Монашество

In the spring of 1913, Vladimir Troitsky decided to become a monk 139. Vladimir Alekseevich’s fellow inspector of the Mariinsky Diocesan School, priest G.I. Dobronravov, wrote that “monasticism has long seemed to Vladimir Alekseevich as the most appropriate form of life for his spiritual makeup. For a long time he had loved to indulge in monastic exploits; he had long been attracted to St. monasteries, especially desert-dwelling ones. In his mind... academic work, whether on the bench of a student or on the chair of a professor, was understood as one of the monastic obediences” 140. Nevertheless, it is possible that almost until his tonsure, Vladimir Troitsky did not completely reject the possibility of family life. From his letters of 1912 we learn that he arranges a date 141, goes to Moscow “for the birthday of a pretty lady” 142, and even in February 1913 visits the Art Theater “with a lady” 143. However, such events are perceived by the young theologian as some kind of accidents, funny coincidences that cannot be remembered without irony. By the time of his tonsure, he clearly realized that family life was not his path: “For me, the female half does not seem to exist at all... For me, only the Lavra and the Academy exist, and I exist for the Academy” 144. The choice of the monastic path became a natural consequence of Vladimir Alekseevich’s internal state: “I just need to tell you that I have fallen behind any society. I began to come into my own” 145. On March 28, 1913, in the Lavra skete of Paraklit, after a small doxology at Lenten Matins, to the accompaniment of the first spring thunderstorm, the miraculous transformation of Vladimir Alekseevich into the monk Hilarion took place, who received his new name in honor of the Venerable Hilarion the New, abbot of Pelicitsky. There is not a shadow of doubt about his choice in the person being tonsured. He “with a firm voice gave answers to the questions put to him and pronounced sacred vows” 146. The rector of the MDA, Bishop Theodore (Pozdeevsky), in a word of instruction said to the newly tonsured: “I know and do not want to hide now what your sacrifice to Christ is. You were tempted and, perhaps, are now still tempted by love for the school that you serve, and a feeling of fear, lest monasticism deprive you of this school” 147. Vladimir Troitsky perceived scientific theological activity as a form of service to the Church. With his tonsure, he showed his readiness to serve the Mother of the Church in a place where it would be more useful to the Church itself, even if for this he had to give up his favorite activity, that is, science. But fears have not yet come true. He who has been clothed with the “angelic order” gives himself to God through pure service to the Church. The Lord leaves him the academy. Subsequent historical events showed the providential significance of this difficult decision for the young theologian. After his tonsure, Father Hilarion experiences a spiritual uplift unprecedented in his life, which serves as reassurance that the choice he made was correct: “What I experienced, I don’t know how to tell, but after that I felt rejuvenated, just like a boy. I spent 5 days in church in spiritual joy... In the past days of my monasticism, I experienced mainly a feeling of joy and spiritual peace... Yes, things are the same, but I feel a significant change in myself. I would like to believe that this is the effect of a special grace bestowed on a monk... But one has only to admit: “after all, there should not be one form of life for everyone." I chose the one that seemed to me, and now it turned out to be the most suitable. Do not regret, but rejoice, because now I am happy. And what does Hilarion mean? Cheerful" 148 . On April 11, 1913, on Maundy Thursday, Monk Hilarion was ordained as a hierodeacon and remains in the same peaceful and joyful mood: “I continue to this day to be in peace and joy. In the morning you will serve mass and receive communion - it will feel good on your soul. There’s work waiting for me at home, but all my work is interesting, not everyday worries... Thank God! He lived to see peace and quiet. Even the demon has little access. You can really feel that after the service he is afraid to come close - he gets burned. And that’s all we need” 149. Based on the incorrect dating of some copies of letters from V. Troitsky (Archim. Hilarion), Fr. Damascene (Orlovsky) makes the erroneous conclusion that after defending his dissertation, Vladimir Alekseevich visited Zhitomir, where he actively communicated with Bishop. Procopius (Titov) and Archbishop. Anthony (Khrapovitsky) (Damascene (Orlovsky), hierome. Biography of Archbishop Hilarion (Troitsky) // Hilarion (Troitsky), Archbishop. The Church as a Union of Love. - M.: PSTBI, 1998. P. 12). Protodeacon Sergius Golubtsov, starting from this historical inaccuracy, makes the following assumption: “It can be assumed that they (the above-mentioned bishops. - Author's note), despite the fact that the young man dreamed of doing science, largely persuaded him to accept monasticism" (Sergius Golubtsov, protodeacon. Materials for the biographies of professors and teachers of the MDA: Archbishop Hilarion (Troitsky) // Theological Bulletin. 1998. Issue 2. P. 112). But, firstly, it seems incorrect to imagine Vladimir Troitsky as a timid young man who fell under the influence of strong personalities, since the independence of his thinking is known, noted, in particular, by reviewers of his scientific works. Secondly, V. Troitsky, of course, was well acquainted with His Eminence Anthony and, without a doubt, listened to the opinion of the famous hierarch. For example, the latter communicated with a young teacher of the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament during his visit to the MDA in October 1912 (Troitsky V.A. Letter to L.P. Arkhangelskaya dated October 30, 1912 - Archive of A.V. Nikitsky). Nevertheless, in December 1912, Vladimir Troitsky did not go to Zhitomir, but to Kherson, to visit the relatives of Fr. Leonid and Lydia Pavlovna Arkhangelsky. He was in Zhitomir a year after this trip. This becomes clear from a comparison of the contents of the two letters. Thus, in a letter to his cousin Lydia Pavlovna dated January 1913, Vladimir Alekseevich notes: “Although Anthony swears... that I Kherson... preferred Zhitomir, but wanted the 10th (January - Note. author) in the carriage on the way to St. Petersburg to read the dissertation” (Troitsky V.A. Letter to L.P. Arkhangelskaya dated January (in the copy - the first part of the letter, erroneously dated April) 1913 - Archive of A.V. Nikitsky). A letter to the same addressee dated December 27, 1913, originally erroneously dated 1912, signed “Arch. Hilarion." The author of the letter, by the way, notes that he writes “from the carriage, just like last year in the same place.” And further: “I’m going to Kyiv, but from Kyiv my path will no longer be directed to Kherson, not to Kherson, but to Zhitomir” (Ilarion (Troitsky), archimandrite. Letter to L.P. Arkhangelskaya dated December 27, 1913 - Archive of A.V. Nikitsky). The dating of this letter to December 1913 is confirmed by the mention of the resolution of the Academy Council on the essay of Archpriest. Nikolai Malinovsky, which (definition) was adopted at a meeting of the Council on December 11, 1913, after reviews of M. Tareev and Archimandrite. Hilarion (Journals of meetings of the Council of the Moscow Theological Academy for 1913 // Theological Bulletin. 1914. No. 5. pp. 608–640 (3rd page); Journals of meetings of the Council of the Moscow Theological Academy for 1913 // Theological Bulletin. 1914. No. 6. pp. 641–712). Quote By: Krivosheeva Natalia. Blessed are the immaculate ones who walk on the path: Biography of Archbishop Hilarion (Troitsky) [beginning] // Moscow (magazine). 1998. No. 1. P. 217. Troitsky V.A. Letter to L.P. Arkhangelskaya dated 1912, from Petrograd. –Archive of A.V. Nikitsky. His own. Letter from the priest To Leonid and Lydia Arkhangelsky from [early November] 1912 - Archive of A.V. Nikitsky. His own. Letter from the priest To Leonid and Lydia Arkhangelsky from February 1913 - Archive of A.V. Nikitsky. His own. Letter from L.P. Arkhangelskaya dated October 30. 1912 – Archive of A.V. Nikitsky. A. [Author unknown] From academic life // Theological Bulletin. 1913. No. 4. P. 881 (2nd page). Theodore (Pozdeevsky), archbishop. Biography. Selected works / comp. hierome Roman (Lukin). – [B.m.]: Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, 2000. P. 386. Hilarion (Troitsky), hierod. Letter from the priest Leonid and Lydia Arkhangelsky from April 1913 – Archive of A.V. Nikitsky. Hilarion (Troitsky), hierod. Letter from the priest To Leonid Arkhangelsky dated April 27, 1913 – Archive of A.V. Nikitsky.