Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus (387 - ca. 458) is one of the most famous teachers and writers of the Church of the 5th century, the brightest representative of the Antiochian school of theology.

Born in Antioch in 387 into a noble, wealthy and pious family. His mother, having been barren for thirteen years, received this son through the prayers of the hermit Macedonius Critophagus, which is why she named him Theodorite, that is, God-given, and dedicated him to the service of God from the very cradle. In accordance with this vow of the pious mother, Theodoret was brought up in a monastery, located three miles from Apamea and sixty-five from Antioch. Then, having lost his parents, he distributed to the poor the considerable wealth he had left for himself and in the same monastery he entered the degree of reader. Here he served and together supplemented his upbringing with the study of Hebrew and Syriac. He continued this way until 423, when he was taken from there against his will and ordained Bishop of Cyrus.

His see, located in Euphrates Syria, was in charge of eight hundred parishes and required unremitting activity on the part of the bishop, since its inhabitants bore a heavy burden of poverty, and also because of the abundance of heretical societies in the Cyrus district. Theodoret labored zealously against both evils. In favor of the external welfare of his flock, he opened sources of church income, built several porticoes for public gatherings and two large bridges across the river, restored public baths, installed water pipes in the city and asked the ruler of the empire, Pulcheria, to exempt the local residents from some burdensome taxes. To establish and spread Orthodoxy, he strictly preached the pure teaching of the faith and with pastoral instructions attracted more than ten thousand Marcionites, entire settlements of Eunomians and Arians to the Church, so that there were finally no heretics left in his diocese. He did all this with danger to his life, since the Ingod heretics pursued him with the intention of stoning him.

Bishop Theodoret also often preached the word of God in Antioch. The local Church listened to his teachings for six years under Bishop Theodotus and thirteen under Bishop John, with whom, like with the Bishop of Constantinople Nestorius, he was in particularly close friendly relations.

Due to his high importance among the then luminaries of Orthodoxy, Blessed Theodoret also participated in the conciliar government of the Church and, together with other guardians of the faith, denounced new heresies. At one time, when he was in Antioch, a message from Bishops Cyril of Alexandria and Celestine of Rome was brought to the Bishop of Antioch, John, announcing the unbelief of Nestorius. Theodoret, who was then under John, advised the Primate of Antioch to notify the accused Nestorius about the spread of unfavorable rumors regarding his teaching and ask him to try to prove the injustice of such rumors. Meanwhile, Bishop Cyril of Alexandria had already written to Nestorius himself and added twelve anathemas against some of his dogmatic opinions to his letter. A copy of this message was delivered to Antioch, and Bishop John instructed Theodoret to refute it with a special essay, which Theodoret did. But while he was doing this, in 431 an Ecumenical Council was already being convened in Ephesus to consider the dogmatic opinions of Nestorius. Having been invited to the Council, John and Theodoret did not appear, for which, by the council's decision, they were deprived of church communion.

Theodoret did not long remain at odds with the Alexandrian Saint Cyril. When the latter wrote a letter to Acacius of Berry and in it clearly stated his confession of faith, Bishop Theodoret became convinced of his Orthodoxy and was forever reconciled with him. At the same time, he did not break off personal communication with Nestorius, although he had already been deprived of the episcopal throne and declared the leader of the heresy. For this, by decree of the tsar, Theodoret was deprived of the right to participate in the conciliar government of the Church and to travel outside his flock.

Meanwhile, regarding the Nestorian heresy, already condemned by the Council, a new dispute arose between the Archimandrite Eutyches of Constantinople and the Dorilean Bishop Eusebius about the two natures in Jesus Christ. In 448, the Local Council in Constantinople condemned Eutyches, but the following year a new Council was held in Ephesus, which acquitted Eutyches and deposed his opponents. Theodoret, as one of the main opponents of Eutychianism, was also deposed, and Emperor Theodosius the Younger ordered him to leave his flock and live hopelessly in the monastery where he had once been educated. Here Theodoret spent the later years of his life until the death of Theodosius, or until the accession of Marcian to the royal throne.

Emperor Marcian restored Theodoret's freedom, but he still remained in the monastery until he was called to attend the Council of Chalcedon in 451. At the eighth meeting of the bishops in Chalcedon, Theodoret petitioned the Council to revise his writings regarding the dogmas of the faith, since they supposedly contained features of the teachings of Nestorius. They answered him that a revision of the scriptures in this regard was not necessary and that Theodoret could only renounce Nestorius and pronounce an anathema on him. Convinced, blessed Theodoret did this and was declared Orthodox. The council returned his former bishopric to him, and the emperor revoked Theodosius’ decree regarding him. After this, arriving in Cyrus, he ruled his flock for about five more years and died around 458.

In 553, the V Ecumenical Council condemned some of the writings of Blessed Theodoret that troubled the Church, but considered him to be Orthodox as having renounced false opinions and having died in peace with the Church.

His Eminence Theodoret, Bishop of Skopinsk and Shatsk

Born on November 21, 1980 in the village. Oktyabrsky, Skopinsky district, Ryazan region. From the age of 11 he began to serve at the altar, as well as sing and read in the choir.

In 1998, after graduating from school, he entered the Ryazan Orthodox Theological School, from which he graduated in 2002.

In 2002-2005 studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary, after which he entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

In November 2006 he was sent to study in France. He studied at the Master's program at the Practical School of Higher Studies (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes) in Paris. In 2009, having received a master's degree, he returned to the Moscow Theological Academy, where he combined external studies with teaching. He taught Latin and French from 2009 to 2016.

On March 16, 2010, in the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Theodoret in honor of the Hieromartyr Theodoret, presbyter of Antioch.

On April 1, 2010, he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, and on February 15, 2012, to the rank of hieromonk. The tonsure and ordination were performed by the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Eugene of Vereisky.

In 2010 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy, defending his Ph.D. thesis.

In 2012-2016 Studied at the Moscow Orthodox Institute of St. John the Theologian (faculty of religious studies).

In the Moscow Theological Academy and the Educational Committee he carried out the following obediences:

teacher of MDA (2009-2016); secretary of the rector of MDA (2010-2016); assistant to the chairman of the Educational Committee (2011-2016).

Combined responsibilities with these positions:

executive secretary of the church-wide Commission for the distribution of graduates of central educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church (2015-2016); responsible for office work and correspondence with the Moscow Patriarchate, Synodal structures of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Supreme Church Council (2010-2016); member of inspection commissions of theological seminaries; coordinator in matters of ordination through the Educational Committee of students of theological educational institutions located in the Patriarchal region.

In addition to serving in the Intercession Academic Church, he held pastoral practice at the Pyatnitsky metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (2013-2016), as well as in the church of military unit No. 16685 of St. blgv. Prince Alexander Nevsky (2014-2016).

In April 2016, he submitted a request to be sent to the Skopino diocese of the Ryazan Metropolis.

In April 2016, he was appointed rector of the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the city of Ryazhsk, Ryazan region. In August of the same year, he was appointed rector of the Holy Spiritual Bishop's Metochion in the city of Skopin and head of the monastic brotherhood at the metochion.

In March 2017, after the transformation of the Holy Spiritual Metochion in Skopin into the Holy Spiritual Monastery, he was appointed rector of the said monastery, leaving his previous obediences.

In the Skopino diocese he carried out obediences:

dean of the monasteries of the Skopin diocese; secretary of the diocesan council; chairman of the commission on perpetuating the memory of new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church in the Skopin diocese; secretary of the diocesan court; secretary of the inter-diocesan liturgical commission of the Ryazan Metropolis; secretary of the protege commission; head of the department of church-practical disciplines at the Ryazan Theological Seminary; teacher at Ryazan Theological Seminary.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 29, 2017 (magazine No. 52), he was elected Eminence Skopinsky and Shatsky.

On August 8, 2017, in the Church of All Saints, the Patriarchal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, the head of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

He was ordained bishop on August 18, 2017 in the Church of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Constantine-Eleninsky Convent of the St. Petersburg Diocese. Hirotonisan on August 19 behind the Divine on Cathedral Square in Vyborg, Leningrad Region. The services were led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.

On August 22, the ruling bishop, Bishop Theodorit of Skopin and Shatsk, was welcomed in Skopin. His consecration took place three days earlier - on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

The new bishop was met at the Skopin border by the heads of the city and district administrations, and in the Sretensky Cathedral the clergy and laity were waiting for him. In the cathedral, the bishop performed his first public prayer - he led a prayer service in the co-service of deans, heads of departments and other clergy of the diocese.

On behalf of the clergy, the new archpastor was greeted by Archpriest John Zvonov, rector of the Skopino St. George Church. The priest wished the new primate of the diocese God's help in his labors. “In turn, we, as shepherds, priests, as your assistants, will work in the field of Christ, serve before God under your holy omophorion,” concluded Father John.

In his response, Bishop Theodoret emphasized that with great trepidation he begins the ministry that the Lord entrusts to him.

Vladyka is a native of the village of Oktyabrsky, Skopinsky district, his childhood years were spent in those places where he will now carry out his archpastoral labors. The new head of the diocese shared his memory that from childhood, when he began to visit the temple, he always asked in his prayers to bring benefits specifically in his native land.

“The administrator of a diocese is both a bishop and a bishop. We are accustomed to the fact that these are synonyms, but in reality they are two different ministries. Bishop is translated from Greek as “one who watches, oversees affairs.” That is, this is more of an administrative responsibility. And here, of course, the bishop has a lot of work. But these labors will be in vain if there are no co-workers,” Bishop Theodoret especially noted and added that he would not neglect the advice of priests, many of whom were older than him in age and in priestly ordination.

“Another ministry is the bishopric, that is, the ministry of the “first priest,” continued Bishop Theodoret. – And here the administrator of the diocese needs to watch the divine service and be an example of how it should be performed. Out of the duty of my ministry, out of my episcopal duty, I will watch how well the services are conducted in the churches of our diocese. I will visit parishes, communicate with rectors, listen to them and all parishioners.”

In conclusion, Bishop Theodoret spoke about the numerous areas of work that would be actively carried out in the diocese, and asked for prayerful support from the clergy and laity, making the reservation that here too he expects not a formal, but a sincere approach from everyone.

After the prayer service in the Sretensky Cathedral, Vladyka, accompanied by the clergy, arrived at the Skopino diocesan administration.

Date of Birth: November 21, 1980 A country: Russia Biography:

Born on November 21, 1980 in the village. Oktyabrsky, Skopinsky district, Ryazan region. From the age of 11 he began to serve at the altar, as well as sing and read in the choir

In 1998, after graduating from school, he entered the Ryazan Orthodox Theological School, from which he graduated in 2002.

In 2010 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy, defending his Ph.D. thesis.

In 2012-2016 Studied at the Moscow Orthodox Institute of St. John the Theologian (faculty of religious studies).

In the Moscow Theological Academy and the Educational Committee he carried out the following obediences:

• MDA teacher (2009-2016);
• Secretary of the Rector of the MDA (2010-2016);
• Assistant to the Chairman of the Academic Committee (2011-2016).

Combined responsibilities with these positions:

• executive secretary of the church-wide Commission for the distribution of graduates of central educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church (2015-2016);
• responsible for office work and correspondence with the Moscow Patriarchate, Synodal structures of the Russian Orthodox Church and (2010-2016);
• member of inspection commissions of theological seminaries;
• coordinator in matters of ordination through the Educational Committee of students of theological educational institutions located in the Patriarchal region.

In addition to serving in the Intercession Academic Church, he held pastoral practice at the Pyatnitsky metochion of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (2013-2016), as well as in the church of military unit No. 16685 of St. blgv. Prince Alexander Nevsky (2014-2016).

In April 2016, he submitted a request to be sent to.

In April 2016, he was appointed rector of the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the city of Ryazhsk, Ryazan region. In August of the same year, he was appointed rector of the Holy Spiritual Bishop's Metochion in the city of Skopin and head of the monastic brotherhood at the metochion.

In March 2017, after the transformation of the Holy Spiritual Metochion in Skopin into the Holy Spiritual Monastery, he was appointed rector of the said monastery, leaving his previous obediences.

In the Skopino diocese he carried out obediences:

• dean of the monasteries of the Skopino diocese;
• Secretary of the Diocesan Council;
• Chairman of the Commission on Perpetuating the Memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church in the Skopino Diocese;
• Clerk of the Diocesan Court;
• Secretary of the Interdiocesan Liturgical Commission of the Ryazan Metropolis;
• secretary of the protege commission;
• head of the department of church-practical disciplines at the Ryazan Theological Seminary;
• teacher at Ryazan Theological Seminary.

On August 8, 2017, in the Church of All Saints, in the Russian Land, the Patriarchal Residence in Moscow, the manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate was promoted to the rank of archimandrite.