"Voice of Russia" Hieromonk Photius: Spirituality allows creativity to be honest. Frank interview with Photius: life in social networks, dreams of Toyota and Eurovision Who is the father of Photius

The participant of the show, the voice of Hieromonk Photius (Mochalov), evokes the most conflicting feelings among the fans of the project.
On the one hand, the audience is pleased with the soulful voice of the singer, on the other hand, the ward of Grigory Leps was initially placed in more comfortable conditions and this causes criticism.

Father Fotiy is not allowed to sing rock, jazz or just songs at a fast pace. He is always beautiful, but in general, he always acts one-sidedly in the project of Channel One. However, this did not prevent the performer from collecting the largest number of audience votes.

Who is Father Fotiy, where does he come from, what is his personal life, how did he come to church and how did he get on the Voice show - we will answer these questions in today's publication.
Hieromonk Photius, in the World Vitaly Mochalov was born in Nizhny Novgorod on January 1, 1987.
The boy from childhood joined the music and faith. He attended a local music school, learned to sing and play the piano. When Vitaly was seven years old, he began to ask his mother to take him to church and baptize him.
At school, the boy felt like a black sheep, because he was bullied by the students. He did not want to take part in the games, but devoted all his time to music lessons. Vitaly received his first communion to the church in the children's Orthodox camp "Blagovest".
The true churching of the future monk took place already in his adult years. The Mochalov family was at that time in exile in Germany. There Vitaly went to the local parish, learned to play the organ, made pilgrimage trips and gradually came to the idea of ​​monasticism.
Three years later, Vitaly returned to Russia, entered the service of the Holy Pafnutevsky Monastery in the Kaluga region and took tonsure, becoming hieromonk Photius.
Monastic life did not become an obstacle for Photius to study music. The hieromonk was sent to the kliros, and to set up his voice he took vocal lessons in Moscow.
After twenty lessons, Photius returned to the monastery, but did not lose contact with his teacher. Victor Tvardovsky visited his student in the monastery, learning more complex things with him, including arias from operas.
Gradually, hieromonk Photius mastered romances and songs. He was presented with a good musical technique, thanks to which he was able to record and put on the Internet two discs.
With the advent of the Voice project on the first TV channel, the hieromonk's friends offered him to try his hand, but Photius decided only by the fourth season. Initially, he expected to get into the team of Alexander Gradsky, but he had to go to Grigory Leps.
The mentor met the new ward a little with hostility, asking him the question “What will you do if you win the project”
Fotiy was confused and honestly answered that he had not thought about it, and it was a feat for him to come to the project.
However, despite some disagreements, the contestant successfully passes from one round to another. The next time we will see Father Fotiy is already in the semi-finals, and it is possible that he will also go to the finals of the Voice show.

Hieromonk Photius, blind auditions, Lensky's Aria

Hieromonk Photius, "On the Road to Zagorsk"

Father Fotiy successfully made it to the final by performing Marina Tsvetaeva's Monologue. The contestant received 60% from the mentor and 79.25 from the viewers. Thus, hieromonk Photius got the total number of votes 139.2% Listen to the song "Monologue" performed by Father Photius

Your site was with you, see you soon

Hieromonk Photius (in the world - Vitaly Vladimirovich Mochalov, born November 11, 1985) - a resident of St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery, regent of the monastery choir. In 2015, he won the television project "Voice".

Father Photius (Mochalov) today is perhaps the most famous hieromonk in the country. His voice and manner of performance really sunk into the soul, not only to the audience of one of the television shows in which he became the winner. The modest and quiet young monk also fell in love with the Internet audience. Father Fotiy is now making a concert tour throughout Russia. We talked to him on the day of his concert in Krasnoyarsk.

Father Photius, you often have to come into contact with the world of variety art, which many inhabitants, especially young people, find attractive and ideal. What is really hidden behind the spotlights and bright decorations?

When you have bread, you also want circuses. Then people go to the concert hall and get what they want. Music is different, as well as artists. And behind the scenes, meanwhile, goes on everyday life, full of work.

Some focus on the show, on dancing, on appearance, and someone “gets out” on shocking. And there are people like me. Here the stage image is not important at all, because I never had a goal to be an artist, a public person. I have never been attracted to the world of show business, especially in the form that is imposed on us on TV.

- But now you are a media person, largely thanks to TV.

What I'm doing now is not mass culture. I have a very unique repertoire. It is built on the classics, on original works that are a borderline genre. It's a crossover, rock ballads. There are different surprises - sometimes I sing songs in Norwegian, Armenian, Serbian.

When I see the uniqueness of a work, when I am struck by the beauty of a melody, I want to take it into my repertoire, make my own cover. I want people to touch these beautiful creations, which they will not hear anywhere else. I try to popularize unusual music.

- Are there truly believing people in the pop environment? Is this a practice or an exception?

It happened that I crossed paths with people whom I had only seen on TV before. Once again I was convinced that they are the same people as the rest - they have an ordinary life, but at the same time they have a stage image. When you see "stars" in an informal setting, hear what they are talking about, what ideas they have in their heads, you meet people among them who are far from stupid, even wise. Spirituality can also be found there. Probably like everywhere else.

Taking this opportunity, I will ask a question from one hieromonk from the Assumption Monastery in Krasnoyarsk: “Do you experience spiritual joy from your work?”

I would not say that my work directly affects the spiritual life. It's just my business, my hobby. This is art. On the contrary, art can be influenced by the spiritual life, the ministry that I have had for eleven years in the monastery. It is spirituality that allows creativity to be honest, open, it brings words to hearts. I don't think there is a reverse effect.

One has to hear dissatisfied reviews of believers in the direction of monastics involved in creativity. Especially if it can be called "worldly"...

People going to the monastery - a priori people are not lazy. They are not in the mood to lie on the couch in their cell for days. They are already ready for the fact that they will have to get up very early every morning, go to prayer, bow down, fulfill obediences. I think that every monk has a thirst for achievement. And everyone finds some kind of sublimation in the form of some kind of craft, some kind of creativity. Everyone is doing something. Not necessarily art. He can be a carpenter, or a cook. And he will do it well so that everyone is happy.

I now have thoughts that my concert tour is a kind of feat. After all, it is very difficult, especially when you consider that I am not a public person, but you need to stand on stage. And this process is not mechanical, we always vary the program. I always personally care about the quality of performance, I always give my best. Constant moving ... It's not even physically easy. The main thing is to try to do a little more than you can. Therefore, I do not see anything in my work that is subject to jurisdiction.

- Is it especially difficult to tour during Great Lent?

During fasting days, the number of concerts will be reduced. And in the first week, of course, there will be no performances. You have to pray in the monastery. The program will also change, there will be more spiritual texts.

In general, fasting with God is not so difficult. The most important thing is love. The Lord did not come to earth to forbid us to eat cottage cheese. He brought us not rituals, not even canons. Christ was crucified in order for us to understand what love is. If we love our neighbors more during the fast, then it will be much better than worrying about the ingredients of the soup. So the main feat at this time is not physical, but spiritual.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in an interview: “Many people discover the Orthodox faith through Father Photius.” This is a very high appreciation of your creativity and service. Do you consider yourself a missionary?

To some extent I am a missionary. Only my mission is not verbal. Although there are texts that make a person think, lead him to repentance. This, of course, does not mean that immediately after the concert he will run to the temple for confession. No, I do not achieve this effect. For me, the main thing is that a person’s soul opens up, so that he listens to what is going on in his soul at the moment. Perhaps this is my missionary work. This is my ministry.

Yuri Paskhalsky especially for the newspaper "Orthodox Word of Siberia" and the website of the "Kasyanovsky House"

Today, Hieromonk Photius is the first clergyman who has become widely popular "in the world." Glory came to Hieromonk Photius after winning the famous project "Voice". To some extent, the clergyman became a pioneer, because the participation of the clergy in commercial musical projects seemed unthinkable for most listeners. Father Fotiy proved that love for God and devotion to music - quite compatible things. The monk's songs carry beauty, peace and special warmth, and he himself serves as a good example for the public.

Biography of Hieromonk Photius

Father's childhood

About the life of Hieromonk Photius in childhood, the following facts are truly known:

• After finishing 9 years of schooling, Vitaly decided to continue his education at a music school.
• Studying in Russia did not last long, only one year. After that, the parents of the young man decided to move. The choice fell on city ​​of Kaiserslautern in Germany. There Vitaly learned to play the organ.
• During these years, the guy first began to earn money by participating in organ concerts, and also did not forget about church services.
• In the city where Vitaly lived with his family there was an Orthodox church, which he often visited and sang on the kliros, sometimes doing the work of a sexton.
• Fotiy never managed to get comfortable in a foreign country, he was always drawn to his homeland and in 2005, he returned to Russia.

Serving God, Monasticism

Some time after returning to his native place, the young man visited the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra as a pilgrim.

He was in the monastery for only two weeks, but he left a lot of impressions. Memories from childhood returned, questions arose about their true purpose. However, at that moment, Vitaly understood that life in the monastery was very difficult and he was not yet ready for this.

Nevertheless, this time was very fruitful, he again read the Gospel, studied the lives of the saints and saw the Orthodox Church in a new light.

Vitaly decided that he needed the advice of another person. Schema-Archimandrite Vlasy was known as a wise old man, many religious people went to him for help. Blasius advised him to become a monk. So, Vitaly became the clergyman Photius, an inhabitant St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery.

Parents, of course, experienced serious feelings when they learned about the decision of their son. Mother, blessed the choice of Vitaly, realizing that this is not a blind dream. Although it was very difficult for her. The father tried to convince the young man, but it was impossible and he had no choice but to just accept.

The choice of Vitaly was absolutely conscious, at the call of the heart. It's no secret that some go to a monastery to hide from problems, to compensate for their disorder. Few are able leave worldly prosperity, and devote himself to service from now on living in a small modest cell.

Vitaly has always been very capable in music and he was predicted a great future. Once in the monastery, he was ready for the fact that, if necessary, his dream might have to be abandoned.

How many trials he had to endure as a novice! But he steadfastly proved himself in hard work.

In the monastery, Vitaly made a lot of efforts to make his voice sound better. After some time, he began attending vocal classes with the honored teacher Viktor Tvardovsky. The hieromonk speaks of him with particular warmth. Then, due to lack of time, Fotiy studied singing on his own, using the same Tvardovsky's technique.

The teacher improved the vocal technique of Father Photius, his repertoire was significantly expanded and enriched. The voice became well-trained and trained, able to perform even complex opera parts.

With the consent of the archpriest, together with his brothers from the monastery, Father Fotiy participated in the events, singing songs in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.

Apparently, the Lord considered the talent of the young man necessary for people, and all creative activity came as a matter of course, without any special ideas.

Priest's hobby

Father - very multifaceted and versatile person. He not only acts as a choir director, but also does the layout of a children's magazine and helps the Sunday school theatre.

Surrounding people do not cease to be surprised how such a strong personality can be hidden behind external softness. Photius thinks a lot about others and does his best to help those who need support. It has a very goal-oriented personality and will definitely achieve what you want.

Besides:

Project "Voice"

Hieromonk Photius on social networks

Participation in the "Voice" forced the musician to create accounts on social networks, for example: VK, instagram, twitter and also has a YouTube channel. The pages are constantly updated and contain up-to-date information. True, it is not known whether Hieromonk Photius personally does this. Music and creativity in contact can be published by his concert manager or fans of creativity.

In Periscope, the priest conducts broadcasts where he speaks on pressing topics, conducts video walks, talks about preparing the current dinner or shows how he drives a car. Such activities benefit the youth of today. After all, young men and women associate the Church with something old-fashioned, and the life of a monk seems completely unhappy and boring. Thanks to the activity of the priest on the Internet, young people became interested in religious topics.

Previously, people who were not connected with the church were even confused with the name of the dignity “hieromonk”. Some young people even added the prefix neuromon, probably confusing it with a popular group.

The monk's subscribers note that Photius has a wonderful sense of humor and his videos are very pleasant to watch. They publish their discussions on forums, but the monk does not have a personal website.

Hieromonk Fotiy - organizing a concert, ordering artists on the official website of the agency. To organize performances, tours, invitations to corporate holidays, call +7-499-343-53-23, +7-964-647-20-40

Welcome to the official website of the agent of Hieromonk Photius, a priest who became famous for his victory in the fourth season of the musical project "Voice". The tenor, who before his tonsure bore the name Vitaly Mochalov, was born on November 11, 1985 in Nizhny Novgorod. The future monk studied piano and vocals at the city music school. As a child, Vitaly sang in the school and church choir, dreamed of becoming a professional composer.

Creative achievements

At the age of 15, the guy entered the Nizhny Novgorod Music College, but studied there for only a year, as he moved to Germany with his family. Living in Kaiserslautern, Mochalov continued to study music: he sang, mastered playing the organ. At the age of 20, the young man decided to become an Orthodox priest. To this end, in the middle of the 2000s, he returned to Russia. The place of service of Vitaly was the St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery, located in the Kaluga region.

After the tonsure, the servant of the monastery was named Photius. Despite the rejection of everything worldly, the order for music lessons did not disappear in the life of a monk. For some time, the priest was taught vocal skills by Viktor Tvardovsky, a Moscow teacher and soloist of opera houses. Further, Fotiy continued to study on his own, adopting the unique methodology of the former teacher. Over time, he became the best monastic chorister, and then the regent (leader) of the church choir.

In September 2015, Hieromonk Photius made his first appearance on television as part of the Voice program. The question of the participation of the priest in the show was controversial, but in the end the church organization gave the go-ahead. At the blind audition, the monk performed an excerpt from the opera "Eugene Onegin" (Lensky's aria) and ended up in the team of producer Grigory Leps. In the final of the musical competition, three-quarters of the viewers voted for Fotiy. Thus, the hieromonk became the winner of the Voice-4 project. Patriarch Kirill himself called the result of the participation of an Orthodox priest in the competition positive.

Nowadays

At the beginning of 2016, all the finalists of the project took part in the All-Russian tour. Fotiy also received a blessing for touring. The first concert with the participation of the hieromonk took place on February 21 in Krasnodar. Now Vitaly Mochalov performs a lot, giving the proceeds to the construction of temples. More information about the work of Hieromonk Photius can be found on his official website.

Hieromonk Fotiy ordering concerts, contacts, organization of performances by artists. Invite a star to a wedding, corporate party, anniversary - you can contact us by phone in Moscow +7-499-343-53-23, +7-964-647-20-40, on the official website of the agent, write to the mail, in contacts menu.

The appearance of a monk in a popular TV show and his victory in it made a lot of noise. Even after a few months, talk about it does not subside. And their "culprit" himself - Hieromonk Photius, a resident of St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery - became a welcome guest of many television and radio programs. His tour schedule is booked months in advance. Fans demand solo discs.

Does show business interfere with monastic vows, Photius himself frankly told us.

An appointment was made at the monastery. Its almost meter-thick walls, incredible silence and flocks of pigeons soaring over the domes of temples pacify.

I want to forget about everything, bowing my head in prayer.

Photius appears. The monk is holding a telephone. Batiushka moves around the monastery practically without taking his eyes off his screen. Even during the interview, Fotiy does not part with him. First, the phone is on the table. But as soon as it begins to make sounds, announcing the incoming message, it turns out to be in the hands of a monk. Sometimes a clergyman is so immersed in what is happening on the other side of the screen that he loses the thread of the conversation.

- You are quite an advanced father: you actively use social networks, constantly upload photos to Instagram.

For me, social networks are a means of communication, self-expression. There I see an indicator of my usefulness - efficiency: what people like, what they don't like. It's a certain scale. In real time, you can see the attitude to one or another of your words.

- Are you ready to change the repertoire for the sake of the public?

Everyone has their own tastes, but there are some general trends. I listen to them. It is very important to me when a sufficiently large number of fans express their preferences. Based on this, I am making some corrections in the performance, repertoire. Basically, people love good Russian songs, urban romance with a deep meaning - something that you rarely hear now. For example, the songs of Eduard Khil, Mark Bernes.

- In the generally accepted view, monks are ascetics, praying day and night. Modern monk - who is it? Why did he come to the monastery?

A person goes to a monastery in order to find special conditions for salvation, because it is possible to be saved in the world. And how you spend your life in the monastery will depend on your posthumous fate. Of course, you need to live with dignity. The way I behave is not an example of an ideal monastic feat.

- Why?

I actively communicate with the world, but in theory, I should completely cut it off and stay in the monastery physically, spiritually and mentally. Because the walls won't save you. You can chat, go online. Then what is the point of being in a monastery if you left it via the Internet, found a loophole.

- Did you find such a loophole?

It turns out, yes. I realized that this is not only a temptation for me, a temptation, namely (sighs. - Approx. Aut.) My weakness and my own desire to somehow find a compromise - a synthesis of staying in a monastery and communicating with the people. Because the people, as it turned out, are very interested in just such a spiritual life. Although there are people who are radically inclined, who believe that there should be no communication with the world. Well, let them think so, the position is more important to me - when people are drawn to the monks, when you can give answers to their questions. And say it in their language, and not in the language of the patristic books. You can just close yourself here and read only spiritual books, but you will not be understood by the youth. And since I am young, with a technique for “you”, I actively use this tool to show from the inside of the monastery that we are the same people who know how to enjoy everything. I try to carry a small sermon of some kind through the social network.

- You need a response. And if it is not, will you leave social networks?

Yes, I analyze what is happening there, not for the sake of vanity, not for the sake of the number of likes and reposts. I look at what people like and build content on my page accordingly.

Photo from the dressing room before a performance at the Kaluga Regional Philharmonic.

- As if teasing the audience, you often post photos from the dressing rooms with various goodies - cakes and other sweets. And you don’t even hide that you have a weakness for cheeses.

These are not provocative photos. People have come up with stereotypes, and then they themselves cannot refuse them. They are simply annoyed, turned inside out, if the monk laid out the sweets. They think it's bad. But they cannot explain why it seems reprehensible to them. I am the same person. Therefore, I try to show that monks are people who are not alien to any worldly weaknesses: we also love to eat tasty food, but we do not cultivate gluttony, voluptuousness. I don't just show food, I show its aesthetic side. This is a kind of education. I'm talking about my taste - it's simple, not sophisticated. Yes, cheese is my weakness.

- Whether you wanted it or not, but for many you have become an idol, and the Bible says: "Do not make yourself an idol."

I don't like that veneration turns into fanaticism. This, of course, is a problem.

Fotiy receives a huge number of letters and packages from fans.

- You have a huge number of subscribers in social networks, you receive dozens of letters. What do they write to you about?

Basically, these are words of gratitude, gratitude for the fact that I appeared on television, on stage in general. They write, congratulate, ask, of course, for prayerful help. I perform not just as a singer, but also as a priest, which is why people are drawn to me, including as a person who understands spiritual issues and can suggest something: how to behave in a certain religious plan, how to live. An interesting situation: sort of like an artist and at the same time - as a mental therapist.

Do you try to answer all emails?

I don't have time to answer yet. Frankly, I don’t even have time to read them, to open them, because there are always some sort of trips, some kind of business. Of course, I immediately open the parcels, it’s interesting (smiles). And there is some little thing, some sweets ... They usually find out in social networks what I need. Once I said that I was standing in the cold and I didn’t even have gloves. And people immediately start to worry and send me gloves...

The monk was sent a scarf and a volume of poetry.

Gingerbread.

Parcel from Switzerland.

- How do you feel about your popularity?

I am not deceived by sugary comments and praises that come to me. The main thing is to see what brings people joy.

- Popularity is fleeting, in 2-3 years you may not be remembered as a project participant. Are you ready for this?

So much the better - only loyal fans will remain. I was initially disadvantageous to Channel One. I can't work with him anymore, it's all very difficult. In order for me to go on the air once again, I need to get so many permits, coordinate documents, put signatures ... This is very responsible. Anything I say on First can be used against me.

- The main question that many people ask is: “Why did the monk go to the project, why does he need such a wide audience, so much attention?”

In fact, of course, it is not needed. Turns out she needs me. Even before participating in The Voice, I analyzed people's responses to my performances. The public wanted to hear me, to receive discs that I recorded myself. There was an idea that it would be nice to speak to the whole country so that people would hear me and somehow rejoice.

- Do you think you would have become a winner without being a monk, but only thanks to your vocal abilities?

Maybe not. I am an unusual person, the attention of the public was immediately riveted to me. Everyone shines with vocal data at this competition, there are no unworthy ones - all professionals, even those who dropped out on the very first broadcasts. They are great. People vote for the whole complex - they see the image, they see the message, they see some kind of sincerity. I often hear that they voted for me not because I am an Orthodox monk, but because they were deeply touched and hooked by my performance.

- More than once in your interviews you said: if you are invited to participate in Eurovision, you are ready to give a worthy answer to Conchita Wurst. How did you know about her? Have you seen her performance?

It's hard not to know about her. Moreover, after her victory, Eurovision is considered a hotbed of debauchery. They say that it’s better not to go there at all, and not only for a priest, a clergyman, but even for the laity. But I have a different opinion. Since there is such a platform, you need to perform on it. If people love outrageousness, surprises, something unusual, they need to strike back - to show that not only depraved things can be popular, but also something pure and bright, coming from that part of our humanity that preaches only goodness and morality.

With Timur Kizyakov on the set of the program "So far, everyone is at home."

- It seemed to me that you were tired of attention, fame.

I would love to take a week off. Constantly some calls, business, personal communication with people. I want to somehow support life in social networks, respond, make some updates. A little bit of everything - and you go to bed at three in the morning. I would like everyone to forget about me.

- And even concerts do not bring pleasure?

At first you get pleasure, but it gets boring very quickly, burdensome. I want to dig somewhere. I am a person of a different temperament - I am embarrassed on stage, I don’t know how to behave correctly. I sing as I sing - and that's it. People see my kind of detachment - I kind of sing, but I'm not with them, but as if I'm in my own world.

Television center "Ostankino". Hieromonk with Ivan Okhlobystin and Garik Sukachev.

- I know that, in addition to professional singing, you composed music before coming to the monastery. Why did they stop doing it?

It ceased to be necessary, although it was not necessary in the world either - so, a hobby. He wrote “on the table”, no one heard it. I am waiting for the moment when there will be such a turn in my destiny that I will be able to realize this ability as well. It is for me, maybe even more significant than the voice. Self-realization is very important for a person, especially when he feels the potential in himself, but this does not bear fruit. The music I write is not that popular. It is not electronic, does not correspond to the tastes of the masses. And in general, now it is difficult to occupy a niche on the Internet, there is already so much music posted there. You just need to mind your own business, your direction. For me, it's film music. It is clear that as a monk I will no longer be able to write music - only if somehow it turns out that they will offer it.

- After winning the project, you were presented with gifts - a trip to France, a car.

I can go at any moment, I just need to get a blessing. The car hasn't left the assembly line yet. By the way, the year before last I passed my license, I really wanted to have a car. Maybe for me it was an additional motivation to go to the "Voice". I knew that the winner gets the car. Of course, I didn’t save up for the Lada, I wanted a slightly different car. Although the first car should be simpler - domestic.

- What kind of car would you like? How can a monk save up for it?

I wanted a Toyota. Yes, especially to save something and nothing. These are all just benefactors. No one will give you a big amount. You cut yourself down in some way - once again you don’t eat sushi, pizza. So, quietly, penny to penny - and you know that you already have money for the engine.

- Aren't you afraid that fame can break you?

There is nothing positive in it, but nothing negative either. The most important thing is to justify it so that it is not empty. It doesn't cost anything to achieve fame and become popular. In fact, the booty, shown several times on television, will also become popular. The most important thing is to earn this glory with dignity to match.

Now Fotiy, along with other members of the Voice, is preparing for a tour throughout the country. Batiushka will also give solo concerts. So, tickets in Kaluga for his March performance are being sold like hot cakes. What the monk would spend the money on, he could not say. Declaring that this is not such a big money. As we approached the temple, a woman ran up to us.

- Father Fotiy, can I take a picture with you? When I tell my people in the village that I saw you, no one will believe!

After the photo session, pilgrims literally swooped down on the monk, asking for a blessing. Without looking at them, trying to make his way through the crowd, Photius complied with their request and disappeared. The obedience of the priest is singing on the kliros in the choir. The rest of the time it is almost always online.

Photo: Svetlana TARASOVA and from Fotiy's personal VKontakte page.