Archbishop George

Baptized in the year of his birth in the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in the town of Zhlobin.

In the first two years of his episcopal ministry in the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, Archbishop George initiated the holding of the church-and-public forum "Spiritual and Moral Foundations of Russia's Demographic Development" in Nizhny Novgorod — before that, the forum had been held exclusively in Moscow.

Archbishop George (secular name Danilov Vasily Timofeevich; born August 14, 1964, Zhlobin) is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has headed the Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas Diocese since February 2, 2003 (with the rank of archbishop since February 24, 2006).

Family

He was born into a large family. His father, Timofey Nikolayevich Danilov (October 14, 1921 – November 1, 2009), was a participant in the Great Patriotic War. Of the six children, two chose to serve God in monastic orders.

Biography

He studied at a secondary school in the city of Zhlobin (graduating in 1981) and served in the Soviet Army from 1984 to 1986. In 1986 he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary. In November 1988 he was accepted as a novice at the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra. On December 22, 1989, at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he took monastic vows with the name George. The tonsure was performed by the Lavra's abbot, Archimandrite Feognost, in the Trinity Cathedral; the name George was given in honor of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. Archbishop George's name day falls on May 6, the feast day of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. In 1990 he entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

On October 9, 1990, he was ordained a hierodeacon. The ordination to hierodeacon took place on November 9, 1990, the day of the repose of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, during the Divine Liturgy in the Dormition Cathedral of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra; the ordination was performed by Bishop Vikenty (Morar) of Bender, vicar of the Diocese of Chisinau. On April 9, 1991, Patriarch Alexy II ordained George a hieromonk. The ordination to hieromonk was performed by Patriarch Alexy II during the Divine Liturgy in the Sergius Refectory Church of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, on the feast day of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, which fell on the Tuesday of Bright Week. At the Lavra he served as head of the candle workshop (from 1991) and was then appointed steward (from 1993).

In 1995 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with the degree of Candidate of Theology (his dissertation topic was "The Life and Patriarchal Ministry of St. Tikhon (Belavin)"). He taught general church history and Byzantine studies at the Moscow Theological Seminary. In August 1998 he was appointed director of the Patriarchal Architectural Restoration Center at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. By Decree of the President of Russia No. 1154 of September 9, 2004, Archbishop George, as part of a team of authors, was awarded the 2003 State Prize of the Russian Federation in Science and Technology for developing a scientifically grounded technology for reconstructing architectural monuments and applying it in the restoration of the bell tower of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas

On December 26, 2002, the Holy Synod appointed George as Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. George's episcopal consecration as Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas took place on February 2, 2003, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and was performed by Patriarch Alexy II, together with bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church; the rite of nomination was held the day before, on February 1, 2003, in the house church of the Patriarchal residence at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.

Archbishop and Metropolitan

On February 24, 2006, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. On March 15, 2012, the Holy Synod appointed Metropolitan George head of the newly formed Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia, which comprised the Nizhny Novgorod, Gorodets, Vyksa, and Lyskovo dioceses; on March 18, 2012, Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan during the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Metropolitan George is carrying out a program to preserve ruined churches of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese and subsequently restore them. In 2003–2005, the "Ilyinskaya Sloboda" project was carried out in the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese under Metropolitan George's leadership. Under Metropolitan George, a church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was consecrated at the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery; this church later opened the holy relics of the blessed Pelagia, Parasceva, and Maria for veneration.

In the early years of Metropolitan George's service in the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, the 250th anniversary of Saint Seraphim of Sarov was celebrated, an event that held a special place among the significant occasions of diocesan life. On July 19, 2024, Metropolitan George performed the rite of the Great Consecration of the church in honor of the holy Prophet Elijah, located on the grounds of the Orthodox Gymnasium named after Saint Seraphim of Sarov in the Voskresensky deanery of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese; the church was founded on October 10, 2018, holds 800 people, and has decor unique in the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese: the interior is adorned with stained-glass compositions on Gospel themes by Pavel Verkhonosetsev, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia, and the finishing uses violet and green, colors atypical for Orthodox churches.

After the consecration, Metropolitan George announced his intention to consecrate the Voskresensky Cathedral, another site in the Voskresensky deanery of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, in the near future. On June 11, Metropolitan George ascended over Nizhny Novgorod in a hot-air balloon and held a moleben (prayer service), sprinkling the city with holy water, on the eve of City Day and Russia Day; the largest balloon in the region was used for the event. In September 2019, Metropolitan George led a pilgrimage of a Nizhny Novgorod Diocese delegation to Greece with the blessing of Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; during the eight-day pilgrimage, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Mega Spilaio men's monastery of the Metropolis of Kalavryta, founded in 361, in the church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God.

During the same trip, Metropolitan George celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral church in honor of the Apostle Paul in the city of Corinth, together with clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese and in the presence of local residents and clergy. On the fifth day of the pilgrimage, Metropolitan George celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church of the Venerable Martyr Philothei of Athens of the Orthodox Church of Greece, located in the Metropolis of Ilia; he was joined by clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, and local residents and representatives of the clergy prayed at the service.

As part of the program of cooperation between the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese and the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region in the sphere of spiritual, moral, and patriotic education of young people, Metropolitan George organizes regular pilgrimages for Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox youth: in 2022 the delegation visited Volgograd, and in May 2023, Moscow (including a visit to the Main Cathedral of the Armed Forces and the Borodino Field museum-reserve). On September 14, 2023, the day of the Church New Year, Metropolitan George led the Divine Liturgy in the church in honor of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, a dependency of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, on the grounds of the Kulikovo Field State Museum-Reserve in Tula Region; the service was the third trip of Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox youth under the program of cooperation between the diocese and the regional government.

Metropolitan George took part in a meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the Russian president's plenipotentiary representative in the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov, and the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin as part of the celebrations in Diveevo on the feast day of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Participants in the meeting in Diveevo, including Metropolitan George, noted the cooperation between the Church and the authorities on demographic policy and strengthening the institution of the family.

On August 1, 2026, the day of the discovery of the relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented Metropolitan George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas with a church award at the celebrations in the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent. At the meeting in Diveevo, Governor Gleb Nikitin reported the completion of the restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral and the Transfiguration Cathedral in Arzamas, as well as the construction of the Seraphim of Sarov spiritual and educational center in Diveevo, projects of the pilgrimage and tourism cluster "Arzamas — Diveevo — Sarov."

Celebrations in Diveevo on August 1, 2026

The celebrations in Diveevo on August 1, 2026, were timed to coincide with two jubilees of the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery: the 123rd anniversary of the discovery of the relics and glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov among the saints, and the 200th anniversary of the monastery. The Divine Liturgy was held in the open air on the square in front of the Transfiguration Cathedral, by the shrine with the relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, and was led by Patriarch Kirill with Metropolitan George participating; according to law enforcement agencies, about 7,500 believers who had come from across the country gathered on the square. After the liturgy, Patriarch Kirill presented the monastery with an icon of the Apostles Peter and Paul as a gift. Church awards at the celebrations were presented to Abbess Sergia (Konkova) and to the nuns of the Diveevo convent.

On August 1, 2026, the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery held celebrations timed to several memorable dates of the convent at once: the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Mill Community, the 35th anniversary of the second discovery of the relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, and the 35th anniversary of the revival of monastic life in the monastery; Metropolitan George took part in organizing the celebrations as the diocese's ruling bishop. About 7,500 believers gathered on the monastery square in front of the Transfiguration Cathedral, according to law enforcement agencies. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented the monastery with an icon of the Apostles Peter and Paul as a gift.

Also taking part in the festive service on August 1, 2026, in Diveevo were Yevgeny Lyulin, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region, and other federal and regional officials. Among the officials who took part in the celebrations on August 1, 2026, in Diveevo were Artyom Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, and Yevgeny Lyulin, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region. Besides Metropolitan George, the celebrations on August 1, 2026, in Diveevo were attended by Artyom Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, and Yevgeny Lyulin, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region. According to law enforcement agencies, about 7,500 believers who had come from across the country gathered on the monastery square in Diveevo on August 1, 2026.

The celebrations were also timed to the 123rd anniversary of the first discovery of the relics and glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov among the saints and to the 200th anniversary of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery. Thus, the 2026 celebrations in Diveevo were timed to two jubilees of the Seraphim-Diveevo convent: the 123rd anniversary of the discovery of the relics and glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov among the saints, and the 200th anniversary of the monastery. As part of the development of the pilgrimage and tourism cluster "Arzamas — Diveevo — Sarov," discussed at the meeting in which Metropolitan George took part, the restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral and the Transfiguration Cathedral has been completed in Arzamas, and the Seraphim of Sarov spiritual and educational center has been built in Diveevo.

Awards

• Order of Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, 2nd class. In the summer of 2021, Patriarch Kirill awarded Metropolitan George the Patriarchal Badge of the Church Builder; on July 31 of that year, in Nizhny Novgorod, the award was presented by Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.
• Order of Friendship.
• Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, 1st class.
• Order of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd class.

See also

• Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas Diocese

• Russian Orthodox Church