Hieromonk Photius – monk, regent of the monastery choir, winner television show and the only Russian clergyman who gained popularity after participating in a music TV show. The monk is meticulous about the selection of material for performance. Photius’s repertoire includes listeners’ favorite Russian romances, classic pop hits of the last century, arias from popular operas, rock classics and recognized foreign hits.
Childhood and youth
Vitaly Mochalov was born in Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) November 11, 1985 in a non-religious family. IN school age visited the local music school, where he studied vocals and piano. In addition, the boy sang in the school choir and often performed as a soloist. Since childhood, Mochalov dreamed of becoming a composer and writing music and songs. IN adolescence When his voice began to break, Vitaly attended church school, where he also sang in the choir.
On May 31, the monk spoke in Pskov. The musician performed old romances and pop hits. On June 7, 2017, the singer gave a solo concert in Moscow, at Crocus City Hall. Photius’s guests were his colleagues from “The Voice” - Renata Volkievich. Later in the interview, the hieromonk mentioned that it was the first time he spoke in front of such a large audience, which was exciting for him.
The voice of Hieromonk Photius (Mochalov), a participant in the show, evokes the most conflicting feelings among fans of the project.
On the one hand, the audience is pleased with the singer’s soulful voice, on the other hand, the ward of Grigory Leps was initially placed in more comfortable conditions and this causes criticism.
Father Photius is not allowed to sing rock, jazz or just songs at a fast tempo. He always speaks beautifully, but in general, always one-sidedly in the Channel One project. However, this did not prevent the performer from collecting the largest number of audience votes.
Who is Father Photius, where does he come from, what is his personal life how he came to church and how he got on the Voice show - we will answer these questions in today’s publication.
Hieromonk Photius, in Mira Vitaly Mochalov was born in Nizhny Novgorod on January 1, 1987.
The boy became involved in music and faith from childhood. He attended a local music school, learning 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 students. He did not want to take part in games, but devoted all his time to music. Vitaly received his first connection to the church at the Blagovest children's Orthodox camp.
The true churching of the future monk occurred already in his adult years. The Mochalov family was in exile in Germany at that time. There Vitaly went to the local parish, learned to play the organ, made pilgrimages and gradually came to the idea of monasticism.
Three years later, Vitaly returned to Russia, entered the service of the St. Paphnutievsky Monastery in the Kaluga region and took monastic vows, becoming Hieromonk Photius.
Monastic life did not become an obstacle to Photius’s pursuit of music. The hieromonk was sent to the choir, and to train his voice he took vocal lessons in Moscow.
After twenty lessons, Photius returned to the monastery, but did not lose contact with his teacher. Viktor 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 given good musical equipment, thanks to which he was able to record and post two discs on the Internet.
With the advent of the Voice project on the first TV channel, the hieromonk’s friends invited him to try his hand, but Photius only decided to season four. Initially, he expected to get into the team of Alexander Gradsky, but he had to go to Grigory Leps.
The mentor met the new mentee a little with hostility, asking him the question “What will you do if you win the project?”
Photius was confused and honestly answered that he had not thought about it, and coming to the project was a feat for him.
However, despite some inconsistencies, the contestant successfully passes from one round to another. The next time we will see Father Photius will be in the semi-finals, and it is possible that he will also make it to the finals of the show The Voice.
Hieromonk Photius, blind auditions, Lensky's Aria
Hieromonk Photius, “On the Road to Zagorsk”
Father Photius successfully made it to the finals, performing “Monologue” by Marina Tsvetaeva. The contestant received 60% from the mentor and 79.25 from TV viewers. Thus, Hieromonk Photius gained a total number of votes of 139.2% Listen to the song “Monologue” performed by Father Photius
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The appearance of the monk on the popular TV show and his victory in it created a lot of noise. Even after several months, talk about this does not subside. And their “culprit” himself, Hieromonk Photius, a resident of the St. Paphnutius Borovsky Monastery, became a welcome guest on many television and radio programs. His tour schedule is scheduled several months in advance. Fans are demanding solo discs.
Photius himself frankly told us whether show business interferes with monastic vows.
A meeting was arranged at the monastery. Its almost meter-thick walls, incredible silence and flocks of pigeons hovering over the domes of the temples are peaceful.
I want to forget about everything, bowing my head in prayer.
Photius appears. The monk has a phone in his hands. The priest moves around the monastery almost without taking his eyes off his screen. Even during the interview, Photius does not part with him. First, the phone lies on the table. But as soon as it begins to make sounds, announcing the arrival of a message, it ends up in the hands of the monk. Sometimes the 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 and self-expression. There I see an indicator of my usefulness - efficiency: what people like and what they don’t like. This is a certain scale. In real time, you can see the attitude towards one or another of your words.
- Are you ready to change your repertoire for the sake of the public?
Everyone has their own tastes, but there are some general trends. I listen to them. It’s very important to me when a sufficiently large number of fans express their preferences. Based on this, I make some adjustments in the performance and repertoire. Mostly people love good Russian songs, urban romance with deep meaning- something you rarely hear these days. For example, songs by Eduard Khil, Mark Bernes.
- In the generally accepted view, monks are ascetics who pray day and night. Modern monk - who is he? Why did he come to the monastery?
A person goes to a monastery to find special conditions for salvation, because one can be saved in the world. And your posthumous fate will depend on how you spend your life in the monastery. 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 be in a monastery physically, spiritually and mentally. Because walls won't save you. You can communicate, go online. Then what is the point of being in a monastery if you left it via the Internet and found a loophole.
-Have you found such a loophole?
It turns out, yes. I realized that this is not only a temptation for me, a temptation, but namely (sighs. - Author's note) my weakness and own wish somehow find a compromise - a synthesis of staying in the monastery and communicating with the people. Because people, as it turns out, are very interested in precisely this kind of spiritual life. Although there are radical people 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 monks, when you can give answers to their questions. And say this in their language, and not in the language of the patristic books. You can simply close yourself here and read only spiritual books, but you will not be understandable to young people. And since I’m young, with technical skills, I actively use this tool to show from inside the monastery that we are the same people who know how to enjoy everything. I try to spread a small message of some kindness through a social network.
- The response is important to you. And if he doesn’t exist, 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 see what people like and build the content on my page accordingly.
Photo from the dressing room before the performance at the Kaluga Regional Philharmonic.
- As if teasing the audience, you often post photos from dressing rooms with various goodies - cakes and other sweets. And you don’t even hide the fact that you have a weakness for cheese.
These are not provocative photographs. People come up with stereotypes, and then they themselves cannot refuse them. They are simply annoyed, turned inside out if the monk laid out candy. They think it's bad. But they cannot explain why they find this reprehensible. I'm 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 delicious food, but we do not cultivate gluttony or lust. I don't just show food, I show its aesthetic side. This is a kind of education. I talk about my taste - it is simple, not some kind of sophisticated. Yes, cheeses are my weakness.
- Whether you wanted it or not, you became an idol for many, and the Bible says: “Thou shalt not make for yourself an idol.”
I don't like how reverence turns into fandom. This is, of course, a problem.
Photius receives a huge number of letters and parcels from fans.
- You have a huge number of subscribers on social networks, you receive dozens of letters. What are they writing to you about?
Basically these are words of gratitude, appreciation for the fact that I appeared on television, on stage in general. They write, congratulate, and ask, of course, for prayer 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 tell me something: how to behave in a certain religious sense, how to live. An interesting situation: kind of like an artist and at the same time - like a spiritual therapist.
- Do you try to answer all letters?
I don't have time to answer yet. Frankly speaking, I don’t even have time to read them or open them, because I’m constantly traveling and doing something. Of course, I open the parcels right away, it’s interesting (smiles). And there’s some little thing, some sweets... They usually find out what I need on social networks. I once 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 flattered by the sappy comments and praise that come my way. The main thing is to see what brings people joy.
- Popularity is fleeting; in 2-3 years they may not even remember about you as a participant in the project. Are you ready for this?
So much the better - only loyal fans will remain. I was initially disadvantageous to Channel One. I can’t continue to cooperate with him, it’s all very difficult. In order for me to go on air again, I need to obtain so many permits, approve documents, sign... This is very responsible. Anything I say at 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. It turned out she needed me. Even before participating in “The Voice,” I analyzed people’s responses to my performances. The public wanted to hear me, to receive the discs that I recorded myself. The thought arose that it would be nice to speak to the whole country so that people would hear me and somehow be happy.
- 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, and the public’s attention was immediately drawn to me. Everyone at this competition shines with their vocal abilities, there are no unworthy ones - all are professionals, even those who dropped out during the first broadcasts. They're great. People vote for a 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 captivated 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 hear about it? 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 it’s better not to go there at all, and not just for a priest, a clergyman, or even lay people. But I have a different opinion. If there is such a platform, you need to perform on it. If people love shocking things, surprises, something unusual, we 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 “While everyone is at home.”
- It seemed to me that you were tired of attention and fame.
I would gladly rest for a week. Constantly some calls, business, personal communication with people. I would like to somehow maintain life on social networks, respond, make some updates. A little bit of everything - and you go to bed at three o'clock in the morning. I would like everyone to forget about me.
- And even concerts don’t bring you pleasure?
At first you get pleasure, but it gets boring and burdensome very quickly. I want to bury myself 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 - that’s all. People see my kind of detachment - I seem to be singing, 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 you stop doing this?
It was no longer necessary, although it was not needed in the world - just a hobby. I 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. She is perhaps even more significant to me than her voice. Self-realization is very important for a person, especially when he feels potential in himself, but it does not bear fruit. The music I write is not that popular. It is not electronic and does not suit the tastes of the masses. And in general, now it’s difficult to occupy a niche on the Internet, there’s already so much music posted there. You just need to mind your own business, your own direction. And for me it’s film music. It is clear that as a monk I will no longer be able to write music - only if it somehow happens that they offer it.
- After winning the project, you were presented with gifts - a trip to France, a car.
I can go at any time, I just need to get a blessing. But the car has not yet left the assembly line. By the way, I passed my license the year before last; I really wanted to have a car. Maybe for me this was additional motivation to go to “The Voice”. I knew that the winner gets the car. Of course, I wasn’t saving up for a 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, there’s really nothing to save up for. These are all just some kind of benefactors. A larger amount no one will give it. If you cut yourself short in some way, you won’t eat sushi or pizza one more time. So, quietly, penny by 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. Achieving fame and becoming popular doesn't cost anything. In fact, a butt shown several times on television will also become popular. The most important thing is to earn this fame with dignity in order to live up to it.
Now Photius, together with other participants of “The Voice”, is preparing for a tour throughout the country. Father will give and solo concerts. So, tickets in Kaluga for his March performance are selling like hot cakes. What the monk would spend the money on, he could not say. Stating that these are not such big funds. When we approached the temple, a woman ran up to us.
- Father Photius, can I take a photo with you? When I tell my people in the village that I saw you, no one will believe it!
After the photo shoot, pilgrims literally flocked to 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. Obedience to the priest - singing in the choir in the choir. The rest of the time he is almost always online.
Photo: Svetlana TARASOVA and from Photius’s personal page “VKontakte”.
Today, Hieromonk Photius is the first clergyman to become widely popular “in the world.” Glory came to Hieromonk Photius after his victory in famous project"Voice". To some extent, the clergyman became a pioneer, because the participation of the clergy in commercial musical projects seemed unthinkable to most listeners. Father Photius 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 good example for the public.
Biography of Hieromonk Photius
Father's childhood
The following facts are truly known about the life of Hieromonk Photius in childhood:
- After completing 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 young man decided to move. The choice fell on Kaiserslautern city 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 in the choir, sometimes working as a sexton.
- Photius 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 was left with a lot of impressions. Memories from childhood returned, questions arose about my 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 read the Gospel again, studied the lives of the saints and saw Orthodox Church in a new light.
Vitaly decided that he needed advice from another person. Schema-Archimandrite Blasius was known as a wise old man, and many religious people went to him for help. Blasius advised him to become a monk. So, Vitaly became the worshiper Photius, an inhabitant St. Pafnutev Borovsky Monastery.
The parents, of course, experienced serious distress when they learned about their son’s decision. Mother blessed Vitaly’s choice, realizing that this was 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 simply accept it.
Vitaly’s choice was absolutely conscious, at the call of his heart. It's no secret that some people go to a monastery to hide from problems and compensate for their unsettled situation. Few are capable leave worldly well-being, and devote himself to service from now on, living in a small modest cell.
Vitaly has always been very capable in music and a great future was predicted for him. Once in the monastery, he was prepared for the fact that, if necessary, he might have to give up his dream.
How many trials he had to endure as a novice! But he persevered through hard work.
In the monastery, Vitaly made a lot of efforts to make his voice sound better. After some time, he began to attend vocal classes with the honored teacher Viktor Tvardovsky. The hieromonk speaks of him with particular warmth. Then, due to lack of time, Photius practiced singing on his own, using the technique of the same Tvardovsky.
The teacher improved the vocal technique of Father Photius, his repertoire significantly expanded and enriched. The voice became well-trained and well-trained, capable of performing even complex opera roles.
With the consent of the archpriest, together with his brothers from the monastery, Father Photius participated in events, singing songs in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
Apparently, the Lord counted the young man’s talent necessary people, and all creative activity came as a matter of course, without any special ideas.
Hobbies of a priest
Father - very multifaceted and versatile developed person
. He is not only a regent, but also designs a magazine for children and helps the Sunday school theater.
People around me never cease to wonder how such outward softness can hide such strong personality. Photius thinks a lot about others and does his best to help those who need support. It has a very purposeful character and definitely achieves what he wants.
Besides:
Project "Voice"
Hieromonk Photius on social networks
Participation in “The Voice” forced the musician to create accounts in in social networks, For example: VK, Instagram, Twitter, and also has a YouTube channel. The pages are constantly updated and contain current information. True, it is not known whether Hieromonk Photius is personally involved in this. Music and creativity in contact can be published by his concert manager or fans of creativity.
On 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 modern youth. After all, boys and girls associate the Church with something old-fashioned, and the life of a monk seems completely miserable and boring. Thanks to the priest’s activity on the Internet, young people became interested in religious topics.
Previously, people not associated with the church were even confused with the name of the rank of “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 Photius is an unusually modest person who is reluctant to discuss not only his successes, but also his biography, his path in Orthodoxy and on the stage. He did not immediately decide to come to the project that brought him all-Russian fame, although he was invited there. He chose the path in Orthodoxy despite his family, but with her tacit consent. So who is he - Hieromonk Photius, who conquered millions of hearts with his enchanting voice?
Biography of Hieromonk Photius
In everyday life, Hieromonk Photius’s name is Mochalov Vitaly Vladimirovich. He was born in November 1985 in the city of Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod), in a family far from both religion and art. The boy’s mother graduated from music school at one time, but did not choose this as her main profession.
As a child, Vitaly was modest and did not have close friendships with his classmates. In parallel with general education The boy also received a musical degree, sang in the choir at school and the local church, and willingly attended classes at a church-oriented school.
After the 10th grade, Vitaly and his family moved to the German city of Kaiserslautern, where he went to study the basics of playing the organ, fortunately there was a base for this - he studied piano in Gorky.
In Germany, Vitaly earned money himself - he played and sang at concerts, took part in church services in Orthodox churches. In 2005, the young man decided to return to Russia, since he could not get used to the European way of life and mentality that was alien to him. The desire to be useful to his homeland led him to the military registration and enlistment office - he wanted to serve in the army, but vision problems did not allow him to choose this path.
Hieromonk Photius - the path in Orthodoxy
Having received a ban on military service, the young man went to one of the monasteries in the Kaluga region, took monastic vows and became a monk named Savvaty. In 2011, he received the rank of hierodeacon and the name Photius.
Two years later, Vitaly Mochalov became hieromonk Photius. The highest clergy speak of him as a diligent, inquisitive monk with a strong character. Father Photius took over the work of layout and design in the publishing house of the Holy Paphnutian Monastery, studying foreign languages, studies music and vocals, and these activities do not harm his faith.
Creativity in the life of Hieromonk Photius
In the life of Vitaly Mochalov, and then of Hieromonk Photius, creativity always occupied a special place. Since childhood, he was passionate about music and vocals, tried to gain new knowledge in this area, but the main life's path nevertheless chose Orthodoxy.
At the St. Paphnutiev Monastery, he met a unique vocal teacher, Viktor Tvardovsky, who developed for him an individual system of exercises for solo singing.
In parallel with singing, music and serving the Lord, Photius is also engaged in other creative and educational areas - he has mastered the art of photography, is learning foreign languages and is already fluent in German and English.
Hieromonk Photius sings in several languages - his native Russian, English and German, Georgian, Italian and even Japanese. Go out to big stage He didn’t initially plan it, but he still sent an application for the show “The Voice” and even received an invitation. In 2013, he did not dare to go to Moscow, but fate brought him to the capital, albeit a little later.
Hieromonk Photius in the “Voice” project
The first application of Hieromonk Photius, received by the project organizers in 2013, was approved, but the priest did not show up for the casting. The trip was supposed to be blessed, but Photius did not dare, did not dare ask for a blessing.
Two many years he reflected, shared his doubts with his spiritual mentors and received their blessing. In 2015, Photius again sent his recording to the organizers of the “Voice” project, and it was again approved.
The goal of Hieromonk Photius was not fame and recognition. With his participation, he wanted to call on the Orthodox world to communicate through music and expand its borders, and he succeeded in doing this.
Grigory Leps became both a vocal and a kind of spiritual mentor for him on the project - he was the only member of the jury to turn his chair around during the performance unusual participant and didn’t regret it at all.
Leps managed to understand his student and select for him the repertoire that does not contradict the Orthodox canons. Neither the mentor nor the contestant himself hoped for victory, but it happened - Hieromonk Photius reached the finals, more than 70% of the project’s viewers voted for him.
Leps said that working with such an unusual ward was difficult, but very interesting - he had to comply with certain requirements when choosing a repertoire, but despite this, he was able to try the contestant’s strengths in different directions– from operatic arias to vocal works in the rock style. Hieromonk Photius easily completed all the tasks given to him by his mentor and became the winner of the television competition.
Personal life and family of Hieromonk Photius
In life, Hieromonk Photius is a sociable, but very modest and shy person. Personal for him is service to Orthodoxy. Victory in the show “The Voice” became a kind of window into the secular world, but Photius strictly observes Orthodox canons in this aspect of his life.
All the benefits that give him vocal career, he does not use it for personal purposes - the funds go either to the needs of the church and his native monastery, or to charity.
It is interesting that the hieromonk is open for communication - he has pages on almost all social networks, but whether he runs them himself or is done by members of his fan club is not known for certain. Photius gives interviews reluctantly; he selects television programs and printed publications very carefully. He is not going to give up spiritual life and service to Orthodoxy.
