Pavel of Taganrog

Elder (russ. Old) Pavel of Taganrog ( Pawel Taganrog Russian Святой блаженный Павел Таганрогский , scientific. Transliteration Svjatoj blažennyj Pavel Taganrogskij ; born November 8 ^{. Jul} / 19th November  1792 ^greg. In Malorossia, Chernigov Governorate , Russian Empire , now Ukraine , † March 10 ^{. jul} / 22. March  1879 ^greg. in Taganrog ) influenced the spiritual and religious life of the inhabitants of Taganrog, the Don region, southern Russia and the Ukraine . He lived in Taganrog in the 19th century and led the life of a simple church-goer. He gained love and admiration among the Orthodox population, who constantly sought advice and spiritual support from him.

Childhood and youth

Pavel of Taganrog was born on November 8th ^. / November 19, 1792 ^greg. Born as Pawel Pawlowitsch Stoschkow in Little Russia (Russian Malorossia, today Ukraine, Chernigov Governorate , Russian Empire ) into a pious aristocratic family. His parents, Pavel and Paraskewa, gave the son a strong belief in God. The parents wanted their son to have a good education and an advantageous position, but the boy strived for salvation, a godly life and pilgrimage . At the age of 25, Pavel distributed, according to the word of God, “Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me!” ( Luke 18:22) Inheritance among the poor, released his serfs and went on a pilgrimage. He visited the Solovetsky Monastery , the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, the Verkholsky and the Koscheosersky Monastery. His pilgrimage life lasted about ten years, after which he settled in the southern Russian port city of Taganrog .

Life in Taganrog

In Taganrog he left his aristocratic parentage behind, spoke a simple Little Russian dialect and lived in an earth hut. He did heavy labor in the port and prayed frequently. When he got old, he left the port work and moved into a small house, where he prayed to God and served the people. Every day he attended church services and prayed at the liturgy ; he usually spent the nights in prayer, often kneeling. He always said the Jesus prayer and would not let anyone into the cell without this prayer.

Pawel, also known by the patronymic Pawel Pavlovich according to Russian tradition, often donated icons , altar lamps, anointing oil and candles for places of worship. He taught people to remain loyal even in small things, educated them to love the sanctuaries and transferred this relationship to liturgical objects such as incense, communion bread, candles. He was reputed to have received the gift of healing and vision from God. People came to him with their sufferings and questions. Some expressed a desire to stay with him as novices , and he let some stay with him . Sometimes he made use of artificial rawness; If a visitor came with unrepentant sins, he acted angry and cursed one of his novices, threatening with his staff, and named the sins of the visitor in order to induce him to repent.

Pawel died on March 10th ^July / March 22, 1879 ^greg. . Shortly before his death, Saint John of Kronstadt visited him . Since his death, people from all over Russia have come to his grave for help.

Canonization

On June 20, 1999 , the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Saint Blessed Pavel. On the day of his canonization, many people saw a strange glow in the sky over the dome of St. Nicholas' Church, where his relics are currently located. The chapel of St. Pawels at the Old Cemetery is never empty, the little altar lights in front of his icon are constantly burning. His cell on Turgenevsky Alley is open to pilgrims. March 10th ^jul. / 23 March ^greg. is the day of Saint Pavel.

Web links

• Russian Orthodox Church in Taganrog (Russian)
• Entry on the Taganrog website
• Orthodoxy in and around Taganrog, pictures of the cell of St. Pavel, the chapel, etc. a. (Russian)