His Eminence SERAPHIM, Metropolitan of Penza and Nizhny Lomov

Secular name – Sergey V. Domnin;

Date of birth – September 25, 1977;

Date of consecration –September 12, 2012;

Date of tonsure: April 2, 1999;

Name day: Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church (movable feast);

Biography:

His Eminence Seraphim was born on September 25, 1977 in the town of Kamenka, Penza region. He was baptized when a child. From 1984 to 1994 he studied at secondary school #1 of the town of Kamenka, Penza region. From 1992 to 1995 he carried out work of penance as a sexton and psalm-reader at the Church of St. Dimitry of Thessaloniki in the town of Kamenka, Penza region.

From 1995 to 2000 he studied at Saratov Seminary.

On July 27, 1997, he was ordained a deacon at Dimitriyevsky Church in the village of Lesnoy Vyas, Lunino district, Penza region, by Archbishop Seraphim (Tikhonov). On September 11, he was ordained a priest by the same archbishop in the Assumption Cathedral in Penza.

On October 20, 1997 he became a priest of the Assumption Cathedral of Penza. On June 11, 1998 he obtained the position of ecclesiarch of the Assumption cathedral of Penza.

On April 2, 1999 in the church in honour of the Icon of the Mother of God “Life-bearing spring” at St. Tikhvin Kerensk monastery he was tonsured into monasticism in honour of St. Seraphim (Chichagov) in Vadinsk, Penza region.

From 2000 to 2009, he was inspector at Penza Theological School.

From 2001 to 2002, he was senior priest at the Holy Protection Episcopal Cathedral in Penza.

From 2002 to 2005, he was rural dean at the Church of St Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk, at Penza Theological School. From 2004 to 2006, he was rector of St. Dimitry Church in Kamenka, Penza region.

From 2005 to 2011 he was a student at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University.

For the Easter feast in 2006, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen.

From 2006 to 2007, he was assistant rector of the Holy Protection Episcopal Cathedral in Penza.

On June 1, 2007, he was appointed executive secretary for diocesan affairs of Penza diocese.

In 2008, he was appointed rector of Holy Resurrection parish in Zarechny, Penza Region.

From 2009 to 2010, he held the post of rector of Penza Theological School.

For the Easter feast in 2010, he was bestowed the right to wear a palitza.

In 2011, he was appointed First Vice Rector of Penza Theological Seminary.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 26, 2012 (register no. 64), he was elected Bishop of Kuznetsk and Nikolsk.

On August 14, 2012, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite by Metropolitan Veniamin of Penza and Nizhny Lomov.

He was consecrated a bishop on August 31, 2012 at the Church of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Land of Russia, Patriarchal Residence in Danilov Monastery in Moscow. He was consecrated on September 12 during the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Krasnoyarsk. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia presided over the Divine Liturgy.

On December 25, 2013, he was elected Bishop of Penza and Nizhny Lomov by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and appointed Head of Penza Metropolis.

From December 25, 2013 to May 18, 2014 he was temporary administrator of Kuznetsk diocese.

On February, 1 2014, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, in connection with his appointment as Head of Penza Metropolis, at the Divine Liturgy at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 30, 2014 (register no. 51), he was appointed rector of Penza Theological Seminary and also confirmed (register no. 54) as priest-archimandrite of Nizhny Lomov Kazan Monastery.

On July 9, 2019, Metropolitan Seraphim was appointed temporary administrator of Kuznetsk diocese by the decision of the Holy Synod.

Education:

• Saratov Theological Seminary (2000);
• St. Tikhon’s Orthodox University (2011).