Spiritual elite: As I entered the school of regents and now I live in the Lavra
Tells Catherine P. (Name changed at the request of the heroine)
Singing
I am 20 years old. I have been singing since childhood, I studied in college at the department of "opera singing". Then it was logical to enter the conservatory, then to sing in the theater. But I decided to go to the regency school of the Moscow Theological Academy. I have an Orthodox family, my brother studied here - he is already a priest. My parents are populist musicians. We worked in a professional choir in Omsk, where we met. After the marriage, they moved in to live with their dad and organized their own folk group. Mom, even being pregnant with me, constantly spent time with the choir. When it was very tight with the money, rehearsing in our apartment.
My father brought me to church when I was about eight years old to sing at the kliroc. The voice was childish, not delivered - rather, it was all for the sake of education. I left the choir at a transitional age. Tired of horror. You study six days a week, and get up early on Sundays!
In my last year of college, my brother called me and said that he did not have one voice in the cathedral, a soprano, and offered it to me. I’m viola, I have a low voice, I didn’t even want to try. But on the third day, persuasion decided to go. I got a bet. We paid first 500 rubles, then 750 rubles per service. Everywhere they pay differently. Where they pay nothing, and where a thousand and a half at a time, it all depends on the abbot. Went out of interest, especially since it is a practice for voice. I was not going to Regent, but this is a parental dream, and they were happy when I finally enrolled.
Brother
Artyom, the name of his brother, was a difficult teenager, and his father once sent him to a monastery for re-education. In the monastery there are not only monks, but also novices, for example, you can come there for 40 days - to live, work. You go to the service, to obedience, helping to plow the garden or bring water. Artyom was not against - still, such an opportunity to leave home. He returned from there and felt very cool, everywhere went with his rosary. The father decided that the son was finally crazy. A few days after returning from a friend Artyom had a birthday, he asked permission to drink a glass of wine. Father was against. Artyom drank anyway. When my brother came home in the evening and breathed on his father, Dad decided to do something about it. One day he came across an ad for admission to an Orthodox gymnasium for boys in the 10th and 11th grades. She was preparing to enter the Moscow Theological Academy. Artyom entered, and he really liked. Now he is already a priest, he has two children. He is five years older than me.
My friends reacted differently to the academy. I have a friend from GITIS, still every time he calls me, he asks: "Are you inside yourself? Why did you go there? Did you sit there? Enough? Come to me, I will meet you." After a couple of days, he can call again: "Well, are you still there?" But in general, my friends know that I haven't changed much - you can laugh with me the same way, we could go to clubs in our free time, I just don't like clubs. In summer, nobody sees you - sit in your city and do what you want. But it seems to me that if you study in a seminary and at the same time want to go to clubs, it is worth thinking. As teachers tell us: "You are the spiritual elite of Russia, you must set an example."
rules
Honestly the roof goes all year to go in two skirts. I have two dark skirts, and I wash them in turn. Tired of walking with a scarf and a pigtail. When dad takes me home in the summer, I go out to him in colored sneakers and sweatpants, and I have something unimaginable on my head.
I am from Elektrogorsk, it is not far. But we have no right to leave the territory of Lavra. If we need to buy something outside its walls, we must inform the caregiver about this. It’s impossible to go to the city without permission, if someone sees and informs, it will be very bad. It is not profitable to violate - this affects our requests. For example, we have to write a petition for trips home: "I ask your blessing for going out to the city ..." If you mingle a lot, it is likely that they will not want to sign this petition.
There are a lot of rules, so many that it is better not to raise this topic. First of all, you have no right to be late. If you are late, you will have obedience - for example, on duty at the canteen, cleaning classes or singing at Trinity, we sing akathist for two or three hours, completely clean the church, wipe the dishes in the teaching buffet, sit at the watch in the dormitory.
Another strict rule concerns the dress code: we are obliged to go in clothes with full sleeves or three-quarters, it does not depend on the season, in the summer the boys wear jackets. Always in shawls, always skirt to the floor
Another strict rule concerns the dress code: we are obliged to go in clothes with full sleeves or three-quarters, it does not depend on the season, in the summer the boys wear jackets. Always in shawls, always skirt to the floor. We generally can not be painted. If you notice, there will be big problems - you will have to write an explanatory letter in the name of the manager. All explanatory filed in a personal matter. If a lot of explanatory accumulates - "troparion". "Troparion" is a reprimand, it is hung on the stand, the name and misdemeanor are written. This is the first warning. True, there are people who have a few "troparie", but there are those who have only one reprimand, but take note of it and immediately deduct.
I knew what I was going for, because by the canonical rules it was forbidden to dye, wear pants, decorate myself. In fact, no longer want. When I came here for the first time, I took all my cosmetics with me - I worked on the stage, I got used to it. At first I tried to apply foundation. Then she decided that was enough. The result is obvious: my skin has become cleaner. If you put makeup on yourself, then you want to be better, you don't like yourself. And we are taught that we are created in the image of God and God has already given us beauty. In addition, it is very convenient: in the morning I got up, washed and went to study.
And we are sometimes told: "Today there will be a check of rooms." Then the caregivers give all the same blankets, the pillowcase must be white, even if you have colorful bedding. Nothing should be on the nightstands. We argue with the tutors about this. You see, we say, we are girls, we live here throughout the year, why shouldn't we leave some signs of life here? Food is also forbidden for us to have our own, we are fed in canteens. There must be order in the cabinets - during the inspection the authorities can open the cabinet.
Everyone, of course, understands that we have both food and cosmetics, but it all hides very well. In addition, we sometimes go to concerts, and we just need cosmetics. And from food we can openly store, for example, dried fruits.
Everyone, of course, understands that we have both food and cosmetics, but it all hides very well. In addition, we sometimes go to concerts, and we just need cosmetics. And from the food we can openly store, for example, dried fruits.
Here is one large complex: seminary, academy, regency and icon painting. The whole system lives in one big dorm. This building is the letter P, and each has its own entrance. The rooms are two people, there are rooms for four. Toilet and shower for two. But we have no kitchen either in the room or on the floor.
In the hostels you can not make noise, it is forbidden to sing songs. You can not close the door to the room from the inside. Even when you change clothes. Once, when I first arrived, I was standing in my room in my underwear - it was two minutes past eleven. And at 11 we should be already in bed with dimmed light - just lie and not move, look at the ceiling, if we can't sleep. So, I change my clothes, the teacher comes in, stops in the center of the room in the shoes and looks at me, I say: “Now I will change and go to bed,” and she tells me: “Well, come on,” and continues to stand. And how to behave?
There are educators who do not go when they hear that silence. But if someone sees that you are not sleeping, they can send for morning service at six in the morning. In a word, broke - explanatory. Violated - punishment. Do not break - you will live in peace. It's simple.
HBM and girls
When we met after the winter holidays, one girl told how she went to Uglich Monastery! I thought to myself: what a monastery - you need to rest! We tell our friends only decent ones - if someone does something forbidden, this doesn’t particularly apply. You wanted to note something with your friends - mark it quietly.
In our course, no one did not study. There are those who marry and transferred to a zaochku or externature. The rest is here to the last. Here come those who are willing to tolerate the system, but otherwise the study is interesting, and Lavra is super-beautiful.
We have special girls who come here to find a husband. We call them habemschitsy, by initial letters: X - I want, B - to be, M - mother. In the world, they are unable to create a family and have children, and here all the conditions are for this. Boys who study for priests must marry in order to start working. Without a wife is impossible.
I had one conflict with a girl from senior courses. During lunch, she had long interfered with the sugar in the tea, loudly and acting on the nerves of everyone around. I made a remark to her. She did not pay attention. I did the second. Then she gets up and shouts to the whole regency: "She shut her mouth quickly!" The girl who was sitting next to me whispered in my ear that it was better not to get involved with her - allegedly she could inform the manager, she had close ties with him. She often informs the girls, and then they have problems. I decided to go to the end and answer rudely. Hedging her failed to arrange, it all ended in one case. Once we rehearsed in the temple, and she told me to sit in the first row, where only newcomers with bad voices usually sit. "Don't talk to me like that!" - I replied. The whole regenta was silent. She grumbled, but since then everything has stopped. On Forgiveness Sunday, we even asked forgiveness of each other - why be offended at such trifles? Hot blood makes itself felt.
schedule
If you have a morning ten (early service, the whole Regent office is divided into five dozen), then you have a rise at 5:30, and at 6:10 the service begins - you sing the service until eight o'clock. And if there are dozens not, by eight in the morning you come to the academic building, eat, read the morning prayer, after that everyone goes to the Monk. St. Sergius of Radonezh is the founder of our monastery. You attach yourself to the relics in the morning and calmly go to school (couples start at nine in the morning). In fact, you feel the help and the fact that you are under cover.
We usually have three couples a day, at 1:30 pm a lunch break. If there are a dozen, after the steam you go to the service again. Dinner at 19:00. Up to nine rest. Then we have a common evening prayer in the seminar building. At 23:00, hang up. There is a service in the evening, then we have dinner at eight, there are singing. That is, in principle, we sleep, eat, pray, learn - that's all.
We do not have free time. If an hour or two falls out - a miracle. At this time you are cleaning. In fact, I really want to read a book, not religious, but fiction. I always start reading, but I never finish.
We do not have free time. If an hour or two falls out - a miracle. At this time you are cleaning. In fact, I really want to read a book, not religious, but fiction. I always start reading but never finish
I once read Zamyatin and was very afraid that they would see me. Probably, we choose for ourselves the circle of forbidden literature. Do you want to read something ideologically wrong or depraved - read. At night. Under the blanket. And in the morning do not tell anyone about this. Scourge us flog for it will not, but the head will not stroke.
Weekend is great too. We get up half an hour earlier than usual. On Saturday we study, after that from five to eight in the evening service, and on Sunday service from seven in the morning to ten. We can sleep only once a month - on an academic holiday. This means that once a month the whole system is given a rest. And if you do not have dozens, you can devote all day to yourself.
You see, you pray and study all day long, and it is always under control. Cannot step left or right. Who will try - he will understand. I remember myself in the first year, I thought even to pick up the documents, but something stopped.
Patience
We have two areas of study: music and church. Charter is the subject of how worship should be conducted. A catechism is a detailed study of the foundations of a church. We memorize quotes from the Holy Scriptures. From musical subjects - solfeggio, vocals, conducting, harmony, arrangement. From the worldly - only pedagogy.
To enter, you must pass the exam on solfeggio, piano and conducting. More theology. When the commission looks at you, it already knows exactly who they want to see here. "Can't you conduct? Yes, we'll teach you." Here they say that the Reverend will for all: as he decides, so it will be.
Exams we have to fill up is unrealistic. We are pulled to the last. One girl did not pass the catechism, that is, passed on a deuce, retake on a deuce, but called a commission and gave her time to retrain for a new surrender. Gave a few more attempts that did not lead to anything. And only then she was expelled. But it depended on it only - it was possible to answer elementary questions. I think for her it was such a way to go.
At the same time, you can be expelled for colored socks, a poorly made bed, for holding hands in your pockets. It makes you gather. After my first explanatory, I did not feel guilty, much less was I going to apologize to anyone. But I realized that I did not come here to write explanatory letters. Then I sharply corrected my character and began to endure a lot.
Relations
Yes, I have a boyfriend. We do not swear at all - we have a different relationship. In Laurel, you can build them, if everything is decent, without sexual relations, and if you do not show it off. For the handle on the monastery you will not walk, you will not fall asleep in one room.
We have such a spiritual connection, that when we fight, we feel the pain of our partner. I can't hurt my fiance. If I tell him something harsh during the day, I will think about it all night, I'll write him a text message at three in the morning. He will wake up in the morning, read and understand that everything is good with us.
What is the point of wasting yourself on quarrels and offenses, swearing constantly, parting? During conflict situations, I usually think what I am wrong about - he is a man. In any case, I should not show my character in front of him. You can show it in front of other people, your character does not need anything in your family. It is important for her husband that a delicious dinner, cleanly dressed children, comfort and warmth, not quarrels and scandals, always be at home. I do not want to work, I want my husband to decide everything for me.
We have a common budget with my boyfriend. Parents send me money, I immediately give it to him. During the whole month I don’t worry that I don’t have enough for something. He decides everything, he is a man
I think that none of the feminists in a normal love. Not found her man. With a good man, a feminist is not a feminist, he simply forbids her to be. What kind of fight with your shadow? What a pleasure to carry heavy bags by yourself? What is the point of building up a strong one if you are created from a man’s rib?
We have a common budget with my boyfriend. Parents send me money, I immediately give it to him. During the whole month I don’t worry that I don’t have enough for something. He decides everything, he is a man. My man.
When completely intractable situations arise, I go to the temple to the Monk, I stand and pray. It's not just about the guy. For any reason. During prayer, I get an answer. Once I prayed for the third day, asked the Lord for the resolution of my problem, and then I received a text message - everything was decided in one minute.
Best years
I like it here. Time flies, but these are the best years of my life. It seems that here to stay and live here a little more. You are protected here, everything is decided for you, you don’t need to think about anything, you get used to this place, to this grace. Such a life in the world you will not meet. This is already in me. An empty day without a church.
I understood that if I go to the stage, there will be corruption. Getting to the stage of the opera house is not a pleasant thing. They not only need to pay unreal money, but also sleep with the director. If you do not do this, you will sing in an incomprehensible chorus in an incomprehensible chorus. I didn’t want to go through all this dirt, I was raised from childhood so that a girl should have a family, raise children. I personally did not have to meet with the dirt, but we had girls in college, they said: "If they tell me to sleep with the director for a place, no problem, I need a party in this performance." And well, I would have become an opera singer, and if something happened to the voice? This is the end of a career, you can only be a teacher. One day - and you are not a singer.
I absolutely do not like rock. My brain does not perceive it. I don’t like to listen to opera music, although I have been studying it for four years. People's love. I haven’t added anything new from a modern one, a program with music from VKontakte accidentally retired on my iPhone, and then it became paid, and my hands did not reach to solve this problem.
From Russian pop, I listen to "Pizza". There was a time when I listened to Friday. They're alike. I like two songs from Agutin. Pelagia is quite talented. Когда слышу по радио в машине Лепса - не переключаю никогда, но это не значит, что он мне нравится. Это страшная тайна, но, когда мне было 16, я слушала рэп. У моей подруги была несчастная любовь, она включала в наушниках "Береги её, береги любовь… ", давала мне один наушник. Я втянулась. Ну, что поделать, неразделённая любовь - сложная штука.
