Hieromonk Photius: biography, creativity, career, personal life. Music - space for creativity Fotiy the best voice in contact

That is why, having enlisted the support of his fellows, he ventured to try his hand at the vocal television project "Voice". The sincerity and sincerity of the singer so sunk into the souls of the judges and viewers that, according to the results of the final vote, he managed to gain a record number of votes and become the winner of the fourth season.

Childhood of Hieromonk Photius

At the age of 7, the young man could boast of a good piano playing and a good voice. He received basic skills in the local music school, who for a long time did not want to teach a talented young man, citing the fact that he had unsuitable fingers. Having coped with all the difficulties, he still managed to graduate from school in the piano class.

To improve his skills, the guy signed up for the school choir, and also sang along with his mother at every opportunity. By the way, she graduated from the same music school at one time. Doing what he loves, Vitaly did not even suspect that very soon his voice would begin to “break”.

As soon as this happened, he decided to attend church school and continue to sing in the choir. The days flew by, the boy grew up and moved further and further away from his classmates. After finishing 9 classes, Vitaly applied to a music school, where he hoped to gain new knowledge.

After studying for only 1 year, he was forced to leave school and move with his parents to the German city of Kaiserslautern. In order not to lose what he had learned, the guy continued to study music and singing, but this time he chose the organ instead of the piano.

At this time, Fotiy began to actively perform at concerts, and also often took part in church services thus earning their first money. Years passed, but the young man could not get used to a foreign country, so in 2005 he decided to return to his homeland.

Hieromonk Photius and the Church

Once in the church, the guy continued to study music and even more, made a lot of efforts to improve his voice. In this he was helped by the honored teacher Viktor Tvardovsky, who spoke very flatteringly about the guy. He considered him a kind, bright and intelligent young man with a strong character.

In addition to music, Fotiy is also fond of photography and the study of various foreign languages. In a relatively short time, he managed to perfectly master English and German. In addition to this, he is able to perform almost any song in Japanese, Italian and Georgian.

Hieromonk Fotiy plays a role in the production of "Our Fatherland - Holy Rus'"

After completing his studies with Tvardovsky, Fotiy studied vocals for a long time, using special exercises that were developed by a respected teacher. And only in 2010 the guy took monastic vows, and after 3 years he officially became a hieromonk.

Hieromonk Fotiy and the show "Voice"

After some time, the guy rethought everything and realized that the "Voice" is, first of all, a talent contest, and only then a TV show. Gathering his thoughts, he went to serious conversation with confessors and metropolitans to convince them to let him go to the competition. In general, it took him 2 years, because he dared to apply again only in 2015.

Once on the show, Photius tried in every possible way not to tarnish the honor of the monastery and the dignity of the entire church. Perhaps faith helped him to cope with all the difficulties, and perhaps the numerous prayers of the abbots and spiritual fathers. In fact, when he came to the show, the guy did not want fame and universal recognition, but rather to push and encourage all people to self-improvement through music.

Appearing for the first time on big stage, the hieromonk did not lose his head and elegantly performed an aria from Eugene Onegin. Unfortunately, only Grigory Leps was impressed by his work, because it was he who turned to the participant.

Hieromonk Photius Good night, gentlemen "" (Final - Voice)

As Photius himself later admitted, he dreamed of getting into the team with Alexander Gradsky, but fate decreed otherwise. Despite this, his idol nevertheless paid attention to him and even agreed to perform Lensky's aria from the opera Eugene Onegin with him.

At first, the jury members did not even guess that the clergyman would be able to reach the final, but deep in their hearts they were glad of this. At the end of the project, Grigory Leps was very proud of his ward, as he managed to meet all his expectations. fight for Grand Prize the show "Voice" was lucky for four contestants: Era Cannes (Basta's team), Mikhail Ozerov (Alexander Gradsky's team), Olga Zadonskaya (Polina Gagarina's team) and Hieromonk Photius (Grigory Leps's team).

In December 2015, the clergyman performed the song Per te (“For you”) and conquered all viewers with it. During live broadcast more than 900,000 TV viewers voted for him. As a result, he won a phenomenal victory with 75% of all votes. Officially becoming the winner, he was handed the keys to a brand new car. Monk Photius serves in St. Pafnutiev Monastery

At one time, being already a clergyman, the guy dreamed of repaying his debt to the Motherland and becoming a military man. Unfortunately, the doctors discovered vision problems and refused him. Since then everything free time he dedicated to music and the church.

Perhaps it was thanks to his perseverance and determination that he managed not only to win the show, but also to teach a lesson to all people who doubt their abilities.

Hieromonk Photius today

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 booked several 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 enough is enough a 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 deep meaning Something you rarely hear these days. 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 own wish 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 great amount 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 way, 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.

- Main question, which many ask: “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'd 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. large amount no one will. 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.

Russian viewers in 2015 could watch how a modest monk became the winner of the Voice show, beating hundreds and thousands of other contenders. For some, this event caused indignation, for others, indignation, but few remained indifferent. Hieromonk Photius (in the world Vitaly Mochalov) - clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, abbot of the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky monastery in the Kaluga region, the first priest who gained fame after a television project.

Childhood and youth of the future star

Vitaly Mochalov was born on November 11, 1985 in the city of Gorky(now Nizhny Novgorod). The family was not religious. From childhood, the boy was fond of music and attended a music school, where he studied singing and playing the piano. Already as a teenager, Vitaly sang in the church choir, and also often soloed in the school team. After school, Vitaly decides to enter a music school with a degree in music theory.

But a year later, the whole family decides to emigrate to Germany, the city of Kaiserslautern. There, the young man does not leave his passion and learns to play the organ. Vitaly even earned money by playing the organ at concerts in Catholic and Protestant churches.

The young man came to faith on his own. At the age of 7, he asked his mother to go and baptize him, as he was afraid that he would not be able to become an angel. Mom and son were baptized, but churching happened later. After visiting the children's Orthodox camp "Blagovest", Vitaly returned home different. He completely immersed himself in the atmosphere Orthodox life, communion with God, attended services, worked, sang in the kliros.

The path to the monastery

After living in Germany for three years, Vitaliy without parents returned to Russia with a firm decision to leave worldly life, the opportunity to be married, money, success and become a monk. The future priest began his ministry in the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery of the Kaluga diocese. His spiritual father was the well-known confessor Schema-Archimandrite Vlasy, to whom many believers turn for advice. When Vitaly still had doubts about choosing his life path, it was Blasius who invited him to stay in the monastery.

First, Vitaly was tonsured a monk, in 2011 he was ordained a hierodeacon, and in 2012 he received the rank of hieromonk under the name Photius (the meaning of this name is from Greek-"light"). Subsequently, the priest became the regent of the choir of this monastery.

The talented teacher Viktor Tvardovsky was engaged in the training of the monastery choristers. With him, the priest again became interested in vocals and began to sing actively. According to Photius himself, Victor helped him "tune" his voice, and Photius still uses the exercises of his author's technique.

The monk had many hobbies besides singing. In the monastery, he was engaged in the design and layout of parish publications, was fond of photography and video editing. There was even a possibility that Photius would go to serve in the army, and the monk himself was going to pay his debt to his homeland, but due to vision problems, he was not drafted into the army. Fotiy is fluent in German and English.

Show "Voice"

The idea of ​​participating in the Voice came to the monk a long time ago. Back in 2013, he sent an application and was even invited to the casting. But that year, the priest did not dare to ask for blessings from the church authorities. Photius decided to try his luck again in 2015, and then Channel One wrote an official letter to Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk with a request to let the hieromonk go to the show. The answer was positive, the church authorities blessed Photius.

The blind auditions were the show's first major challenge. The hieromonk performed Lensky's aria from the opera Eugene Onegin. Only Grigory Leps turned around. It was clear how the priest was a little shocked by such a course of events, because, according to him, he planned to get to Alexander Gradsky. Photius' first thought was: "What will I do with Grigory Leps?"

But further developments showed that it the best option, because Gregory led the monk to victory. Leps, even immediately at a blind audition, gave an idea for future song which Photius whispered in his ear. It turned out that this is the composition "On the road to Zagorsk", which was performed in the quarterfinals.

On his way in the project, Fotiy performed a diverse repertoire:

• composition by Andrea Bocelli;
• the poignant "Monologue" to the verses of Akhmatova;
• romance "On the road to Zagorsk";
• the song "Good night, gentlemen" in the finale;
• composition "Labyrinths" in a duet with Grigory Leps.

As a winner song Fotiy sang Josh Groban's soulful composition "Perte" (For you). The singer generally respects Groban's work and often performs another of his compositions "Aligote" (Go away).

The jury members treated the priest very warmly and with great respect. Vasily Vakulenko (Basta) even asked for blessings, and Alexander Gradsky invariably defended and praised the unusual contestant.

When the project came to audience voting, there was no longer any doubt in the victory of Photius. After all, the priest was ahead of his competitors by a huge margin, over and over again only increasing the percentage. The people responded and were imbued with the good nature, modesty and sincere performance of the monk. Many voted not so much for singing, but for the image, for courage.

After the victory, Patriarch Kirill himself congratulated Photius. In his message, he noted that the event was initially very controversial and raised doubts, because pop and fame are incompatible with monasticism. But the result exceeded all expectations. The patriarch also wished Photius to keep that modesty and naturalness of behavior in a difficult time after the competition and noted that the monastic path he had chosen exceeded the victory he won.

Monk Photius after a burst of fame

Of course, the fallen fame radically changed the work and life of Hieromonk Photius. Now he leads an active concert activity, communicates in in social networks and can no longer be just a monk in a monastery. We have to combine monastic and social life. In 2016, there was even a danger that Fotiy would leave the stage and concert activity.

Information appeared in the media that the acting abbot of the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery asked the patriarch what to do with Photius, because he not only sings, but also gives various interviews through which people form an idea of ​​Orthodoxy and monasticism. In particular, an episode was mentioned in which Photius said that he “became bored” in the monastery. The patriarch replied that through Father Photius, many discover the Orthodox faith for themselves, the monk has not only glory, but also folk love. Therefore, the patriarch did not use his authority and forbid the priest to speak.

Other clergy also generally positively assess the activities of Photius. After all, if at least one person thinks about faith, comes to the temple thanks to the singing and speeches of the priest, this will already be a small victory and a good deed.

Active touring activity now occupies all the time of Hieromonk Photius. Last news can please fans: the priest’s schedule is scheduled for many months in advance. In the repertoire of an aria from famous operas, foreign hits, classical pop compositions. Photius, as a rule, performs in small chamber halls. Kirov, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Obninsk, Moscow - far from full list cities where the hieromonk spoke. In June 2017, a big solo concert at Crocus City Hall.

In social networks, you can easily find the accounts of Photius (hieromonk), where all the news and the concert program are now actively published. Various compositions, live recordings from concerts are posted on his VKontakte page, and you can also see a lot of enthusiastic responses from the audience.

In his Instagram profile, Fotiy likes to make his fans laugh. For example, not so long ago he posted a video where he sings into a microphone, and then quickly eats the singing agent, because it was chocolate. Often the priest also appears on television, gives interviews, was a guest at entertainment shows on Channel One:

• "Evening Urgant";
• "Alone with everyone";
• "While everyone is at home";
• "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" along with another winner of the Voice, Sergei Volchkov.

Released in September 2016 debut album"Romances". The disc contains works by great composers: Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov.

The priest admits that it is not easy for him to cope with the new way of life, but he tries to maintain the correct monastic attitude. The ability to retire, that is, to live in a separate room, is the only requirement in his rider on tour. How his fate will develop further, time will tell, but so far Hieromonk Photius pleases and inspires hundreds and thousands of people with his voice.

Hieromonk Fotiy is the only clergyman in Russia who managed to become famous thanks to a television project. Despite all the devotion to his monastery, music and a love of singing occupied a huge place in his soul from childhood.

Choirist of St. Pafnutiev Monastery Hieromonk Photius (Mochalov)

That is why, having enlisted the support of his fellows, he ventured to try his hand at the vocal television project "Voice". The sincerity and sincerity of the singer so sunk into the souls of the judges and viewers that, according to the results of the final vote, he managed to gain a record number of votes and become the winner of the fourth season.

Childhood of Hieromonk Photius

Vitaly Mochalov (in the future Hieromonk Photius) was born on November 11, 1985 in a city called Gorky, which was eventually renamed Nizhny Novgorod. From an early age, the boy was fond of music and knew deep down in his soul that his life would be connected with creativity.

At the age of 7, the young man could boast of a good piano playing and a good voice. He received basic skills at a local music school, which for a long time did not want to teach a talented young man, citing the fact that he had unsuitable fingers. Having coped with all the difficulties, he still managed to graduate from school in the piano class.

Vitaly Mochalov (Fotiy) in childhood

To improve his skills, the guy signed up for the school choir, and also sang along with his mother at every opportunity. By the way, she graduated from the same music school at one time. Doing what he loves, Vitaly did not even suspect that very soon his voice would begin to “break”.

As soon as this happened, he decided to attend church school and continue to sing in the choir. The days flew by, the boy grew up and moved further and further away from his classmates. After finishing 9 classes, Vitaly applied to a music school, where he hoped to gain new knowledge.

Hieromonk Photius in his youth

After studying for only 1 year, the parents decided to move to the German city of Kaiserslautern. In order not to lose what he had learned, the guy continued to study music and singing, but this time he chose the organ instead of the piano.

At this time, Fotiy began to actively perform at concerts, and also often took part in church services, thus earning his first money. Years passed, but the young man could not get used to a foreign country, so in 2005 he decided to return to his homeland.

Hieromonk Photius and the Church

In 2005, when the young man turned 20, he returned to Russia and entered the service at St. Pafnutevsky Monastery in the Kaluga region. It was during this period of his life that an ordinary guy, whom his parents named Vitaly, turned into hieromonk Photius. He made the decision on his own, so the relatives did not even try to convince their son.

Father Photius

Once in the church, the guy continued to study music and even more, put a lot of effort into improving his voice. In this he was helped by the honored teacher Viktor Tvardovsky, who spoke very flatteringly about the guy. He considered him a kind, bright and intelligent young man with a strong character.

In addition to music, Fotiy is also fond of photography and the study of various foreign languages. In a relatively short time, he managed to perfectly master English and German. In addition to this, he is able to perform almost any song in Japanese, Italian and Georgian.

Hieromonk Fotiy plays a role in the production of "Our Fatherland - Holy Rus'"

After completing his studies with Tvardovsky, Fotiy studied vocals for a long time, using special exercises that were developed by a respected teacher. And only in 2010 the guy took monastic vows, and after 3 years he officially became a hieromonk.

Hieromonk Fotiy and the show "Voice"

Hieromonk Photius was supposed to participate in the Voice project back in 2013, he was even invited to the casting, but at that time he was not ready to go for a blessing. In fact, he did not immediately dare to submit an application, as he believed that a clergyman had no place on such a show.

After some time, the guy rethought everything and realized that the "Voice" is, first of all, a talent contest, and only then a TV show. Gathering his thoughts, he went to a serious conversation with confessors and metropolitans to convince them to let him go to the competition. In general, it took him 2 years, because he dared to apply again only in 2015.

Once on the show, Photius tried in every possible way not to tarnish the honor of the monastery and the dignity of the entire church. Perhaps faith helped him to cope with all the difficulties, and perhaps the numerous prayers of the abbots and spiritual fathers. In fact, when he came to the show, the guy did not want fame and universal recognition, but rather to push and encourage all people to self-improvement through music.

Finding himself on the big stage for the first time, the hieromonk did not lose his head and elegantly performed an aria from Eugene Onegin. Unfortunately, only Grigory Leps was impressed by his work, because it was he who turned to the participant.

The performance of Hieromonk Photius, a resident of St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery, became a real gift for Dubna residents. television show"Voice" in the 2015 season. The concert, which took place on November 4 at the Oktyabr Palace of Culture, gathered a crowded audience hall, many of whom admitted that they became fans of the singer's work from the first song they heard in his performance, and therefore did not miss the happy opportunity to listen live to the wonderful voice of a talented performer.

Hieromonk Photius (Vitaly Vladimirovich Mochalov in the world) has been fond of music since childhood. He was born in Nizhny Novgorod in 1985. There he studied at the music school in the piano class, and then at music school in the Department of Music Theory. In the children's Orthodox camp at Sunday school Cathedral for the first time tried to participate in the liturgy and sing in the kliros. When the family emigrated to Germany, he learned to play the organ there. A few years later, an internal soul-searching led to a balanced decision to return to Russia and devote himself to monastic life. In 2005, he came to St. Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery, where they supported him musical ability and organized vocal lessons with a professional vocal teacher Viktor Tvardovsky. Today, Hieromonk Photius is the choir director of the monastery.

Life in the monastery did not become an obstacle to music lessons: in addition to spiritual musical works, he took up the performance of opera arias, romances, ballads, as well as famous songs, attracting with its sincerity and melody. After some time, in fact, in secret conditions, he recorded several discs and posted them on the Internet for general access. The television project “Voice” immediately interested Hieromonk Photius, but he did not immediately decide to apply for his participation, although initially this idea was proposed by friends, and then by the confessor - Father Vlasy blessed and supported his desire. The invitation to the casting came in the third season, and on next year Channel One contacted official letter in the name of Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, (Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church). After receiving permission from Vladyka, Father Fotiy took part in the competition, where he adequately passed from stage to stage, reaching the victorious final.

Such a result, of course, assumed touring activity, but Hieromonk Photius gives concerts infrequently: our city was extremely lucky that the Dubna organizers managed to agree on his performance on the stage of the Oktyabr Palace of Culture. The singer presented a varied program in which songs were performed in Russian, Italian, Spanish, Serbian and Norwegian. He fulfilled classical works Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Borodin and Anton Rubinstein, Russian folk song“Oh, my dear!”, the Neapolitan song “Mama”, the extraordinary beauty of the composition “Per te” and “Alejate” by Josh Groban, the romance “Good night, gentlemen” and “Prayer” from the film “The Scavenger”, “Light” by Sergei Trofimov , once performed at Eurovision "Nije Ljubav Stvar" performed by Zeljko Joksimovich, an author's song based on the verses of the German poet Viktor Speiser "How short our age" and others. Performed by a singer so different musical works sounded very uplifting and inspirational. The concert passed in one breath, and at the end of it, hieromonk Photius, despite being tired, agreed to answer a few questions regarding his work.

What does music mean in your life?

“Music is like bread for me, like air. This is something without which I cannot live happily. This is not just some kind of delight for the ear, but scope for creativity, self-realization - not only musical feeling but also the ability to create, to create. I want to be in music not only a consumer, but also a creator. I would like to dedicate my life to creating interesting, beautiful, not devoid of intellectual music. If God wills, perhaps I will become a composer - as long as it is at the level of passion. But I feel a great inner desire to write music.

– Have you thought about combining your vocal activities with a symphony orchestra?

“I have an idea that I hope will come true. I only had a chance to sing with a symphony orchestra a couple of times. One of the performances did not materialize: we rehearsed, but the number was not included in concert program. And the second took place - with musical accompaniment symphony orchestra we sang with Olga Kormukhina.

- Father Fotiy, almost a year has passed since your victory in the Voice project. How has this project changed your life?

– I am not disappointed in participating in the project and I remember that time with great gratitude. I'm watching now new project and I feel nostalgia, it is interesting for me to watch the contestants, their struggle. It was not like that with me: I would not call my participation something similar to a competitive race. I felt that some right hand was leading me, perhaps God's hand, but led by Grigory Leps. Thanks to my mentor, I reached the final.

- At the blind auditions, when Grigory Leps chose you, he himself was surprised and even confused, not understanding how work with a clergyman could be built in the project format. And later he called you one of the wonders of the Voice. How was your relationship?

- Grigory Leps is a completely different person when you communicate with him without a camera. He is thoughtful, philosophizing, sincere. He treated me with the utmost respect, understood the spiritual state of the clergyman, changed something if it didn’t fit according to the tessitura. And I chose the repertoire so that the works were consistent with my image, my views.

- The songs for performance were chosen exclusively by the mentor?

- Basically, they were offered by Grigory Leps and his assistants. And I do not regret at all - these are very interesting and deep works: classical, pop, wonderful songs from the repertoire of the mentor himself. He also listened to my suggestion. For example, the song “Per te” was taken, with which I first started recording myself, dedicating it to a person dear to me.

- In professional terms, did you learn a lot from a mentor?

“He had a big impact on me. Comparing now my performance before and after the project, it is very noticeable that these are completely different performing techniques.

- How do you feel about your concert activity, which has entered your life? A select audience is coming to you. Are you fed by your listeners?

– You must always remember that an artist without an audience is nobody. The audience does not need us, but we need them, we sing for them. I don't mean fundraising or anything like that. Here is the real one creative moment: I sing live and exactly what the audience wants. Feedback from my listeners is important to me, and I receive them after each concert. I see that all this is not in vain and people need it, so I continue to sing with pleasure.

- Do you have many of your own works that you include in concert repertoire?

- Today the song “How short is our age” was played, there are other author's developments, but in style they are not suitable for such a concert - these are spiritual songs and their musical arrangement. I am very selective and critical of poetry, looking for thoughtful, philosophical texts.

– Father Photius, your name in Greek means “light, luminiferous”. Do you see in your activity a certain mission, perhaps an educational one, because the music that you offer to the listener can help to come to an understanding of the important truths that are necessary in life?

- I really hope that my work can carry an educational function, although I do not set this as a goal for myself. The missionary effect is obtained by itself: you just need to go on stage and sing sincerely, from the bottom of your heart. There is no need to promote anything. People see in my desire a desire to convey to them a certain musical beauty and this raises the moral level. And morality is in close contact with spirituality: without morality there is no spirituality, and morality can exist without spirituality, but this is the base.

Music, theatre, art, literature inspire a person in the secular sense. IN Soviet times When atheism dominated, many people read Dostoevsky and through this they were introduced to spirituality. Sometimes without even realizing it, they felt Christian truths, about which the author does not speak openly, but shows by the example of his characters what the Christian life should be like. Many came to faith through Dostoevsky. It is the same in any kind of art - if you observe something beautiful, thoughts are structured from this, perception changes. Sometimes it is enough to look at the starry sky to start thinking about something high and eternal. Music has the same effect unusual art, it is in a sense abstract: it is much more difficult to understand a composer's melody than an artist's stroke.

Evgenia STEIN

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