More than half a century of pastoral service defines the milestone reached on Tuesday as Archpriest Gennady Gordeev marks his 80th birthday.
Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga sent an official message on November 12, 2026, to the rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bolshaya Окхта, congratulating him on the anniversary, according to the St. Petersburg Metropolis.
- Archpriest Gennady Gordeev celebrated his 80th birthday after dedicating more than fifty years of his life to pastoral work.
- Metropolitan Varsonofy said that Gordeev began his service during difficult years when faith faced severe trials and the Church required great courage.
- The clergyman spent several decades closely tied to the St. Nicholas Bolshookhtinsky Church, moving from staff priest to head of the parish.
Gordeev entered upon his path in the Church during an era when religious service demanded exceptional patience and resilience. Over the decades, his ministry became permanently anchored at the St. Nicholas Bolshookhtinsky Church.
After serving initially as a staff priest at the Bolshaya Okhta parish, he eventually took charge of leading the entire community. In this role, he has continuously supervised parish development while parishioners regularly visit the church seeking support and offering prayers for their families, the St. Petersburg Metropolis reported.
“You entered upon this path in difficult years, when faith was subjected to trials, and service to the Church especially required courage and patience,” Varsonofy wrote in the address to Gordeev.
The Metropolitan highlighted the rector’s loyalty and devotion to Christ through his decades of labor at the Bolshookhtinsky church. The official greeting concluded with a prayerful wish for the archpriest’s physical and spiritual strength.
| Cleric | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Archpriest Gennady Gordeev | Rector / Head of Parish | Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Bolshaya Okhta |
| Metropolitan Varsonofy | Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga | St. Petersburg Metropolis |
“I prayerfully wish you strength of soul and body, and God’s help in your labors for eternal salvation,” Varsonofy said, offering wishes of many and good years.
