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Orthodoxy in the World Last Updated: Feb 8th, 2011 - 05:50:02


Fyodor Konyukhov, the world famous traveller and explorer - ordained as deacon of the Russian Orthodox Church

May 23, 2010, 15:23
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Fyodor Konyukhov, the world famous traveller and explorer ordained as deacon in his native Zaporozhye on May, 23, 2010.


"I have given served my country a lot as a traveller, now it's time to serve God and the Orthodox Church", - Fyodor said.

Фото с сайта Запорожской епархии


Фото с сайта Запорожской епархии

The world-famous Russian traveller Fyodor Konyukhov was born and grew up on the Azov Sea. Finishing school he sailed on fishing trawlers, swam in the cool winter sea, slept on nails, made 100-kilometre runs a day, drank seawater and crossed the Azov Sea in a rowing boat.
В кругосветном плавании

Entering a seminary in St. Petersburg Fyodor never finished his studies.

One day the rector called him into his office and said, “You love life too much. Go, live with the people…” He made four circumnavigations and crossed the Atlantic fourteen times. Fyodor is the first and so far the only person in the world to have reached the five extreme Poles of the planet. His name was entered into the encyclopedia “Chronicle of Mankind”.
Освящение яхты перед кругосветным плаванием
Blessing of the boat

 By the age of fifty he had made more than forty unique trips and climbs expressing his vision of the world in paintings and books. As a religious man, Fyodor Konyukhov agrees that the meaning of life of an Orthodox believer is to seek God’s grace, to learn what God has in store for one and to live one’s life in keeping with God’s commandments, preparing for eternity. But when asked why risking life was so often? Fyodor says: “Because suffering is the only way you can see the Lord.”

У поклонного креста

Konyukhov has recently filed an application with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for taking orders as deacon. In April, Patriarch approved such application granting him the right to choose a diocese of ordination.

"As an adult man, I understand that there is no solitude in this world. There are whales and dolphins accompanying you in the ocean, birds flying in the sky, and bears and seals meeting you on your way to the Pole. I know for sure that God and Saints are always around when you pray. Nobody is available for help in the huge ocean, except them," Konyukhov believes.



Fyodor tells about one of his journeys.
С 
женой Ириной и сыном Николаем
With his wife Irene and son Nikolay

Based on the RT and the Interfax-religion articles

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