On November 16-17, 2024, the Volgograd Eparchy held celebrations dedicated to the memory of Metropolitan John (Wendland), an outstanding hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, church diplomat, scientist, writer, artist, and teacher. This year marks the 35th anniversary of his blessed death.
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On November 16, Metropolitan Theodore of Volgograd and Kamyshin together with Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis and of the Orthodox Church in America under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Protopriest Daniel Andreiuk visited the State Historical and Memorial Museum-Reserve «Stalingradskaya Bight» on Mamaev Kurgan. The guests laid flowers at the eternal flame in the Hall of Military Glory. Metropolitan Niphon made an entry in the book of honorary visitors.
Metropolitan Theodore and the guests visited the Cathedral of Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in Volgograd, where they prayed and worshipped the sacred things of the cathedral. A meeting was held here between Metropolitan Theodore and representatives of the local churches. Orthodox Churches with the Governor of the Volgograd Region, Andrei Bocharov. The parties discussed the preservation of spiritual and cultural-historical heritage and the realization of projects aimed at this.
In the evening, on the eve of the Week of the 21st on Pentecost, in the Cathedral of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky was celebrated the All-Night Vigil. The service was led by the Chairman of the Financial and Economic Department of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Nikandr of Naro-Fominsk, who arrived with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for the celebrations dedicated to Metropolitan John (Wendland). His Eminence was served by Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, Metropolitan Theodore of Volgograd and Kamyshyn, Bishop Elisey of Uryupinsk and Novoanninsk, Bishop Ioann of Kalachev and Pallasovsky, clergy of Volgograd, Pereslavl and other dioceses.
Metropolitan John, clergy of Volgograd, Pereslavl and other dioceses.
On November 17, in the Week of the 21st Pentecost, Metropolitan Nikandr celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. His Eminence was accompanied by Metropolitan Niphon, Metropolitan Theodore, Bishop of St. Peter's Cathedral, and Metropolitan Nyphon. Bishop John, Bishop Elisey, representative of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), Archpriest Daniel Andriyuk, clergy of Volgograd, Yaroslavl and other dioceses.
The bishop's choir of the cathedral performed the liturgical hymns.
The liturgical hymns were sung by the archdiocesan choir of the cathedral under the direction of the regent Maria Zimovets. The sermon before the communion was delivered by the rector of the church of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God of Uglich, Pereslavl diocese, hegumen Nikolai (Shishkin).
Hegumen Nikolai (Shishkin).
At the end of the Liturgy a requiem service was performed.
Metropolitan Feodor addressed to the participants of the celebrations with welcoming speech. Guests of the Volgograd land were presented diocesan awards as a sign of gratitude and appreciation. Metropolitan Nikandr and Metropolitan Nifon were awarded the medal of the Holy Martyr Nicholas Popov of the first degree; Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky) and Archpriest Daniel Andreyuk were awarded the medal of the Holy Martyr Nicholas Popov of the second degree.
Then Metropolitan Nikandr addressed the participants of the celebrations with a reply. The bishop conveyed the blessing of His Holiness to the faithful Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and thanked Metropolitan Theodore for his hospitality. Speaking about Metropolitan John (Wendland), Vladyka Nikandr noted: «He was born in a difficult time, there were many difficult events in his life. We see that in his life he was able to combine service to the Fatherland and the Church of God in a very talented way. We see that he was not afraid of any changes: he was moved, but he became even more kind because he was not afraid of anything, but only believed in God, trusted Him. With the help of his good heart, he was able to acquire all of us — all the people who knew him, who today recognize».
Metropolitan Niphon also greeted the participants of the celebrations: «On behalf of the representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches, I thank Vladyka Theodore, who gathered us in this blessed city, which is known throughout the world and honors the memory of its defenders, in the city-hero, where fortitude, sacrifice and heroism changed the course of history. By the Providence of God, in the city of patriots we honor a Russian patriot, an outstanding bishop, Metropolitan John (Wendland). Thanks to Vladyka Theodore, today we feel a connection with another great city — Yaroslavl, where he himself came from, where the outstanding Metropolitan John served, where for some time served as Metropolitan of Patriarch Tikhon, the great Russian bishop Nikodim (Rotov), where the oldest bishop of the Russian Church, my friend Metropolitan Yuvenaly, is from.
It is very pleasant that today we prayed together, remembering both ordinary people and saints, praying for His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, under whose omophorion we live, for the Primate of our Local Churches, demonstrating the unity of our Churches in the spirit of love and peace. I wish you all peace, prosperity, that, imitating the outstanding people of the Russian land, you will always be patriots and defenders of the truth of Christ. Happy holiday to you!
On the same day Metropolitan Nikandr, Metropolitan Feodor, Bishop Elisey, Bishop John and Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky) visited Mamaev Kurgan. The guests of the diocese familiarized themselves with the progress of painting the Church of All Saints, laid flowers in the Hall of Military Glory. Also bishops and clergy prayed at the tomb of Marshal V.I. Chuikov.
November 17 also held a memorial evening dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the death of Metropolitan John (Wendland). The event was held in the Volgograd Regional Puppet Theater. In the foyer there was an exhibition where guests could see photographs and personal belongings of Metropolitan John (Wendland) There were exhibited the art works of Vladyka — watercolors that he painted in different years of his life, as well as paintings of his mother — N.P. Wendland. Exhibited art works of the lord — watercolors, which he painted in different years of his life, as well as paintings of his mother — N.P. Wendland. While visitors familiarized themselves with the exhibition, a violin quartet performed classical works on the stage of the art space.
For prayerful remembrance, all guests were presented with books containing diary entries, memoirs and letters of Metropolitan John (Wendland). Author-author — journalist Elvira Mezhenna, the spiritual child of Vladyka.
The memorial evening was based on the recollections of those people who personally knew Vladyka.
Metropolitan Nikandr, Metropolitan Nifon, Metropolitan Theodore, Bishop Elisey, Bishop John, Archimandrite Seraphim (Shemyatovsky), Archpriest Daniel Andriyuk, clergy of Volgograd, Yaroslavl, Pereslavl and other dioceses, parishioners of churches and teachers took part in the event.
The memorial evening was opened by Archpriest Alexis Kuznetsov, head of the Culture Department of the Volgograd Diocese. He welcomed the guests and invited Metropolitan Nikandr for a welcoming speech.
Metropolitan Nifon, Archpriest John Kaleda, Archpriest Alexander Ivanov, Elvira Mezhenna shared their memories with the participants of the meeting.
Speeches were illustrated with theatrical sketches on the themes of different periods of Vladyka John's life performed by actors of the Youth Theater of Spiritual and Moral Plot «Mirgorod». Photos and video clips telling about the important life milestones in the fate of the bishop were shown on the big screen.
At the end of the evening, the head of the Volgograd Metropolitan Church addressed the guests of the event with words of gratitude.
Lord Feodor awarded the chairman of the Volgograd Region Culture Committee Stanislav Malykh with a breastplate of the Volgograd Eparchy «Heirs of Alexander Nevsky». Also the director of the theater «Mirgorod» Timofey Nazirov was awarded with a breastplate. The director of the Volgograd Regional Puppet Theater Irina Buzak was presented with a bishop's diploma.
According to the website of the Volgograd Diocese
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