Vyatsky Posad, Oryol Region, Russia, May 20, 2026
Photo: orel-eparhia.ru
A monument to Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin), the Russian Orthodox Church’s most revered elder until his repose on March 15, 2025 at age 93, was unveiled on May 16 in his native Oryol Region.
The ceremony took place during the 9th International Traditions of Holy Rus’ Festival of Orthodox Culture and Folk Art at the Vyatsky Posad Spiritual-Orthodox Center. His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon of Oryol and Bolkhov consecrated the monument, after which participants honored the memory of Schema-Archimandrite Iliy, reports the Oryol Metropolia.
The event drew clergy from the Oryol Diocese, government officials, public figures, regional residents, and numerous pilgrims for whom Fr. Iliy had served as a beloved spiritual guide.
Photo: orel-eparhia.ru
Elder Iliy spent decades laboring in asceticism at Pskov Caves Monastery, St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mt. Athos, and Optina Monastery, which he helped rebuild from ruins. In his later years, he served as spiritual father to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the brotherhood of Optina Monastery.
Schema-Archimandrite Iliy made significant contributions to the spiritual revival of the Oryol Region, supporting the restoration of churches, strengthening of Orthodox faith, and preservation of traditional values. The Vyatsky Posad Spiritual-Orthodox Center itself was established with his blessing and participation, and he initiated the annual Traditions of Holy Rus’ festival.
This year’s festival, dedicated to the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, features performances by cultural groups from Belarus, the Republic of Abkhazia, Moscow, Volgograd, Belgorod, Oryol and Kursk Regions, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, and Severomorsk.
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