Victor Moscow Biography

Shortly before the canonization of Ksenia Blessed, when I served in the St. Nicholas Cathedral, then Metropolitan Alexy Leningrad and Novgorod called me and asked: “Father Victor, how do you look at the fact that we will transfer you to one of the temples by the abbot? I did not hide the excitement. But five minutes later, Vladyka again called me and asked: “Father, how? I then approached his assistant to Father George, and now Vladyka Arseny, and said: “Father George, the lord of the hint of me did so and came to this parish.

The parish was in a terrible state, faded and died. Instead of four priests, only two remained. And I began to work in a new field. The temple was launched, the chapel was closed. Vladyka Alexy comforted me all the time and said that maybe soon they canonize Ksenia Blessed. I well remember the day of June 6, when at the local cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ksenia was proclaimed a blessed saint, and a new era began in the life of the parish.

And today we celebrate twenty -six years since the canonization. In Soviet times, as a young man, I have always seen in the notes about repose by the first names of Archpriest John of Kronstadtsky and Blessed Ksenia. The memory of these saints was always carefully stored, and everyone knew that in Leningrad there was a chapel of Ksenia. People came here to divide with blessed both their difficulties and joy.

All this indicates that Ksenia found her rest here. I often call this chapel a "house of Ksenia." We feel and feel her help, as help and reassurance from the mother. Chapel St. Ksenia in the Smolensk cemetery - reading the Life of Ksenia Blessed, you do not cease to be surprised at her path: 26 years old, lost her husband early, experienced grief than modern young people can be useful and interesting such an example?

After all, she could have married graciously after her husband’s death, no one forbade her. But Ksenia Blessed remained faithful and devoted to her husband, so much so that she changed her name and took the name of her husband, Andrei Fedorovich. And when she was addressed by her name - she was angry. She devoted the rest of her remaining life to prayer for him.

And for us. She gave us all her life, her exploits. We feel it. Every day people come in streams, the trail does not overgrow. This means that a person feels a special source, special grace. People of different ranks, titles come: young, and elderly, and simpletons, and scientists. Sometimes, watching from the side of the stream of people going to the chapel, I see their heads bowed, I see how they pray tearfully.

In many letters, we see such words: “What are you happy, Petersburgers, that you have such a shrine! And our human requests are simple. They ask for health, strengthening families, ask for solutions in problems with childbearing, preserving the marriage. I read the letters of the kids. One girl asks Ksenia Blessed: “Ksenyushka, help us so that dad does not leave the family so that mom does not swear with him.

I love both of them so much.

” Another boy writes: “Ksenyushka, my mother is so sick, give her health! She was also young, promising, married to a colonel of a singing chapel. She did not poor and had everything, but she remained a good person and a good Christian. To imitate her life is worth at least in something: in kindness, non-possession, compassion for people, decency. She gave everything she had.

This does not mean that we must take on the feat of foolishness, walk barefoot, but we can spiritually, internally hit her, taking care of our neighbors. Sometimes young people come here and ask for something material: house, car, success and other pleasures; But they forget about their soul. And what's the use of if you get everything, and damage your soul? The Lord asks us about this!

Archpriest Victor Moskovsky.