"The sorrow of love is deep..." The Tambov period in the life of the hieromartyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky, 1848-1886)

Abstract

The article describes the Tambov period of the life of the hieromartyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky, 1848-1886). The article describes the Tambov period of the life of the holy martyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky, 1848-1886). The future Metropolitan Vladimir, in the worldly world Vasily Nikiforovich Bogoyavlensky, was born in the northern borders of the Tambov region, in the small ancient Morshansk village of Malaya Morshevka, the first written mention of which dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. His father was a priest here, one of the representatives of the priestly Bogoyavlensky family. After graduating from the Tambov Theological School and, as one of the best students, was enrolled without exams in the lower department of the Tambov Theological Seminary. After the seminary, the future Metropolitan, together with his friend Alexei Spassky, was sent to the Kyiv Theological Academy for further education. The years that Vasily spent there were a time of persistent work in comprehending theological sciences. Then he taught at the Tambov Theological Seminary in the department of homiletics and liturgics. All his activities were focused on teaching his subject and the affairs of the seminary. But there was also time for scientific work. His works were published in the Tambov diocesan gazette. After his marriage and ordination to the priesthood, Vasily Bogoyavlensky served as a shepherd in the parishes of the city of Kozlov. After the death of his wife, he took monastic vows with the name Vladimir. After some time, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed abbot of the Kozlov Monastery, then transferred to be abbot of the Novgorod Antoniev Monastery. At the end of October 1886, Father Vladimir left the Kozlov Monastery. So, 38 years of life were left behind, there were still 22 years ahead, full of sorrow, suffering, patience and work.