On March 15, 1975, thousands of people from Pskov, Leningrad, Tallinn, Moscow and other Russian cities came to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery to say goodbye to Archimandrite Alypiy (Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov). Earthly life ended, eternity began.
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... Many years ago, in 1927, 13-year-old Vanya Voronov came to Moscow from Torchikha near Moscow. I came to conquer this city in a terrible time of hard times, “a time of great achievements.” His father and older brother lived in Moscow. Here Ivan completed his nine-year school, worked as a tunneler on the construction of the first stage of the Moscow metro, graduated from an art studio, and served in the army.
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In 1934, he received an apartment on the outskirts of old Moscow, on Malaya Maryinskaya Street (now Godovikova Street). The house in which Ivan Voronov lived in Moscow has not survived. New buildings in the seventies forever changed the appearance of one of the streets near Maryina Roshcha. In the surviving old photographs in the archives of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, you can see how Ivan Voronov in a hat and muffler plays the characters of “Eugene Onegin” on the Moscow amateur stage.
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The dreams of childhood and youth were destroyed by the years of war. In 1942, Ivan Mikhailovich joined the active army. “The whole long journey from Moscow to Berlin - a rifle in one hand, a sketchbook in the other.”
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Already an archimandrite, he said: “In the war, some were afraid of starvation and took bags of crackers on their backs to prolong their lives rather than fight the enemy; and these people died with their breadcrumbs and were not seen for many days. And those who took off their tunics and fought with the enemy remained alive.” Then he added: “The war was so terrible that I gave my word to God that if I survive this terrible battle, I will definitely go to a monastery.”
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Amazing old lady
An amazing incident occurred during the war with Archimandrite Alipius. When Ivan went to the front in 1941, his mother gave him a farewell icon of the Mother of God with the words: “Son, it will be bad, pray.”
One day, with a group of soldiers, Ivan was surrounded. There are Germans on three sides, a swamp on the fourth. In desperation, he remembered his mother's advice. I fell behind the squad a little and prayed as best I could. I returned to the soldiers, and there was some old woman standing there: “Are you guys lost? It’s okay, I’ll show you the path.” And she led the detachment to her own people. “Mother, I don’t know how to thank you,” Ivan told her. “You will serve me for the rest of your life,” answered the savior. Only then did Ivan understand what kind of “old woman” was in front of him.
Our enemies, the Germans!
Another incident that happened with Ivan Voronov.
On May 9, 2003, at a mass burial in the city of Pechory, the brethren of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery served a traditional funeral lithium. Among the speakers was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Aleksey Bogdanovich Turkov. In his speech, he told an amazing case of saving the cultural values of France with the help of Father Alypius:
“I, like my father Alipy (Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov), fought in the 4th Tank Army...
Our army captured the German city of Belnitz and the Debritsa camp, and the road to Potsdam and Berlin was opened. Everything around was on fire, in smoke, planes were bombing... We were traveling in an armored personnel carrier. Suddenly a command to everyone: stop! It is announced over the loudspeaker that the floor has been given to Lieutenant Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov (future father Alypiy). And then a strong voice is heard:
- Listen, listen! Voronov, a representative of the 4th Tank Army, speaks.
And addresses the Germans:
“Our enemies, the Germans, stop and remember that you brought from France the “goddess of beauty” whom we did not see. And if now, when we reach the heights, we destroy this sculpture, then humanity will not forgive us for this! Give up, for God's sake, I ask you, preserve this beauty, and you too will receive Divine faith!
And translator Maria Volonets translates his speech with tears. We were all just dumbfounded, he said it so strongly. After some time the offensive began. But where this goddess of beauty, as we called her, was, there was not a single battle. This sculpture was in my photograph, very beautiful. By order of Hitler, she was taken from France to Germany: the Mother of God is depicted on the pedestal, and an Angel flies to her. And everyone simply called her “goddess of beauty”...
We reached Berlin, turned around at the Brandenburg Gate and went to the city of Freiberg. And here again this Voronov speaks over the loudspeaker. And so he speaks strongly, strongly, and the translator Maria translates his words to the Germans:
- Dear citizens! We will not destroy this city, because your city is the city of our glory! Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov studied here. He married a German woman, Lisa-Christina, here (at first we did not understand why the name was double, then they explained to us that she received her second name when she was baptized into Orthodoxy). If you don’t meet us, then we are forced to take your city in battle!
Two German colonels and three ladies came out to meet us. I was sent to talk to them, since I spoke a little German. I approached them and saw that they were holding a portrait, and in the portrait there was Lomonosov in a wig, and at the bottom there were dates - when he arrived and left this city.
It was agreed that, despite the fact that there were many combat-trained Hitler Youth teenagers in the city, everyone would surrender and hand over their weapons. Thus, Freiberg was taken without a single shot, and the credit for this, of course, goes to Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov, the future Archimandrite Alypius.”
Autobiography
I, Voronov Ivan Mikhailovich, was born in 1914 in the village of Tarchikha, Mikhnevsky district, Moscow region, in the family of a poor peasant.
After graduating from rural school in 1926, he moved to live and study in Moscow with his older brother. After finishing his nine-year school, he lived in the village for two years, caring for his sick mother. In 1932, he began working at Metrostroy and preparing to enter the art institute.
In 1935, the construction of the metro was completed, and the Mossovet commission appointed me to work on the operation of the metro. First he worked as a cashier, then as a controller, and later as an assistant station attendant. In 1936, with the help of the Administration of the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions, an art studio was organized, where I went to study, having been trained in the evening studio at the Moscow Union of Artists in the former workshop of Surikov.
In October 1936, I was drafted into the Red Army. In order not to interrupt his art studies, by decision of the draft commission he was left to serve in the Red Army in Moscow.
During my two years of service in the army, I had to work a lot to organize circles and studios at military units of the Moscow Military District.
In November 1938, upon completion of his service, he went to work at plant No. 58. From November 1938 to November 1941, he worked at this plant as a dispatcher and forwarder. This work, which took place constantly at night, gave me the opportunity to study. In May 1941, classes were over; received a studio diploma, and in June the war began.
At first, our military plant was like a front, and no one went home. And when the enemy approached Moscow, I, like everyone else, went out with arms in hand to defend the capital. When leaving for the front, I also took a sketchbook. And so from Moscow to Berlin: on the right is a rifle, on the left is a sketchbook with paints. I went through the entire war and took part in many battles. For writing the history of the Special 4th Tank Army, Generalissimo Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was personally awarded a high military award - the Order of the Red Star. He was also awarded medals “For Courage” and two medals “For Military Merit”; He received over a dozen medals for his participation in the liberation of various cities.
As written in his personal file, together with the unit with which he participated in battles, he received another 76 military awards and encouragements.
In the fall of 1945, returning from the front, I brought about a thousand different drawings, sketches and sketches and immediately organized an individual exhibition of my front-line works at the House of Unions in Moscow. This exhibition helped me become a member of the city committee of the Association of Moscow Artists and gave me the right to work as an artist. Every year I had one or two solo or group exhibitions, which showed my growth as an artist.
In 1948, while working plein air in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow, I was captivated by the beauty and originality of this place, first as an artist, and then as a resident of the Lavra, and decided to devote myself to serving the Lavra forever.
From March 12, 1949 to July 30, 1959, he worked on the restoration of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, using all his specialties. On July 30, 1959, by Decree of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was sent to the Pskov land to restore the ancient Pskov-Pechersk monastery, which by this time, after many wars and long years of its existence, had fallen into almost complete ruin.
I have been working as the Vicar of this monastery (and this is my monastic obedience) to this day.
Abbot of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery Archimandrite ALIPIY (Voronov)
December 15, 1974
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God preserved Ivan Voronov. He went through the entire war as a member of the 4th Guards Tank Army as an ordinary rifleman and received shell shock. But even during the terrible years of the war, his education came in handy. He created an artistic history of the tank army. Front-line works were already exhibited in several museums of the USSR in 1943. The description says that Ivan Voronov received many awards and commendations from the command, including the Order of the Red Star and the medal “For Courage.” I celebrated victory in Berlin. In 1946, a personal exhibition of his front-line works was organized in Moscow in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions.
In 1950, Ivan Mikhailovich went to sketch in Zagorsk and “conquered and enchanted by these places, he decided to forever devote himself to serving the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.” He immediately applied all his skills and knowledge to the restoration of ancient shrines - wall paintings of the Trinity and Assumption Cathedrals, the Refectory Church, the Patriarchal residence in the village of Lukino (near the station "Peredelkino"). During his monastic tonsure, Ivan Mikhailovich was named Alipius (the Careless) in honor of the venerable icon painter of Kiev-Pechersk. Fate fully confirmed this historical parallel. Higher art education has once again found itself in demand.
In 1959, Abbot Alypiy was appointed abbot of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, and in 1960 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. The most difficult task fell on the shoulders of Archimandrite Alypius - not only to restore the shrines and antiquities of the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, but also to protect the monastery from closure and from the slanderous campaign launched in the press.
If you look only at the headlines of the central and local publications of that time, you feel uneasy: “The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is a hotbed of religious obscurantism”, “Hallelujah” squatting”, “Freeloaders in robes”, “Hypocrites in robes”, “Devonian outcrops” " It was very difficult to resist this wave of slander; it was even more difficult to survive and preserve the monastery.
In reports addressed to Vladyka John, Archimandrite Alypiy emphasized: “A stack of newspaper articles, filled with undeserved insults and slander against Soviet honest, kind and good people, insults to the mothers and widows of dead soldiers - this is their “ideological struggle” - the expulsion of hundreds and thousands of priests and clergy, and the best ones at that. How many of them come to us with tears that they cannot get even a secular job anywhere, their wives and children have nothing to live on.
They suffer because they were born Russian Christians.
It is impossible to describe all the vile methods of the “ideologists” with which they are fighting against the Russian Church. One thing can only be said: “Every earth-born rushes in vain.”
In a letter to the Kirov People's Court of Ufa, Archimandrite Alypiy wrote: “We are Christians, we are deprived of civil rights, and the enemies of the church take advantage of this and abuse it to their destruction. We believe that Truth will win, because God is with us.” 
The truth has won... Let it take years for this to happen. The Pskov-Pechersk monastery is a wonderful monument to Archimandrite Alypiy. A lot of effort and money was invested in the revival of the fortress walls and towers, which were practically built anew; to cover with gilding the large dome of St. Michael's Cathedral, which for a long time was simply covered with roofing iron; to organize an icon-painting workshop in the tower above the Holy Gate.
In 1968, thanks to the efforts of Fr. Alypiy announced an all-Union reader search for the treasures of the sacristy of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, taken away by the fascist occupiers in 1944. Five years later the treasure was found.
In 1973, representatives of the German Consulate in Leningrad handed over the stolen priceless treasures of the sacristy to their rightful owner. Icons painted or restored by Archimandrite Alipius decorate the churches of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, and the Trinity Cathedral in Pskov.
Over many years, Father Alypiy collected a remarkable collection of works of Russian and Western European painting. Now the masterpieces of this collection adorn the Russian Museum, the Pskov Museum-Reserve, and the Museum of Local Lore in Pechory. “Leave everything to the people!” - this is the testament of a true collector and connoisseur of antiquities. Archimandrite Alypiy could rightly be called the “Pskov Tretyakov.” Unfortunately, he was not able to attend the opening of the exhibition “Russian painting and graphics of the 18th-20th centuries from the collection of I.M. Voronov,” which opened at the Russian Museum a few months after his death in 1975.
The ascetic life of Father Alypius was honored with a blessed death. Hegumen Agafangel (unfortunately, also already deceased) said this in his funeral homily: “2 hours and 30 minutes before his death, Father Alipius exclaimed that the Mother of God had come to him: “Oh, what a wonderful face She has!” Hurry to draw this Divine image! “And no one else heard a single word from his lips.”
Archimandrite Alipy (Voronov) was in fact a “bloodless martyr.” It fell to his lot to fight to ensure that the monastery continued to be, with the Soviet state machine.
More than once those in power tried to close the Pskov-Pechersk monastery; similar orders came from Khrushchev himself, who sought to “show the country the last priest.” But thanks to the endurance of Archimandrite Alypius, the monastery continued to live and carry out its ministry. Against any attacks from the authorities, the archimandrite found compelling arguments, the right word, while trying to get out of a difficult situation with his characteristic ingenuity.
Below are the “stamps of the life” of Alypius (Voronov), captured by V. Nartsisov, S. Yamshchikov, V. Kurbatov, Arch. Nathanael.
Guests from Finland
Once upon a time, guests from Finland came to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. They are given a tour, told about all the shrines of the monastery, fed lunch, and given monastic kvass to drink. Everyone is happy. And suddenly one Finnish comrade, grinning triumphantly, says: “The astronauts flew to heaven, but they didn’t find God.” Father Archimandrite answers him: “Such a misfortune can happen to you: you’ve been to Helsinki, but you haven’t seen the president.”
Monastery Road
A complaint comes to the monastery from the Pachkovsky village council that, they say, there is a terrible road leading to the economic gates of the monastery: people fall, get hurt, animals break their legs.
Archimandrite Alypiy writes the answer: “No one walks along that road except monks and monastery cows, so thank you for your touching concern for us. We will be glad to fix the road. Only in winter such work is not carried out, but in the spring send an estimate - what to do: dirt, cobblestone, asphalt. But first, let them register these lands as monastic lands, otherwise they have been taken away. In general, we do not refuse to contribute our work to the cause of social construction and build a convenient road to the monastery. But how dare we contradict the editor-in-chief of the Pechora Pravda newspaper, Kostomarov, who constantly calls for no one to come close to the monastery?”
They didn’t remember that road anymore.
All communists - come visit us!
Archimandrite Alipy's phone rings. The serious voice of the big boss is heard from the receiver: “Ivan Mikhailovich (as he called Father Alypius), we can no longer provide the monastery with pastures that belong to the people. Graze your cows wherever you want."
A few days later the call came again. The same voice says to Father Alypiy: “A large delegation has arrived - communists from all over the world. The monastery is the face of Pechory. You need to give a tour, show the Caves, then feed them, treat them to kvass - you know. I hope for your understanding".
And after a hearty lunch, the guests stroll around the monastery. Archimandrite Alypiy gives the order to release all the cows and bulls inside the monastery to the flower beds. This comes as a complete surprise to distinguished figures of the proletarian movement, many of whom encounter such animals for the first time. One elderly French communist woman climbs out of fear onto the guard booth. An old Nicaraguan Marxist is attacked by a breeding bull.
Archimandrite Alypiy's phone is ringing off the hook. The same voice shouts indignantly: “What a disgrace this is. Ivan Mikhailovich? What kind of public slap in the face is this to the communist movement?” Father Alypiy calmly replies: “What slap in the face? You know it yourself - animals can get sick. So we decided that since there was no other way out, we would herd them inside the monastery.”
On the same day, all pastures were returned to the monastery.
Soviet scientists were very concerned about the lack of odor from burials in the monastery Caves. They said this: “The monks are deceiving the people as if there is no smell. Soviet science discovered that this smell is absorbed by sand! Meanwhile, world science knows that quartz - and in the Caves quartz sandstone - does not enter into chemical reactions.
Then Soviet scientists conducted a scientific experiment in the Moscow region: they found a similar sandstone, dug a cave, and placed a coffin with a body in it. A few days later, scientists, workers, and the world community were invited to that cave for a symposium. However, the symposium did not take place: there was such a stench in the cave that no one could even enter there.
A high commander calls Archimandrite Alypius.
- What is this? They say that your monks each have three women in their cells. Why was it allowed?
- How? Haven't you heard about the moral character of the builder of communism?
- Why, I heard, I know.
- Why then do you slander Soviet women? Not a single Soviet woman, unlike the decaying West, will allow herself to enter into an illicit relationship, especially with some obscurantist monk. And you don’t give visas to foreigners. So it's impossible.
- Certainly. This means that they are correct in saying that your woman is humiliated.
- How humiliated? Look, our women even take part in the service: they sing in the choir, they decorate churches, they take care of the vestments... It’s in your military registration and enlistment office that they are humiliated - you only hire men.
“For the sake of the Tsar we will raise everyone”
The Pechora District Executive Committee receives a secret report. It reports that the monks want to raise a king in the Caves.
However, after a thorough study, it turned out that the informant misunderstood the words of the Liturgy: “For the King we will raise everyone.”
“What, the pioneers are not people?”
One day the Caves in the monastery were closed for a while. And suddenly important guests arrive - high-ranking party leaders. Of course, they were immediately fed, treated to kvass, and taken to the Caves. As soon as they opened the door, the pioneers approached: can we have a look too?
“Of course it’s possible,” says Archimandrite Irenaeus. Party members began to protest. “What, the pioneers are not people?” - the proletarian conscience was struck by this question.
Let's raise our voices against untruths
The Pechersk hieromonk gave a tour of the monastery for Italian guests. One Italian constantly interrupts him, asks sarcastic questions, and behaves defiantly. Finally, the hieromonk can’t stand it and loudly reprimands him. The Italian takes on the appearance of wounded pride, looks around indignantly and exclaims: “How? Have you raised your voice? “Yes,” the hieromonk answers, “all our newspapers call on us to raise our voices against all untruths!”
Kvass in the “den of counter-revolution”
One day a general comes to the monastery. They gave him a tour, showed him the Caves, then they fed him, gave him monastery kvass to drink, and took him to the Holy Hill. There the general expressed a desire to relax with his father, the archimandrite. We sat down in the gazebo.
- Everything is good in your monastery, only one thing is bad. You collaborated with the Germans during the war.
- Can't be! You slander the Soviet government!?
- How?
- Would it allow the enemy of the Fatherland to go unpunished? Or do you think that the valiant Soviet intelligence missed such a blatant crime?
- This is, of course, impossible...
- But you are slandering yourself too!
- How?
- Could you communicate with enemies of the people? Would you drink kvass in the lair of counter-revolutionaries?
The general was finally broken by the last argument. The kvass seemed too sweet to him.
Saint Nicholas
Feast of St. Nicholas in the monastery. Father Alypius preaches at the service: “Recently, Pechora Truth, referring to Eusebius of Samosata, wrote that St. Nicholas never existed. Question: who in the Pechora region has the books of the above-mentioned Eusebius to verify this statement? Further, if a historian does not write about someone, this does not mean that this person did not exist. It is known that Eusebius of Samosata was an Arian. Meanwhile, at the Ecumenical Council, Saint Nicholas slapped Arius in the face. Will Eusebius write about him? I doubt. I think the whole point is that Saint Nicholas did not come to the Pachkovsky village council to register and did not register with the Pechora City Executive Committee. However, we know confirmation that St. Nicholas was and is.
Once in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, after restoration work, I met and talked with one military commander. He told me this: “I don’t know whether there is a God, but that St. Nicholas exists, that’s for sure.” And he told the following story: “During the war, our ship was hit in the Black Sea, and it began to sink. We see that things are bad. However, atheistic fear did not allow him to pray. And suddenly one of our sailors offers to pray to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. Everyone agreed: they knelt down and asked him for help as best they could. And then our ship righted itself and sailed as if nothing had happened. So he brought us - with a hole - straight to the shore. And it’s wonderful to say that before I even had time to give the order, the whole team rushed to the church to light a candle for St. Nicholas.”
This is what the military commander told me - this is not Eusebius of Samosata.”
“I’d rather die a martyr, but I won’t close the monastery”
Winter. Freezing. Archimandrite Alypiy is warming himself in his cell by the fireplace. The cell attendant comes: “You have guests.” Two people in civilian clothes enter. They hand over the paper. Father Alypius is ordered to announce at a fraternal meal the closure of the monastery and the dissolution of the brethren. It bears Khrushchev's signature. Father Alypiy tears up the paper and throws it into the fireplace. The two in civilian clothes turn white as a sheet: “What did you do?” Father Alypius stands up: “I would rather go to martyrdom than close the monastery.”
The monastery was never closed.
How many believers are there in Russia?
Once there was a large reception at the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, arranged especially for representatives of the foreign press. About 150 correspondents from various newspapers, magazines, and television arrived. A festive table was laid in the refectory of the monastery, at the head of which sat Father Alypius and his assistants.
The most lively correspondent of one American newspaper immediately jumped up and asked in fairly decent Russian:
- Hegumen, tell me, how many believers do you have in your country?
Alypiy calmly turned to one of the assistants and asked:
- Tell me, how much is the population in our country?
- About 230 million.
“That’s how many believers we have in our country,” answered Alypiy.
- How! You have an atheistic country?!
- Faith is learned in difficult years. When the war began, Stalin, in his first address to the people, said: “Brothers and sisters” (not sisters -!). This is how I start my sermons every day. This means that in difficult times everyone believes, that means everyone is a believer.
"People's" control
Somehow, people's control decided to check the financial activities of the monastery.
“Tell me, who sent you,” asked Alypiy.
- Here we are, financial...
- No, I have only one boss. This is the Bishop of Pskov, Bishop John. Go to him for permission, and then I will allow you to see my financial papers.
The people's inspectors left, and a couple of hours later Ioann called Alypiy and asked to allow the inspectors to come in for an inspection.
“You can’t add a call to business, send me a telegram,” answered Alypiy.
The telegram arrived an hour later, and another hour later the delegation arrived, and then Alypiy, holding the telegram in his hands, asked:
- Tell me, are you all communists?
- Yes, mostly communists...
- And received a blessing from your spiritual father??? At the Lord of Pskov??? Well, I’ll now send this telegram to the regional party committee...
This is where the story of the financial audit of the monastery ended.
Elections in Pechersk
As you know, in stagnant years everyone had to take part in elections. Not excluding the monks of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Usually the box was brought directly to the monastery, where the voting ceremony took place. But the new secretary of the regional committee, outraged by the honor inappropriate for the Chernets, ordered to “stop the disgrace.” “Let them come to vote themselves.”
“Wonderful,” said Archimandrite Alypiy, the abbot of the monastery, upon learning about this. And then Sunday came, the long-awaited election day. After the liturgy and fraternal meal, the monks lined up in twos and, with spiritual chants, went through the entire city to the polling station. One can imagine the state of peaceful Soviet citizens who observed such a spectacle. When, to top it all off, the monks began to serve a prayer service right at the polling station, officials tried to protest. “It’s how it’s supposed to be with us,” answered Father Alypiy. Having voted, the monks just as decorously returned through the whole city to the monastery. Later, the ballot box began to be brought back to its place.
"Scientific scammers"
Father Alypiy was very fond of conducting excursions through the monastery caves himself. One day a delegation of fairly high-ranking officials arrived at the monastery, and Alypius led them into the caves.
Before the excursion, he always asked his cell attendant to soak his handkerchief in the scent of lilac. During a tour of the caves, grins almost always began to be heard. And then Alypius, turning to the mocker, said:
Here you are, a young man with a secondary education, not a fool, as I heard. Explain to me - here, a step away from us, lies, in fact, the decomposing body of a monk. And you stick your nose in and smell it - is there a smell of decay?
The young man begins to vaguely explain something about the special properties of the gorge and caves.
“Okay,” retorts Alypiy, “now take a handkerchief and smell it.” Do you recognize the perfume? Now smell the standing fresh flowers. Do you recognize? Like this. If only you scoundrels were objective. We are dispossessed, we have nothing... And you, you are not scientific atheists, but scientific swindlers.
State beggars
Archimandrite Alypius, being the governor, could answer anyone with a sharp word. The city authorities once called him:
- Why can’t you put things in order? After all, you have beggars in the monastery!
“Forgive me,” Father Alipy answers, “but the beggars are not with me, but with you.”
- How is it with us?
- It’s very simple. The land, if you remember, was taken away from the monastery at the Holy Gate. The beggars stand on which side of the gate, on the outside or on the inside?
- From the outside.
- So I say that you have them. And in my monastery all the brethren are watered, fed, clothed and shod. And if you really don’t like beggars so much, then you pay them a pension of 500 rubles. And if after that someone asks for alms, I think they can be punished by law. But I have no beggars.
"Monastery Plague"
One of the most interesting oddities is still remembered in the monastery. Before the arrival of the next state commission to close the monastery, Archimandrite Alipius posted a notice on the Holy Gates that there was a plague in the monastery and because of this he could not allow the commission into the territory of the monastery. The commission was headed by the chairman of the Culture Committee A.I. Medvedeva. It was to her that Father Alypiy addressed:
I don’t feel sorry for my monks, fools, excuse me, because they are still registered in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I can’t let you, Anna Ivanovna, and your bosses in. I can’t even find the words to answer for you and your bosses at the Last Judgment. So forgive me, I won’t open the gates for you.
And he himself once again boarded the plane and went to Moscow. And again to work hard, beat the thresholds, and once again win.
Monastic songs
When Father Alypius was asked by civilian visitors (excursionists) how the monks lived, he drew their attention to the Divine service that was performed in the Assumption Church.
“Do you hear,” asked Alypiy.
“We hear,” the visitors answered.
- What do you hear?
- The monks are singing.
“Well, if the monks lived poorly, they would not have started singing,” Father Alypiy summed up.
Free labor
Once seeing how the believers in the monastery were cutting up flower beds and decorating flower beds, one of the representatives of the Pechora authorities asked:
-Who works in your monastery and on what basis?
“It is the master people who work on their own land,” answered Alypius.
There were no more questions.
“The one who goes on the offensive wins”
“The one who goes on the offensive wins,” - Father Alypius brought this principle from worldly life, from the terrible times of the Great Patriotic War. However, he always followed it, especially when the question of unjust oppression of the monastery and believers arose.
During the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, Father Alypiy explained to the authorities that the service in the temple would not stop, because “cows don’t go to the temple, and not a single institution stops its work on the occasion of foot-and-mouth disease.”
When Father Alypiy burned the paper about the closure of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in front of the “sovereign envoys,” he turned to them and said:
“I’d rather accept martyrdom, but I won’t close the monastery.”
When they came to take away the keys to the caves, he commanded his cell attendant:
- Father Cornelius, give me an ax here, we’ll chop off heads!
After these words, seeing the determination in the eyes of Father Alypius, those who came fled.
“The demon will find an empty temple”
Father Alypius instructed the pastors of the church arriving at the monastery to diligently serve in his church.
- Here you are, father, you have left your temple, and the demon will serve in your temple.
- How so?
“The demon will find an empty temple,” Father Alypius answered in the Gospel.
I am completing a series of posts dedicated to Victory Day.
Today is a story about a front-line priest, Fr. Alipie (Voronov), in the world Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov. He went through the battle route from Moscow to Berlin as part of the Fourth Tank Army. Participated in many operations on the Central, Western, Bryansk, and 1st Ukrainian fronts. He was awarded military awards: the Order of the Red Star, medals “For Courage” and two “For Military Merit”. You can read his dry official biography
The main thing in life about. Alypius was responsible for saving the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery from closure by the Soviet regime. This monastery turned out to be the only one in the USSR that was never closed; it was able to preserve its beauty created by our ancestors; at the insistence of Father Alypius, the treasures taken out by the Germans during the war were returned.
Moreover, the beginning of the ministry of Fr. Alypius in Pechory occurred at the peak of Khrushchev’s uncompromising attack on the Church of Christ; the monastery remained intact precisely thanks to the courage of Fr. Alipmia.
A few stories about Fr. Alipia:
For the arrival of the next state commission to close the monastery, Fr. Alypius posted a notice on the Holy Gates that there was a plague in the monastery and because of this he could not allow the commission into the territory of the monastery. The commission was headed by the chairman of the Culture Committee A.I. Medvedeva. It was to her that Father Alypiy addressed:
I don’t feel sorry for my monks, fools, excuse me, because they are still registered in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I can’t let you, Anna Ivanovna, and your bosses in. I can’t even find the words to answer for you and your bosses at the Last Judgment. So forgive me, I won’t open the gates for you.
And he himself once again boarded the plane and went to Moscow. And again bother, beat the thresholds.
It was ordered to stop services in the monastery due to an epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease. Father Alypiy responded to the authorities that the service would not stop, because “cows don’t go to church, and not a single institution stops its work on the occasion of foot-and-mouth disease.”
Members of the next regional commission arrived at the monastery with the task of finding a reason to close the monastery. Walking around the monastery, they saw pilgrims cultivating the beds and flower beds, and immediately approached Father Alypius:
- These are the master people working on their land!
There were no more questions.
***
The most difficult moment for Fr. Alipia came when they arrived with a signed order to close the monastery. Winter. Freezing. Archimandrite Alypiy is warming himself in his cell by the fireplace. The cell attendant comes: “You have guests.” Two people in civilian clothes enter. Father Alypius is ordered to announce at a fraternal meal the closure of the monastery and the dissolution of the brethren.They hand over the paper: the original, signed by Khrushchev himself. Father Alypiy tears up the paper and throws it into the fireplace. The two in civilian clothes turn white as a sheet: “What did you do?” Father Alypius stands up: “I would rather go to martyrdom than close the monastery.”
Was it really that easy to defend the monastery? - they asked Archimandrite Nathanael in our time, who remembered these events well.
- "Just"? “In everything you need to see the help of the Mother of God,” the elder answered sternly, with unshakable faith. - How could we survive without her...
Archimandrite Alipy's phone rings. The serious voice of the big boss is heard from the receiver: “Ivan Mikhailovich (as he called Father Alypius), we can no longer provide the monastery with pastures that belong to the people. Graze your cows wherever you want." A few days later the call came again. The same voice says to Father Alypiy: “A large delegation has arrived - communists from all over the world. The monastery is the face of Pechory. You need to give a tour, show the Caves, then feed them, treat them to kvass - you know. I hope for your understanding".
And after a hearty lunch, the guests stroll around the monastery. Archimandrite Alypiy gives the order to release all the cows and bulls inside the monastery to the flower beds. This comes as a complete surprise to honored figures of the proletarian movement, many of whom are encountering these terrible animals for the first time. One elderly French communist woman climbs out of fear onto the guard booth. An old Nicaraguan Marxist is attacked by a breeding bull.
Archimandrite Alypiy's phone is ringing off the hook. The same voice shouts indignantly: “What a disgrace this is. Ivan Mikhailovich? What kind of public slap in the face is this to the communist movement?” Father Alypiy calmly replies: “What slap in the face? We decided that since there was no other way out, we would graze the cows inside the monastery.”
On the same day, all pastures were returned to the monastery.
A communist, a guest from Finland, as part of another foreign delegation, asked Father Alypiy the signature question of atheists of that time:
— Could you explain why the astronauts flew into space but did not see God?
Father Archimandrite sympathetically remarked to him:
— Such a misfortune can happen to you: you’ve been to Helsinki, but haven’t seen the president.
Eternal memory to the warrior, shepherd, monk Father Alypius!| Teaching on the day of the temple holiday in honor of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste | |
| Homily on the day of All Saints who shone in the Russian land | |
| Word on the day of celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God | |
| Teaching on the Feast of the Origin (Destruction) of the Honest Trees of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord | |
| Homily on the day of the transfer from Edessa to Constantinople of the Image Not Made by Hands of the Lord Jesus Christ | |
| Word on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist | |
| Homily on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | |
| A Word about the Bearing of the Cross | |
| Teaching about purity of heart |
A Rhimandrite Alipius (in the world Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov ) was born in 1914 into the family of a poor peasant in the village of Tarchikha near Moscow. In 1927 he moved to Moscow, where he graduated from high school in 1931, but often returned to the village to help his sick mother. Since 1933, he worked as a worker on the construction of the metro and at the same time studied in an art studio at the Moscow Union of Artists.
Then, after serving in the army in 1935, he graduated from the art studio at the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions in 1941.
From 1942 to 1945 he was in the active army and had a number of awards.
After the war he was accepted into the Union of Moscow Artists.
These dry facts of life help to more fully understand the characteristic personality traits of the future Archimandrite Alypius, the builder and restorer of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, a worthy successor to those builders whom we know from the history of the monastery.
More recently, one of the Pskov-Pechersk leaflets spoke about preparations for the closure of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery during the Khrushchev persecution of the Church. The abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Alipius, openly and confessionally opposed this when proposing to sign the decree. In front of the taken aback representative of the atheistic authorities, he took the decree in his hands and threw it into the blazing fireplace... And the monastery was not closed!
Truly a man of strength and reason, an integral, selfless person, was Archimandrite Alypius in all manifestations of his Christian service. A clear assessment of his character are his own words: “The one who goes on the offensive wins. It’s not enough to defend, we need to go on the offensive.”
Exactly a week separates the day of remembrance of the death of Archimandrite Alypius - February 27 (dates according to the church calendar) - from the day of remembrance of the most outstanding ruler of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery - Abbot Cornelius. Archimandrite Alipius was a worthy follower of the Monk Cornelius; he was also a builder, icon painter, an energetic, active, versatile personality. Archimandrite Alypiy managed to restore the walls enclosing the monastery from almost ruins, carried out many other restoration and restoration works, paid attention to maintaining the icon-painting tradition of the monastery, and painted icons himself.
Let us dwell on some facts of the life of Archimandrite Alypius. From a young age, Ivan Voronov had deep faith and wanted to express it in service to the Church. On February 27, 1950, he entered the Trinity-Sergius Lavra as a novice. On August 15 of the same year, he was tonsured a monk by the governor of the Lavra, Archimandrite John (later Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov) with the name Alipius, in honor of the Monk Alipius, the icon painter of Pechersk. On September 12, 1950, Patriarch Alexy ordained him a hierodeacon, and on October 1, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, he was ordained a hieromonk with the appointment of sacristan of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In 1952, Father Alypiy was awarded a pectoral cross, and by Easter 1953 he was elevated to the rank of abbot. Along with carrying out the obedience of the sacristan, he was entrusted with leading the artists and craftsmen who carried out restoration work in the Lavra. Then, until 1959, he took part in the restoration and decoration of a number of Moscow churches.
By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of July 15 (July 28), 1959, Abbot Alypiy was appointed abbot of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery.
In 1961, Abbot Alypius was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 1963, he was awarded the Patriarchal Certificate for his hard work in restoring the Pskov-Pechersk monastery. In 1965, on the patronal day of the monastery - the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, he was awarded a second cross with decorations, later he was awarded the Order of St. Prince Vladimir III and II degrees, and was also awarded by His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and the whole East Theodosius VI with the Order of Christ the Savior and a cross of the II degree .
Father Alypius often preached, especially about Christian love, saying: “Christ, who suffered on the Cross, commanded us: “Love one another!” And therefore, in order to get rid of evil, you need only one thing: to fulfill this last commandment of the Lord.”
Archimandrite Alypius died on February 27 (March 12), 1975, having served the Lord in the monastic rank, exactly 25 years from the day he entered the Lavra as a novice. Early in the morning on Wednesday of Cheese Week, having asked forgiveness from everyone and forgiven everyone, he peacefully and quietly departed to the Lord.
From the Word spoken by Archimandrite Nathanael (Pospelov) on the 20th anniversary of the death of Archimandrite Alypiy (Voronov):
In 1959, Father Alypiy was appointed to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, who arrived in Pechory for the patronal feast day in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His pastoral zeal for the good of our Holy Monastery, his zeal for service, his talents immediately aroused special love for him from the brethren of the monastery, the believing Pecherians, Pskovites and pilgrims. Their diligent prayers and intercessions helped to overcome all difficulties towards the confirmation of Father Alypius in the position of abbot of our monastery.
Confessor of the monastery Hieroschemamonk Simeon (Zhelnin) inspired him to the feat ahead: “Act, nothing will happen to you!”
Father Alipy had the gift of words: more than once I heard from pilgrims: “Let’s live another week, maybe we’ll hear Father Alipy’s sermon.” In his teachings, he supported the despondent and consoled the faint-hearted: “Brothers and sisters, you have heard calls to intensify anti-religious propaganda, don’t hang your heads, don’t be discouraged, this means that things have become difficult for them.” “It’s a terrible thing to join the crowd. Today she shouts: “Hosanna!” After 4 days: “Take, take, crucify Him!” Therefore, where it is not true, do not shout “hurray” or clap your hands. And if they ask: “Why?” - Answer: “Because your story is not true.” - "And why?" - “Because my conscience tells me.” - “How to recognize Judas?” “He who dips his hand in salt will betray Me,” said the Savior at the Last Supper. A daring student who wants to be on par with the teacher, with the boss, to take first place, to be the first to handle the decanter. The elders haven’t had breakfast yet, but the baby is already licking his lips, already full. The future Judas is growing. For 12 there is one Judas. If the elders don’t sit down at the table, don’t sit down either. The elders sat down, sit down and pray. The elders didn’t take the spoon, so don’t you either. The elders took the spoon, then take it too. The elders started eating, then you should start too.”
This is what Fr. taught in his sermons. Alipius. If at prayer in church with Fr. Alipius began to hear sighs and tears, then sighs and tears were immediately heard from those praying with him. Such was his fortitude.
Father Alypiy always helped those in need, gave out alms, and many who asked received help from him. For this, Father Alypius had to endure a lot. He defended himself with the words of Holy Scripture about the need to provide works of mercy and argued that works of mercy cannot be prohibited; they are an integral part of the life of the Holy Orthodox Church. Whoever prohibits works of mercy infringes on the Church of Christ, does not allow her to live the life inherent in her.
As an icon painter and restorer, he took care to restore the bronzed dark iconostasis of the Assumption Church, the interior painting of St. Michael's Cathedral, St. Nicholas Church (he restored the tyablo iconostasis, restored the icon of the Saint, expanded the temple with a tower, strengthened the walls, restored the stylish dome (stylish - from the word “style” - a set of features characteristic of art of a certain time and direction (in this case, the Pskov school of architecture of the 15th-16th centuries).
The fortress wall with battle towers and passages was restored, and their coverings were restored. The six icons of the Mother of God in the St. Nicholas Chapel were painted with his participation and guidance. On the feast of the Mother of God on July 8 and October 22, we place on our lectern the Kazan Icon, the cell icon of Father Alypius, painted by him.
He used his talents as a builder of the Moscow metro in constructing a bridge across the Kamenets stream, opposite the Assumption Church.
Father Alypiy was distinguished by his special determination and fortitude. When he burned the paper about the closure of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in front of the envoys, he turned to them and said: “It would be better for me to accept martyrdom, but I will not close the monastery.” When they came to take away the keys to the caves, he commanded his cell attendant: “Father Cornelius, give me an ax here, we’ll chop off heads!” Those who came fled.
Father Alypiy more than once wrote criticism of lies about the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery and wrote an article about St. Cornelius in the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate (1970, Nos. 2 and 3) so that history would not be distorted.
Father Alypiy defended believers before the powers that be and took care of getting them jobs. He wrote that the whole guilt of these people lies only in the fact that they believe in God.
Father Alypiy was friendly and sociable, he received visitors with love, shared his talents, and gave wise answers.
When civilian visitors asked him how the monks lived, he drew their attention to the Divine service that took place in the Assumption Church. “Do you hear that?” - he asked. The visitors replied: “We hear.” - “What do you hear?” - “The monks are singing.” - “Well, if the monks lived poorly, they would not have started singing.”
When the believers were cutting up flower beds in the monastery, the authorities asked: “Who works for you and on what basis?” Father Alypius replied: “It is the master people who work on their own land.” And there were no more questions.
He instructed the pastors of the church arriving at the monastery to be diligent in serving in his church.
“Here, you, father, have left your temple, and the demon will serve in your temple.” - “How so?” - they objected to him. Father Alypiy answered in the Gospel: “The demon will find an empty temple...”
During the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, he explained that services in temples should not stop, since cows do not go to temples, and not a single institution stops its work on the occasion of foot-and-mouth disease.
When they were not allowed to visit the caves, Father Alypiy blessed every morning, at 7 o’clock, to serve a memorial service in the caves, so that believers would have the opportunity to visit the caves and remember their relatives and friends, especially those who died in the Great Patriotic War. A decree was sent that funeral services should not be held in the caves. The funeral services continued to serve with the blessing of Father Alypius. When Father Alypy asked whether he had received the decree, Father Alypy answered that he had received it. “Why don’t you do it?” - followed the question. Father Alypiy replied that this decree was written under pressure due to weakness of spirit, “I don’t listen to the weak in spirit, I listen only to the strong in spirit.” And the service of memorial services in the caves was not interrupted.
Father Alipy never went on vacation. And even, as he himself wrote, he did not leave the monastery gates of his own free will, but was diligently diligent in fulfilling his monastic vows. And he answered the accusers that if worldly evil spirits flow from the world into the monastery into the clean monastery courtyard, then it is not our fault.
At the beginning of 1975, Father Alypiy had a third heart attack. He had mortal memory in advance. A coffin was made for him in advance with his blessing and stood in his corridor. And when they asked him: “Where is your cell?” - He pointed to the coffin and said: “Here is my cell.” In the last days of his life, Hieromonk Father Theodorit was with him; he gave Holy Communion to Father Alypius every day and, as a paramedic, provided him with medical care. On March 12, 1975, at 2 o’clock in the morning, Father Alypiy said: “The Mother of God has come, how beautiful She is, let’s paint, let’s paint.” The paints were applied, but his hands could no longer operate, how many heavy shells he dragged with these hands to the front line in the Great Patriotic War. At 4 o'clock in the morning, Archimandrite Alypiy died quietly and peacefully.
His funeral service was conducted by Metropolitan John with a congregation of monastery and visiting clergy. Even civilian leaders felt the loss deeply. People were not happy about the joy of Shrovetide week, which was followed by the death of Father Alypius.
Until his death, he taught a blessing for every monastic service and activity and did not abandon his obedience.
And today, expressing our love for Father Alipius, we commemorate the day of his memory, the day when he completed his voluntary bloodless martyrdom, and again we remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the apostolic words: Remember the good shepherd, the deceased mentor of Father Archimandrite Alipius and , looking at the end of his residence, imitate his faith. Amen.
Father Alypiy
PSKOVO-PECHERSKY SYATO-USPENSKY MONASTERY
The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery was built in the 15th century. The monks located it in a very original way, on the Kamenets stream. But the stream itself flows in a deep ravine, something like a canyon. The very word “pechery” is nothing more than caves. It was in the form of caves that the monks built their monastery in those ancient times.
The monastery was also a fortress that stood at the defense of the borders of the Russian state.
The outside of the caves was reinforced with stone, and this created the front side of each building, each church. The temples themselves are located in caves.
How did it happen that the Holy Monastery was built so unusually?
This is what the legend says about this.
At the end of the 14th century, Izborsk hunters were attracted by the beautiful singing of birds, emanating as if from underground, in the area of the ravine where the Kamenets stream flowed. Later, peasants settled in this area, and this land with a ravine went to Ivan Dementyev. Once, while cutting down trees, one of them, falling, caught another and under the roots of the fallen one, a cave was discovered. Above the entrance it was clearly read: “Caves created by God.” (God given). This legend dates back to 1392.
The monastery was founded in 1473 and its founder is considered to be its first abbot, the Venerable Jonah, who began the construction of the first cave Assumption Church.
Jonah arrived in these places with his wife Mary and children. However, before finishing the temple, his wife became seriously ill and took monastic vows before her death. Thus, Mary became the first tonsure of the monastery.
Then miracles begin again. A believer perceives them unambiguously, an atheist, as always, doubts. But this is what has survived in the chronicles to this day. Jonah performed a funeral service and buried his wife, but the next morning she found herself on the surface of the earth. Jonah thought that he had messed up something in his prayer - he sang Mary again and buried her. But the next morning everything happened again, and the abbot realized that this was a sign from above. Jonah buried his Mary in a cave, placing her in a niche. After this incident, all monks, priests and fallen soldiers began to be buried in the same way. And here is another miracle that we, today’s people, can observe - no decay occurs in the caves, all the deceased are mummified after a few years.
The monastery has a glorious and modern history even today. Our country is grateful to the monastery, or rather its monks, for the victory at Kursk, to which the novices also contributed.
This digression will lead somewhat away from the main topic, but the story is interesting. History shows that the Russian people in difficult years can unite their forces with seemingly incompatible associations during the Soviet period.
Before the war, Bishop Vasily Ratmirov lived in Moscow. The church treated him differently. He was a renovationist and this was not welcomed. It was believed that the bishop had become friends with the authorities and was almost leading the church to a schism. They even considered him an agent of the OGPU. In fact, the bishop sought to preserve the church and therefore agreed to such cooperation.
And then the hard times came, June 22, 1941 came and the bishop, not yet an old man, came to the military registration and enlistment office with a request to send him to the front. Our special agencies were interested in this and they understood what could be learned from such a proposal. The legend of our intelligence service, General Pavel Sudoplatov, became interested. They invited the bishop to the appropriate office on Lubyanka, to the office of P. Sudoplatov, and they also summoned two of their employees, Lieutenant Colonel V.M. Ivanov and Sergeant I.I. Mikheeva.
All three were given, frankly speaking, an unusual task. They taught the bishop some professional intelligence skills, and their own employees, dressed as monks, taught them church canons and services, right in P. Sudoplatov’s office, having previously brought icons, banners and other church property to the office. The task was simple - all three go to Kalinin (now Tver), gain the trust of the German command and engage in reconnaissance. What was done beautifully by Bishop Vasily.
During the retreat of the German troops, Vasily was offered to go with the Germans, but he, citing health, asked to leave him with his flock. By this he cast a shadow over himself - was he recruited by the Abwehr?
So, the bishop stayed, and our two monastic scouts, preparing to take monastic orders, having perfectly mastered all the church canons, went with the Germans and ended up in the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Radio operator Vera was also in the monastery with them. In Moscow, this operation was called “Operation Novices.”
The rector of the monastery at that time was Metropolitan Sergius Voznesensky, who knew everything that was happening in the monastery and was actively involved in such an invisible struggle against the fascists for his Orthodox Motherland.
There are disagreements about Voznesensky even today. Why? Yes, because he had to meet and shake hands with the traitor Vlasov, and proclaim greetings to the German soldiers. How could it be otherwise if you are a scout? They said that Stalin himself allowed him to speak out in sermons against the Soviet regime. It is also not clear from whom Sergius died. There is an assumption that he was shot right in the car by German special services.
What kind of help our “monks” provided to our army. Both Ivanov and Mikheev, and Voznesensky himself, managed to convince the Germans that in the city of Kuibyshev there was an underground working against the authorities. The Germans threw trained Russian traitors there, who were immediately caught and even recruited. Next came a radio game with German intelligence. “Valuable” messages were made to the Germans that Stalin had concentrated all his forces near Moscow and was awaiting a second German strike in this direction. And the Germans believed it, preparing to strike near Kursk. But the game was not to draw attention to the preparation of our forces in the Kursk area. There is no need to describe further how things happened. Next comes the Battle of Kursk-Oryol and the final turning point in the war. This is where the Germans became suspicious of Voznesensky.
And our scouts and partisans also looked into the monastery, who were hidden in caves and even in church domes.
It must be recalled that monks throughout our history have been glorious warriors. Remember the Black Hundred on the Kulikovo Field, which turned the entire tide of the battle.
The tradition of the monastery preserves the memory of the “guardian angel” of Soviet intelligence officers - elder Simeon Zhelnin, now glorified as a saint. It was the Monk Simeon who helped the Soviet radio operator hide in the deep caves of the monastery, keeping the true goals of the arriving “novices” in deep secrecy. Unfortunately, nothing is known about the fate of radio operator Vera. As for Ivanov and Mikheev, they lived to see victory. After the war, Mikheev, who became a colonel, became a monk. Hegumen Pavel Gorshkov also served in the monastery during the war. During the difficult years of occupation, he saved dozens of prisoners of war from hunger and death and instilled faith in desperate and exhausted people. However, after the expulsion of the Nazis, Pavel was arrested in 1944 as an accomplice of the Germans. But Paul knew perfectly well what was happening and who was hiding in the monastery and helped them. It must be said that until now the personal file of Metropolitan Sergius Voznesensky is kept in the archives of the FSB and is strictly classified. For what? Was it not after such events that Stalin realized that it was possible to win by uniting all the forces of the people, the party, and the church, allowing the opening of the Patrarchate in the country of the Soviets?
But it’s time to return to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery of our days. When visiting the monastery, you see an unusual and beautiful picture of churches harmoniously integrated into the ravine. At the top of the ravine-monastery, there is an orchard with a hint of Eden. Mere mortals are not allowed into the garden. Only monks and priests work in the garden and visit it. This slope with the garden began to be called the Holy Mountain.
There is access to the monastery. Excursions come there. They are also allowed into the caves, but strictly at certain times and on certain days. The monks strictly observe this regime. However, as before, according to the ancient procedure, no one is allowed into the garden.
Once upon a time, in the post-war years, the abbot of the monastery was Father Alypius. During the war, Alypiy fought against the Nazis, like all our people, and had the rank of officer.
One day, near Kursk, his battalion was surrounded, the Germans were pressing from all sides. The battle ensued fiercely. The battalion was caught in the crossfire. Few survived.
It was then that the warrior remembered the soul and God, although he had been drawn to it since childhood.
The officer swore: if he remained alive, after the war he would go to a monastery and devote his life to serving the Almighty.
And he remained alive and went to the Alypius monastery. And from a simple monk he grew to become the abbot of the monastery, this very Pskov-Pechersk monastery.
It must be said that Father Alypius was an excellent artist. He painted many icons in the monastery. Many of the paintings were restored by his hand.
Archimandrite Alypiy was born in 1914 into the family of a poor peasant in the village of Tarchikha near Moscow.
In 1927 he moved to Moscow, where he graduated from high school in 1931, but often returned to the village to help his sick mother.
Since 1933, he worked as a worker on the construction of the metro and at the same time studied in an art studio at the Moscow Union of Artists.
Even then, from a young age, he had deep faith and wanted to express it, once in the service of the Church.
The war helped him make his choice and realize his dream.
On February 27, 1950, he entered the Trinity-Sergius Lavra as a novice.
On August 15 of the same year, he was tonsured a monk by the governor of the Lavra, Archimandrite John, with the name Alipius, in honor of the Monk Alipius, the icon painter of Pechersk.
On September 12, 1950, Patriarch Alexy I ordained him a hierodeacon, and on October 1, on the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, he was ordained a hieromonk with the appointment of a sacristan of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
In 1952, Father Alypiy was awarded the pectoral cross, and by Easter 1953 he was elevated to the rank of abbot. Along with carrying out the obedience of the sacristan, he is entrusted with leading the artists and craftsmen who carried out restoration work in the Sergius Lavra.
Then, until 1959, he took part in the restoration and decoration of a number of Moscow churches.
By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I of July 15, 1959, Abbot Alypiy was appointed abbot of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery.
In 1961, Abbot Alypius was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
In 1963, he was awarded the Patriarchal Certificate for his diligent work in restoring the Pskov-Pechersk monastery.
In 1965, on the patronal day of the monastery - the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, he was awarded a second cross with decorations.
Subsequently, he was awarded the Order of Saint Prince Vladimir - III and II degrees, and was awarded by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Antioch and the whole East - Theodosius VI - the Order of Christ the Savior and the cross of the II degree.
On March 12, 1975 at 2 a.m. Father Alypiy said:
– The Mother of God has come, how beautiful She is, let’s paint, let’s draw.
The paints were applied, but his hands could no longer function.
How many heavy shells did he drag with these hands to the gun during the Great Patriotic War?
At 4 o'clock in the morning, Archimandrite Alypiy died quietly and peacefully.
This is how the abbot of the monastery, Father Alypius, was. This is how he ended his life.
Next I would like to tell another story, also similar to the legend. One day, a friend of mine, a very talented Lenfilm documentarian, Eduard, came to the monastery. I forgot his last name.
They instructed him to make a film about the monastery. As always, little time was allocated for this; we had to hurry. Eduard received permission to film. But when it came to the garden, the monks stood up like a wall - they wouldn’t let me in. Go, they say, and ask for special permission from Father Alypius.
Edward went to the abbot's house.
Alypius was informed about the alien. Father Alypiy looked out the window to find out what the visitor needed. Edward stated his request. Alypy thought for a long time. After deliberation, he gave his consent to filming. It must be said that the monks took this without enthusiasm. Alypius said: go, but not for long, and remember that you will be second after Peter I in this garden.
Edward was interested in this. He asked the monk about this and heard a most interesting story.
Peter waged a fierce war with the Swedes. There was not enough copper for the cannons. The ships were intensively built, they had to be armed. So Peter ordered to take bells from churches for the duration of the war. Well, it looks like Peter, the king was cool and decisive. Peter arrived at the monastery and demanded a bell. The abbot of the monastery said that this was not supposed to be done. This requires permission from the Almighty.
– Where do they ask permission from the Almighty? – asked Peter.
– To do this, you need to spend the night in the garden and have a dream; the Almighty will come in a dream and tell you his decision.
This is what Peter did. In the morning he descends from the garden and goes to the abbot.
“Well, what did you dream about, what did the Almighty say?” the abbot asked Peter.
What could Peter answer? It would not be Peter if he said something else:
- Yes, yes, the Almighty came to me in a dream and gave permission to remove the bells.
What can you do, the Almighty himself gave the go-ahead. Do not doubt the veracity of the words of the Tsar of All Rus'.
They gave the bells to Peter. But Peter kept his word. After the victory, new bells were cast for the monastery, which still ring over the monastery to this day.
As for the film, it turned out well. Thanks to Father Alypius.
All of the above was told to me by Eduard and the books, but...
Ten years have passed and the author of this story finally got ready to visit the Holy Monastery.
By this time, the worldly name of Father Alypius became clear - this is Ivan Mikhailovich Voronov.
The monastery amazed me with its indescribable beauty. Going down, where the monastery is unusually located, you completely forget that this is a ravine where a stream once flowed. The grandeur of the buildings elevates the monastery so much that it gives the impression of sublimity.
They are still not allowed into the garden, but exceptions are made and there are many more of them than before. It is necessary to seek permission from the abbot in advance. And permission for excursions is given, but this still does not happen often.
I stood at the house of the abbot of the monastery. I looked at the window from where Alipy was talking with my friend Eduard.
Alipius is no longer there and he is buried in one of the niches of the cave, where many monks, warriors and saints of the Russian land are buried.
I also bowed to Alypius and Jonah.
Finally the dream has come true.
