Metropolitan Orenburg biography
Born in the town of Merkin of the Troksky district of the Vilnius province in the family of a psalmist. In the city of to gg. From in the city of Hill Molodechensky District and in the village of Yastrebla Brest region. In November, since July, a lot of impressions have been left about the lord of his pupils - students of the waist seminary. As the professor of the Minsk Theological Academy, Archpriest Vitaly Antonik, later recalled, Vladyka Leonty was a cheerful person.
Sometimes the students even allowed themselves to joke the inspector, nullifying his galoshes to the floor and watching how his father's father tried to move “Naughty shoes”. In Soviet times, the authorities did not allow printing religious literature, and even more so the manual for students of the spiritual school. Therefore, Father Leonty himself compiled a typewritten abstract for the Old Testament for all four classes of the seminary.
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Archimandrite Leonty was determined to become Bishop of Bobruisk, Vicar of the Minsk Diocese. The Grace Leonty served in the St. Nicholas Cathedral G. Bobruisk up to its closure. From the x The country's highest party leadership wanted to make the first atheistic republic from Belarus in the Soviet Union. Therefore, the presence of two bishops on the territory of the republic was considered simply unacceptable.
It was during these years that the majority of ancient temples were destroyed in the Bobruyshchina. Soon, under the direct pressure of the authorized religion, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decides to transfer Minsk Vladyka Pitirim to another department. But since May, the ministry of Vladyka Leonty at the Novosibirsk department was difficult. At this time, anti -religious propaganda intensified, many temples were closed.
But believers of the Siberians remember the Lord Leonty as a good archpastor who loved the people of God and worship, a connoisseur of church singing and music. Vladyka Leonty possessed encyclopedic knowledge, mastered seven languages and cited the Holy Scriptures by heart. During his life, he gathered a huge library, which was his only treasure. Bishop Leonty ruled the Novosibirsk diocese from the city With the city of Holiness Patriarch Pimen, he was erected to the rank of archbishop.
On the intronization of Patriarch Alexy II, Archbishop Leonty, as the oldest bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church, handed the Holy Archpastoral Rod. The long -term service of people in the spirit of Christian faith and love, the tireless work for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church gained Metropolitan Leonty deep respect and gratitude of the Orenburgers.
His living and inspired sermons made a huge impression on believers, contributed to their spiritual improvement and moral purification. With his cordiality, simplicity, constant attention to people, he contributed to the manifestation of such human virtues as mercy, kindness, love for his neighbor. During his leadership, the number of Orthodox parishes in the region increased by more than seven times.
This was facilitated by the high authority of the Lord in public circles, his skillful and competent relationships with state bodies, and wide contact with believers. Metropolitan Leonty fruitfully engaged in peacekeeping and charitable activities. He was one of the active figures of the Russian Culture Fund, the All -Russian Society for the Protection of Monuments of History and Culture, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Regional Charitable Fund "Conscience".
His fruitful social activity was marked by the Order of Friendship, and the long -term archpastoral ministry - the high awards of the Russian Orthodox Church: the Order of the Equal -to -the -Apostles Grand Duke of Vladimir, two orders of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Order of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow I degree. Vladyka Leonty is an honorary citizen of the city of Orenburg.
All that he could do a good and useful church, he did. Since his calling to the pastoral, and then to the archpastoral ministry, fulfilling various obedience of the Church, he worthy and righteously revealed himself as a gracious and loving shepherd, showing the care of the Church, the salvation of the souls of human, Vladyka Leonty, on January 24, was buried in the Panteleimon chapel of the Nikolsky Cathedral of the city of Bibliography: 1.
Avinov, P. Baimurzin, S. Baklykov, V. Do not leave the cross, they remove from it! Bobrova, O. He prayed for all of us Burmatov, V. Vovk, E. Slavic bazaar. The second top will no longer be Ivanov, T. Ignatkov, I. Krivtsov, A. Krivtsova; Recorded by M. Kuzenov, K. Lysenko, A. Metropolitan Leonty. In the footsters of Orthodoxy. Book III. Martyrs, confessors, ascetics of piety and saints in the Orenburg diocese.
Book IV. Kuznetsov; editor -in -chief Yu. Mikhalin, A. Bulletin of the Government of the Orenburg Region. Morozova, T. Neykin, E. Odinov, V. Panin, T. Leonty, Bishop of Bobruisk. Raguzin, V. Raguzin; Wrote the Russian Orthodox Church. Donkovtseva, Monasteries: Encyclopedic Handbook. Temples, R. Calling "Conscience" - to do good!Temples; Talked S. Yulaev, T. Views: