The ministry of Archpriest Gregory Ponomaryov (1914–1997) in the epoch of persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church

Abstract

Archpriest Gregory Ponomaryov served in the Trans-Ural region, kept the faith, despite severe persecution. After returning from the concentration camp and exile to the ministry, as a missionary, he helped people (who had received an anti-religious upbringing) to join the Church. To do this, he collected apologetic materials, compiled collections of patristic teachings (“Flower Beds”), wrote articles (“samizdat”). His personal feat is reflected in the spiritual diary, which traces the zealous struggle with passions and the urge to virtues, ascetic attitude to the time released by God for spiritual growth. The diary was constantly re-read by Archpriest Gregory so that his ‘spiritual construction’ would not stop. The ministry of Father Gregory finds parallels in the ministry of his great contemporary, the elder Archimandrite John (Krestyankin), and is of interest for research on pastoral theology.