God for all! ( S.D.))

Shortly before his death, Metropolitan Tryphon wrote an akathist ʼʼGlory to God for everythingʼʼ, we will give only two Ikos from this akathist:

Ikos 1

I was born into the world as a weak, helpless child, but Your Angel spread its bright wings, guarding my cradle. Since then, Your love has been shining on all my paths, miraculously guiding me to the light of eternity. The gloriously generous gifts of Your Providence have been revealed from the first day until now. I thank and cry with all who have known Thee: Glory to Thee, who called me to life; Glory to Thee, Who showed me the beauty of the universe. Glory to Thee, who opened before me heaven and earth as an eternal book of wisdom; Glory to Your eternity in the midst of the temporary world. Glory to Thee for Thy secret and manifest mercies; Glory to Thee for every breath of my sadness. Glory to Thee for every step of life, for every moment of joy; Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Ikos 2

You brought me into this life, as if into an enchanting paradise. We saw the sky as a deep blue bowl, in the azure of which the birds are ringing, we heard the soothing noise of the forest and the mellifluous music of the waters, we ate fragrant and sweet fruits and fragrant honey. It is good with You on earth, joyfully visiting You. Glory to Thee for the feast of life; Glory to Thee for the fragrance of lilies of the valley and roses. Glory to Thee for the sweet variety of berries and fruits; Glory to Thee for the diamond radiance of the morning dew. Glory to Thee for the smile of bright awakening; Glory to Thee for earthly life, a harbinger of heaven. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Metropolitan Trifon (in the world Boris Petrovich Turkestanov) was born on November 29, 1861 in the family of Prince Peter Nikolaevich Turkestanov (1830-1891) and Varvara Alexandrovna Turkestanov (née Naryshkina, 1834-1913). Boris was the second child in the family - after his older sister Catherine. In total, the family had six children.

On his father's side, he belonged to an ancient Georgian princely family dating back to the 15th century. His great-great-grandfather, Prince Boris (Baadur) Pankratievich Turkestanov, moved from Georgia to Russia under Emperor Peter I (1689-1725).

His early childhood passed in Moscow and in his mother's estate near Moscow - the village of Govorovo (not far from the present Vostryakovskoye cemetery), where in a large old park with two ponds there was a one-story house with a terrace; here, in the park, stood a stone church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. From childhood, Boris got used to church services, fasting fasts and holidays, to a measured, settled and consecrated church life.

In infancy, Boris was very weak and often ill. At one time, he became so ill that the doctors did not hope for his recovery, and then the believing mother resorted to the Heavenly Doctor. She loved to pray in the church of the martyr Tryphon, located on the outskirts of Moscow, and now she began to ask the holy martyr for her little son, promising, if he recovers, to dedicate him to the service of God. After that, the boy began to recover quickly and soon completely recovered.

Once Varvara Alexandrovna made a trip with her son Boris to Optina Pustyn. When they approached the hut of the Monk Ambrose, the elder suddenly said to the people standing in front of him: “Give way, the bishop is coming.” People parted with surprise to see instead of the bishop approaching a woman with a child.

Boris Turkestanov studied at the private classical gymnasium of the famous teacher L.P. Polivanov, one of the best in Moscow (it was located on Prechistenka). By the end of the 1870s, he met the elder hieromonk Barnabas, whom the high school student Boris Turkestanov visited during fasting in the Gethsemane skete of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra during the days of Peter's fast. From this time began his spiritual acquaintance with the Monk Barnabas, which continued until the end of the elder's life (+1906).

In 1883, after graduating from the Moscow Gymnasium, Boris entered the Faculty of History and Philology of Moscow University. However, secular higher education and subsequent activities did not appeal to him.

In one of the letters of the 1920s, Bishop Tryphon describes his conversation with the artist of the Maly Theater M.A. Reshimov, which took place in Yalta in the early 1880s, where he was as a companion with his asthmatic father. In it, the young prince definitely speaks of his choice of the monastic path, despite the misunderstanding on the part of most people of his circle - with the exception of his mother. Shortly after this conversation, Boris Turkestanov entered the Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn (probably in 1884). His spiritual mentor was Saint Ambrose Optinsky (+1891).

In 1889, a young novice prince, with the blessing of his spiritual leaders, took the place of a teacher and overseer in the missionary Ossetian religious school in Vladikavkaz.

On December 31, 1889, he was tonsured a monk with the name Tryphon. the tonsure was performed in the church of the Tiflis Theological Seminary during the all-night vigil by the rector, Archimandrite Nikolai (Ziorov).

The next day, January 1, 1890, he was ordained a hierodeacon by the Exarch of Georgia, Archbishop Pallady (Raev).

In 1891, also for "obedience to the will of spiritual leaders," Hieromonk Tryphon entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

As a student at the Moscow Theological Academy, Hieromonk Tryphon carried out the obedience of a priest in the transit prison of Sergiev Posad. For this service he was awarded a golden pectoral cross.

In 1895 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a degree of Candidate of Theology and was appointed superintendent of the Donskoy Theological School. From 1897 he was the rector of the Bethany Theological Seminary in the rank of archimandrite. From 1899 he was the rector of the Moscow Theological Seminary.

On July 1, 1901, he was consecrated bishop of Dmitrovsky, vicar of the Moscow diocese. The ordination was performed by: Metropolitan of Moscow Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky), Bishop of Ryazan and Zaraisk Polievkt (Pyaskovsky), Bishop of Mozhaisk Partheny (Levitsky), Bishop of Volokolamsk Arseniy (Stadnitsky) and members of the Moscow Synodal Office, Bishops Nestor (Metantsev), Grigory (Poletaev) and Nathanael ( Cathedrals).

In 1901, during the vacation of Metropolitan Vladimir, he ruled the Moscow diocese.

The Vicar Bishop of Dmitrovsky at that time had the seat of the ancient Moscow Epiphany Monastery as its pastor. His Grace Tryphon was Bishop of Dmitrovsky and rector of this monastery for almost fifteen years - until the First World War.

During his tenure, he arranged for Epiphany Cathedral a chapel in the name of St. Theodosius of Chernigov (consecrated on May 17, 1904), repaired churches, put church utensils in order, and provided electricity. Vladyka also took care of the internal improvement of the monastery; he sought to ensure that “the entire community of monks was united by one spirit of love for the Lord God, animated by a firm faith in the truth and steadfastness of the holy Church, based on the same solid principles of monastic life on which the original monasticism was based.”

His Grace Tryphon repeatedly, by appointment of the Synod, made long trips to other dioceses - to the Vyksa Iversky Monastery (in July 1903), to the Yablochinsky Onufrievsky Monastery of the Kholmsky diocese, on the western outskirts of the Russian Empire (in 1907), where the rector at that time time was his vows (1904) Hieromonk Seraphim (Ostroumov). In July 1911, Vladyka traveled to the north, to the monasteries of Solovetsky and Trifon-Pechengsky...

During the turmoil of 1905, Bishop Tryphon called on his flock to pray, fast, confess, and take communion. On May 9, 1905, on the day of memory of St. Nicholas, he performed a prayer service on Red Square, which brought together many faithful Muscovites who followed their shepherd, "not afraid of any threats, ready even to accept death" ...

In the summer of 1912, Bishop Tryphon visited Mount Athos. In April 1914, he participated in the trial of the Athos monks of the Moscow Synodal Office, chaired by the Metropolitan of Moscow, St. Macarius, who, as you know, tried to cover up with love the differences in this "secret matter."

In 1914, Bishop Tryphon was the administrator of the Moscow Metropolis. In July of this year, the First World War began.

On August 22, 1914, Bishop Tryphon went to the front. Bishop Tryphon spent about a year in the army, acting as regimental priest of the 168th Mirgorod Infantry Regiment and dean of the 42nd Infantry Division. For distinction during military operations, the Sovereign Emperor granted His Grace Tryphon a panagia on the St. George ribbon from the office of His Imperial Majesty.

Bishop Trifon was in the army twice - first on the Polish (August 1914 - 1915), and then on the Romanian (1916) fronts. His front-line diary of the first period has been preserved, giving a fairly clear idea of ​​the life of the saint at the front, of his feat as a military priest.

On the Polish front, Vladyka received a shell shock and was forced to return to Moscow. In 1916, he again left for the front, this time - Romanian. He returned to the Epiphany Monastery for Easter. His health was greatly upset, at the front he lost the sight of one eye. His Grace Tryphon filed a petition for dismissal to retire with a stay in his native Optina Hermitage. On June 2, 1916, by the highest command, the first vicar of the Moscow diocese, Bishop Trifon of Dmitrov, was retired. At the same time, he was appointed manager of the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery.

Vladyka settled in New Jerusalem and took up monastic affairs. First of all, set up church service, which acquired the splendor characteristic of its divine services. In New Jerusalem, Bishop Tryphon, as before in his activities, paid considerable attention to the spiritual enlightenment of the people and charity, sowing the seeds of faith and mercy everywhere. It is known that he built a women's gymnasium here at his own expense, where he himself lectured. During the war years, the monastery housed an infirmary for the wounded, which now also became the subject of concern for Bishop Tryphon. His spiritual children came to Vladyka, stayed at the monastery hotel, sometimes lived here for several days.

On April 1, 1918, by a decree of Patriarch Tikhon and the Holy Synod, “Bishop Tryphon, former Dmitrovsky, was released, according to a petition, due to illness, from managing the stauropegial Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery with the appointment of his residence in the Donskoy stauropegial monastery.”

In 1923 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

On July 14, 1931, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan with the right to wear white cowl and a cross on a miter on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the bishop's service.

He died on July 14, 1934 in Moscow and was buried at the Moscow German cemetery "Vvedensky Gory".