Archbishop Flavian

People of church
Archbishop Flavian

There passed more than 30 years from the date of death of the archbishop Gorkovsky and the Arzamas Flavian who was born and the most part of life was carried out in Belarus. Somehow diaries and Maria Servetnik-Mikhalovskaya's memoirs, the daughter of the priest of Cherevachitsky church Ivan Mikhalovsky who served here before here future lord was appointed fell of me into hands. In the same way letters of the archbishop Flavian to Maria and other documents got to me. All papers and conversations with inhabitants Cherevachits which personally knew the lord helped to make his biography.

Beginning of a course of life
The lord Flavian (in the world Fedor Ignatyevich Dmitriyuk) was born on May 14 (according to the Art. of the Art.) 1895 in the village of Kiyevets of the Byala-Podlyassky County of the Holmsky province which is between the cities of Byala-Podlyask and Brest. His grandfather was from the village of Kostomolota, and the father – Ignatiy Dmitriyuk – was a psalm reader in the village of Nepli, and then in Kiyevtsa. In general, a sort Dmitriyukov left a noticeable mark in the history of Podlyashya and Polesia. His uncles Vasily and Karp Dmitriyuki were the famous Ukrainian political and public figures.

Fedor Dmitriyuk in 1909 graduated from Holmsky spiritual school, in 1915 – the Holmsky theological seminary according to the first category. Was a pupil of the famous metropolitan Eulogius. On June 30, 1915 Fedor Dmitriyuk was imposed in the deacon's dignity, on August 9 the same year in Minsk – in a curacy and is appointed the dean of the village of Vereshchin of the Vlodavsky County of the Holmsky province. Before it, on July 12, he got married in the city of Shklov of the Mogilev province to Holm's inhabitant Maria Ivanovnoy Zenkevich (1896-1943). The same year in connection with military operations of World War I it was evacuated to Moscow, and then left to Petrograd where served as the priest of the evacuated Radechinsky convent.

Near Poland
In November, 1917 the father Fedor returned home where he became served in church of the village of Leyno of the Vlodavsky County. Here on December 14 his oldest daughter Tamara was born. Since February, 1919 served as the priest in the temple of the village Stradichi of the Brest County which is located on the river bank the Western Bug. Nearby, on the opposite river bank, there was the well-known Yablochinsky orthodox monastery. His abbot Nifont (Bear) often came to Stradichi to have a talk with the educated priest.

The Polish police on March 5, 1923 (The Brest regional archive, f.1, op.11, 561, l.14) informed that the stradichsky priest teaches children at local school in Ukrainian and if hears that pupils talk in Polish, then does them reprimands. Daughters were born in Stradichakh: Galina (14.12.1923) and Raisa (17.12.1925). The priest and the juvenile brother Mitrofan brought up.

In September, 1927 Fedor Dmitriyuk was appointed the second priest in Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of the district city of Pruzhana of the Polesia voivodeship. The majestic cathedral was constructed in 1866 in style of late classicism on the project of the Italian architect Marconi. In March, 1933 the father Fedor became the dean, and soon and pruzhansky decent. His younger son Vladimir was born in Pruzhanakh in July, 1932.

In 1938 upon the demand of the civil authorities of Poland the priest Fedor Dmitriyuk as "adhering to the Russian orientation", it was deprived of the Polish nationality. For this purpose there had to be a serious reason. Perhaps, it was connected in Pruzhanakh with the Belarusian figures? Deprivation of nationality involved eviction out of borders of Poland. Probably, the diocesan administration, rescuing the archpriest, transferred it to silent rural arrival: in Cherevachitsky church of the Kobrin County. Of course, the cozy town of Pruzhana, with its more or less cultural society (in the city there was a teacher's seminary, a gymnasium, the Belarusian circle led by Ekaterina Stovbunik), there was no wish to leave.

Military years
The village of Cherevachitsa is located in seven kilometers from the district city of Kobrin. The beautiful and spacious wooden church was in very picturesque place – on the river bank Mukhavets. In 1972 this church burned down. Among local population it is rumored that its special was burned as she was visible from the Olympic route Brest-Moscow. Church parish was one of the oldest to Polesia: it is based at the beginning of the 15th century. And on wealth it was allocated: 76 hectares of the church earth and 4020 parishioners.

Soon World War II began. The Polesia voivodeship in 1939-1941 was torn away at Poland by the Soviet Union, and then these lands appeared under the power of fascist Germany.

On November 7, 1943 the Soviet guerrillas undermined the German echelon in kilometer from Cherevachits. Fascists who survived, rushed into the village. Having heard shots, inhabitants who in what were, rushed to the wood. But not all could escape. Chasteners shot 56 residents of the village, 18 yards burned. Hitlerites did not spare also members of the family of the father Fedor: wife Maria Ivanovna, daughter Galina and her husband Vasily, two other close relatives. The younger daughter Raisa was seriously injured, but the priest was not then at home, it also rescued him.

It should be noted patriotic activity of the father Fedor and members of his family, their communication with the Soviet guerrillas. Really, in their house hid the wounded guerrilla and the weapon. In 1966 the bishop Flavian was awarded with an anniversary medal in honor of the 20 anniversary of a victory in the Great Patriotic War. Before it Gorky was city authorities delan inquiry to Kobrin district of the Brest region from where two confirmations of patriotic activity of the lord in military years were soon received. It is the reference of the chairman of executive committee of the Batchinsky Village Council and the reference given "... on the citizen Dmitruk Fedor Ignatyevich (the surname is given in the document it is inexact – N.M.) that he during the period from 1938 to 1944 really lived with a family to the village of Cherevachitsa of the Batchinsky Village Council of Kobrin district of the Brest region... During the German occupation of our district personally Dmitruk Fedor Ignatyevich and his family kept in active contact with underground committee on fight against fascism. F. I. Dmitruk, really, at himself kept the wounded guerrilla in the house, the weapon of guerrillas was often stored here, I settle appearances of activists. Members of the family of Dmitruk, the daughter Tamara Fiodorovna, the former teacher of high school (the physician – N.M.), gave active help to wounded guerrillas and an asset. Repeatedly honestly and honestly carried out orders of underground committee. The second daughter, Raisa Fiodorovna, was coherent underground committee, honestly performed all tasks of underground committee..."

Also Kobrin decent, the archpriest Fedor Dmitriyuk in nine military months collected in the deanery in fund of defense of the country 172073 rubles (for that time the considerable sum).

Service in the bishop's dignity
After liberation of Belarus by troops of Red Army the father Fedor in 1944 served in Petro-Pavlovsky church of the city of Kobrin of the Brest region. Of course, it could not remain in Cherevachitsakh where everything reminded of the died family. In April, 1946 he moved to the city of Babruysk (The Mogilev region, Belarus) where he served in St. Nicholas Cathedral. Transferred to 1952 of the father Fedor to Taganrog (Rostov region), and in 1953 appointed the priest of a cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Rostov-on-Don. For a number of years it was decent there. On April 6, 1955 Fedor Dmitriyuk accepted monastic Flavian, in honor of the prelate Flavian of the confessor, the patriarch Constantinople tonsured with a name, and executed obedience of the secretary and decent in Pochayevsky monastery.

On September 1, 1957 the father Flavian was transferred to Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and there, after elevation to the rank of the archimandrite, on April 20, 1958 was hirotonisan in the bishop Sverdlovsky and Irbitsky. To Hirotony the most Saint Patriarch Alesy I made. On September 23, 1960 temporary management of the Perm diocese is entrusted to the Bishop Flavian.

On July 7, 1966 Preosvyashchenny Flavian is appointed the bishop Gorkovsky and Arzamas, and on February 25, 1968 was hailed the archbishop. The Russian Orthodox Church endured then a new difficult stage of the existence in the godless state. "Physical" destruction of Church was not included any more into the immediate tasks of the communistic management which headed for isolation of church life from life of society, for gradual, but persistent replacement from consciousness of people, especially young, religious representations. Let's remind the main principle of the long-term program of the country leaders in relation to orthodox clergy: "Religious society has to employ the priest equally as watchmen, singing and others, serving requirement of a cult. The Soviet laws leave behind clergy only one right – to satisfy need of believers for departure of a religious cult on hiring and in compliance with their desire". The lord Flavian was forced to accept rules of this hypocritical game in humility. Here is how the regional representative for affairs of religion A. P. Volkov characterized it: "In the activity in the Gorky diocese the archbishop shows loyalty to authorities. Keeps in touch with the representative. As the clergyman – is active. From the first days after arrival to Gorky area showed special activity in the direction of priests in church who did not act in the absence of the last, at the same time not especially understood their quality, devoting priests from deacons and psalm readers who generally were illiterate and semiliterate both in spiritual, and in the secular relation people. In the activity shows a particular interest in money: despite numerous negotiations with it, forces heads of churches to transfer large funds for the content of diocesan management. At first the stay in the diocese did attempts to interfere passed executive bodies, especially, when business concerned material security of clergy. Shows also activity in personal visit of arrivals where holds hierarchal services. Tries to support the loyalty with the patriotic relation to the held events of the Soviet state. In Fund of the world in 1966 diocesan management transferred 15 thousand rubles, in 1967 – 20 thousand rubles".

Later other representative wrote the administration: "In my opinion, in transfer of means in Fund of the world a certain activity is shown by the archbishop Gorkovsky and the Arzamas Flavian. If in 1967 it from means of diocesan management brought 20 thousand, then in 1968 and 1969 – on 30 thousand rubles, plus to it in 1969 contributed 5 thousand rubles in fund of protection of historical monuments. For the shown activity Flavian in 1969 was awarded by the Certificate of honor of the Soviet committee of Fund of the world".

During the 11 years' stay at Gorky department the Most eminent Flavian got great respect of the flock entrusted to its care and priests of the diocese the works for the benefit of Church.

The Lord called for himself the archbishop Flavian in day of its name day when memory of the prelate Flavian – is made on March 3, 1977. There was it in its study in diocesan management. The archbishop Flavian in a fencing of Sacred Trinity Church of Nizhny Novgorod is buried.

From memories of the lord
Former schoolgirl of church school at Cherevachitsky church Nadezhda Gelakh: "The father Fedor taught the Scripture, music and church singing at school. It was the tall, stately person, with a beautiful timbre of a voice. And much more people, than usually gathered for his divine services".

Prior of Sacred and Sofiyevsky church of the village Stradichi father Nikolay Golovko: "I know that once the priest Fedor served here. The oldest parishioners remember his goodwill and very beautiful thunderous voice".

The abbot Tikhon from Nizhny Novgorod: "The lord Flavian, despite his external correctness and the compelled humility, never was "" for the power, and served Church faithfully".

Царкоýнае words, No. 20, 2010