, abbot and confessor of the Rylsky St. Nicholasian Male Monastery

Sergey Ivanovich Khalin, was born on April 18 in the village of Satvents of the South District of the Kursk Region in a large believing peasant family. The priests and monks, and his native uncle Mikhail served as a priest in the church of the neighboring village. The family had 4 boys and 4 girls. Sergius was younger of 8 children. All his brothers died at the front, and on him, another excuse, lay down the hard burden of heavy rustic work.

After graduating from the 10th grades of secondary school, he studied at the FZO on the founder, and after graduated from the pedagogical school. Having served three years in the army, for some time worked in peace and a year at the age of 29 left the novice to the Glinsky desert.

In the Glinskaya desert he became a spiritual Chad of Schirchimandrit Andronika (Lukasha). In the book "Glinskaya desert and her elders" there is a small story about how the father Andronicus his prayer healed from the bruboral inflammation of the lungs of Sergius Khalin. Sergius lived in one cell with a young obedient Ivan Maslov, who later became a famous elder.

After an incomplete year of stay in the Glinskaya desert, in November of the year, Sergius, the Pskovo-Pechersk Monastery entered the Pskovo-Pechersk Monastery, where it becomes Cemen Mikhaila (Pitkevich).

He created several heads on the Fly Land, in which small monastic communities settled. Women's Skete in Treseshuchevo Over time, received the status of the monastery in honor of the Kazan Icon God's Mother. With his assistance in North Ossetia, Austa Assumption Men's Monastery opened.

Heavy prayerful works and care for the restoration of the monastery undermined the health of the father of the Hippolyte. IN last years He was seriously sick of his life.

Died on December 17th of the year. The funeral took place on December 19. Many people accompanied the father in the last earthly path. He was buried near the altar of the restored Nikolaev Temple - the Chief Cathedral of the monastery. On the grave of the father of the Hippolyte, where the bronze cross on the granite pedestal is installed, a non-day-free lamp is burning, always lying fresh flowers.

On the territory of the Palace and Park Ensemble "Maryino", a monument to Archimandrite Hippolyte of the work of the People's Artist of Russia, the sculptor V.M. Klyova.

Used materials

• Savochkin V.N., "The kindest father on Earth ..." Book About Archimandrite Ippolyte / M.: Publishing House "Luga Spiritnova", 2015:
• "Archimandrite IPPOLIT" // Official site of the Rylsky St. Nicholas Monastery:

Himself about. Ippolit called the date of his birth and July 23 and 27, although in the passport stood the date - April 18. See Savochkin V.N., "The most kind of father on earth ...", M.: Publisher "Luga Spiritnova", 2015, p. 6.

Archimandrite Ippolit (Khalin; 1928-2002) - one of the great elders of our time, the successor to the traditions of the Glinskaya desert and the Pskovo-Pechersk Monastery, who passed the Spiritual School of Athos. In 1966, he was among the first monks from Russia, reviving the life of the Russian St. Panteleimon Resident on the Holy Mountain. From 1991 to the day of his death, Archimandrite Ippolit was the rector of the Rylsky St. Nicholas Monastery restored from the ruins of the Ryuins of the Saint-Nikolaev monastery, founded the scenes and monasteries in Kursk Earth and in Ossetia. The memories of their spiritual father shared the Jeromona of Ignatius (Matyuhin), the former statement of the fishing monastery, now - the confessor founded by the Father Ippolite of the Bigneushevsky Kazan Women's Monastery (Kursk Metropoline).

Please tell us how your first meeting with the Father Hippolyt occurred?

Memories of the Father Hippolyte, our road and loved, are the brightest and depths. He unforgettably entered our life, in the hearts of many people. We now feel his proximity to us, and not a dreamable, but the most real - existential. Batyushka still mysteriously communicates with us. The elders have a gift of the teacher, protect against dangers, send to the saving way of life, and after the death they do not leave their chad.

I will try to reveal the appearance of the father, what I saw and understood, living next to him. Before meeting with the Father Ippolit, I had experience in communicating with famous spiritualists. In 1994, I went to the Millenian Desert novice for different elders to get a blessing for a monk, learn whether there is any of God's will. I was told that the former Glina Monk Father Hippolit lives in Rylsk, and he needs to take a blessing. I went and heard from the father: "Father, idi-go to a monk, yes, yes, you need."

Ignatius Father, describe the mobility of Archimandrite Ippolit.

Batyushka took over three feathers. The first one is: "More than you will be a servant for you" (Wed. Matt. 23:11). The father served everyone: did not rejoice from himself, he sought to help everyone. The elder fulfilled the commandment: I would not be expelled to I will not be an out (John 6:37). This is his second feat. Patients came, distorted by sin and suffering, with the most unfortunate destinies. The father took everyone and gave them the opportunity to catch his own life. There were such that if the father had a hippolyte, they did not shelter them under the monastery, they would endorse the life of suicide, died. The father was condemned for leaving such people with a monastery. But this is not his lack, and our misunderstanding of the essence of Christianity, and he initially did righteously. It was the manifestation of Divine Love, which acted through it. Having stealing in the heart of Christ, he could not fail to respond to someone else's pain. Of all the elder, with whom I was a sign, the father was most likely like Christ, it was his mercy to fallen people.

And the third feat: "I have to serve" (cf. Mf. 5:42). The father had an extraordinary graciousness. In this, he is similar to St. Nicholas Wonderworker. If the old man knew that there is a need, he served even more than they asked, everyone left him joyful. Then there was enough funds in the monastery, it was possible for us to recover no worse than in the metropolitan abode, but the money was dismissed to the beggar people, the father helped him survive.

What do you think, what is the main feature of the spiritual appearance of the father of the hippolyte?

Speaking about Father Ipolyte, usually stop on the outside of his life, on miracles, impressions, but a little described his spiritual doing, monastic feat. Now we are trying to comprehend, recreate the appearance of our elder, as if we fold a mosaic. What was he like? The main feature of the father is humility. Holy Fathers teach that humility - the Riza of the Divine. Father Hippolyte reached in this Divine Robe. It is clear to me that, thanks to humility, he became a devotee, who in his heart turned Christ, heavenly bishop, he served him, and he took obedience from him. What a mysterious way God opened him, we will never know - he took it with him.

The father with humility chose and accepted the path of deep malustration intended for him by Christ. And on this, especially close way, he felt peace and spiritual joy. Because it is on this path, when a person undergoes a lot, comes grace, giving the joy of communicating with God. A humble person gets joy and peace from oppression and sorrow. It was the usual state of an elder.

We, pilgrims, saw that the life of the fishing monastery was different from other abode. Please tell me how the monastic life proceeded.

In the elder, life in the monastery proceeded in a special mode. We just lived, at ease, without fixing events, not comprehending. As a child lives with his mother: she nourishes him, cares, and everything goes with its natural move. And when he grows, and the mother is moving away - he begins to understand how she loved him. Here is the period after the departure of the elder came from all of us who knew him. Under the life of the father, our childhood proceeded, and it seemed that it would be forever. And only now we understand that it will not return.

It was not easy in the monastery ... I had to live in monasticism not in solitude, but in the stream of sick people. I have never seen so many suffering faces, tortured people, especially on the readings. Batyushka took up the most unfortunate, the most abandoned. He took a feat that rarely solve. The personnel is a giant work, not many monks can take it on themselves and not damage. We performed what the old man said - read prayers, and fought and expelled the evil spirits - he, by the force of Christ. Before the failure of the church filled; If you enter, you will not leave back. You read prayers, and behind the wild screams of the underworld. You hear the treasure cries: "I kill you! .." and you understand that these are not empty words. The father immersed us into the world of human suffering and did not get tired of reminding the need for patience. Because, only having mastered this virtue, you can gain humility. The old man laid the patience as the foundation of humility in us, to then climb to him.

What most attracted your attention in the life of an elder?

I was interested in the hidden side of the spiritual fit of the father of Ippolit. In an effort to monastic, I was looking for a mentor who would teach spiritual science. I began to "study" the elder, look at the eyes of the heart in his life. From me did not slip his gesture. There is such a parable: the disciples came to AVEL and began to ask questions. And only one of them was silent. Then Avva turned to him: why doesn't he ask anything? And he answered: "I just just be with you, Father." So I wanted to "be close" and through the visible seeing the intimate and teeper. I was at the last course of the seminary and naively believed that I have sufficient knowledge about the ending. But near the father of the Ippolitus it turned out that I don't know anything. One thing is a book learning, another - an experienced comprehension of spiritual truths.

How did your personal relationship with the Father and Ippolite?

I was a monk with claims. I wanted to live in the equipped monastery, so that there were conditions for monastic doing. Therefore, I did not like the fishing monastery. There was crowded, and I loved to pray in solitude. I asked the Blessing of the blessings to leave, but he did not let go, and then, finally, said: "Drive, still come here."

I was my soul Book Lubovudrya, after the seminary I wanted to study at the Academy. But the Vladyka did not bless, but, contrary to my expectations, sent to the Rylsky monastery. And then I remembered the words of Batyushki about my return. In essence, the old man then pre-promptly: here my place. The predictions of chicken fathers have such a property: first you hear them, but do not perceive them, and only years later you begin to understand their meaning. Seven years I spent in the Foreign Monastery, then I was transferred to the Women's Monastery in the village of Tresegneushevo. Since 2000, Iplot "Iippolitsky Academies" - first with the father, then with Igumenia Ippolite (Iliina), the provisit of our abode.

Living next to the father, I knew that he was angry, wise, the will of God opens - it was all obvious. But I wanted to get another internal testimony of his perfection and older. I wrote to him whole work, asking questions about Ask - I wanted to know his opinion. I waited a long time, but I did not receive any response. Now I understand that before understanding the answers to my spiritual questions I had to still live.

Each beginning to open after the death of the Father. It began to happen, which is described by the holy fathers. The old man left ... But there was no grief, the soul flew ... - indescribable, deep Easter joy. And they began to clarify the answers to my questions. The father did not rush with the response. He brought up monks with his special "prayer pedagogy." According to his prayer, at one time, when I was ready to perceive, it came that I was looking for so long: the full clarity of answers to my questions and an internal heart certificate. These are all evidence of his older and perfection.

Father Ippolit died at night. I woke up and felt: the father died. After two or three minutes he heard the sound of the bell ... the old man visited his child. When the soul leaves, it visits close. Immediately after the death of the father, our heart intimacy was born, which I did not feel before. A clear understanding has come that now I am forever with him: he will not let me go, nor I will not go away from him.

How did the father of the IPPOLIT taught, brought up monks?

We, who knew the Father of the Hippolyte, are now deeper and deeper to know the secret of his soul, it seems to be revealed during our lives. The father of his silence and brief words as it were to us during life: "See what and how I do, without asking extra questions, and over time everything will open and clarify." As the Gospel we read, and it is revealed throughout life. So and the father: we saw him, heard, but then it was only the beginning.

15 years have passed after his care, and he still fades me, raises me, hesitates, humbles, reminds ... I see where to go, I have an example before my eyes. He is embodied meekness and humility. We are talking about virtues, about meekness, and no meek people do not meet. And we had experience in communicating with such a person, we saw his reaction, actions, peeking in his eyes. For us, novice monks, it was very important.

We need time so that we really understand its teachings. For example, Batyushka spoke many times: "Terp, Father". Only years later, I understood the meaning of patience, and how it should be. We often suffer incorrectly: we collect anger in the near, our heartlessness, and then pour all the irritability, most often on a weak person. And patience is the ability to be kind at any malustration.

What is olderity? The elder initially sees your way and knows where to behave. Now we are deeply honored, we try to fulfill his instructions on the Russian proverb: Forward the Batiki in the bake do not climb. Why reinvent the bike, waste time, making hooks and zigzags? It is necessary to go directly, and this is the path of Father Ippolit: "Live simply. Live and be happy". By worldly concepts, there were few grounds for joy at the Batyushka, a mournful martyr's monastic life, and in the heart - peace and joy.

What specific teachings did he personally give you?

I remember one confession from the father. He was in his wooden "Kaliv", I kneel. And suddenly felt that something covered me like a cap, something was happening to me. There was a special spiritual intimacy with the elder. I look at him and feel that he loves me and sees everything. Usually we are confessable, and nothing happens in the soul. And here, in this grace of love, there were permeating pain for sins, shame and understanding the inadmissibility of these sins. It was very acute, as it does not happen in ordinary life. The elder showed how it was necessary to confess: sin should not just be called, but in the experience of pain and shame to reject. This is a bright example of the Prayer Prayer of the Father Hippolyte. Batyushkin grace - heavenly properties, she was passed on to us, comforted, and sometimes, so this way he worked out, hegan.

I remember such a case. Being a novice, I suffered from my broken shoe, there was no money to buy a new one, and the feet were wet. I came to the fish monastery in the "crocodiles" boots. I was told that my father is cared to care, so that everyone was dressed up. I decided to check: if he is angry, then I should notice what I go. Once even overtook him, showing that my shoes clearly scattered. After that, I looked at the reaction of the father - he only smiled. From the monastery I went to study at the seminary in Kursk. Six months after this case, I brought a box with a new shoe: "This is you from the Father Ippolit." Here is such a lesson I was presented by the father: everything sees, but everything has its time. It is interesting to notice that in the future I always have a shoe enough, I'll distribute himself.

The father repeatedly told me: "Ignati's father, I can not, and you will preach, you will tell people." I then avoided worldly communication and therefore embarrassed from such a prediction. After the death of the father, really, I had to talk about him, teach, conduct excursions. But for this, I first had to go through the school of the Rylsky Monastery.

The fact that the father of the IPPOLIT spoke and clearly showed, is for life. I recently happened such a case. In Athos, I had a meeting with Archimandrite Ephraim, Igumen of the Watoped Monastery. He talked to me affectionately, entered, but then I again approached something to ask. And he already stated me hard: "I told you everything, go." The father of Ippolit was softer, but the principle is the same, similar to "pedagogy": I told you and showed everything you need for this time, now performed if you want ... Without my father, the lives of many people would be different.

Father, Ippolit for his life passed several monastic schools: Glinskaya, Pskovo-Pecherskaya, Athon. How do you think some of them became the main thing that did not affect him?

Father Hippolyte is a special experience of the arrival of Afonovsky older in Russia. Afimites are all similar to each other. And our devotees of one school are also similar, canon can be written from them: Glinsky, Pskovo-Pechersk Stripping. The Batyushka was held the Russian schools of olderism, but nevertheless, the main thing in his appearance and serving is that he is Svyatogorets, who mastered the Isihast Afonov tradition of prayer. He revealed the Afonov Spirit and carried the Afonov obedience in Russia. And this invaluable wealth has become the heritage of the Fish Monastery. After a month spent on Athos, I understood the father more than in all preceding time. His way to such perfection became more clear.

In the Kazan monastery in the village of Largneushevo felt Afonov influence. Do you associate this with the patronage of the father of the hippolyte?

We had a spiritual connection with Watoputa, with the elder Ephraim. He came to us in the monastery. We felt the trend from Athos when the construction of the monastery was going. The crisis began in the country, and sponsors appeared in 2009. New people came to the deaf village. After all, someone led them? Father Ippolit, of course. It is involved in all our events and accomplishments. Through Afonov, from the face of his heart, the Batyushka sent help to us.

Tell me how the father is now from blissful eternity?

Now the new round of elder comes into our lives begins. The first was in the life of the father, the second began immediately after his care and is associated with his posthumous wonderfulness. And in recent years, after television programs on central television, a stream of people who learned about the new Wonderworker hurried to the monastery. People most often ride not with spiritual problems, but simply tool. So it was in the fish monastery and at the father: treated and healing was treated. Now happens the same, but with this the spiritual awakening begins. For each person will follow the prayer of the elder. Nobody will leave the Father Ippolita without the spiritual fetus. Such a mass reverence of an old man is a manifestation of the posthumous life of the Father of the Hippolyte in Christ. It is his quiet modest, and sometimes bright wonders - for people who did not know him, but already loved and stretched to him.

Speaking about the many wonders of the Father Ippolit, usually mean a change in circumstances, when the help of God suddenly comes to the prayers of the elder. This is what helps our external life, but most miracle happens in the human heart when it appeals to Christ. We know many such examples of miracles that the old man worked in the souls of people. Sometimes one day, sometimes gradually, he did a man orthodox Christian. Moreover, he did not convince, but simply talked, he lived with us, prayed, and people around him were acquired by faith, chuckling. Among us were many to whom he knocked in the heart, who found his love, whom he learned from life bustle or barren searches.

It is interesting to note that the father mysteriously captured his spirit in people with whom closely communicated, they acquired some anointing. The habits of the father of the Ippolite are transmitted. I always have a special joy of meeting when it turns out that someone knew the father.

Holiness happens canonical when the church confirms the folk reverence of the devotee, solemnly proclaims him with holy. And there is a recognition and reverence of the people of God, which feels the holiness of the righteous and has evidence. So on Athos, they reveal many devotees and turn to them in prayer as holy. For me and many children and admirers of the Father Hippolyte, its holiness is obvious and undoubted. Father Hippolyte reached the state of oblivion and perfection affordable to man. Holiness originates in heaven, when the grace of God descends on the devotee and transforms him. Father Hippolyte has shown how sanity is possible in our time. He introduced in our life the main and valuable: the gracious word; I revealed the ideal of the monk and embodied Christ the Spirit.

Today they write a lot about the elders John (peasantry), Kirill (Pavlov) and very little - about the father of Ippolite. Batyushka and now it is not in a hurry to open. But I think that time will come, and we are aware of the importance of a special feat of the Father of the Hippolyte for modern monasses and understand its holiness.

"You are the light of the world. The city, standing on the top of the mountain, can not hide. And, burn a candle, do not put it under the vessel, but on the candlestick, and shines to everyone in the house. So yes, your light is shining before people so that they see your good deeds and glorified your heavenly father. " (Matt. 5, 14-16)

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Schirchimandrite Ippolit (in the world - Sergey Ivanovich Khalin) was born on April 27, 1928 in the pious peasant family of John and Evdokia Khalini in the village of Satvents of the Solntsevsky district of the Kursk region. After graduating from the school, the seven-year workers worked for the repair of highways. In 1948, he was called in the ranks of the Soviet Army.

In 1957 he entered the obedient to the Glinskaya desert, then moved to the Pskovo-Pechersk Resident, where in 1959. From the Archbishop of Pskovsky John, he received his blessing to Him on the mantle named Ippolit. Soon the monk of the IPPOLIT became the Ierodicon, and on June 14, 1960 was ordained in San Hieromonach. The famous Mlinsky elders was the spiritual mentors of the Father Hippolit. After the overclocking of the Mlinsky desert during the years of Khrushchev "thaw", the father of Ippolit became Clacer Jeroshimonach Mikhail, the last Valaamsky senior.

By blessing His Holiness Patriarch Alexia I In 1966, the father of Ippolit was sent to carry a permanent chapter obedience to the holy Mountain of Athos, in Russian Holy Panteleimonov monastery, where he spent eighteen years, having been hung in the PRP ins. Silian Afonovsky. Apparently, on Athos, Father Ippolit accepted Schima.

In 1983, Returning from Athos to his homeland, the father of Ippolit continued to bear obedience in the Pskovo-Pechersk monastery. In 1986, Archimandrite Ippolit on the blessing of the Archbishop of Kursk and Belgorod, Yuvenalia was adopted in the clearing of the Kursk Diocese. The father of Ippolit was the rector of many temples of the Kursk Diocese, raised them from the ruins. In 1991, he was appointed the rector of the newly returned Russian Orthodox church Rylsky St. Nicholas male monastery. Archimandrite Ippolit accepted the control of the abode, which was in a dilapidated condition. Her temples were crowded and ruined in the years of persecution of faith. Under the leadership of the father of Ippolit, the monastery began to be quickly reborn. For 11 years of his ministry in the Nikolsky monastery, the father of Ippolit managed to rally around himself a numerous brachia, did a great job on the restoration of the monastery.

About the father of the heart of the Nikolo-Fish Monastery Father Ippolite, I want to write for a very long time. Not because I really want to declare myself about myself, no, to be honestly proud of me especially nothing, but because I, such a sinful person, was revealed by God's mercy, to get in touch with the real lamp of Russian monasticism.

The father listed everyone, his love and compassion spread to all people around him surrounding, to him were driving from all the ends of Russia, and the monastery slowly turned into a real hospital for deeply unfortunate people suffering from spiritual and physical diseases.

Here it was possible to meet former criminals and prostitutes and sorcerers, obsessed with the restlessness and deeply believing people. Christ's love shining in the Batyushkin Heart, as it is impossible to better reflect the words of the Gospel:

"Not healthy have a need for a doctor, but patients; I came to call on the righteous, but sinners to repentance "(MK. 2,17)

Many did not understand Atyushki and even condemned, they say, he arranged from the monastery of the Verton, the monks confuse. Yes, life in the monastery was really complete temptations. Employees, men and women, joint meal, obedience, all this sometimes led to sad consequences, but, rare these cases, the monastery shakes a better earthquake. People, at first came to the monastery, did not quite understand where they fell and continued to play life, as in the world, but then gradually, thanks to the Batyushkaya leadership and prayers, got up to the true path. After all, it was in the monastery that the present transformation was happening with them, repentance and awareness of their sinfulness occurred.

So it was with me. Before I got to the father, I led my life is not Christian, I threw me away from side, went to the company, where we were under the brutal guitar, drank and smoked, met with young people. He was fond of occult literature, the passion for which gradually led to any kind of phobiam and neurosis. I wondered on the maps, laid out the runes, I went from curiosity to all sorts of sects and communicated with psychics. It seemed that my familiar lifestyle could change? But, the miracle happened because I was looking for God. My soul, somewhere in the depths of my Christian, and I was Beschenized in two years, I constantly inspired me that I live wrong, I was tormented by conscience, I often sobbed and mourned my behavior, but I didn't know what the sacrament was still as confession. And that only it can calm down the soul.

In addition, terrible things began to happen to me, at night there was a demon and I, to wake up and get rid of the vague, read in the dream "Our Father" - it was the only prayer that I knew at that time. Much had to survive for my passion for the occult, but by the will of God, I repeated and got rid of this terrible sin. For a long time, I then read the prayers of St. Cyprian and St. Ustinier, eliminating sorcerer and evil spirits.

And now, once, and my sister and I went to the Blessed Staritz Matronushka. I am now sure that we got to the father in her prayers, and first of all, of course, according to the prayers of the Mother of God. It was our first trip to her. Now in the female Pokrovsky monastery, I am regularly. I remember was very larch, first we got to the icon, and then we made up to my relics. For all this, we left for three hours, and before that, in the subway, my sister filed one obedient who gather to the monastery. "Thank you, sister," he thanked and told us that the icon of the Mother of God "Theodore" was brought to the Afonovsky compound on this day. After the Matronushka, we decided to go to make the icon of the Virgin. They walked with the thought that if there is a very big turn, we will not stand. The queue was huge, but we, in the fishery, we got into it and stood four hours. There we got acquainted with the Inokine of Alexia, whipped at the moment at the Batyushka Ippolit. She gave us the address of the Nikolo-Rylsky monastery and told about the father that he was an old man and, besides, the people are angry and that people come to him from all over Russia to get the instruction and ask for prayers.

I now remember how a good Batyushkino face looked at me, and the inner voice told me: "You will go there!"

We went there not immediately, firstly, began once the temptations, and secondly, I was preparing for the delivery of a diploma and all the days spent in libraries, but as soon as the work was completed, my sister and I got to the train and went to meet a new life .

In the monastery I have never been, I rarely went to the temple, to the inconveniences of monastic life, I was spoiled, was not ready. Therefore, the first days in the monastery were a real test for me. Having arrived in the monastery, we did not know where to go to whom to contact, it over the years when I began to fall a lot, I learned that you need to seek help on the resettlement to an adolescent monastery. After some Naja, we found the refectory, and there, throwing our belongings, immediately started the first obedience.

In the monastery do not like lazy people and darkees, everything must be deserved: and food and overnight, for the same it is necessary to work. We were determined to wash the dishes. The next day I soap the second floor of the temple cold water From the column. I cried and persuaded my sister to go home, these minute weaknesses passed later, since we both understood that they had not yet fulfilled the most important thing, for what, in fact, was this trip - we did not get to the father. Two weeks we lived in the monastery, before our first meeting took place. During this time, we were identified for a new obedience - work on the meadow, we dried out the swamp. In long wet skirts, in rubber boots, with saws in their hands, we stood two mamyenkin's daughters in the water and spilled branches, and then dragged them and folded in one big bunch. Now I remember these times with gratitude and joy, and then it was a real test. We got up early, then went to the liturgy, after the meadow, and then campaign on the meadow. There was two kilometers there to go there, for Moscow rampage fellow legs. Then we returned to the monastery, trapes and again on the meadow. In the evening, we were brought from the monastery, we had dinner and went to the evening service. We slept and sister in the monastery house, outside the monastery, on a narrow single bed. Then I got a bed, and it was real happiness, which, here, in Moscow, would not be completely appreciated.

And so, one day we were told that the father takes. I was terribly afraid of this meeting, I thought that the elder downtreled me, and won won. Nothing happened, on the contrary, the father accepted me gently, asked: where I, what I do, and blessed to stay to live. He always said a very soft, quiet voice, with a special intonation, which still sounds in my heart when I remember our meetings. So I stayed, I lived in the monastery all summer, and then at each other case, I came to the father, right up to his death.

I still endlessly ashamed to remember my behavior in the monastery, because there my sins in all our unsightly break out to the outside, but everyone died, everything justified and everything covered with her love, because he understood that the soul was not treated in one day. And what kind of human soul goes scary war, not for life, but to death.

I remember, once, I especially upset him: without repentance, I wanted to approach him in confusion, I wanted to approach him, and he turned away and went away from me, as if he did not notice. That's then I cried bitterly, it became scary to me and ashamed. Of course, the father forgave me and took it later with even greater love, but "nails", which I hit him in my hands, will never forget. After all, the father very often took our sins on himself and sick after that weeks, without leaving his cell. On such days, the monastery squeezed, everyone died, they began to work better, because everyone knew that every no less than the other was ever in the Batyushkaya Disease.

The elder never said some particularly dull phrases, said simply and meek. He always instructed the psalrtyry, and when attacking the demonskie "Our Father". He advised to read Akathist Nicholas the Wonderworker and smallerly disturbing spiritual books. Once I brought him a book, we were talking about neurosis: "Battyushka, bless!". Father Ippolit looked at the book, and I could not read it, I said strictly: "You will read in Moscow, but it is necessary to pray." And then, in a few days, I handed me a book about raising children. I then thought that I was hinting for childbearing, but I read the book in one breath and found all the answers in it.

I remember such a case. I was going to the monastery, at that moment I had already returned to Moscow and worked. Planning to go to the street, I wrote a poem for the father, with the intention to give him something special. At one time, I asked him to bless me to write poems, I wrote them from 12 years old, but they got some dark. I wrote about death, loneliness, longing. And the father of Ippolit asked me: "Spiritual?" I nodded, and he blessed. For a long time I did not write poems, because my life proceeded in the fight and could not write anything good.

So, I was lucky to the poems of the father and candy, not very hoping that he would take them. He turned everything that he was brought, and he walked in the old hedgehog. Once, Natasha Bagaeva, now Igumbena Nona Alan Women's Monastery, who opened on the blessing and prayers of the father, came to visit him to the hospital. And what she saw, touched her to tears. The old man, who passed the Holy Athos, was sitting on the hospital bed with meeklyko and humbly, and on his legs he had knitted socks, of which they were not fragmented during the knitting string.

So, I was lucky a poem dedicated to the Nikolo-Rylsky monastery, pressed as the most expensive to heart. And in a digs, stopping at one mother, it disappeared somewhere. I turned the whole room, looked everywhere, but I did not find anywhere.

I come to the father and in tears. And he comforts me smiling: "I'll find anything."

The next day, after the night, some inner voice made me raise the pillow on which I slept. There I found a poem.

"Batyushka! I found him!" - I was happy to say, finally, waiting for my turn. The father smiled and joked: "No wonder they say that I am a turning" ...

I would like to say that the father did not love very much when he was deified when he saw that a man begins to see the idol in him, he immediately won it and led him to the feeling. Often, the older was going with empty questions: "Batyushka, dreamed of a dream, what does it mean?" Batyushka then frowned and said: "And you go and turn to some kind of beggar old senior he will tell you." The man became conspicable, and he was noticeable. After all, many people drove to him with real problems, and he, old, took them all day, occasionally making breaks. Hippolyt's father tormented cough, he often sick pneumonia, which he worked, living in Athos. He sat the horn, sick, on a stool and everyone consomed, was instructed, everyone gave an icon. Often take the icon from him with a saint that you do not know, and then or enter the monastery in honor of this holy erected or read something about him.

Many miracles occurred on Batyushkin prayers to the Lord. My parents were in charge of a Batyushkaya blessing when they came to visit us and sister to the monastery. If I could more often listen to the Batyushkaya Soviets, and my life was formed in any other, I would not make so many mistakes for which I was so embarrassing and hurt.

According to the prayers of the father of Ippolitis, change gradually began to occur in me: the people who contributed to the growing of my sins, became uninteresting that the life I led to our meeting with him, I began to go to the temple, I tried to surround myself with Orthodox friends. Of course, that life, that was even before the trip to the Nikolo-Rylsky monastery and now comes to my sinful echoes, but the falls have become smaller, and the desire to fix their life will grow with every day.

I still make mistakes, I still sin and stumble, but I'm invisible, someone stretches my hand to me and makes you get up and go further, no matter what. This is Batyushkina hand. That same that blessed me, comforted and pointed out the right road.

When Archimandrite Hippolit died, and it was on the Navy. Barbaro, from all over Russia people reached out, those who gave a father new life. Among these people were me. There was a day Nicholas Wonderworker, the patron of the monastery, in which there were so many people that problems arose with the bedrooms - many slept in the buses in which they arrived.

The deceased father was lying in the lower temple. People came to him, they were forgated. When I went to the coffin, kissed the army's hand, I felt warmth, she was like a living. It was a big shock for me, I could not accept the fact that the father died. No, he did not die, and was pressed, i.e. It was rearranged from one place to another, then the very place where the love was living, which inspired the Father of the Hippolyte on such a sacrificial and noble feat.

To give all the way to people, to sacrifice.

And I want to say: "Forgive me, the father, for not justifying your bright love, let these lines, then small, what can I do, will bring someone's consolation."

Soon in Maryino, the monument to Archimandrit Hippolit, the former abbot of the Holy Nikolsky Monastery, the people of the Holy Wonderworker, will be revealed. The father of the Ippite died on December 17, 2002. But the memory of him is alive. At the grave to the elder, pilgrims are collected from all over Russia. On the day, the monastery approached five to six buses with believers, not counting those who get their move. Some go to the father Ippolit for half a year, spending the night in the open sky.

In the Father's Monastery, the father of the Ippolit served 11 years. Before that, I did not have obedience in the Pskov-Pechersk monastery. Not one ten years old, Batyushka Ippolit served and prayed in Greece on the legendary Holy Mount Athos. They say, in monks who are held there for many years, conjugates God's gift - to heal people.

The father, of course, possessed the gift of the witness, prophecy, healing and consolation, "says the student of the father of Ippolit, Ink Grigory.

Anna Ivanovna Savelyeva - Head of pilgrimage groups from Moscow to Rylsk - tells:

Once I brought a large group of pilgrims to the street. In the bus, a woman with his son, whose doctors discovered AIDS.

The old man crossed his index finger and said that he had nothing.

All the way to Moscow, the woman klya the elder for a lie. And on arrival in the capital, everything was confirmed: the doctors recognized the boy absolutely healthy. Or here is another miracle. On the eve of the operation to remove the tumor, the woman came to the tomb to the father. And the next morning discovered that the tumor was solved by itself.

After such cases, many doctors were baptized after such cases and came to the elder themselves, "says Grigory.

When the father of Hippolyte before his death was in a coma, a resuscitation team from Moscow came to him. In front of the doctors of the icon of the "Savior of the Unclean", hanging in the headboard of the elder, began to bleed. After that, the doctor's miracle was brought here her close relatives to pray at the tomb of the father.

He died of an extensive stroke. Very severe physically for the father were the certificate *. Hundreds of sufferers arranged in the church a terrible pressure. Father Ippolit read prayers on them. And at this moment, as they tell, something unimaginable began to work. Women shouted with male voices and on the contrary, someone began to walk the stomach with a walled belly, someone died in a piggy. After such Saturdays, the Batyushka did not rise several days, he had ulcers on his body, which, however, quickly heal.

He raised a fish abode from the ruins. From the blessing of Archimandrite Ippolit near the monastery, three healing sources are open: the Mother of God, Nicholas Wonderworker and Rev. John Rylsky. The father of Ippolit took all: criminals, drug addicts, drunks, homeless.

Once, my friend Alla from Vladikavkaz arrived at him, "says Grigory. - She has received drugs for many years. The elder talked to her, comforted and asked that next time she brought a girlfriend with her, who had the same problems. The girls arrived, the elder predicted them to their future. Alla blessed for marriage, said she would have big flat In St. Petersburg, that she will go to the Medical Institute. And the son of Alla asked to impart Nikolai in honor of the holy wretched. So everything happened. For drugs, young women no longer remembered.

Inok Grigory at the request of the father read letters who came to him. Many Father Hippolyte helped cope with diseases at a distance. If it was a phone call, then the father, often without hearing the interlocutor, he himself told him about his problems and immediately solved them with some miracle.

In general, the father was larching, did not like when his as a monk was praised. When he was buried, the monastery Zasia. In the sky, despite the fact that there was winter, a rainbow appeared. The radiance appeared on the left of the restoration. And the Oak Cross on the grave several times well and myself. People gathered a world in bubbles ...

* Special prayers about the offeads. Prayers for them are written by great Christian saints - John Zlatoust and Vasily Great.

In the 1990s, people from all over Russia reached the Rylsky St. Nicholas Monastery in the Kursk region, people from all over Russia were reached for the resolution of the most important issues, for help and consolation. The abbot of the monastery was then Archimandrite Ippolit (Khalin; † 2002) - an extraordinarily good Russian old man who passed the spiritual school of Athon. Somehow Schirchimandrite Macarium (Bolotov) said about him: "If Russia had a hundred such monks, Russia would have risen to the sky with roots."

Russian Athos Star

In the middle of the twentieth century, the existence of Russian monastics on Athos was under a big question. There were less than a dozen of the statements of our holy Panteleimonov monastery. Spiritual life here slowly, but obviously faded. The monastery could already move away to the Greeks ... But in 1966, there was something that the Russian monastery was literally saved and allowed him to revive. For the first time Soviet Union This was allowed to delegate several monks. Among them was the Archimandrite Ippolite (Khalin). Arriving here a few years later, Schirchimandrit Ili (Nozdrin) said that only thanks to these monks, the monastery on the Holy Mount managed then to save.

Sergey Khalin, as the name of the future Archimandrite Ippolita in the world, was an eighth child in the peasant family of Ivan and Evdokia Khalins. He was born in the Kursk region in the village of Saturotino. His birthday - April 18, 1928 - fell on Wednesday, Light Sedmians. The boy was the youngest child in the family. All three of his native brothers died at the front, so Sergey still had to work hard as a child, helping parents. However, this did not prevent him from finish high school, then learn to the founder, and after some time it is also to get an education in the peddle.

After a short job, Sergey's highway repairman Sergey in 1948 was called up for military service. As he recalled himself, he often read in the army at night under the blanket "Our Father". It is known that since childhood, Sergey had a deep faith in God. It was largely obliged to his uncle Mikhail, who served the priest. In addition to him, in the genus of the Khalins before that there were not only priests, but also the monks. The memories are preserved that Sergey in his youth under the bed was a suitcase with spiritual literature, which he often read. He also loved to sing and knew a lot of poems of Russian poets, who remembered even to old age.

When, in 29 years, Sergey turned out to be at the gate of the Glinskaya desert, and then decided to take a monasticism, the parents against this did not mind it. He himself, after many years, joked for himself: "No one wanted to marry me, I had to go to the monastery."

The novice asked his mentor, who will become an older after him, and heard: "Yes, you will be and"

Sergey came to the desert, wanting to get a blessing for further training in the seminary, but the obedient remained here. Fathers said that in the monastery there will be a seminary, and the Academy. The spiritual father of the young obedient became the famous old man Schirchimandrit Andronik (Lukash). Many noted that they were surprisingly similar to even the temper, manner of behavior. It is known that at this time the elder healed the obedient Sergei Khalin from the strong inflammation of the lungs, which could lead to a deadly outcome. It got closer to them even more. Somehow, in his simplicity, Sergey asked the Spiritual Father, who will become an older after him. "Yes, you will and you will be," the turning mentor replied.

From the Glinskaya desert, in which he spent only one year, Sergey was sent to the Pskovo-Pechersk monastery. Here he met with such chicken elders, like Jeroshimona Simeon (Zlin) and Schimons Nikolai (monks). However, the most spiritually close to him was Jeroshimona Mikhail (Pitkevich), who arrived here from Valaam in 1957. Sergey became his classik. Very soon he takes a tonsure, then the ordination in the Ierodic and (in 1960) in Hieromona. The monastic name Sergey received in honor of the Sacred Martyr of the Rimsky Hippolyte. In total, he spent six years in Pechoras, until 1966, when he was sent to Athos.

About the life of the father of Hippolyte on the Holy Mountain, little information was preserved. It is known that here he sang on the closer, she worked a lot on earth, and today on Athos, the Lebanese cedars are growing on Athos. Another Batyushka tried to breed the chickens here, who loved him very much and walked behind him. Some Greeks in a joke called the Father of the Hippolyte "Bosnogam" ("Xipolitios") on the consonance of this Greek word with his name.

Father lived, Ippolit in the same cell, where the old man Siluan Athossky was pretended and prayed

We know that even before the canonization of Siluan Athos Batyushka managed to preserve the relics of the devotee, who monks, doubting the holiness of the presented, wanted to hide out in an inaccessible place. It is noteworthy that the father lived, Ippolit in the same cell, where she had previously lived and prayed saint. Still, like Siluan Athos, he has long carried obedience to Economa.

For four years, the father of Hippolit represented his monastery in the Holy Cinema, which testifies to his high authority among brethren. It should be noted that the father knew perfectly well greek language, I communicated freely.

Father Ippolit has greatly to the homeland. Often in the letters, he wrote familiar: "Mostly what you live in Russia. Kiss your land. " On the holy grief he spent 18 years.

In 1984, the elder was seriously ill and could no longer remain on Athos, since the local climate did not favor his recovery. So Ieromona Ippolit again turned out to be at home, in Russia.

"Forty years I have lowered every person"

From Athos, the father returned first to the Pechora. He was erected in San Archimandrite, and a little later Iguman. In 1986, he received a referral to his native Kursk diocese, where he had to restore several rural temples from the ruins in the position of the abbot. In the Nikolaev fish monastery, Father Ippolit was sent in 1991 by the abbot. In this monastery, he spent the last years - 11 years. Restoring the monastery and revive the monastic life in him by Pathushka had to be practically from scratch. One of the most vintage temples in Russia was then in a dilapidated state.

I did not immediately give the fathe to the monastery in order. At first, especially in the first year of grinding, Archimandrite Ippolitu had to even hear the words of discontent from the priesthood for the fact that restoration work is progressing very slowly. However, soon people began to move in a huge number of people. The abode managed to lead to a well-kept form, the farm to significantly increase. Interestingly, at the same time, the father himself never participated in any construction issues. Its only made a prayer. Every day, father Ippolit alone performed procession Around the temple. And there were people, funds, materials necessary for construction.

Every day, the father of Ippolit alone performed a congestion around the temple. And there were people, funds, materials

However, the elder did not strive for too expensive outdoor decoration, he was more interested in what inside. He belonged to those of those priests who do not care about the improvement of temples, how much about the landscaping of human souls. Perhaps that is why so many people sought to get to the old man. And he had such love and compassion that he could accommodate everyone in his heart - from a businessman to a homeless alcoholic. The monastery at the father's Ippolite was opened in day and night for everyone in need. Sometimes the abbot even had to hear the reproaches that he supposedly did from the holy place. There were here and previously convicted, and drug addicts, all the people's rejected society. And many of them left their former life, healed, received tremendous spiritual assistance.

The elder possessed an amazing gift of love and consolation. It also distinguished him, extraordinary meekness and simplicity. Orthodox Bard Evgeny Fokin recalled about Batyushka: "His simplicity was such that he could not be different." But all his spiritual taming the old man hid diligently. Many even wured out why people go to the Father Ippolitu people. Outwardly, he did not produce some particularly bright impression, to recognize the chute elder in it was almost impossible. Therefore, those who drove into the monastery in anticipation of some wonders or prophecies were disappointed.

Preaching Batyushka never pronounced, did not differ eloquence. In general, he spoke very little and quietly, often inseparable, so it was not always possible to immediately hear what he said, "I had to ask. For all men, he addressed the "father." "Well, how do you save, father?" - Usually asked an old man at the beginning of the conversation. In the end he said: "Pray" - or advised to read Akathist Nicholas the Wonderworker, who was particularly honored.

Somehow a woman, whose son was AIDS, on the advice of acquaintances, granting for the last straw, decided to ask for help to the Father Ippolit. They drove away from afar. The elder crossed the son of this woman and said: "You have no AIDS." The whole road back the woman was due and indignant: too, they melt, they found the saint, and he doesn't even know anything, it was only in vain so far away. Returning home, the son again passed the examination, and ... he did not find any illness.

But usually archimandrite IPPOLIT helped otherwise. He blessed people who came for helping people to live a little in the monastery, worry on obedience, pray. And people remained: who for a week, who for several months, who for life. They saved through prayer and obedience. Almost every day, prayers were made to the monastery about the offeaders ("deducts", as the father called), on which even the understeed, as well as alcoholics, drug addicts and others were healing. However, the elder was present on them blessed everyone, as it believed that "today everything is very sick." For these "deductions", the enemy of the human race strongly agreed into the elder: his face was covered with huge blisters, to get rid of which only a long night prayer helped.

To the question of how to pray, the elder answered: "With tenderness"

The domestic feat of the Father of the Hippolyte from us is hidden, but it was obvious to everyone. The father often loved to repeat the evangelical words: "The kingdom of heaven is nudies, and the needs admire E" (MF. 11: 12). Exactly, he said, he needed to first file himself on prayer, and then a person himself will not live without her, will rush on the rule, "like a date." To the question of how to pray, the elder responded: "With tenderness."

The most important quality of the father was deep, genuine humility. Somehow, shortly before the death, he was mentioned one of the pilgrims: "Forty years I was lowered to every person." He never strictly reached any of the arrivals, could only make it gently, allegorically, for example, through some song or verse. The father was not successful to force anyone or insist; On the contrary, he always seemed to persuade a person, even if he knew exactly how it would be better to do. Perhaps, therefore, Archimandrite Cyril (Pavlov) once called the father of Hippolitus "the best father on Earth."

It happened that even people unbelievers came to the old man - just out of curiosity. The Ierodiakon of the Holy Assumption Monastery in Alanya Sergius (Chekhov) told that for the first time he visited the Rylsky monastery, being an atheist, father of Ippolita considered some extrasensus. Batyushka drew attention to him and asked if he would like to become a monk. In the plans of a young man, this, of course, was not part of - in the future he was going to marry. Batyushka did not insist. But two years later, the young man turned out to be in the monastery and remained a novice here. He himself was amazed by the turnover and other spiritual gifts of the Father of Ippolit. "I came there at the atheist, but the old man took my hand - and the world turned over!" - He says.

For pretty short term The abbot managed not only to restore the Nikolaev Church from the ruins, but also to significantly expand the economy of the monastery. There were enough work all: there were many land here, which was necessary to cultivate, were animals. For some reason, Batyushka loved the cows for some reason, Himself had to do. They also loved him too and listened. To the death of the father of the hippolyte in the monastery flock there were about 150 burenoks.

In addition to the revival of spiritual and economic life in the Rylsky Monastery, the elder founded another five beds in the next villages. He especially loved the Kazan Monastery in Bolshesthevko, who is already a female monastery today. In Him, the father spent a lot of time in recent months of his life. But this, the spiritual activities of Archimandrite Ippolita did not limit itself: they were founded by two monastery in Ossetia - male in Beslan and female in Alagir.

"Apostle Alanya and the North Caucasus"

"The Caucasus will be saved by monasteries," said the father of the IPPOLIT

It is not known what the special attachment of the father about the inhabitants of Ossetia was connected. They themselves even called him "Apostle Alanya and the North Caucasus". Someone argued that the Mother of God ordered him to pray for this land. Obviously, the father, endowed with the gift of witness, foresaw the tragic events that will occur in the North Caucasus after his death. He believed that "the Caucasus will be saved only by monasteries." It is unlikely that the coincidence that the Assumption Men's Union-founded in Beslan is just 200 meters from the school, where in 2004 there was a well-known terrorist attack. And in the Alan Women's Resident later, a rehabilitation center was created for children affected by this tragedy. Batyushka himself pointed out the place to create monasteries in Ossetia.

An interesting story of the familiarity of the future of the monastery in Alagir Nonny Mother (Bagayeva) with the father of the Ippolite. Natasha (so called in the world) came to the older work. Then she was still a director on the television of Ossetia, she had to remove the transfer of any interesting and famous personality. Since many Ossetians came to the olden, Natasha decided to interview him, but the interview of the rector of the fishing monastery give, of course, did not know. But in a conversation, he asked a young girl: "Do you know that you are a nun?" Natalia it then grumbled heavily, and she asked where it could be known at all. "Monks the cross glows on the forehead," answered the father. Such a "revelation" about himself the girl did not expect to hear. But then she was surprised even more. A woman ran into her cell, looking for Natasha-director. And the elder told her that the Alansky Igness itself was complaining to the monastery, and pointed to Natasha-director. And the girl herself even did not even know who is "rationing". But already a year later, she accepted the lead in the St. Nicholas Monastery and today heads the Epiphany Resident in Alanya.

Blessed Cum

When at the end of 2002, the father had a stroke, for all it was a surprise, but no one thought he would die. A few weeks Father Hippolit was unconscious. Moreover, it's surprising that at the time of his communion for some time the father had a swallowing reflex appeared, and then disappeared again. To the Lord, the elder moved on December 17, and his 19th referred to him - on the day of memory so beloved by him St. Nicholas of the Wonderworker. Buried the confessor of the monastery at the altar rebuilt with the Nikolaev temple. After the death of the father, a miracle was recorded: the cross on his grave began to make peace. It happened on the ninth day. Many argued that the day before and on the day of death they saw unusual natural phenomena. However, without this, it was obvious to everyone that the Russian land found in the face of Archimandrite Ippolit (Khalin) another prayerhouse in heaven.