HIEROMONK PHILARET (DAVYDOV)

Cleric of the Iveron Monastery

Date of birth: September 16, 1955

Date of tonsure: April 28, 2013

Date of ordination to a hierodeacon: December 9, 2014

Date of ordination to a hieromonk: December 14, 2014

Saint’s Day: December14 

BIOGRAPHY:

Hieromonk Philaret (secular name Alexander Vasilievich Davydov) was born in Orsk on September 16, 1955. After completing his secondary education, he studied at and graduated from the Heavy-Engineering Technical School. He was a famous sportsman in our city having a qualification of a master of sports in weightlifting.   Alexander joined the army and served at an athletic company. Then he studied at the Polytechnic Institute. After that, he worked as an engineer at the YUMZ (a Heavy-Engineering plant) for 2 years and as a foreman of a construction team for 5 years. Alexander Vasilievich was one of the first people in Orsk who created a cooperative. After this, he actively led an oil business for several years.   

Alexander Vasilievich contributed a lot to the renewal of the Transfiguration Cathedral of Orsk and built the Orthodox Gymnasium dedicated to the Holy Royal Martyrs. For a long time, he was a trustee of the Andreyevsky Monastery situated in the village of Andreyevka, Orenburg Region. Moreover, he contributed significantly to the construction of the Great Martyr George Cathedral in Orsk and the organization of the sisterhood at the settlement of Kherson, Gai District.  

Alexander Vasilievich visited Holy Mount Athos several times and strived as a novice at the Docheiariou Monastery for a year.  

On April 28, 2013, Irenaeus, Bishop of Orsk and Gai, tonsured novice Alexander a monk, who received the name Philaret (after Saint Philaret the Merciful). 

On December 9, 2014, monk Philaret was ordained to a hierodeacon by Irenaeus, Bishop of Orsk and Gai. 

On December 14, 2014, he was ordained to a hieromonk by the Bishop of Orsk and Gai Irenaeus. 

In 2018, hieromonk Philaret graduated from the Orenburg Theological Seminary.

Since 2014, hieromonk Philaret has been a senior priest of the Church of the Tabyn Icon of the Holy Theotokos at Kherson, Gai District. 

Since 2016, he has been the senior priest of the Hospital Church of the Iveron Icon of the Holy Theotokos in Orsk.   

From August to November 2018, he was an interim senior priest of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in the town of Yasny.   

Since 2014, hieromonk Philaret has been a cleric of the Iveron Monastery of Orsk. 

AWARDS

Church Awards:

III-Class Order of the Venerable Saint Sergius of Radonezh, Russian Orthodox Church. 

II-Class Order of the Venerable Saint Sergius of Radonezh, Russian Orthodox Church.