Nikolay Guryanov
Nikolay Guryanov | |
|---|---|
| Priest, Mystic | |
| Born | Nikolai Alekseievich Gurianov 24 May 1909 Folk Christianity, Russia |
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Nikolay Guryanov |
Nikolai Alekseievich Guryanov (Gurianov,
Biography
Nikolay Guryanov was born May 24, 1909, to the family of a private landowner and merchant in the locality (pogost) of Samolva, village Chudskiye Zahody, Gdov district,
.During
In 1958 he was transferred to the Pskov bishopric as parish priest of Saint Nicholas' church on the island of Talabsk (Zalit) in Pskov (Chudskoye) lake where he spent the remaining 44 years of his life, 40 as a priest, retiring at a very old age and settling at a humble wooden house nearby afterwards.
Among many of those who were allowed to visit him in recent times were pop stars
In his final year, before his death, Nikolay, despite his illness nevertheless found the strength to receive pilgrims, to strengthen them and instruct them in faith. The thoughts of the starets spoken during these earthly conversation became a sort of spiritual
In June 2002, a group of Orthodox priests and laity visited Nikolai for his blessing. He was asked: "Will we see an Orthodox Tsar?" Nikolay having traced the sign of the cross, prayed and firmly said "A Tsar is coming!"
Guryanov died on the night of August 24, 2002, at the age of 92. He was buried on August 26 on the island of Talabsk.
Reputed miracles
It is written[who?] of him that he used to find lost people and freed hostages from bandit captivity. He became particularly famous after a surviving sailor came to him and recognised in him the starets who appeared to him during an accident. But the sailor came to the island to a respected man and only after "recognised" him.[citation needed]
In September 1997, a group of 10 pilgrims visited Nikolay in his wooden hut. He came out to bless people and
Poetic gifts
Guryanov was endowed with a special musical gift. Starets loved church singing, and composed many spiritual songs and
"I came to father being torn with doubts about my life, with an empty, insignificant question and he in answer sang all my life in song and in the end said a few guiding words. And everything became clear to me, I said farewells in tears and left in peace and consoled - now I knew how should I live and what to do." - such stories were often heard from pilgrims, for many of whom the meeting with the starets became the beginning of new life - life in
Teaching
Once he was asked what he considered to be the most dangerous sin in the souls of people? Father Nikolai answered: "Unbelief! This is frightening." - Even with Christians? - "Yes, even, with Orthodox Christians".
The pilgrims then asked: "Batiushka (Russian for father), what would you say to all Orthodox Christians about salvation? " - "Listen here the believing man, he must... with abundance of love relate to everything that surrounds him. Understood? With abundance of love."
Devotion to Tsar and his veneration of Nicholas II
Per some Russian sources, the room of father Guryanov was filled with photos and images of Nicholas II and first family. He kept albums, films, documentaries telling about the last Russian Tsar. Guryanov also honoured Grigori Rasputin.
References
External links
- Film depicting a live conversation with Guryanov at his home (wmv file, 18.8 mb, from Russtv.ru - Russian Orthodox TV)
- Guryanov reads akafistus "For the most sweet Jesus" (audio file, 13.6 mb)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
