Archimandrite Georgy (Danilov) is Consecrated Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas
4.02.2003 · English
ARCHIMANDRITE GEORGY (DANILOV) IS CONSECRATED BISHOP OF NIZHNY NOVGOROD AND ARZAMAS
At its session on 26 December 2002 the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church resolved that Archimandrite Georgy (Danilov), a housekeeper of the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius be blessed to be Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.
On 1 February 2002, Archimandrite Georgy was appointed Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas in the home church of All the Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Russia in the Synodal residence at St.Daniel’s Monastery. The office of nomination was performed by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia together with the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The next day His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II officiated at the consecration of Archimandrite Georgy as Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral.
Concelebrating with His Holiness were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Sergy of Solnechnogorsk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitans Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuriev, Varnava of Cheboksary and Chuvashia, Onufry of Chernovtsy and Bukovina; Archbishops Dimitry of Vitebsk and Orsha, Arseny of Istra, Aristarkh of Gomel and Zhlobin, Archbishop Yevgeny of Vereya, Chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary; Bishops Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuevo, Kirill of Yaroslavl and Rostov, Feofan of Magadan and Sinegorie, Alexander of Dmitrov, Feolfilakt of Bryansk and Sevsk, and Feodosy of Tambov and Michurinsk.
Attending the Divine service were Mr.G.Poltavchenko, Presidential representative in the Central Federal Okrug; Mr.S.Kirienko, Presidential representative in the Privolzhsky Federal Okrug; Ms.L.Sliska, State Duma deputy chairman, Governor G.Khodyrev of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Mayor V.Bulavinov of Nizhny Novogorod and other representatives of the federal and regional authorities.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the newly consecrated Bishop Georgy with the words of exhortation and reminded him of the difficulties and responsibilities of his future ministry as a bishop. ‘The responsibility placed on the conscience of a bishop is infinitely great and awesome. Without the Divine grace, which heals every infirmity and supplies every need, no one could have fulfilled the ministry of a bishop’, – His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II said. – We bless you to this deed, which you must perform. You have not sought this honour, but it has called you. Your have not wished it, but the Lord wished you to be a crusader and zealot for the sake of His Holy Church. May your heart be not disconcerted He Who has called you to this lofty ministry will give you strength to bear the cross of your future exploit’.
‘I say my edifying words to a newly consecrated for the 81st time during many years of my pastoral ministry. Today, as you enter this difficult path of thorns and sacrifices, I express my support to you, to your fellow bishops and to all people of God.
I warn you against the sorrows and temptations that the life of a bishop is so full of. Repeating the words of St Paul, I remind you of the necessity ‘to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control’ (2 Tim 1:6-7).
‘See that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord ‘ (Col 4:17). You must be ‘the salt of the earth and the light of the world’ (Mt 5:13-14), you must ‘do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth’ (2 Tim 2:15). Like Christ, love your ‘own who were in the world, … love them to the end’ (Jn 13:1), ‘set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity’ (1 Tim 4:12).
Learn to bend your human will to the will of God, do not seek human and earthly glory. St.Paul said: ‘Whatever your task, do it heartily, as serving the Lord, and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ’ (Col 3:23-24). Give yourself completely to the service to God and people.
Heal the spiritual burdens of your flock readily and patiently, help them to overcome their inertia, wake them from spiritual lethargy and indifference and have compassionate love of Christ to everyone. May your ministry be holy, immaculate, zealous and gracious’.
His Holiness handed the newly consecrated bishop Georgy his staff and reminded him that he was called to bear the cross of bishop’s exploit in the year which marks the centenary of the canonization of St.Seraphim of Savor. As the Orthodox world prepares to worthily celebrate this remarkable date, you have to work very hard to prepare the church festivities in Savor and Diveyevo. It is necessary to complete the restoration of St.Seraphim’s church, which has been returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The remnants of the cell of the saint were discovered recently, in which he lived and peacefully completed his earthly pilgrimage’.
May the prayers of St.Seraphim of Sarov, our father and miracle-worker strengthen and support you. However difficult and responsible are your responsibilities given to you by the Church, work efficiently in awareness that you do works that are pleasing to God’.
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