Povalyaev Konstantin Petrovich Biography

Andrei of the First -Called G. Napol Italy, Father Mikhail answered the questions of Professor Mikhail Talalai in an interview for our magazine and blessed all Orthodox Christians, congratulating Bright Easter on the holiday. Photos are taken in the crypt of St. Yanuaria Mikhail Talalai Dear Father, bless! Christ is risen! MT: Verily risen! Allow you to ask you a few questions for our readers, and even to me, as a researcher of Russian Orthodoxy in Italy, it is interesting.

Let's start with your personal path: how did it happen that you chose it? As I understand it - family? Were there any other impulses? Why did the path brought to Italy? M: My grandfather was a priest, and I grew up in a priestly family. It so happened that the children's and youthful years took place in the Cathedral of Kharkov in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where the relics of St.

Athanasius, Patriarch of Tsaregrad, St. Meleti, Archbishop of Kharkov and the Holy Martyr, Archbishop Kharkov, rest. There is also a list of the Ozerny icon of the Mother of God, on the day of the memory of the phenomenon of which the Lord judged me to be born. A long -term stay near these shrines was the main impulse for me, which led me to service before the throne of God.

In Rome, and thus ended up in Italy. MT: Being a shepherd in Italy, you served in different pioneer cities: in the capital of the country, the capital of Sardinia and now - the capital of the campaign. One and a half centuries ago it was different countries. And now - did you feel the differences in the religious life of the Italian environment? M: Rome is a city of Christian shrines, where the Holy Apostles Peter and Pavel and other martyrs suffered.

For centuries, the city was enriched with shrines, for which millions of believers rushed into the pilgrimage. In addition, the Vatican state is located here. All this, of course, influences the life of believing people, which combines the greatness of huge cathedrals and ease in contact with great Christian shrines. On Sardinia, which was more than other regions of Southern Italy under the Roma Empire of the Byzantine emperors, East Christian traditions, such as the local reverence of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine, which Western Christians do not honor as a saint, were also preserved.

In the period of the passionate week, folk choirs are formed, which accompany religious processions, performing chants in a special folk manner. Naples is famous for his special veneration of the holy martyr Janoire, to whom they turn with hot prayer and childish simplicity and sincerity. Therefore, it is safe to say that in each region of Italy, residents really differ not only mentally, but also have features in their religious manifestations.

As a rule, those believers who marry with the bees, do not change Orthodoxy MT: did your Orthodox flock differ? Her main characteristics? M: The Orthodox flock in Italy is immigrants from different countries of the post -Soviet space. In every country or city, and sometimes the parish, there are local traditions with which our compatriots come to the Apennines.

These differences in the secondary, present in the life of our parishioners, do not prevent us from feeling like the children of the Russian Orthodox Church, grow in our parish life and cultivate new generations in the Orthodox faith. MT: As you know, the Holy of the Russian Orthodox Church does not bless the “missionary” activity among Catholics, that is, the propaganda of Orthodoxy.

But if the Catholic himself comes to you, wanting to join the Orthodox Church, then what? Have there been such cases? M: Yes, there are such cases. The importance of the question is that a person who wants to join the Orthodox Church does not treat this superficially, as a new hobby.

And if he decided to become Orthodox, he would do it consciously and consistently. MT: It is clear that many of our women in Italy, marrying Catholics, plunge into Catholic life, go to Catholic temples. Previously, the Catholic Church desperately fought for the Orthodox, whom they considered schismatics. And now? Does your herd grow? M: As a rule, those believers who marry with the beosal, do not change Orthodoxy and are aware of themselves in the children of the Orthodox Church.

But for them, sometimes there is another problem - the remoteness of the Orthodox parish if they live away from cities where there are Orthodox communities. Along with this, there are those who are indifferent to the issues of faith, and then for them it is still to which religious denomination to attribute themselves. MT: About the differences in Orthodoxy and Catholicism, not books, but libraries are written, and we will not talk about dogma.

Но вот вещи обыденные и весьма заметные: вы — женатый священник. How do Italians react to your mother, to children? M: The vast majority of Italians are very positive about this feature of the Orthodox priests, although carefully.It is pleased that, discussing the differences between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, we can simply talk about faith, hope and love! MT: God save, dear Fr.

Michael, for the conversation!