Hieromonk Photius is a sensation not only in the world of music, but also in the world of Orthodoxy. To date, he is the only clergyman who has managed to achieve fame and popularity in the vocal field.
Hieromonk Photius is an unusually modest person who is reluctant to discuss not only his successes, but also his biography, the path in Orthodoxy and on the stage. On the project, which brought him all-Russian fame, he did not dare to come right away, although he was invited there. The path in Orthodoxy was chosen by him in spite of his family, but with her tacit consent. So who is he - Hieromonk Photius, who conquered millions of hearts with his enchanting voice?
Biography of Hieromonk Photius
In everyday life, Hieromonk Photius is called Mochalov Vitaly Vladimirovich. He was born in November 1985 in the city of Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod), into a family far from religion and art. The boy's mother graduated from a music school at one time, but she did not choose this direction as her main profession.
As a child, Vitaly was modest, he did not succeed in close friendship with classmates. In parallel with his general education, the boy received music, sang in the choir at the school and the local church, willingly attended classes at the church school.
After the 10th grade, Vitaly and his family moved to the German city of Kaiserslautern, where he went to study the basics of playing the organ, since there was a base for this - in Gorky he studied piano.
In Germany, Vitaly himself earned money - he played and sang at concerts, took part in church services in Orthodox churches. In 2005, the young man decided to return to Russia, since he could not get used to the European way of life and mentality, which was alien to him. The desire to be useful to his homeland led him to the military registration and enlistment office - he wanted to serve in the army, but vision problems did not allow him to choose this path.
Hieromonk Photius - the path in Orthodoxy
Having received a ban on military service, the young man went to one of the monasteries of the Kaluga region, took monastic vows and became a monk named Savvaty. In 2011, he received the ordination of hierodeacon and the name Photius.
Two years later, Vitaly Mochalov became hieromonk Photius. The higher clergy speak of him as a diligent, inquisitive monk with a strong character. Father Photius took over the layout and design work at the publishing house of the Holy Pafnutiev Monastery, studies foreign languages, studies music and vocals, and these studies do not harm his faith.
Creativity in the life of Hieromonk Photius
In the life of Vitaly Mochalov, and then of Hieromonk Photius, creativity has always occupied a special place. Since childhood, he was fascinated by music and vocals, tried to gain new knowledge in this area, but still chose Orthodoxy as the main path of life.
At St. Pafnutiev Monastery, he met a unique vocal teacher - Tvardovsky Viktor, who developed for him an individual system of solo singing exercises.
In parallel with singing, music and serving the Lord, Photius is also engaged in other creative and educational areas - he mastered the art of photography, learns foreign languages and is already fluent in German and English.
Hieromonk Photius sings in several languages - native Russian, English and German, Georgian, Italian and even Japanese. Initially, he did not plan to enter the big stage, but he nevertheless sent an application for the "Voice" show and even received an invitation. In 2013, he did not dare to go to Moscow, but fate brought him to the capital, albeit a little later.
Hieromonk Photius in the "Voice" project
The first application of Hieromonk Photius, received by the organizers of the project in 2013, was approved, but the priest did not show up for the casting. The trip was to be blessed, but Photius did not dare, did not dare to ask for a blessing.
For two long years he pondered, shared his doubts with the spiritual mentors and received their blessing. In 2015, Photius sent his recording again to the organizers of the "Voice" project, and it was again approved.
The goal of Hieromonk Photius was not fame and recognition. With his participation, he wanted to call on the Orthodox world to communicate through music, to expand its borders, and he managed to do this.
Grigory Leps became both a vocal and a kind of spiritual mentor for him on the project - he was the only member of the jury who turned his chair around during the performance of an unusual participant and did not regret it at all.
Leps managed to understand his student, to choose for him the repertoire that does not contradict the Orthodox canons. Neither the mentor nor the contestant hoped for victory, but it happened - Hieromonk Photius reached the final, more than 70% of the audience of the project voted for him.
Leps said that working with such an unusual ward was difficult, but very interesting - one had to comply with certain requirements when choosing a repertoire, but despite this, he managed to try the competitor's strengths in different directions - from opera arias to vocal pieces in the style of "rock". Hieromonk Photius easily coped with all the tasks that his mentor gave him, and became the winner of the TV competition.
Personal life and family of Hieromonk Photius
In life, Hieromonk Photius is a sociable, but very modest and shy person. Personal for him is service to Orthodoxy. The victory in the "Voice" show became a kind of window into the secular world, but Photius strictly observes the Orthodox canons in this aspect of his life as well.
All the benefits that a vocal career gives him, he does not use for personal purposes - the funds go either to the needs of the church and his native monastery, or to charity.
It is interesting that the hieromonk is open for communication - he has pages in almost all social networks, but whether he himself leads them or the members of his fan club do it, it is not known for certain. Photius is reluctant to give interviews; he chooses television programs and publications very carefully. He is not going to give up spiritual life and service to Orthodoxy.
