Difference between revisions of "Pavel of Taganrog"

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{{cleanup|Needs to be re-worded in an encyclopedic manner (i.e., less sentimental and melodramatic.)}}
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The blessed '''Pavel of Taganrog''' (''Pavel Taganrogskiy'', Святой блаженный Павел Таганрогский) was a layman who led a spiritual and ascetic life devoted to God. While of noble birth he lived a simple life, in constant prayer, and gave counsel to all who came to him, Living in the town of Taganrog, his faith and lifestyle established him as a [[staretz]] who deeply influenced the spiritual life of southern Russia and Ukraine of the nineteenth century. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[March 10]].
 
 
The blessed [[starets]] '''Pavel of Taganrog''' (''Pavel Taganrogskiy'', Святой блаженный Павел Таганрогский) dramatically influenced the belief in God and spiritual outlook of inhabitants of Taganrog, Don Land, South of [[Russia]] and [[Ukraine]]. A plain layman, who lived in Taganrog in the 19th century, he conciliated love and worship of Russian Orthodox Christians, who flowed to him for a piece of advice and spiritual support. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[March 10]].
 
  
 
==Life==
 
==Life==
Pavel Pavlovich Stoykov was born on [[November 21]] (November 8th [[Julian Calendar|OS]]), 1792, in Malorossia guberniya of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) in a rich noble family. His parents—collegiate registrar Pavel and Paraskeva—were devoutly religious people; they infused in the heart of their son belief in God and piety. Since his youth Pavel had felt a flaming love for holy places and [[pilgrimage]]. He related about himself: "All my desire was to pray to God, my intention was to go on pilgrimage to rescue my soul, because surrounding life was full of secular vanity and impeded my holy wish." His father would never let him become a [[clergy]]man; he wanted to provide his son with a higher education. Instead of this, the 16-year-old young man followed the voice of his heart, secretly left the home of his parents and went on pilgrimages to [[monastery|monasteries]] for a year and finally received a severe punishment from his father.   
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Pavel Pavlovich Stoykov was born on [[November 21]] (November 8th [[Julian Calendar|OS]]), 1792, in Malorossia guberniya of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) in a rich noble family. His parents—collegiate registrar Pavel and Paraskeva—were devoutly religious people. They infused in the heart of their son belief in God and piety. Since his youth Pavel felt a flaming love for holy places and making [[pilgrimage]]s to them. He related about himself: "All my desire was to pray to God. My intention was to go on pilgrimage to rescue my soul, because surrounding life was full of secular vanity and impeded my holy wish." His father never let him become a [[clergy]]man, but wanted to provide his son with a higher education. But, the 16-year-old Pavel Pavlovich followed the voice of his heart. He secretly left the home of his parents and for a year, traveled on pilgrimages to [[monastery|monasteries]]. On his return he suffered severe punishment from his father.   
  
When Pavel was 25 years old, his father decided to divide the property between him and his elder brother Ivan. With a comfortable inheritance, the young [[ascetic]] dispensed it in Christ's name; his father gave his blessing and young Pavel left home forever. He wandered to holy places, including [[Kiev Pechersk Lavra]] and Pochaiv Lavra several times. He often went to the north of Russia, visiting Solovetsky, Verkolskiy, Kojeozerskiy cloisters and many others.  
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When Pavel was 25 years old, his father divided his property between Pavel and his elder brother, Ivan. The young [[ascetic]] dispensed his inheritance in Christ's name. Then, with his father’s blessing young Pavel left home forever. He wandered to many of the holy places of Russia, including several times to the [[Monastery of the Kiev Caves|Kiev Pechersk Lavra]] and Pochaev Lavra. He often went to the north of Russia, visiting monasteries at Solovetsky, Verkolskiy, Kojeozerskiy and many others.  
  
After 10 years of pilgrimage, blessed Pavel settled in Taganrog in the years from 1825 to 1830. Taganrog became the saint's second home city, where he lived a simple life with no regard for his noble birth. Blessed Pavel spent the first years of his life in Taganrog renting different flats. Later, he moved into a house on Depaldo Street (now "Pereulok Turgenevskiy"), not far from St. Nicholas Church. Thanks to the dean of Taganrog county, [[archpriest]] Alexander Klyunkov, this house still exists and is known among people as the "keliya of starets Pavel."
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After 10 years of traveling, the blessed Pavel settled in Taganrog between the years of 1825 and 1830. Taganrog became his second home city. Here he lived a simple life without regard for his noble birth. During the first years of his life in Taganrog, the blessed Pavel rented different apartments. Later, he moved into a house on Depaldo Street (now "Pereulok Turgenevskiy") that was not far from St. Nicholas Church. Through the efforts of the dean of Taganrog county, [[archpriest]] Alexander Klyunkov, this house still exists and is known among people as the "keliya of starets Pavel."
  
Pavel devoted all of his life to serving God. Although Pavel was not in [[ordination|orders]], essentially he led an ascetic monastic life in a bustling town; he kept constantly a severe [[fast]] and gave himself to incessant [[prayer]]s. He ate a little. In his old age he drank only one cup of ''kvass'' with a soaked rusk a day. He slept also only a little, commonly on a bare bench without a pillow. He put on plain peasant clothes and spoke simple Low-Russian language. He told no one about his noble birth. Throughout his life he went to the church every day to pray; at night he made [[All-Night Vigil|all-night vigil]]s. Insensibly he accustomed his [[novice]]s to this way of life. While there was the strength Blessed Paul often traveled to holy places, including journeys of 3000 ''versts'' on foot to Solovki more than once. However, in old age he could go no longer; he dispatched to monasteries the novices and believers who came to him.
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Pavel devoted his life to serving God. Although Pavel was not [[ordination|ordained]] into the [[clergy]], he led an ascetic [[monasticism|monastic]] life in the bustling town. He kept a severe [[fast]] and gave himself to incessant [[prayer]]. As he aged he ate very little and  drank only one cup of ''kvass'' with a soaked rusk each day. He slept little, commonly on a bare bench without a pillow. He wore plain peasant clothes and spoke the simple Low-Russian language of the people. He told no one about his noble birth. Throughout his life he went to the church daily to pray. At night he made [[All-Night Vigil|all-night vigil]]s. He also accustomed his [[novice]]s to this way of life. While he was still strong enough, the blessed Pavel traveled often to holy places, including journeys of 3000 ''versts'' to Solovki monastery on foot more than once. When in his old age he could go no longer make the treks he dispatched to monasteries the novices and believers who came to him.
  
Blessed Pavel was full of love. All of his life, he received everyone in his keliya, liked to present people with gifts, and gave counsels on how to live and how to rescue their own souls. For the righteous life God endowed Pavel with gifts of astuteness and prevision, with gifts to work [[miracle]]s and to heal people. Pavel became very famous during his lifetime. In the five final years of his life, Pavel never went out of his house, and ate and slept little. He died on [[March 23]] (OS March 10), 1879, at the time of the [[Great Fast]] at the age of 78.
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The blessed Pavel was full of love. All of his life, he received everyone in his keliya, presented gifts to people who came, gave them counsel on how to live, and instructed them on how to rescue their own souls. Living this righteous life, God endowed Pavel with gifts of astuteness and prevision as well as with gifts to work [[miracle]]s and to heal people. Pavel was very famous during his lifetime. In the five final years of his life, Pavel never left of his house, and ate and slept little. He died at the age of 78, on [[March 23]] (OS March 10), 1879, during the time of the [[Great Fast]].
  
On [[June 20]], 1999, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] [[canonization|canonized]] Pavel. Many people saw and remember a unique aureole in the sky over the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog on the day of Blessed Pavel's canonization. Today many people come from all corners of Russia to the shrine with his holy [[relics]], which are kept at the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog. The chapel at the old cemetery is never empty; the lamps in front of holy [[icon]]s in his keliya never die down. Thanks to St. Pavel's prayers, believers receive from God healing, consolation, and divine help.
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On [[June 20]], 1999, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] [[glorified]] Pavel. Many people saw and remember a unique aureole in the sky over the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog on the day of his glorification. Today many people visit from all corners of Russia the shrine with his holy [[relics]] that are kept at the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog. The [[chapel]] at the old cemetery is never empty and lamps in front of holy [[icon]]s in his keliya never die down. Thanks to St. Pavel's prayers, believers receive from God healing, consolation, and divine help.
  
 
==Source==
 
==Source==
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*[http://www.taganrog.orthodoxy.ru Russian Orthodox Church in Taganrog (Russian)]
 
*[http://www.taganrog.orthodoxy.ru Russian Orthodox Church in Taganrog (Russian)]
 
*[http://www.taganrogcity.com Official Website of Taganrog (English)]
 
*[http://www.taganrogcity.com Official Website of Taganrog (English)]
*[http://www.diakom.ru/orthodox/ Orthodoxy in and around Taganrog, photos of Saint Pavel kelya and chapel, and more (Russian)]
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*[http://www.diakom.ru/orthodox/ Orthodoxy in and around Taganrog, photos of Saint Pavel kelya and chapel (Russian)]
  
 
[[Category:Russian Saints]]
 
[[Category:Russian Saints]]
 
[[Category:Saints]]
 
[[Category:Saints]]

Revision as of 01:19, April 2, 2008

The blessed Pavel of Taganrog (Pavel Taganrogskiy, Святой блаженный Павел Таганрогский) was a layman who led a spiritual and ascetic life devoted to God. While of noble birth he lived a simple life, in constant prayer, and gave counsel to all who came to him, Living in the town of Taganrog, his faith and lifestyle established him as a staretz who deeply influenced the spiritual life of southern Russia and Ukraine of the nineteenth century. His feast day is celebrated on March 10.

Life

Pavel Pavlovich Stoykov was born on November 21 (November 8th OS), 1792, in Malorossia guberniya of the Russian Empire (now Ukraine) in a rich noble family. His parents—collegiate registrar Pavel and Paraskeva—were devoutly religious people. They infused in the heart of their son belief in God and piety. Since his youth Pavel felt a flaming love for holy places and making pilgrimages to them. He related about himself: "All my desire was to pray to God. My intention was to go on pilgrimage to rescue my soul, because surrounding life was full of secular vanity and impeded my holy wish." His father never let him become a clergyman, but wanted to provide his son with a higher education. But, the 16-year-old Pavel Pavlovich followed the voice of his heart. He secretly left the home of his parents and for a year, traveled on pilgrimages to monasteries. On his return he suffered severe punishment from his father.

When Pavel was 25 years old, his father divided his property between Pavel and his elder brother, Ivan. The young ascetic dispensed his inheritance in Christ's name. Then, with his father’s blessing young Pavel left home forever. He wandered to many of the holy places of Russia, including several times to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and Pochaev Lavra. He often went to the north of Russia, visiting monasteries at Solovetsky, Verkolskiy, Kojeozerskiy and many others.

After 10 years of traveling, the blessed Pavel settled in Taganrog between the years of 1825 and 1830. Taganrog became his second home city. Here he lived a simple life without regard for his noble birth. During the first years of his life in Taganrog, the blessed Pavel rented different apartments. Later, he moved into a house on Depaldo Street (now "Pereulok Turgenevskiy") that was not far from St. Nicholas Church. Through the efforts of the dean of Taganrog county, archpriest Alexander Klyunkov, this house still exists and is known among people as the "keliya of starets Pavel."

Pavel devoted his life to serving God. Although Pavel was not ordained into the clergy, he led an ascetic monastic life in the bustling town. He kept a severe fast and gave himself to incessant prayer. As he aged he ate very little and drank only one cup of kvass with a soaked rusk each day. He slept little, commonly on a bare bench without a pillow. He wore plain peasant clothes and spoke the simple Low-Russian language of the people. He told no one about his noble birth. Throughout his life he went to the church daily to pray. At night he made all-night vigils. He also accustomed his novices to this way of life. While he was still strong enough, the blessed Pavel traveled often to holy places, including journeys of 3000 versts to Solovki monastery on foot more than once. When in his old age he could go no longer make the treks he dispatched to monasteries the novices and believers who came to him.

The blessed Pavel was full of love. All of his life, he received everyone in his keliya, presented gifts to people who came, gave them counsel on how to live, and instructed them on how to rescue their own souls. Living this righteous life, God endowed Pavel with gifts of astuteness and prevision as well as with gifts to work miracles and to heal people. Pavel was very famous during his lifetime. In the five final years of his life, Pavel never left of his house, and ate and slept little. He died at the age of 78, on March 23 (OS March 10), 1879, during the time of the Great Fast.

On June 20, 1999, the Russian Orthodox Church glorified Pavel. Many people saw and remember a unique aureole in the sky over the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog on the day of his glorification. Today many people visit from all corners of Russia the shrine with his holy relics that are kept at the St. Nicholas Church in Taganrog. The chapel at the old cemetery is never empty and lamps in front of holy icons in his keliya never die down. Thanks to St. Pavel's prayers, believers receive from God healing, consolation, and divine help.

Source

External links