Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov is not just a minister of the Orthodox Church. On account of his many merits, which include preaching and protecting the foundations of family values, opposition to juvenile justice and missionary activities, covering several spheres of life.
Church leader Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov is not limited to the framework of the temple in his public activities. He also brings Orthodoxy to the people with the help of radio, television, meets with ordinary citizens and parishioners in person. Among his merits, which, in most cases, he does not consider as such, his followers and admirers include many saved lives in the fight against abortion, ardent confrontation with the destructive actions of juvenile justice.
Fields of activity of Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov
The activity of this clergyman, and a rather high-ranking one, covers several directions, and in any of them he is successful. It is achieved simply - the archpriest is always sincere, raises vital questions before the interlocutor and offers simple solutions that do not contradict the laws of Orthodoxy and morality, mercy and justice. Dmitry Smirnov is:
- rector of the Temple of Mitrofan Voronezh and seven churches in the Moscow region,
- successful TV and radio presenter on several channels,
- active blogger and user of social networks with a large number of subscribers,
- Chairman of the Department of Patriarchy for Contacts with Law Enforcement and Armed Forces,
- Vice-Rector of St. Tikhon University and Dean of the Peter the Great Military Academy,
- Chairman of the Councils for Biomedical Ethics and Sales of Religious Products,
- member of the editorial board of the Journal of the Patriarchate of the Moscow Region,
- founder of the "Separate Division" - a movement that defends family values,
- active missionary and fighter against liberalism.
The sermons and conversations of Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov are published, are available to a wide range of readers and enjoy constant success, and not only in the world of Orthodoxy, thanks to the author's harsh statements and courage.
Biography of Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov
Priest Dimitri Smirnov is a native Muscovite from an Orthodox family. The archpriest was born on March 7, 1951. His childhood was spent in Obydensky lane in Moscow, not without pranks, but in severity. The boy received the basics of morality from Orthodox prayers and scriptures, which his mother often read to him, and which the whole family followed.
For the first time, Dmitry Smirnov thought about closely linking his life with the service of the Orthodox faith and the church while working at the House of Pioneers, where he taught sculpture and drawing after graduating from the Moscow Pedagogical Institute. A visit to the Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya Latvian desert and a conversation with Elder Tavrion were decisive factors in making a decision.
In 1982, Dmitry Smirnov graduated from Orthodox studies - the seminary of Sergiev Posad and the Theological Academy and began the path of an Orthodox priest. Already in 1991, he became the rector of the Church of St. Mitrofan of Voronezh, and later seven more churches. During his service there, he, and without any outside support, opened several orphanages at his church, a music and art school, became a public figure and simply mentors for many, many of his parishioners.
Education and awards of Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov
The future archpriest and one of the most significant Russian public figures Dmitry Smirnov received his primary and secondary education at the 42nd Moscow school with a physics and mathematics bias. Then there was successful training in
- Pedagogical Institute of Moscow, in the correspondence course of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Graphics,
- theological seminary at Sergiev Posad,
- Theological Academy - in the courses of Orthodoxy and jurisprudence.
The services to the homeland of Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov did not go unnoticed, but he never talked about his awards until his photo appeared on the Internet, in which users counted more than 40 medals and orders on his chest. Among them are awards from FTC, UOC, ROC.
One of the most significant awards of Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov is the Order of Dmitry Donskoy, III degree, which is awarded to those who show special courage in the field of defending the Fatherland, contributes to the development of fruitful relations between the military and the church, to the spiritual and moral education of children and youth.
Family of Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov
Very little is known about the family and personal life of the Orthodox priest Dmitry Smirnov. He willingly talks only about his ancestors - his grandfather, an officer of the White Army, and great-grandfather, who was well-known in pre-revolutionary times, who also devoted himself to serving the church and Orthodoxy. It was the great-grandfather who served as the rector of the church of Nikolai Zayitsky and was shot by the communists for anti-Soviet propaganda in 1938, later canonized (in 2000), who became the key link of all the factors that brought Dmitry to church.
Now the family of Dmitry Smirnov is
- wife,
- daughter Maria,
- brother Ivan.
Dmitry Smirnov's wife and daughter are engaged in the same activities as he - they serve the Orthodox Church, support his social and public projects. For example, daughter Masha works as a teacher at the school of one of the orphanages founded by her father. But Dmitry Nikolaevich's brother is far from the church, although he is a bright personality in a different direction - he is a famous and successful businessman, jazz musician. But he provides serious financial and moral support in any endeavors of his older brother.
The brightest sides of the character and convictions of Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov
The popularity of this Orthodox clergyman is based on his convictions and intolerance to everything immoral that can be directed against family values, children and justice. In his sermons, conversations with parishioners and during interviews with journalists, the archpriest expresses his thoughts quite directly and does not strive for correctness, which often causes a wave of indignation. Some of his statements even served as a pretext for contacting the prosecutor's office.
Dmitry Smirnov is an ardent opponent of communism, and to this day accuses the leaders of the revolutionary movement of sins against family and childhood. He accuses Lenin of popularizing abortion, and he sees no sanity, no justice, or mercy in the actions of juvenile justice.
The harsh statements and unshakable convictions of Archpriest Dimitri Smirnov do not alienate those around him and parishioners from him, although journalists and politicians rarely like him. He is often compared with V. V. Zhirinovsky, and such a comparison does not upset Dmitry Nikolaevich at all.
