As Solomon once said, everything has already been written and has long been known, however, despite this, Archpriest Andrey Tkachev, whose biography has recently become familiar not only to Ukrainians, but also to Russians, does not stop and is not afraid to repeat what was said earlier. He serves, writes books and actively preaches, addressing the heart of modern man and trying to know it.
Let's get acquainted with the creative and life baggage of this wonderful person, writer, preacher, missionary and true shepherd.
The beginning of life. Archpriest Andrey Tkachev
His biography began on December 30, 1960. It was then that the future priest was born in the beautiful Ukrainian city of Lvov in a Russian-speaking family. Parents who wanted the boy to make a career in the military sent him to study at the age of 15.
After graduating from a harsh military school, following the wishes of his parents, Andrey continued his studies in this difficult craft within the walls of the Military Red Banner Institute of the Ministry of Defense. For some time he studied at the department that trained specialists in special propaganda with a complex specialization in the Persian language.
This period of Andrei Tkachev's life provided him with an excellent foundation for further literary development, which he spoke about in his interviews. Then the future priest got acquainted with the works of Russian classics, which had a huge impact on his worldview. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that, without graduating from the institute, he left the path of the military because of his unwillingness to continue his studies and chose a different path. Apparently, the soul of the future shepherd was always drawn to the battle, but not earthly, but spiritual, more complex and unpredictable.
Choice of vocation
After serving in the army, Andrey Tkachev entered the Kiev Theological Seminary in 1992. Two years of study in it gave him many new acquaintances with people who also chose the pastoral mission. Among Andrey's close friends are the future Archimandrite Kirill (Govorun), the Sofiychuk brothers.
The future pastor perfectly combines his studies with his service in the church, already in the spring of 1993 he accepted the consecration of a deacon, and a little later, six months later, he became a priest. It was then that Archpriest Andrei Tkachev joined the staff of the Lviv Church of St. George. The biography testifies that he devoted twelve years of his life to this temple.
This period is also significant in that Father Andrei had a family. It is noteworthy that the priest does not particularly spread about it anywhere. It is only known that he is married and is the father of four children.
Missionary activity
This period was very intense both for Ukraine as a whole and for Andrey Tkachev, who, in a difficult era of change, begins his pastoral service, realizing it not only in the church, but also in the world. Leads an active missionary activity, supported by his own literary works. The sermons of Father Andrei are widely known far beyond the borders of his native city. The man himself in his interviews notes that he did not choose the activity of a missionary. The latter "chosen" him herself.
The active position of the Orthodox priest, who is not afraid to call a spade a spade and does not flirt with the public, has opened up new opportunities for him. The first of them was an invitation to work on one of the Kiev television channels.
TV work
Here, Archpriest Andrei Tkachev, whose biography was replenished with another remarkable fact, received an excellent opportunity in television programs to briefly, but at the same time succinctly speak on a variety of exciting modern people themes.
This goal was served by a TV project called “For the Dream of the Future”, which was hosted by Father Andrei. Before going to bed, viewers had an excellent opportunity to discover something new for themselves in a ten-minute conversation with a priest, to hear answers to their questions.
The show found its audience. Appreciative reviews poured in. These soulful evening conversations with the priest about the events of the past day, about the questions that life itself poses to a person, opened the doors to a completely different world for the audience. Andrey Tkachev in a laconic form could tell about the life of the saints, about prayer and interpretation of the sacred lines of the Gospel. So much was invested in these ten minutes that it is impossible to imagine. Moreover, the conversations “For the dream to come” were not of any moralizing or instructive nature, but at the same time they attracted the audience with their thoughtfulness and a clear soul-beneficial effect.
Later, another project appeared on the Ukrainian TV channel "Kievskaya Rus" called "The Garden of Divine Songs". Here, in a spiritual-cognitive form, Andrey Tkachev introduces viewers into the depths of knowledge about the Psalms. When reading the psalms, the priest not only tries to explain what they are talking about, but also penetrates into the very depths of the content, connecting them with the events of the time when they were created.
Moving to Kiev
Work on television, which brought fame to the priest, at the same time created many problems for him. Andrei Tkachev, who did not have a place of residence in Kiev, had to come every week from Lvov.
This went on for six long years. Finally, in 2005, tired of being torn between the two cities, he received an absentee letter issued by the Lviv diocese and moved to the capital. The step was rather risky, because at that time Father Andrei did not have any directions and parishes.
For some time he served in several churches. But a month later, the priest was invited to serve in the temple of Agapit of Pechersk, a little later, with the permission of the Kiev metropolis, he became a cleric here, and in 2006 - rector.
In 2007, Father Andrei took over another church being built nearby, named after Archbishop Luka Voyno-Yasenetsky.
Active and selfless service brought Andrey Tkachev a special award - a miter, which was awarded to him in 2011 by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
In 2013, the archpriest takes over the leadership of the missionary department of the Kiev diocese.
Writer and journalist
This is another role that Andrei Tkachev (archpriest) has. Books open another side of his service to God, because in them he tries to reach out to his contemporary. The author, calling himself a journalist, writes about the topical and topical, about what everyone is hearing, but at the same time he tries to ensure that in every story, short story there is at least a drop of eternity. It is this quality that allows the work to survive. Andrei Tkachev, as he himself says, wants to write today about today, but in such a way that it would be interesting even in a hundred years.
“Return to Paradise”, “Letter to God”, “We are eternal! Even if we don’t want to” - all these names are a clear confirmation of what their author, Andrei Tkachev (Archpriest), wants to say. These books are the fruit of the author's thoughts, embodied in stories. They, as a rule, are small, but very colorfully and succinctly convey events and individual episodes from the life of both holy ascetics and ordinary Orthodox - our contemporaries who came to faith and live according to
Many books are written in the form of a dialogue with a priest and are built from answers to the questions posed. There are a great many of the latter, the topics are very different: about complexes, the birth of children, about art, attitudes towards sports, about gender relations, etc. In addition to such everyday topics, there are deeper ones: about life and death, God and questions about him, old age and passions, etc.
The author, an Orthodox priest living in the world, knows human passions and problems, misfortunes and misfortunes. But at the same time, he knows them much more deeply than ordinary laymen, and therefore knows the answers to many seemingly incomprehensible questions.
In addition to books, Archpriest Andrei Tkachev also participates in the work of Orthodox websites and magazines. His articles and interviews can often be found on the portals Pravoslavie.ru, Pravmir.ru. The priest takes part in the upbringing of the youth with the help of Orthodox magazines. One of such well-known projects is Otrok.ua. Father Andrei has been working here for many years as a member of the editorial board and a regular contributor.
About Skovoroda
The book "The Fugitive from the World" caused a special controversy. Archpriest Andrei Tkachev is not afraid to address difficult and taboo topics. Here we are talking about a bright personality of the eighteenth century - Grigory Skovoroda.
Examining the personality traits of the philosopher as if through a magnifying glass, Andrey Tkachev does not sing praises to him, as many of his predecessors did. He only notes the love for Skovoroda of almost everyone - from nationalists to communists, and they love not from a great mind or from what they read, but just like that.
The priest, as always, looks at things sensibly and notes that reading Grigory Savvich is not an easy job, and he himself is by no means as harmless as it seems, but it is worth reading into it. However, this “immersion” must be approached with prayer.
Sermons and talks
A special place in missionary activity is occupied by the sermons of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev. The priest addresses the most different people. Among its listeners are parishioners of churches and atheists, students and pensioners, representatives of various social strata and religions.
He does not try to embellish anything or persuade listeners. Father Andrei speaks clearly, clearly, succinctly and in such a way that anyone will hear and understand: there is little time left, and no one will lisp with him.
Such a radical position makes the sermons of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev especially popular and controversial. Its understandable and modern language seasoned with quotes from ancient thinkers, it destroys illusions, reveals a real picture of the world and makes it possible to realize the regularity and inevitability of many events.
About love for people
In his sermon "How to Learn to Love People?" Archpriest Andrey Tkachev raises one of these important questions that many who embark on the path of faith ask themselves. Today the people are spoiled housing issue, lost themselves and their reference points. And living in a kind of "hive" in which there is no love, you need to be able to find yourself. To do this, you need to leave, but not for long. Such a distance from people gives a person the opportunity to recover.
The conversations of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev allow us to trace the idea that loneliness and society are two sides of the same coin, absolutely impossible without each other. Personality is tempered in communication, but grows away from it. A person, in addition to society, needs loneliness. Life in the crowd gives birth to such dangerous disease as underdevelopment of personality. A person needs spiritual health, for the preservation of which one needs to retire in order to stop being infected from others with bad thoughts, passions and other nonsense.
Social network "Elitsy"
The activities of Andrei Tkachev are clear evidence that in his pastoral ministry he uses all possible available modern man means: sermons in temples, television programs, books, websites and even social networks.
Elitsy.ru is one of latest projects restless missionary thinker. Here, netizens get an excellent opportunity not only to listen to the instructions of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev, but also to ask him questions. Every morning, visitors to the site can receive parting words in the form of wishes and reasoning.
Where is Andrey Tkachev now?
The archpriest left Ukraine in the summer of 2014, hiding from the persecution that began in the country after the Maidan events. Given the fact that Father Andrei always openly expresses his opinion, he was not afraid to express a negative attitude towards the revolutionary events that were taking place at that time in Kiev. This became one of the reasons for the persecution of the Orthodox priest by representatives of the Kiev authorities. As a result, he moved to live in Russia and served for some time in the walls of the house church of the martyr Tatyana, which was created at Moscow State University.
Now the place where Archpriest Andrey Tkachev serves is located in the very heart of Moscow - in the Uspensky Vrazhok area. In the Church of the Resurrection of the Wording, the priest continues to carry out his pastoral duty. In addition, he continues to preach from the media: he broadcasts on television, taking part in the work of one of the Orthodox channels ("Union"), as well as on radio "Radonezh".
Pushing aside the Pharisees' authorities and ostentatious correctness, he speaks about the main thing, and does it in such a way that it is simply impossible not to hear him. He wakes us today, shakes our shoulders, invigorates us with his harsh words and unflattering comparisons.
Andrey Yuryevich Tkachev became widely known due to his love for the church and people. In those times when the Bible is rarely updated with new sermons and parables, and the church lives according to long-recognized canons, the archpriest continues to innovate the scriptures.
He actively preaches Orthodoxy, writes and publishes books and is interested in the history of Christians. In 2014, the biography of Andrey Tkachev was replenished with unpleasant events, in connection with which he was forced to leave his native Ukraine, taking his family, whose photo is not on the Internet resources, to the territory of the Russian Federation.
Biography of the priest
Tkachev was born on December 30, 1969 in the Ukrainian SSR, the city of Lvov. He was baptized according to custom from birth, but he really became interested in church writings as a teenager. At that time there were many schools in Lvov where they taught in Russian. Therefore, Andrei studied at the Russian school. Hometown inspired a young man walking in search of beauty.
The most memorable monuments of architecture for him were churches. These majestic temples of the Faith attracted Andrei, enchanted and made him admire himself. Already becoming an adult, he repeatedly returned to his native city to revisit his favorite architectural monuments.
The parents of the future priest dreamed that their son would make a military career, wearing a beautiful green uniform. Therefore, the boy was sent to study at the Suvorov School in Moscow, where he was supposed to turn into a real man with bearing and iron restraint.
Having received his first education, Andrei went to the Military Institute of the USSR Ministry of Defense at the faculty of special propaganda with the study of the Persian language. It was at this moment that the biography of Tkachev began, who decided to follow not at the behest of his family, but at the call of his heart. The reason for the sharp change of mood for him was friendship with an informal guy who instilled in Andrei a love for the church. A friend regularly read church literature, quoted the Bible, and liked to go to temples to listen to hymns. Under the influence of this man, the future archpriest decided to radically change his life.
Taking documents from higher educational institution, young Andrey wrote in an explanatory note of the reason for leaving: "out of unwillingness to study." Thus, he discarded the possibility of recovery on the course. In this regard, the young man was drafted into the army. While serving, Andrei was fond of reading in his free time. Once, when he was standing guard and reading the book of the Bhagavad Gita, a soldier approached him and an interesting conversation about faith began between them. In the future, the future priest began to read books that a new acquaintance brought him. It was these publications and the thoughts that were revealed in them that served as a beacon for Andrey Tkachev, leading him along a new path to the Orthodox Church.
Andrei Tkachev, whose biography will never be replenished with a photo with achievements in military service, returned to his hometown of Lvov, where his family was waiting for him. At first, the failed military man worked as a loader at a grocery store, as well as a sexton and a security guard at the temple. And a year later, inspired by life at the church, he entered the Kiev Theological Seminary. There he met new people who influenced his way of being and thinking. While studying, Andrei worked as a minister in the temple, learning new interesting moments about the life of the church. He failed to graduate from the Kiev Theological Academy, he was expelled for regular absences from classes. Tkachev explains the lack of time for study by the fact that all his free time was spent working with parishioners and family.
Archpriest Andrei admits that for him and his wife the most terrible events of the 90s passed fleetingly and imperceptibly. The reason for this is the rejection of TV and watching any news channels.
During this period of time, Tkachev paid more attention to work at the church, which did not focus on earthly problems. According to the preacher, this way of life is the most acceptable for a person. Having renounced constant stress against the backdrop of events taking place in the country, a citizen ceases to pay attention to problems that in most cases do not concern him. It is at this moment that time is freed up for self-development and other more important matters, and a person lives in health and develops.
In early May 1993 Andrei Tkachev was ordained a deacon, and in November a priest. For the next twelve years he was in the clergy at the church of St. George the Victorious in hometown Lvov. He was engaged in social activities, reading the "Law of God" at Lviv schools as part of a general education project.
Change with the times
2005 was marked by a new event for the priest, accustomed to his parishioners. He had a need to appear in television programs, the purpose of which was to gather a larger number of believers. To implement this idea, the young priest went to the capital of Ukraine. At first, he was not assigned to any church, preaching in various temples and churches at the invitation of his friends. But, after some time, he was called to the temple of Agapit of the Caves at the numerous requests of the parishioners.
Soon, Andrei Tkachev turned from a priest into the rector of the temple, replacing a sick colleague. He served in his new position from 2006 to 2014. During this period of ministry to the church, Tkachev began to publish his books, the first of which was published in 2008. Since 2013, he was appointed head of one of the departments of the Kiev hierarchy and began to appear regularly on the Orthodox TV channel Kievskaya Rus as a TV presenter.
Personal life
Andrey Tkachev got married in 1992, when his biography was not yet connected with the church, but the famous preacher tries not to show off his family photos. In an interview for the press, the minister of the church does not hide the presence of a wife and four children. But at the same time, he does not indicate their names, age and tries to transfer the conversation to other topics. As a public figure, he seeks to protect loved ones from interference from the public.
As a minister of the church, writing books and regularly appearing on television, Tkachev always tried to be honest and open in communication with parishioners, viewers and readers. It was his truthful speeches against what was happening on the Maidan in 2014 that became the reason for the persecution by the radicals. Wanting to protect his family, the young priest left hostile territory, taking refuge in a country that offered him protection and support, as well as the freedom to maintain his opinion, no matter the circumstances.
Having moved to the capital of Russia, Andrey Tkachev still avoided registration in in social networks and publishing photos of his family, and his biography began to take shape completely differently.
He was appointed a supernumerary clergyman at the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Uspensky Vrazhek, and the St. Basil the Great gymnasium near Moscow became his main place of service.
Archpriest Andrei continues to publish his books, but already on the territory Russian Federation. Some of them are printed in the printing houses at churches, but there are also publications published by such well-known publishing houses as ESMO. The last book Andrey Tkachev was published in 2016 under the title "Air of the Heavenly City".
For a long time, religious activity remained under the ban of the authorities, but today no one oppresses Christians in Russia. Thanks to the authoritative preachers of the Church, most Christians advance religiously, expanding their own horizons of spiritual life. The activities of the clergyman Andrey Tkachev are especially distinguished.
Missionary activity of the archpriest
The clergyman of the Orthodox Church of Russia is a cleric (reader) of the church of St. Basil the Great. A. Tkachev bears the title of mitred archpriest, preacher and missionary, and is also a TV presenter. This person does not stop there, is not afraid to confirm what was said earlier, writes books and actively preaches.
Read about church leaders canonized as saints:
The biography of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev indicates that the clergyman was born on December 30, 1969. Ukrainian Lvov became his hometown. The child was baptized in early childhood and taught in a Russian school. When he was 15 years old, he entered a military school, and then continued his studies at the Military Institute. I did not finish the course, because I did not have a particular desire to gain specific knowledge. While serving in the army, he gets acquainted with the holy book of Hinduism - the Bhagavad Gita.
On a note! According to Archpriest A. Tkachev, the conversion to the Christian faith came from the realization of nonsense and longing, which he felt as early as adolescence. The formation of a priest was influenced by a certain friend from Lvov, who was fond of reading the Gospel.
- Returning to his hometown, the young man tries the professions of a loader, sexton and security guard in an Orthodox monastery. After some time, Andrei Tkachev enters the seminary, having listened to the advice of senior priests.
- During his studies, he met the future archimandrites Longin and Kirill. For not attending lectures, he loses his place in the seminary. The archpriest admits that he could not master the full-fledged training because of his active image life.
- According to the biography, Andrei Tkachev received the rank of deacon in the spring of 1993 in the city of Lvov. And in the autumn of this year he becomes a priest. A. Tkachev was in the clergy of the Church of St. George for 12 years. During this time, he read religious treatises on Christian foundations and taught the Law of God, which in schools is called ethics.
- In 2005, the archpriest, who signs an agreement to participate in religious programs, sold his apartment and moved to Kiev. While he did not have an official document on the transfer, he served in several monasteries.
- In the period from 2006 to 2014, he served as rector of the church of Agapit of Pechersk. In 2013, he took up the post of manager of the missionary department. A year later, Andrei Tkachev moved to Russia and was appointed to the Moscow clergy.
- Today the priest is the rector of the church built in honor of Basil the Great. Andrey Tkachev reads sermons, writes books, articles and participates in a number of television programs for Orthodox TV.
Role of journalist and writer
In his books, the clergyman tries to convey to his contemporaries the idea of serving the Almighty. Calling himself a journalist, Andrei Tkachev writes articles on acute social topics for the Russian people and does not forget to introduce divine guidance into his own thoughts.
The priest is trying to reveal the topicality and hopes that the works of his pen will be relevant in 100 years. The most popular essays include:
- "Return to Paradise" - collections of the author's reflections on topics close to every Christian.
- "Letter to God" is a collection of vivid episodes from the life of saints and ordinary people.
- "The Air of the Heavenly City" - the stories of the archpriest about the saints of the Almighty.
- “The Fugitive from the World” - in this book, the archpriest examines the personality of the philosopher G.S. Skovoroda and notes that the study of his works is a complex matter that requires a prayerful approach.
FROM complete list published books of the clergyman can be found on his official website. http://www.andreytkachev.com/knigi/
The author's small works absorb his worldview, eloquently and succinctly reveal to the reader the incidents that happened to Christian ascetics. The author, through his sermons, calls on the common people to turn to the commandments of the Son of God and keep them.
Read about the commandments of God:
Most of the stories are built in the form of a dialogue between the author and the priest, where the reader finds answers to intriguing questions. Andrey Tkachev touches on the subject of childbirth, emotional complexes, relations between a man and a woman. The clergyman does not bypass more important substances: God, life and death, old age.
The archpriest is well versed in human psychology and determines the causes of the appearance of the passions of life. In his works, laymen find answers to questions that have long been of interest to them.
In addition to writing books, priest Andrei Tkachev is involved in the development of websites on the topic of Orthodoxy, and also writes articles for religious magazines.
Preacher's thoughts
The sermons of Andrey Tkachev occupy a sufficient place in his missionary activity. The clergyman directs his words to all segments of the population. Old people and young people, believers of various faiths and atheists listen to him with equal attention. In the speeches of the archpriest there is no excessive pomposity and desire for persuasion. The priest speaks in simple and clear language.
Many sermons can be heard during meetings with the archpriest, or can be found on his official website on the Internet.
Advice! There is also Elitsy.ru - a project where you can listen to instructions and ask questions to the missionary.
Andrey Tkachev's sermons have modern look and are often seasoned with authoritative quotations from ancient sages. This allows you to destroy the illusory nature of the material environment and reveals the regularity and predestination of all events. The archpriest claims that a person becomes stronger within society, but spiritually improves - in the distance. Loneliness is necessary, because life among people gives rise to a certain underdevelopment. In order to preserve and increase health, avoiding bad influence, a person needs solitude.
On a note! Speaking of love, the clergyman calls for a short time away from society in order to restore his emotional strength, because today's realities have completely changed social guidelines.
The missionary also conducts a lot of explanatory work among young people in social networks.
Andrei Tkachev is famous, a biography and photos of his family can be found on the Internet. He gained his popularity because of his warm attitude to temples and churches, as well as to the people around him. Now he is a preacher of Orthodoxy, publishes books and writes them.
Biography
Andrey was born in 1969 at the end of December in Soviet Ukraine in Lvov. He was baptized at birth. His passion for religion manifested itself in adolescence. The young man was always looking for beauty, something to admire and enjoy, his hometown was his main inspiration.
Most of all he was attracted by churches and temples, he liked the way they look, the atmosphere around these buildings. The young man was fascinated by their beauty. Often in adulthood, Tkachev returned to his native places in order to again feel what he felt many years ago.
His parents saw their son as a military man, which is why the student went to study in the Russian capital Moscow at the Suvorov School. The student graduated from this school, having this education, he entered the Institute of the Ministry of Defense Soviet Union where he studied Persian.
Training at a military institute allowed Andrei to understand that military career alien to him. Therefore, it was firmly decided that the career would develop as he wanted, and not his parents. The reason for this decision was his communication with one of the students, who told him about the church.
An acquaintance constantly read books about religion, could quote lines from the bible, one of his favorite activities was visiting various sacred places to look at architecture and listen to singing.
It was this person who influenced the further biography of Andrei Tkachev. As a result, the student decided to withdraw the documents from the educational institution, and indicated his unwillingness to continue his studies as the reason for leaving. Based on the specified reason for leaving, he had no chance to recover at the institute. Due to the fact that Andrei did not study anywhere else, he was drafted into the army. During the service, the soldier read a lot.
At one point, standing on guard, Tkachev began to communicate with one of the soldiers about religion. They became good friends with this man, as they had a common theme of faith, which is interesting to both. A new acquaintance brought books to the future priest, which he actively studied.
In the biography of Andrei Tkachev there is no photo of the service, the soldier returned to the family immediately after the army. For a long time he had to work in the lowest positions - he was a loader in a grocery store, he worked in the temple as a security guard. He liked the church life, and after some time he decided to enter the seminary.
During the period of study, Tkachev made acquaintances with people who had exactly the same interests as Tkachev. During his studies, he worked as a minister in the temple, while he could get acquainted with new unknown moments about religion. Tkachev was never able to graduate from the academy, as he regularly skipped classes. Andrey devoted all his free time to parishioners and his own family.
Andrei admitted that the 90s were not very noticeable for him and his wife, they refused to watch TV and other media.
At that time, Andrei's entire attention was directed to the church, while Tkachev could be distracted from everyday life and hard life. The priest believes that such an image is most suitable for any of the people, especially those who find themselves in a difficult situation. In his opinion, in such a rhythm, a person is less prone to negative emotions and can pay more attention to his own development, while maintaining the harmony of the soul.
At the end of 1993 A. Tkachev became a priest. For the next two decades, the priest was in the clergy at the temple in his hometown in Ukraine. Andrei was actively involved in public affairs, read the law of God in schools.
In the zero years, the priest was waiting for significant changes. Andrei began acting in TV programs, the task of which was to attract believers. To translate the idea into reality, Andrey went to Kiev. Tkachev was a preacher invited by friends, but was not assigned to churches.
With the advent of time, Andrei became the rector in the temple, replacing another person. Andrey worked like this for 8 years until 2014. While working, he had his own works, the first book was published 10 years ago.
Since 2013, he began to lead one department of the Kiev hierarchy and he could be seen on the channel about Kievan Rus, where he served as a TV presenter.
Family
The priest got married in the early 1990s. During this period, the biography of Andrei Tkachev is connected with the family, whose photos he does not try to put on public display. Tkachev does not hide the presence of a family, he also has four children. However, Andrei Tkachev does not distribute a photo of the family, does not talk about their names and tries to avoid such conversations.
Most likely, this is done in order to protect the family from possible rumors and discussions.
Andrei tries in his works, during television programs, to be honest and open towards his fans.
In 2014, his words about what was happening on the Maidan became the reason why he was persecuted. Tkachev, together with his relatives, moved to another country. He is still not in various social networks.
After a wave of criticism fell upon the priest, the priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko undertook to support and justify the servant of the Church.
Here he could not stand it anymore, the teacher of the Orthodox theological school in Vladikavkaz, priest Alexander Pikalev, rebelled against the public call for violence. In general, the discussion is gaining momentum.
The recording was made, apparently, during one of the spiritual conversations with Orthodox youth. At the beginning of the recording, Archpriest Andrei Tkachev voices the question posed in the note by one of those present in the audience: “Is it possible to look for a wife if there is no money to support her?”
The father answers: “There are different wives. One bought a curler, she is happy for half a year, and in front of the other you need to spread a carpet.
Further, the archpriest says: “It seems to me that a woman wants to be put in her place.” And he begins to argue: “A woman, when she meets, - eyes down, such a sheep, all silk-shiny, and then, when they are already married, her horns begin to grow ...”
The problem, according to the priest, is in a man: he has no right to be henpecked. And the priest tells in detail how a woman can be corrected: “You need to break a woman on her knee, beat off her horns ... bend her, rub her, stuff her into a washing machine. I don't know what to do with her. That is, a man must break off a woman one hundred percent! Turn her into a real woman. Wash off all this pornographic paint that has been applied to her by modern civilization. If he can’t, let him not marry, let him become a monk. Otherwise, the woman will command them. He will be henpecked. She will twist them as she wants, throw tantrums ... "
And here is another quote from Father Andrey’s admonition: “There are such humble women who feel at a distance: “I’ll get it right in the forehead” - and they understand the meaning of life, and that’s it! And there are fools who have no feelings, arrogance rolls over, there is too much arrogance, there is no feeling, which means you need to ... just say: “Honey, goodbye! There's an elevator.
So, you press the button, button number 1, go downstairs so that you don’t stink here, you bad goat, get out of here. There are more and more people like you, dear, every year ... That is, I can rest up to 45, from 17 to 50 I have a choice. And you are not. You don't understand, you're stupid. Fool, and stoerosovaya. It means impassable. This is such a rare tree.
I can choose from 17 to 45, to 50, to 55 if I want. And you can from 16 to 30, and then they came to replace you, who are 16, and you need to smear, paint, invent something. You do not understand? Thinker not working? Goodbye! ..” They need to actually give birth, for that matter ... and be afraid!
The responses to such an ambiguous speech by the priest were not long in coming. The regulars of the Orthodox forum were indignant: “I wonder what kind of children will grow up in a family where dad “breaks the horns” of mom?” “Where is the world heading if a shepherd teaches men to be rapists?..” “And this is said by a man who is called to heal people’s souls?” “Calling women to humility, the apostle Paul says that the husband must love his wife, as Christ the Church. Mutual respect, not humiliation, not suppression, is the basis of a strong family.”
True, there were also those who wrote: “I am a married woman, but I cannot disagree with the words of Father Andrei. All the time for the first roles in the house I'm torn, but in Lately less and less, as noticeably from this disorder began in the house.
“I left Ukraine after the events on the Maidan”
What is known about the pastor himself? Archpriest Andrei Tkachev is 46 years old, he is married and has four children. Father Andrei is a public figure: he serves, writes books, and actively preaches. He was born in Lvov and graduated from the Suvorov Military School in Moscow. At the Military Institute of the Red Banner of the Ministry of Defense, he studied at the department that trained specialists in special propaganda with knowledge of the Persian language. In the second year, having decided to leave the institute, he went to serve in the army, after which he entered the Kiev Theological Seminary.
Serving in the only one in Lviv Orthodox church George the Victorious, gained fame outside the city with his sermons. Having moved to Kiev, he became the rector of the church of Agapit of the Caves, then he took over another church of St. Luke of Crimea, which was being built nearby. On Kiev television channels, he hosted the programs “For the Dream of the Future” and “The Garden of Divine Songs”. Was awarded a miter.
Until 2014, he headed the missionary department of the Kiev diocese. He was forced to leave Ukraine after a sensational sermon in which he sharply opposed the events on the Maidan. In particular, he said: “Revolution is a rage…”
Hiding from persecution, he moved to Moscow. Now he serves in the capital's Church of the Resurrection of the Word and teaches the law of God in an Orthodox gymnasium.
"I had a team, I was a coach"
Having traced such a solid track record, it was time to doubt whether the voice of Father Andrei was really on the scandalous dictaphone recording? Many of the Orthodox, for example, considered the recording to be a montage.
Doubts were dispelled by Archpriest Andrei Tkachev himself, with whom we managed to contact:
This entry is 6 years old. I had a trusting relationship with parishioners in Kiev, where I could afford to say what I do not allow myself to say in public space. It was a conversation with my friends, my regular temple visitors. I talked to people, meaning that we are talking indoors, about specific things that do not require extra ears. We have healed one worldly problem there.
It was a private speech, in which there was both irony, and a sense of humor, and an eye-to-eye look, and knowledge of the people who were there. It was not a conversation on camera, but a conversation with the audience, they knew me, I knew them.
The nature of communication in the family and with strangers is different. I had a family of parishioners in Kiev, with whom I could talk as I liked, they understood me, respected me, loved me and, even if I was mistaken, let my words go unnoticed. This speech was not intended for the ears of others. That's the whole point of the salt.
Have you ever been to an athlete's training session, heard the coach talking to his players? He does not say: "Be kind, serve the ball from this angle." He says: “So, I took it, threw it ...” Everyone listens, and no one is offended. This is a conversation between the coach and the team. I had a team, I was a coach.
The recording was made anonymously without warning me. You know, there is an expression "a helpful fool is more dangerous than an enemy." One of them, having decided to do me PR, posted the record on the Internet without asking for blessings.
The priest, when he is at least a little sensitive to the problem of the flock, meets with people, communicates with them, he is, in fact, a sewer. Human life from the inside out is a cesspool. And we clean it all up. Sometimes drastic measures are needed. There are people who understand soft words, and there are those who do not. And they need to say something strong in Russian. And they see clearly, and everything falls into place. But it is not public speech, not a program article. It's just a conversation with a specific person.
I think that this dictaphone recording was not accidentally taken out of naphthalene, they raised an information boom at the click of a button. There is a certain order, programmed work is felt. And this is by no means done by fighters for women's honor. On the part of women's honor, come and clash. Because we, the priests, do nothing but defend women's honor, man's honor, maiden's honor, the honor of a child, the honor of a family. This is our daily work. Don't think they've found a family enemy. God forbid, this was a private conversation.
Importantly, these words are not a guide to action for all domestic abusers, God forbid. Not a single living soul who commits domestic violence or any domestic sins has the right to justify their behavior by me. If you are going to beat your wives or wives are going to beat their husbands - and there is such a thing - forget about me, I did not talk to you. I have something to say to domestic abusers, but I did not communicate with them then. This is a speech taken out of context.
I am a nervous, terrible, sinful person, I can be emotional. I am not Chamberlain or Lord Disraeli. I have no task to diplomatically, gently bypass sharp corners. If I speak to those whom I know well, I speak plainly. People knew this, and there were no provocations, just a helpful fool who was more dangerous than the enemy.
- You were forced to leave Ukraine, do you think that someone is settling personal scores with you?
– Of course, ponytails are in Russia, and horns and hooves, of course, are in Ukraine. A person who does not err in a word does not exist in the universe, except for one person whose name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became a man. All other people are wrong.
Therefore, please, spit, shoot, hit, but keep in mind: "measure in the smallest measure - it will be measured to you." That is, if you are ready to treat the person you think is guilty in this way, be prepared that they will treat you the same way.
We make mistakes in words a thousand times a day, be prepared that they will grab you by the tongue, drag you into the light of God and punish you. All those who like to notice other people's mistakes or create an informational occasion from scratch need to know this.
"Batiushka uses the method of literary hyperbolization"
We found a priest who drew attention to the dictaphone recording of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev.
Alexander Pikalev teaches at the Vladikavkaz Orthodox Theological School and is an assistant vice-rector for educational work. At one time he graduated from a medical college, worked at the city ambulance station. After graduating from the Stavropol Theological Seminary, he served in cathedral Holy Martyr George the Victorious in Vladikavkaz, in the Church of the Prophet Elijah. Three children grow up in his family.
“I knew about the existence of the record for a long time,” says Alexander Pikalev. - It is quite possible that it was recorded privately, in a narrow circle of listeners. I reacted to it when another priest, Svyatoslav Shevchenko, began to justify Tkachev and write about some kind of global feminization.
I couldn't resist and wrote back. The assertion that this is a private statement of Father Andrei, but basically he does not say this, does not stand up to criticism. Archpriest Andrei Tkachev has quite similar statements. There are videos where he says approximately the same thing in front of a large audience - that “love gives the right to use violence” and so on. This is his way of speaking. To give a moral assessment, I think, is not specifically worth it, because everything is clear anyway.
I was outraged that the priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko appeared, who began to intercede and justify him. In particular, he writes: “I’m just sure that the father archpriest deliberately exaggerates in order to convey an important idea to the hearts of listeners. The problem is that in our age of wholesale liberalization and feminization of everything and everything, it is very difficult to do this.
We live in a web beautiful phrases. And in order to look into the soul of the interlocutor, sometimes you need to break this web. But how to do it? Call a spade a spade. As rude as it sounds." “Dear women will object to this: they say, but Father Andrei calls for violence. Nothing like this. If we analyze the text a little, it becomes quite obvious that the priest uses the method of literary hyperbolization. Well, let's start with the fact that women don't have horns (neither real nor figurative). And a woman won’t fit in a washing machine either, unless, of course, it’s an industrial laundry.”
It is disgusting to say that the priest is right in principle, that he said everything normally, maybe he went too far. And, of course, I could not stand it, - says Alexander Pikalev. - Such a position, like any speech that publicly calls for violence and denies human dignity in a person based on national, racial, social or, as we see here, gender, is unacceptable.
We asked the writer, playwright, TV presenter, publicist Maria Arbatova to comment on the speech of Archpriest Andrei Tkachev on “breaking the horns”.
- This entry was made in a narrow circle, not at a sermon, although this does not detract from what was said. In fact, these are calls for reprisals against women. And from this point of view, our Criminal Code answers all questions.
In addition, if a person is a clergyman, he, of course, deeply discredits the Orthodox Church. And if she has a different position, she must disassociate herself from him and one of the representatives of the ROC apparatus must make a certain statement. Otherwise, it's just another stain on her cassock.
- Father Andrey undertook to support and justify the well-known blogger priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko ...
The number of people who supported criminal statements does not diminish their criminality. A lot of manic men across the country believe that violence is the language spoken in society, in the family, and so on. From this, violence does not cease to be a crime, which is punishable by law in the same way as calls for violence.
– And what about the official position of the Church?
“You can have different attitudes towards what sounds in this recording, I don’t know any special supporters of such an approach in our Church,” says Vakhtang Vladimirovich Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media. - In any case, it was said for some narrow circle of people. You never know what someone in the kitchen said.
I think that it is not entirely correct to bring this to the general court and general discussion. This is a private conversation, a private recording, which for some reason became public. We have no comment on this as it is a private entry. We will not comment on what is happening in some private relations. There are foundations of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, chapter ten, dealing with issues of personal, family and public morality.
Read - this is the official position of the Church.
