The Life of Hiero-Confessor Georgy Kossov. (Start). Hieroconfessor Archpriest Georgy Kossov Akathist to Hieroconfessor Archpriest Georgy Kossov

Hieroconfessor Archpriest Georgy Alekseevich Kossov was born on April 4, 1855 in the village of Androsovo, Dmitrov district, Oryol province, into the family of a priest and received his name in honor of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, highly revered in Rus'. The Kossovo children were baptized in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (not preserved). Konstantin Alekseevich Kossov, probably the younger brother of Fr. George (he was born in the village of Androsovo in 1872) subsequently served as a priest in Volkhov. Next to the church, on the highest and most beautiful place in the village, stood the Kossovs’ house. The shrine of the temple was the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, revealed 300 years ago in the forest near a well. In memory of the appearance of this icon, more than a thousand pilgrims gathered annually for a religious procession, and a prayer service was served before it. Kazan image of Fr. George was especially revered all his life.

The desire for righteousness, which George observed in his own family, shaped his character. From an early age he fell in love with the temple of God and the service, reading the lives of the Saints. Parents sought to give George a spiritual education: after a rural school, he entered the Oryol Seminary, where he stood out for his spiritual purity, humility, and love for his neighbors. George carefully studied the Holy Scriptures and the works of the Holy Fathers.

After graduating from the seminary, Georgy Kossov taught for 5 years in his homeland, one of the zemstvo schools in Dmitrovsky district. The young teacher treated his work as a mission entrusted to him by God to enlighten and instruct young hearts to fulfill the commandments of the Lord. The lessons for which Georgy Alekseevich prepared with special care were like small sermons. In exams, he received awards for his students, who were noted for their fear of God, exemplary discipline and developed practical skills. His teaching talent was especially evident when Georgy Kossov became head of the school.

George spent his free time in the temple. The time had come to prepare to take holy orders; a serious illness turned him even more to such a decision. Georgy Alekseevich married the pious daughter of the priest of Yeletsk district, Alexandra Moiseevna Zernova. Since childhood, Alexandra and her mother often went on foot to venerate the relics of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky. While still studying at the Oryol Diocesan School, she lost her father and, left without funds, became a teacher in the village.

In 1884, Georgy Kossov was ordained a priest and assigned to the poorest parish of the Oryol diocese - the village of Spas-Chekryak, Bolkhov district. It is located north of the ancient city of Bolkhov, at that time decorated with 28 churches, at the junction of the Oryol, Kaluga and Tula provinces - they said that in Chekryak “three lands converge” and a rooster crows for three provinces.

The name “Spas-Chekryak” combines the Tatar word meaning “impassable tract” and the dedication of the rural temple to the Transfiguration of the Lord. According to ancient legend, there was a pagan temple there, and the first Christian church built in its place went underground. The earliest mention of the village dates back to 1647, when Rus' had just overcome the devastation of the Time of Troubles. At that time, the Church of the Transfiguration was already here.

Getting ready for the place of service, Fr. George imagined his modest life of work and prayer, away from the bustle of the world. Having prayed earnestly to the Savior and the Most Pure Mother of God, Fr. George, although exhausted by illness, went to Spas-Chekryak, remembering the Gospel words “Whoever wants to walk after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and come after Me” (Mark 8:34).

The plight of the parish of 14 households horrified the new priest; it became clear to him why there was no clergy here. Two versts from the village stood a dilapidated wooden church, built in the 18th century by the landowner of the parish village of Sigolaevo Spesivtsev, with a chapel of St. Michael the Archangel. During services in winter, the Holy Gifts even froze in it. The hearts of the villagers were far from the Church and from God. And the young priest decided to turn to the great Optina ascetic of piety, known throughout Russia - Fr. Ambrose, with the hope that he will bless him to move to another parish.

There was a crowd of people near the elder’s cell, waiting for his exit. O. George stood in the crowd, far from the doors. When the elder finally appeared, he looked carefully at those gathered and suddenly called Fr. George, unknown to him. O. Ambrose spoke: “You, priest, what are you up to?” Leave the parish? Do you know who appoints priests? Are you going to quit?! The temple, you see, is old and has begun to fall down. And you build a new one, big, stone, and warm, and have wooden floors: they will bring the sick, so they will be warm. Go home, priest, go, and get this nonsense out of your head! Remember: build a temple, build a temple, as I tell you. Go, priest, God bless you!

Although I was perplexed about. George, but took the command of the perspicacious elder as an instruction from above and continued his service in the same place. He had to overcome strong temptations: he was overcome by hopeless melancholy, demons appeared in his dreams and threatened to drive him away from the world if he did not leave the parish. Horrified o. George rushed again to Fr. Ambrose. The elder did not ask anything, but immediately, as soon as he saw it, he said:

Well, why are you afraid, priest? He is alone, and you
two!

How is this so, father?

Christ God, yes you - here comes two!
But there is only one enemy. Go home, nothing forward
don't be afraid.

And the Reverend Elder repeated:

Yes, a temple, a big stone temple, yes
to keep it warm, don’t forget to build! God bless you
catches it.

The Lord himself spoke through the lips of the elder. The power of the prayer of St. Ambrose. O. It seemed to George that a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders. He continued his service in the church with joy. The radiance of his faith and the extraordinary zeal of the priest began to attract parishioners to the temple. The saint of God quickly became known outside the Bolkhov region, according to Scripture: “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

People flocked in large numbers to Spas-Chekryak, reverently listened to the words of the shepherd, who did good to both small and great, and received everyone with joy, as if they were family. Crowds accompanied Fr. George. People caught his sympathetic smiles and caring gaze. They felt that here they were united by the sincere love and paternal care of the shepherd. The wondrous shepherd turned many to the path of good. His word vividly recalled the hour of death, and man could not help but be imbued with the hope of eternal bliss and the fear of the death of unrepentant sinners.

Liturgy in the church was performed on Sundays and holidays. October 22, the day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Fr. George served especially long and diligently. The memory of the spiritual joy that the Queen of Heaven bestowed through Her miraculous icon remained forever in the hearts of people who attended services in Spas-Chekryak. The services here were distinguished not only by solemnity. It was clear that gracious peace and undisturbed silence filled his soul. He tearfully begged for forgiveness of all the sins of the repentant, with trepidation, and especially clearly read the words of the gospel of Christ, of which he himself was a zealous executor.

On weekdays, Georgia’s father was used to doing without helpers: he swept up the rubbish, poured oil into the lamps, set up and lit the candles. He served prayer services every day - usually from nine to one; At about ten o'clock, following the example of the Optina Hermitage, I read the canon to the Mother of God.

Father George prayed so heartfeltly, with such faith that tears flowed from the eyes of the parishioners. Canon o. George interrupted three times, took a lamp from the image of the Mother of God, then from the icons of the Savior, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and anointed the foreheads and hands of the worshipers with a cross.

“The prayer is tart,” says Fr. George in front of the icon of the Mother of God. - The wall is unshakable... - And he just raises his hand to cross himself - everyone in the church, as one person, crosses themselves. He bows his head - everyone bows. He approaches everyone in the church (“He won’t let anyone through, he won’t anoint anyone twice!” they are surprised later) and asks everyone what their name is. So he will go around many times during the service - now to anoint, now with the Gospel, now with the cross. And so, as the service progresses, the people become more and more familiar with the priest,” this is how M.M. described the service in Chekryak. Prishvin. Both at home and in church with Fr. George, he noted the “simplicity and absence of any traditional graceful techniques,” the absence of hysteria and foolishness.

Father George loved to bless each pilgrim with the Gospel, letting him kiss him and then placing it on his head. He ascended to the pulpit and swung his cross over the entire church. During the blessing of water, he poured the water that people brought into a common copper vessel, immersed the spear used in the liturgy into it, made the sign of the cross three times in the water, and distributed the water to the people, standing opposite the open royal doors. After the service, he himself approached each person praying and let them kiss the cross. He blessed: “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Good hour!" When asked to pray, the priest answered:

I’ll pray, God will help, He has a lot of mercy.
People gave thanks for the Holy Water. Some

Father corrected:

Why are you calling my water? She is not mine, but a Saint. Sanctified by God Himself through me, a sinner. Through her faith, the Lord helps people with illnesses.

Afterwards, right there, without leaving the church, sometimes until seven or eight in the evening, he gave advice. He rested for an hour and received him in the evening - the doors of the priest's house were open at any time. “The priest of Kossov knows no peace either day or night. Day after day, from early morning until late at night, he fights a good fight,” wrote one of the inspectors.

Prayer works miracles, said Fr. Georgy. - She stretches out the day too. 24 hours in a day is a common time for everyone, but it flows differently for everyone. For some it’s slow, and he manages to do everything, and for others it flies so fast that he doesn’t notice the day. Make it a rule that prayer is more important than all your affairs, and pray. Then you will be on time for everything, everywhere.

From all sides people of different ranks and status, gender and age came to the priest for advice. The newcomers not only received shelter: the priest came to them, answered many questions, and together they ate a meal. Those who did not find a place in the hospice house spent the night right on the carts or under them, and here Fr. Georgy visited them. Some were looking for spiritual consolation, some were looking for instructions on how to lead life, some were asking for blessings for organizing household chores. His practical advice on housekeeping was wonderful. At the same time, Fr. George reminded us not to forget the real purpose of a person’s life in earthly temporary worries.

To a young noblewoman who doubted her faith, Fr. Georgy said: “You are not Dostoevsky, not Solovyov, not Merezhkovsky. Go to church, listen to the words of the priest, and most importantly, to the Gospel reading, but it would be good if both you and your husband read at least one chapter every day. After all, it contains the words of our Lord. Communicate the Holy Mysteries - and all your mental anguish and suffering will automatically leave you and life will flow more joyfully and calmly. At first you will do everything very mechanically, like a schoolboy doing his homework, and then all this will sink into the depths of your soul, and you will become a believer. When faced with something difficult and bad, trust in the Lord God, in His care for us, and all this “bad” will leave you. Thank God for the “good”. The Gospel contains everything - how to live and how to act, and your eyes will be opened.”

His care and love amazed everyone. It happened that people did not understand why they turned to the priest for trifles, for example, about illnesses and loss of livestock and chickens. And he suggested how to get rid of the misfortune - for example, smoke incense, light a candle, and then explained that this person had such worries as not petty ones - everything in the world has its price and its consequences. There was no question that he did not answer with kindness and heartfelt sympathy. People believed that if the priest prayed, the Lord would definitely fulfill his request. The newspapers of that time wrote that in Volkhov “without the advice or blessing of the priest, rarely does anyone get married, get married, or open any enterprise. His mediation is sought by people whose family life is upset or broken; patients who are overcome by various ailments, such as seizures, alcoholism, etc., turn to him.”

Father George did not attribute anything to himself, but only to the Lord who admonished him, he was distinguished by true Christian humility, and always called himself a sinner: “The Lord even through unworthy priests helps by faith.” He knew how to show human weaknesses and teach how to get rid of enemy temptations. It happened that Fr. would speak to a person. Georgy, after a few words, will resolve all confusion, pacify and console. For godly deeds, humility, and a pure heart, the Lord rewarded Fr. George with the gift of clairvoyance. The Lord listened to the prayers of the righteous man, opened the hearts of people to him, and he seemed to read all the innermost thoughts and desires in them.

The gift of insight manifested itself in him in a wondrous way: for example, Fr. Georgy revealed many details of the lives of those who came to him, and knew the contents of unopened letters. Sergei Nilus Fr. George did not give his blessing to the sale of the estate to a Belgian joint-stock company, which wanted to establish a brick factory on this site. As time has shown, the deal turned out to be a gamble, which Fr. Georgy. “The secret of my soul was read to them as if in an open book, and the simple speech, filled with warmth and affectionate sincerity, flowed like a healing balm, healing unhealed wounds, invigorating my tired soul,” the writer testified. In spiritual conversations, easing grief, Fr. George instructed to choose the saving path. And he reverently thanked the All-Blessed One for being worthy to wipe away the tears in the eyes of the unfortunate.

He handed over 20 rubles to one Bolkhovskaya bourgeois woman, who was left a widow with small children, and said: “Buy a cow, feed the children with milk, and sell the rest, and you’ll be well-fed.” The cow cost up to a hundred rubles, and the woman walked away in sadness. But when she approached Bolkhov, she came across a man with a cow, selling it for the same 20 rubles. Having learned about this, an envious neighbor who had a cow rushed to the priest with the same prayer and received 18 rubles. I returned home and the cow died. She rushed back, repented, and the priest forgave her: “Go ahead,” he said, “don’t envy people, but with the money he gave you, you can buy yourself a new cow.” And so it happened.

With his loving heart, he saw the sins of those who came to him and, it happened, used strong healing. Thus, he handed one woman an egg with instructions to eat it, and when she came again to complain that the egg was rotten, he accused her of selling stale meat to people. To another woman Fr. George explained the reason for her children’s muteness: he sent her to the grove to listen to the singing of birds. And there the woman remembered her childhood sin, when she pulled out the tongues of the chicks.

Father said that children are sick for the sins of their parents and called on them to repent of hidden sins. He left others for confession after the service, constantly reminding them: “Do not flatter yourself; neither harlots, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor drunkards will inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10). While conveying special advice to everyone, the priest also taught a general rule:

Don't live with your mind, but live with your heart. Our evil mind will lead us anywhere. Don’t look for benefits in life and don’t dream of an easy and beautiful life - these are all tricks of the crafty enemy. Always remember that all the pleasures and pleasures with which the enemy seduces us are fleeting and destroy our soul. Do not reject eternal life for the sake of momentary prosperity and prosperity. Do not strive for fame and honors, all this passes without a trace, like smoke. And strive to win God’s favor with your prayers and your deeds. Always remember Him in all your deeds, intentions and actions.

By the given grace of God, Fr. George took upon himself the difficult feat of healing the souls and bodies of the suffering, and begged the Lord to change the judgment of sinners for their repentance. Almost every day they brought sick people to him, including those possessed by demons, who suffered terribly, went on a rampage, screamed, especially during the Cherubim, sometimes threw themselves at the feet of the priest, and sometimes they could not be carried into the church. And the priest prayed, sprinkled him with Holy water, pacified the demon with the power of grace and helped lead the person to the temple.

Sometimes he gave communion and healed the sick right on the street, on carts. Fr. himself George was especially reverent about the sacrament and strictly observed fasts. He healed those who were bleeding and suffering from drunkenness; through his prayers, tumors disappeared and fevers subsided. There were cases when people literally rose from their deathbeds. More than once the paralytic were brought to the priest, and from Spas-Chekryak they walked cheerfully, on their own feet. For those who were seriously suffering, the ascetic opened a hospital in Spas-Chekryak. Every day he made “rounds” in it, healing those whom relatives no longer expected to see healthy. In Spas-Chekryak, water from the holy well, which all pilgrims were sure to stock up on, also helped the sick. The well under the wooden roof was located in a “ditch” - a shallow beam where a stream flowed. One woman Fr. George cured me of the “shaking disease” and blessed me to read prayers of repentance and drink holy water every day. O. Georgy urged not to refuse medical help - to believe doctors, to agree to operations.

It happened that others acted contrary to the blessing of the priest or turned to self-proclaimed “healers.” So, one woman, out of curiosity, went to meet a “famous” sorcerer. And although she refused to accept the water he had spoken, misfortunes began to haunt both her and her family. And they were able to free themselves from temptation only with the help of the prayers of the priest, who strictly exhorted: “You will know how to look at the wicked!”

The marriages blessed by him always turned out to be successful. A couple of widowers about. Georgy instructed to marry not the current one, but the next meat-eater. They hurried with the wedding and, arriving from the wedding, found only firebrands instead of their house. A certain woman from Omsk did not receive a blessing for her upcoming seemingly happy marriage. Without listening to Fr. George, she got married, and her husband drowned two months later. Another couple - Vasily and Anna Fokin - lived a happy life with the blessing of the priest, despite the fact that Anna had two children from her first marriage and was 17 years older. Taking care of the purity of morals, Fr. George sought to talk about the sanctity of the marriage union, the need, before such a serious step, to better know the future relatives of the bride and groom and the state of their household.

People came to verify the authenticity of the miracles taking place in Spas-Chekryak. Just as wonderful was the visible transformation of the region there through the efforts of the great beautifier of the Oryol land, who out of poverty erected man-made monuments to the glory of the Lord, without having either the means or the proper conditions. And here he was guided by ardent love for the house of God. “The power of God is made perfect in our weakness,” said the priest. - As long as a person relies on his own strength, until then there is no manifestation of the promoting power of God. But your strength has left you, your neighbors have retreated from you, there is no one to save: then cry out with faith and humility!

Prepared by Tatyana Guryanova

Priest confessor Archpriest Georgy Kossov
The good shepherd has acquired God in his heart with humility
/ The Oryol lands are a wonderful decoration.
/ Overcoming insurance with obedience and patience,
/ on the empty site he created a temple and a school.
/ Warming everyone with the love of Christ,
/ by the power of grace casting out demons,
/ encouraging us with the appearance of your relics,
/ holy righteous father George,
/ pray to the Most Holy Trinity to save our souls.

On August 26 / September 8, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of St. George the Confessor, Presbyter. The village of Chekryak, Bolokhovsky district, Oryol region, was previously considered one of the most remote corners of the county. Under Princess Sofia Alekseevna (1657-1704), the Transfiguration Church was built there. The village became known as Spas-Chekryak. The priests did not get along here: blatant poverty, widespread illiteracy, indifference to the temple. At the end of the 19th century, a new parish priest, Georgy Kossov, arrived here. He later recalled: “... when I arrived here, I was taken aback - what should I do here? I have nothing to live in, nothing to serve... I was a young priest at that time, inexperienced, and besides, I was very weak in health, coughing blood. My mother was a poor orphan, without any dowry. Therefore, there was no support from either here or there, and I had my younger brothers in my arms. All that was left was to run. That’s what I planned.”

Hoping that his departure would not meet with objections, Fr. George went to Optina Pustyn to see Elder Ambrose. Having arrived, the young priest modestly began to wait for the elder to free himself. But he walked through the crowd of pilgrims straight to him: “You, priest, what are you up to? Come quit?! The temple, you see, is old and has begun to fall down. And you build a new one, big, stone, and warm, and have wooden floors: they will bring the sick, so they will be warm. Go home, priest, go, and get this nonsense out of your head! Remember: build the temple as I tell you. Go, priest. God bless you!

Father Georgy returned to Spas-Chekryak: “A persistent melancholy fell upon me. I want to pray, but prayer doesn’t come to mind. I don’t even talk to people, my wife. I began to think. And I began to hear both night and day - more at night - some terrible voices: “Go away,” they say, “quickly!” We will completely kill you!..” Hallucinations, it must be... I was terrified, almost losing my mind from the fears I had endured, and again rushed to Father Ambrose. Father Ambrose saw me directly, without asking me anything, and said to me:

Well, why was the priest afraid? He is one, and there are two of you!

How is this so, - I say, - father?

Christ God, yes you are - so it turns out - two! but there is only one enemy. Go home,” he says, “don’t be afraid of anything ahead; Yes, it’s a temple, a big stone temple, and don’t forget to build it so it’s warm! God bless you!

With that I left. Come home; It was as if a mountain had been lifted from my heart. And all insurance disappeared from me. Here I began to pray to God... alone, in an empty church, to read the canon to Her [the Queen of Heaven]... I looked: so after a week or two - one came to church, stood in his corner and prayed to God with me; there was another, a third, and then Father Ambrose died, all his people began to flock to Chekryak: they were looking for advice from me and consolation: without Father Ambrose, it became terrible to live in his free will...”

“I’m without Father Fr. Yegor, I’m not doing anything now,” said one of the simple Russian people who came to the ascetic, Antonich, “And how should I do it?” How can we protect ourselves in our times from human deceit? Now, in your family, look at both - whether in your son or in your daughter - either a friend or an enemy is sitting. There is nothing to say about outsiders: they have only one thing in their heads - how to fool you, make you look like a fool and rip you off like a stick. People like Fr. Yegor, for us sinners, there is only salvation: you will come to him, lay out your damned soul, ask for advice and leave him - your heart is light, easy!

Saint John of Kronstadt highly revered the ascetic and reprimanded the Oryol pilgrims why they came to him when they had such a holy father, who had earned the love of the Lord with his godly life.

But Father George built so many things... In the village, with the help of local peasants, they set up a brick factory. At the forest dacha specially purchased by the priest, the forest was prepared using economic methods, and doors, windows, and desks were made from it. In 1893, a parochial school was opened and consecrated. “... we don’t know of examples, among the clergy there seem to be none at all, of one person constructing a building for a parochial school, costing up to 8 thousand rubles,” said the priest. M. Kozmodamiansky. [For comparison, quote: “In 1870, only a few thousand rubles worth of oil was produced in Baku; at the end of the 19th century, Russian oil flooded Europe and Asia; colossal factories were founded in Baku” “...the trade turnover of the world market at the end of the 19th century was equal to 33.5 billion rubles.”]

But the priest was not a “businessman”. The Lord wanted it all to be built.

Here is another story from one of the eyewitnesses: “We have a rich merchant in Bolokhov. In his lifetime he has offended the people endlessly. He gave no mercy to his relatives either: if he got caught, he crushed and bent whomever he got... In his old age he became devout: he became a sacrificer... Our rich man went to Father [George] and said to him: “... please give me 20 thousand for the construction of the temple... " And the priest told him: “God builds churches, and we, people, are His clerks. In a human way, in a commanding way, thank you for the sacrifice, but the Master doesn’t order you to take your money.” - “How so?” - “Yes, it’s very simple: your money is painfully stained with human tears, and such are displeasing to God... I won’t take even a million from you; I will take it when you please those offended by you”... After all, he brought our rich man to his conscience: now he puts all his relatives whom he offended on their feet... He is looking for outsiders who were offended by him, in order to straighten out his grievances...”

A hospice house, a hospital, and a shelter for orphan girls and peasant children were also built in the village.

“The girls are very good, but unhappy,” said Father George, “They are all rootless. There are noble ones among them, but they are still abandoned. You look at such a girl, you feel sorry, and you pick her up. And if you take it, you need to take care. When they grow up, they get married or, if they want, enter a monastery. Girls, both good and beautiful, grow up, there is no end to suitors.” When the girl turned 14 years old, the priest ordered a forged chest and all the years before leaving the orphanage he “filled it with goods” - the future dowry. “This is the kind of paradise Father created for the peasant orphans! This is not available anywhere!” - people said.

And little of what Father George built has survived now. But, in addition to the example of his life, the priest left us a spiritual legacy. Here, for example, are his words, which are very relevant today: “The power of God is made perfect in our weakness. As long as a person relies on his own strength, until then there is no manifestation of the promoting power of God. But your strength has left you, your neighbors have retreated from you, there is no one to save: then cry out with faith and humility! And God, He is right there. He, the Merciful, is quick and sudden to the aid of all who call upon Him in truth. It seems: behold, a person has been trampled by people and circumstances; and he cried out to God from the depths of his soul, and behold, where are those who trampled!?.”

The last years of Father George's life were mournful. His daughter and son-in-law, a priest, were arrested and exiled. Father George was repeatedly arrested on suspicion of concealing church valuables and searched, but lacking evidence and fearing his wide popularity, he was released.

Father George died in 1928 and was buried at the altar of the Transfiguration Church he built.

The honorable relics of the holy confessor Georgy Kossov are located in the Akhtyrsky Cathedral. The reliquary with the relics of the holy confessor Georgy Kossov, delivered to Orel on January 30, 2010, has been in the Akhtyrsky Cathedral of Orel since February 8.

Literature Hieroconfessor Georgy Kosov. Life. Akathist. St. Petersburg, Agat. 2004

Nilus S.A. Great in small. M., Sretensky Monastery Publishing House. 1999 Holy Rus'. Calendar for 2003 with the lives of saints and devotees of piety of the 20th century. M. Blago, 2002.

Materials from the sites http://ahtir-orel.orthodox.ru, http://ricolor.org, http://www.oryol.ru.

True confessor of the faith of Christ, Archpriest Georgy Alekseevich Kossov born on April 4, 1855 in the village of Androsovo, Dmitrov district, Oryol province.
Then, in the middle of the 19th century, Russian people, especially in villages, firmly and sacredly preserved all the traditions of Russian piety. They could not imagine their life without the baptism of children, the wedding of spouses, or the Orthodox burial of the dead. Georgy Kossov's parents were very pious. The father was a priest, and the mother raised the children.
The Kossovs chose the name of their first-born in honor of St. George the Victorious, highly revered in Rus' as the conqueror of the dark forces. Many stories about miracles, healings, help in need and even salvation from death sank into the heart of the boy.
Parents sought to give George a good education. At first he studied at a rural school, when the question arose about continuing his education, George listened to the advice of his parents, who tirelessly instructed their son in the rules of Christian well-being.
At the seminary, Georgy Kossov was distinguished by spiritual purity, humility and the manifestation of unfeigned love. He showed reverent interest in the study of the Holy Scriptures and the works of the Holy Fathers, and loved to indulge in prayers and singing psalms.
After the seminary, he went to teach in his homeland, in Dmitrovsky district, in the zemstvo school. The lessons for which Georgy Kossov prepared with special care were like small sermons addressed to the very hearts of children who could not help but feel the care and love of the teacher. He always received awards for his students in exams. When Georgy Kossov became head of the school, his pedagogical talent clearly manifested itself; fear of God, exemplary discipline and developed practical skills were noticed in the graduates of his school.
And in his free time, George was irresistibly drawn to the temple. He loved services as if the temple were his home. And this was God’s call to conscious asceticism.
A serious illness did not deter George from his feat in the name of Christ. And as his prayer requests intensified, his hope for the Most High mercy strengthened.
George married a girl of simple rank, an orphan, without a dowry, but pious. In 1884, Georgy Kossov was ordained a priest and assigned to the poorest parish in the Oryol diocese - the village of Spas-Chekryak, Bolkhov district. And in this place the Lord glorified his name.
The plight of the parish of 14 households horrified the new priest, and it became clear to him why there was no clergy here.
Two miles from the village there was a dilapidated and empty church, where even the Holy Gifts froze during services - that’s where he was supposed to serve. And the hearts of the villagers were so far from the church and from God that the young priest immediately fell into confusion.
I spent more than one sleepless night thinking about. George, when it became unbearable from hopelessness, he decided to go to his husband, high in spiritual merit, in Optina Pustyn. There stood on the Divine guard the great ascetic, adorned with abundant spiritual gifts - Fr. Ambrose. The elder received people, some separately, or all for a general blessing, first men and then women.
O. George stood in the crowd, far from the entrance. When the elder finally appeared, in a white robe and fur duckweed, he stopped on the step in front of the parted people and prayed in front of the icon of the Mother of God, “It is worthy to eat.” Then he looked carefully into the crowd. And how great was the surprise of Fr. George, when the elder began to beckon him through the crowd towards him. But he had never seen or heard of George Kossov, who even came to the monastery without priestly clothes. And the elder spoke: “You, priest, what are you up to? Come quit?! The temple, you see, is old and has begun to fall down. And you build a new one, big, stone, and warm, and have wooden floors: they will bring the sick, so they will be warm. Go home, priest, go, and get this nonsense out of your head! Remember: build the temple as I tell you. Go, priest. God bless you!
Fr. received it with great bewilderment. George is the command of a perspicacious elder. How to erect a stone temple, one might say, in the desert! What diligence and work must be put in!
Returning to Spas-Chekryak, Fr. George decided to continue his service at the temple here, not yet knowing that this monastery was a place of exploits, so that the name of God would be glorified. He began his ministry with reverent awe. In prayer, he was illuminated by the joy of waiting for the manifestation of the glory of God, and his soul was filled with delight at the wondrous deeds of the Lord. The temptations he endured developed humility in him, and the fear of God strengthened his asceticism. Grace enlightened his mind.
On holidays, especially October 22, the day of the celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Fr. George performed the Divine Services especially long and diligently. And on this day, not only parishioners, but also pilgrims from other places began to flock to Spas-Chekryak.
And after the service, when they approached Fr. George with questions, he answered thoroughly and soul-savingly. Somehow he was able to immediately understand the spiritual state of a person, his spiritual illness; he pointed out, first of all, Christian means of curing ailments. People began to show him great gratitude and respect.
The fame of the ascetic life and abundant virtues of the faithful shepherd quickly spread. People flocked in large numbers to Spas-Chekryak, wanting to see the wondrous life of the confessor of the faith, receive a blessing from him, and hear a word of edification.
The memory of those spiritually sweet moments with which the Queen of Heaven consoled us through Her miraculous icon remained forever in the hearts of the people who attended the services in Spas-Chekryak. The services here were distinguished not only by their splendor and solemnity, but by a certain soulful mood of the priest’s service to the Lord and His Most Pure Mother, the heavenly Powers.
From all sides, and Spas-Chekryak was located on the border of three provinces - Oryol, Kaluga and Tula - people of different ranks and conditions, gender and age came to the priest for advice. For visitors, he even built a pilgrim house, a kind of hotel, built from bricks made at his brick factory. The priest began his economic activity by setting up a small brick factory in 1896. The parishioners of the village worked on it. And the newcomers not only received shelter, the priest came to them, together they ate a meal, he also answered a great many questions.
According to the grace of God, Fr. George healed people. People who were possessed were also brought to him. They suffered terribly, the possessed seemed to lose their minds and went into a frenzy. They went berserk, shouted, screamed, and sometimes threw themselves at the feet of the priest. He prayed, sprinkled them with holy water, and the dark forces left the sick. Cases of healing were numerous and everyday. It happened more than once that a sick, paralytic man was brought to the priest, and from Spas-Chekryak he walked cheerfully, on his own feet, offering prayers to God’s mercy.
For the seriously suffering and sick, the ascetic opened a hospital in Spas-Chekryak. Every day he made “rounds” of the sick in it, curing those whom his relatives no longer wanted to see healthy.
The ascetic was so revered and believed in his tireless intercession that they believed that if the priest prayed, the Lord would certainly fulfill his request. And God actually listened to the words of the righteous man, glorified by the gift of insight. The priest’s prophecies were presented to people in the instruction of God’s Commandments. And his word was a source of healing for believers.
In 1896, construction of the temple began in fulfillment of the command of Father Avrosy. And in 1905 there was already a wonderful three-altar church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which really signified the transformation of all life in this, recently provincial village, where a gray, boring, hungry life flowed, in a place that was called nothing other than God-forgotten. And it turned into a place of God's glory.
Great blessings of God were revealed to the ascetic in Spas-Chekryak for his holy life. People never tired of marveling at his piety, and the Power of God moved him to ever greater deeds.
Having no funds, and relying only on miraculous help, Fr. George, who accepted the crown of kindness from the hands of the Lord, began to set up a shelter in the village. In Spas-Chekryak, a place for rescuing orphans, unprecedented in Rus', arose. This shelter is for one hundred and fifty peasant orphans. George, inspired by the love of God, created with the help of people both simple rank and noble people of noble birth. They carried their pennies and property.
Faithful companions - teachers and educators - came to the wise shepherd of Christ. And Father George took over the leadership and spiritual leadership, setting everyone an example of hard work, abstinence and humility, avoiding the vanity of the world.
On October 22, 1903, on the day of the celebration of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, a second-grade school, which did not even exist in the district, was consecrated in Spas-Chekryak. The consecration of the school turned into a national holiday in Spas-Chekryak, which was attended by the clergy, provincial and district government officials, provincial and district government officials, and the spiritual children of Fr. George, admirers of his holiness.
In the parish of Fr. George, several more schools were built: Sigolaevskaya (village Sigolaevo), Shpilevskaya (village Shpilevo) and Merkulovskaya (village Merkulovo), in which Fr. George was a trustee and teacher of the law. He was revered as a benefactor of both the Bolkhov district and the entire Oryol land. Without the blessing of Fr. George, no business began in the district; people always went to him for advice and help.
People of different positions and conditions, nobles and commoners, traveled from everywhere to Spas-Chekryak to verify the truth of the fame that had spread about this bright corner in the depths of Russia.
The classic of Russian literature M. Prishvin visited Spas-Chekryak, and he wrote an essay “New Land” about those divas who presented themselves in Spas-Chekryak. He talked about the holy well of Father Yegor, and about the great devoted faith of the ascetic’s admirers, and about miraculous cases of insight and healing of Christians.
Saint John of Kronstadt highly revered the ascetic and reprimanded the Oryol pilgrims why they came to him when they had such a holy father, who had earned the love of the Lord with his godly life.
The day after the October revolution, Fr. George in Spas-Chekryak was visited by Bishop Seraphim (Ostroumov) of Oryol-Sevsk, the future new martyr. After a conversation with the seer, he left his house with tears in his eyes.
Entrusting himself to God's Providence, Fr. George continued to console his flock living in such a rebellious world. And thanks to his holy efforts, Spas-Chekryak was like an island in the middle of a raging sea.
The church was separated from the state. The authorities began to incite hatred towards her and the clergy. All clergy and their relatives began to be persecuted.
In the fall of 1918, Red Army soldiers came for the priest to Spas-Chekryak to take him to prison. But, seeing his extraordinary meekness, humility and love, they were even somewhat confused: how to arrest such a person?
In the county prison they did not know what to do with the new famous prisoner, how to register him as an enemy of the people. At his own expense he maintained an orphanage, several schools, a brick factory, a hospital, and always helped the peasants. People loved him and stood behind him. The Bolsheviks looked with surprise at the high personality of the shepherd, in whose eyes true love for God and people and the desire to serve them until his last breath shone.
God's providence continued to preserve the saint amid the raging rebellion. The authorities released him from prison, fearing the wrath of the people. But in the early twenties, a special commission arrived in Spas-Chekryak to confiscate church valuables and demanded that all items made of gold and silver be handed over. The priest did not have any valuables, he was accused of concealment, arrested, and sent not to the district prison, where they could show him some leniency, but to the provincial prison.
Wanting to humiliate his dignity, the prison servants gave Father George the most dirty, humiliating jobs. But other prisoners themselves sought to make them, in every possible way protecting their beloved priest from oppression. This time the authorities were unable to present the priest with evidence of his guilt and again were forced to release him. God continued to protect his saint.
Life's adversities and tireless pastoral labors worsened the priest's health. Pains in the stomach and liver began. The illness constrained me so much that I had no strength to stand on my feet.
But even on his deathbed, the priest did not abandon his care for his neighbors, did not refuse people who came to him, received them lying down and told them: “That’s it. I leave you. Trust in God now. And come to my grave with your troubles, as if you were alive. As before, I will pray for you and help you.”
Before his death, Fr. George, the holy well in Spas-Chekryak collapsed, and a new spring gushed nearby. They brought water from it to the priest. He prayed over her and asked her to pour water into the spring, which, as he commanded, would become a sacred well and would now heal believers.
He died on August 26, 1928, old style. All the years of his earthly life were more than 73. Many people hurried to Spas-Chekryak, wanting to pay their debt of respect and love, to say goodbye to those who lived for God’s sake. The authorities failed to ban worship of the deceased. There was great lamentation for him. Many only now realized what holiness they had been introduced to.
The coffin with the body was carried around the church in a majestic procession and the saint was buried near the church at the altar.
Decades have passed, a lot has changed both in Russia and in Spas-Chekryak. But invariably there appeared something that the human hand cannot destroy - the works of God. Confidence in Fr.’s holiness was not erased either. Georgy Kossov. His spiritual children erected a monument and a fence on the grave. “The folk path to it was not overgrown.” People experienced help from prayers to Fr. George, witnessed miracles through his representation. He appeared in dreams, people were healed by bathing in Father’s holy well.
In August 2000, at the anniversary Council of Bishops, Georgy Kossov was canonized to the rank of priest for his holy life. The Oryol clergy acquired the relics of the priestly confessor George Kossov on the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, who during the days of the priest’s earthly existence was his guardian angel. And from now on, December 9 will be the day of the discovery of the holy relics of the confessor Georgy Kossov.

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Troparion to Hiero-Confessor Georgy Kossov

The good shepherd has acquired God in his heart through humility / The Oryol land is a wonderful decoration. / Overcoming insurance through obedience and patience, / creating a temple and a school in an empty place. / Warming everyone with the love of Christ, / casting out demons with the power of grace, / encouraging us with the appearance of your relics, / holy righteous Father George, / pray to the Most Holy Trinity to save our souls.

Kontakion to Hiero-Confessor Georgy Kossov

You left your adorned miracles and deeds / holy life in our memory. / We who faithfully honor Thee with love / pray, cover us from all troubles and misfortunes / with your holy love, / Hiero-Confessor George.

Majesty to Hiero-Confessor Georgy Kossov

We magnify you, Holy Confessor George, and honor your holy memory, for you pray for us to Christ our God.

Prayer to priest Georgy Kossov

Oh, our most blessed Father George! Look now from the heavenly glory upon us, the humble and weak, burdened with many sins, tenderly asking for your help and consolation. We also pray to you, Holy Father, to ask God for a favorable and saving time for repentance. May the All-Merciful Lord forgive our people the sins for the betrayal and murder of the Tsar, the Anointed of God, for the desecration and destruction of Orthodox churches, for the desecration of every shrine of the Russian land. We know that our minds and hearts have become futile, we have given ourselves over to indecent and fierce passion, we have despised piety, and, moreover, we have loved demonic wickedness. Now stretch out your hands in prayer to the Lady of all and the Lord, and ask His generous mercy to deliver us from our iniquities, from all troubles and sorrows for those who came to us, from schisms and heresies and from the persecution of foreigners against the Orthodox Church. We believe, O all-blessed father, that if you loved your neighbor with the love of Christ while you were still on earth, how much more have you loved us all and are now in heaven. Pray, our holy confessor George, together with all the Martyrs and Confessors, the Lord God the King of Powers, may He grant us forgiveness of sins, may the Orthodox faith flourish in Russia and may the rejoicing of the righteous be established again. And may the throne of the Orthodox kings rise from oblivion. Do not despise our prayers, now poured out before you, and I lift them up to the all-generous God, like a fragrant incense, so that through your intercessions His grace may rest in our city, where your glorious name and multi-healing relics are revered. Let us also preserve through your intercession, peacefully and piously, let us live in this world, so that no one in his trust in you will be put to shame, and may we find the grace and mercy of our Lord, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

From the books, I knew about three people: about some in more detail, about others - only a name, but I was connected with each - and I really wanted to touch each of them.

In ancient Bolkhov lie the holy relics of confessor Georgy Kossov, who is popularly called Father Yegor of Spas-Chekryak, and in Orel, at the Baptist Cemetery, rest the mother of Father John, Elizaveta Illarionovna, and for Christ’s sake, the holy fool Afanasy Andreevich Saiko.

Father Yegor, a simple priest of a poor parish, having gone through temptations and struggles with dark forces, gained enormous spiritual power: during his lifetime the Optina elders revered him and spoke about his spirituality. He was a prophet in the literal sense of the word: what he said was accomplished because he did not pronounce his own words - he spoke the will of God. In addition to this, he treated, built (a large temple, five schools, a hospice house and much, much more), he was the first in Russia to create an orphanage where 150 peasant girls lived at the same time, who were educated until the age of 18, giving them the opportunity to become teachers or work in practical specialty. It was to him that little Vanya Krestyankin came as a pilgrim after the revolution. What did Father Yegor see in the future of a 10-year-old boy, leaving him in his house? What experience did little Vanya gain while living with him, if he treasured these moments in his memory until his last day, if he turned to Father Yegor in prayers? “This happiness lasted only a few days, but the memory of it warms me all my life.” And Father George himself, as a young priest, went to Father Ambrose of Optina at the moment when enemy forces were rebelling against him and day and night he heard: “Get out of here... You are alone, you cannot cope.” Father Ambrose himself greeted him with the words: “What are you, a priest? Who were you afraid of? There is only one enemy, and there are two of you.” - “How are you two?” - “You and Christ - so it turns out that there are two. Walk with God and don’t be afraid of anything.”

How differently you recognize saints - just like in our ordinary life, with ordinary people: you know someone from afar and are timid to come closer, with someone, having barely met, you feel the freedom of a very long and close communication, and someone himself, the first to address you with a warm word of participation and active support...

Father Yegor is one of those saints who are called ambulances to the rescue. Four days later we returned to Bolkhov again to say thank you to Father Yegor for his help - obvious, incredible help. His intercession and conciliar prayer (thank you, who prayed for me!) accomplished what can only be called a miracle.

From Bolkhov we went to Spas-Chekryak. Before the revolution it was the center of attraction for many people, but today...

From Bolkhov we went to Spas-Chekryak. Before the revolution, it was the center of attraction for many people: a stone temple, a school, a shelter, a hotel for pilgrims, a brick factory, gardens, apiaries, outbuildings - everything was built by Father Yegor. The Bolsheviks razed the temple and school to the ground with bulldozers, the rest was destroyed by the Germans. All that remained was the spring that, shortly before the death of Yegor’s father, bubbled up from the ground; he consecrated it and blessed it to come to him.

Behind Bolkhov, a country, half-broken road began, running along steep hills. Apples and even pears grow along it, not picked by anyone. We were driving alone, there were no oncoming or passing cars. Once upon a time, little Vanya Krestyankin walked along this road. Silence and space. Are we going there? We see a car in the lowland.

– Is Spas-Chekryak there?

In the center of the clearing is a small, newly built church. Nearby is the pit from the blown up temple and the place where the grave of Father Yegor was

There is a sign at the edge of the village. We turn onto a sandy track, drive a kilometer through a sultry field with tall grass, and then, as if drawing us in, tall trees begin to surround us in a semicircle, forming a cave with their paws, and we drive into it, finding ourselves in a forest clearing. In the center of the clearing is a small, newly built wooden church. Nearby is the pit from the blown up church and the place where Father Yegor’s grave was with a monument erected by Father John. Willows grow from the pit. The clearing is surrounded on all sides by stalks of wild raspberries. No one. Where is the source? Behind the trees we see the outlines of some building, we go. A two-story large house, one wall of which has collapsed, and, like a seriously wounded person, the torn flesh is visible, multi-colored wallpaper and painted walls of former apartments are visible here. Nearby are the ruins of barns under a huge apple tree. The whole earth is dotted with whitish large apples; they fall slowly, seemingly silently. On a gray cloth there are white letters: “Communism is Soviet power plus electrification of the entire country.” The old man slowly appears with a bucket, we call him, he doesn’t hear us. Like in a dream: all movements are slow, sounds, without being born, fall silent. Finally, responding:

- Source? Yes, I'll show you. No, this building was built under Joseph Vissarionovich. Only a small outbuilding has survived from Yegor’s father. Let's go.

What time are we in? Or does it disappear here, like sounds disappear? We slowly move along a narrow path trodden through the grass taller than a man. Under the tree, a small, box-like red brick house with figured stone trim.

– This is from Yegor’s father. Would you like me to show you my kitchen? Come in!

– To a collapsing house? No no.

- Yes, we only cook there. Let's go! Well, as you wish. Thank you for listening.

Father George spent more than forty years organizing the deserted place. The fruits of his material efforts have disappeared, but the fruits of the spirit have multiplied

Dead silence. Unresidential street. A thicket that attacks every trace of a person, capturing everything that once belonged to a person: houses, barns, vegetable gardens. The forest becomes denser, the path branches, we go at random down the slope. A patch of clearing, a high cross, a well, a swimming pool. We've arrived. Father George, as a young priest, was sent to a deserted place and spent more than forty years settling it. The fruits of his material efforts disappeared, but the fruits of the spirit multiplied. The whole life of Father Yegor was summed up in this troparion: “A good shepherd who has acquired God in his heart through humility. The Oryol lands are a wonderful decoration. Overcoming insurance through obedience and patience. On the empty site a temple and a school were created. Warming everyone with the love of Christ, casting out demons with the power of grace, encouraging us with the appearance of your relics, holy and righteous Father George, pray to the Most Holy Trinity to save our souls.”

For two days we hardly spoke to each other: Spas-Chekryak stood in front of us. Its consuming silence. Thickets creeping onto the church and bathhouse. Like this church in the name of St. George of Spas-Chekryak, this bathhouse itself is similar to Father Yegor, to the beginning of his fate in Spas-Chekryak: alone in the wilderness against the darkness closing in around him. Therefore, there is only one warrior in the field. No, not alone. “You are Christ!”

– How to get to the Baptist Cemetery?

I had a very rough idea of ​​the road: Evgeniy, a plasterer who works in my house, drew the direction on a piece of paper, adding that he was not sure whether this path was to the Baptist Cemetery. Having found out who I was going to, he said that he himself came to faith through Father Afanasy, but was not at the grave. “We will definitely convey your regards to Father Afanasy.”

They stopped on the streets of Orel once, twice, three times. Each new guide confidently pointed forward with his hand, and we moved further into the city. First, along the wide streets, past solid post-war houses, then pre-revolutionary mansions began to appear, here was the embankment, the river... It smelled of the comfort of an ancient provincial town - as if there had been no war, no revolution, no upheavals... We passed the square, the road became narrower, stone buildings left behind. We drove up the hill slowly, looking at the street. We were surrounded by wooden buildings: sometimes mansions, more often just simple old houses. This window is almost next to the sidewalk. And how small! I wonder which house is similar to the one in which little Vanya Krestyankin and his mother lived?

We went up the hill. In front of us are the white walls of a painted stone fence.

– Tell me, is this the Baptist Cemetery?

We go to the grave of Father Afanasy. Right behind the church you need to turn right, and already from the road you can see a high cross

Along the alley, in the shade of linden trees, we go to the grave of Father Afanasy. Right behind the church you need to turn right, and already from the road you can see a tall - much taller than a man - cross on his grave. Two people are walking away from her.

Afanasy's father, the holy fool Afanasy Andreevich Sayko, lived in Orel. The feat of foolishness was carried out both under the Soviet regime and during the years of occupation. He was sent to prison, he was kept in psychiatric hospitals, sent first to Voronezh, then to Tomsk. Decades of imprisonment, decades of torment, short periods of life in freedom. Circumstances changed, but his prayer to God and love for every person remained unchanged.

Father Afanasy said little - more often than not, he showed everything that needed to be communicated, giving the person some insignificant-looking things: candy wrappers, bottles, empty boxes. “Get used to solving problems, look for relatedness between objects” - these are his words. Burnt matches, scraps, pieces of paper - these discarded objects carried reminders of spiritual life, denounced, and foreshadowed the future.

But Father Afanasy gave little Vanya Krestyankin an unusual gift - a violin. Years later, Father John was forced to sell it so that his relatives would not notice the lack of salary when he was kicked out of work because he refused to go out on Sunday without sacrificing his church life. The case from the donated violin continued to be kept by Father John until his arrest in Moscow.

Reading litia. Father Afanasy looks at us from the icon with a firm, calm gaze. We leave the fence. One step, another. Some strange feeling in my chest. Not longing, no... but... a feeling of a barrier between us.

– Wait, we forgot to convey Evgeniy’s greetings.

What is this? The blue eyes of Father Afanasy on the icon laugh...

We turn around, come back, bow... What is this? The blue eyes of Father Afanasy in the icon laugh.

– You know, the eyes of Father Afanasy...

– Do you see this too?..

There is no barrier. We pray. A cat appears on the path, confidently enters the fence and, satisfied, lies down at the gate and washes itself.

New people are coming to the grave. They need to be let in, we need to leave. I walk away from the grave, backing away: I don’t want to turn my back to it, I keep trying to see the laughing blue eyes of Father Afanasy once again. We pass an ancient family necropolis on a hill. Here is the alley. We slowly walk to the temple, and we keep looking at the cross, and we pray and pray. At the edge of the alley, a woman puts melted ice cream in front of two cats, sees us, smiles embarrassedly:

- Well, I still wanted to treat them.

Happy cats lick the ice cream delicately, taking turns.

The temple is empty. The service has already ended. The church is a cemetery, there are a lot of candles on the eve, and people come in constantly. “Remember, Lord, the soul of the deceased...” We ask in the shop where the grave of Elizaveta Illarionovna, mother of Father John, is buried. The sweet woman at the window freezes and says:

- I would accompany you, but I can’t leave... Well, try to find...

Try it? Everything seems to be simple: the main alley, the wall, straight ahead, to the left, there, under the tree. Why is she confused? Let's go out. Yes, right down the alley - another woman in a dark servant’s robe is in a hurry.

“Tell me, is the grave of Father John’s mother there?” The woman freezes, she is embarrassed

– Tell me, is the grave of Father John’s mother there?

And she freezes, and she's embarrassed.

- I have to go... But let me accompany you, let’s try to approach...

– We may not find this grave?

- No, no, I know where she is, you will definitely see her, but we may not approach her... It’s hard here...

The wide road turns to the left, and the fences of the cemetery suddenly begin to close in, weaving a narrow labyrinth. Turned - dead end. We left it, turned again - a dead end. The fence - there it is, there, visible. One more step. Dead end again. Can't we come over? Why, so close, through this fence you can see a poor iron cross, painted white - we should go there... Father John, we are going to your mother, Father John! The fences are a solid wall. Here is another path - to the right, right again, sideways in a narrow passage - here we come!

Oil painted white iron cross. It's like a poor white calico handkerchief. Probably Father John’s mother could have worn something like this; my grandmother had one like this. It brings tears, warmth, pity, and the desire to wrap you up and warm you up and cuddle up next to you.

The lamp is burning. We all get up together and begin to read the litia. We sing “Eternal Memory...” Above the sign with the name of Elizaveta Illarionovna is a photograph of Father John. Turning to us, a woman in a minister’s robe says: “Thank you,” bows her head and quickly leaves. Once, in response to dissatisfaction with the fact that there are no good priests, he replied: “And you yourself raise someone to be good.” Elizaveta Illarionovna, the Kingdom of Heaven to you!

Archpriest. Born in the village of Androsovo, Dmitrov district, Oryol province in 1855 in the family of a priest. The name at Baptism was given to the baby in honor of St. George the Victorious. Parents sought to give George a good education. At first he studied at a rural school, then at a seminary, after the seminary he went to teach in his homeland, in Dmitrovsky district, at a zemstvo school. When Georgy Kosov became head of the school, his pedagogical talent clearly manifested itself. And in his free time, George was irresistibly drawn to the temple. He loved services as if the temple were his home. And this was God’s call to conscious asceticism. A serious illness did not deter George from his feat in the name of Christ. And as his prayer requests intensified, his hope for the Most High mercy strengthened. George married a girl of simple rank, an orphan, without a dowry, but pious. In 1884, Georgy Kosov was ordained a priest and assigned to the poorest parish in the Oryol diocese - the village of Spas-Chekryak, Bolkhov district. At this place the Lord glorified his name. The poor situation of the parish, flourishing paganism, a dilapidated and empty church two miles from the village, where even the Holy Gifts froze during services - this is where he had to serve. When it became unbearable from hopelessness, the young priest decided to go to Optina Pustyn, to Elder Ambrose. Father George stood in the crowd, far from the entrance. When the elder finally appeared, he looked carefully into the crowd. And how great was the surprise of Fr. George, when the elder began to beckon him through the crowd to himself: “You, priest, what are you up to? Come quit?! The temple, you see, is old and has begun to fall down. And you build a new one, big, stone, warm, and have wooden floors: they will bring the sick, so they will be warm. Go home, priest, go, and get this nonsense out of your head! Remember: build the temple as I tell you. Go, priest. God bless you! It cost Father George a lot of work and patience to fulfill the blessing of the Optina Elder. For this, the Lord did not abandon him, but endowed him with generous gifts of clairvoyance, miracles, and healing. In 1896, construction of the temple began in fulfillment of the orders of Father Ambrose. And in 1905 there was already a wonderful three-altar church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which really signifies the transformation of all life in this, recently provincial village, where a gray, boring, hungry life flowed, in a place that was called nothing other than God-forgotten . And it turned into a place of God's glory. O. Georgy built a brick factory, a second-grade school, a hospital, a hospice house, and opened a shelter for orphan girls. In the parish of Fr. George, several more schools were built, in which Fr. George was a trustee and teacher of the law. He was revered as a benefactor of both the Bolkhov district and the entire Oryol land. Without the blessing of Fr. George, no business began in the district; people always went to him for advice and help. Saint John of Kronstadt highly revered the ascetic. The day after the October revolution, Bishop Seraphim (Ostroumov), the future new martyr, visited Father George in Spas-Chekryak. After a conversation with the seer, he left his house with tears in his eyes. In the fall of 1918, Red Army soldiers came for the priest to Spas-Chekryak to take him to prison. But, seeing his extraordinary meekness, humility and love, they were even somewhat confused: how to arrest such a person? In the county prison they did not know what to do with the new famous prisoner, how to register him as an enemy of the people. People loved him and stood behind him. The authorities released him from prison, fearing the wrath of the people. But in the early twenties, a special commission arrived in Spas-Chekryak to confiscate church valuables and demanded that all items made of silver and gold be handed over. The priest did not have any valuables, he was accused of concealment, arrested, and sent not to the district prison, where they could show him some leniency, but to the provincial prison. And this time they could not show the priest evidence of his guilt, and again they were forced to let him go. God continued to protect his saint. Before his death, Fr. George, the holy well in Spas-Chekryak collapsed, and a new spring gushed nearby. They brought water from it to the priest. He prayed over her and asked her to pour water into the spring, which, as he commanded, would become a sacred well and would now heal believers. The father, aged seventy-three, reposed in the Lord on August 26, 1928. The authorities failed to ban worship of the deceased. There was great lamentation for him. His spiritual children erected a monument and a fence on the grave. Fr.'s children came to her. George as to himself. People experienced help from the prayers of Fr. George, witnessed miracles through his intercession. To this day, people are healed by bathing in the font from the holy priest’s well. Priest confessor. Commemoration of August 26 and November 26 (discovery of relics). Novomuch.