Father Vassili Borin (1917-1994)

Priest and Exorcist

Father Vassili Borin was born on 15 February 1917 in the village of Gorodishche in Pskov province into a peasant family. His mother died young, leading his father to marry for a second time. The children received a religious upbringing and regularly attended services at the monastery in Pechery. The family also took part in the traditional cross processions of the Pechery monastery each year, accompanied by icons.

Borin felt the vocation of priestly work from a young age. However, after his father's death in 1931, the family’s economic situation deteriorated and he had to start working. In 1936, he married Lyubov Hlomova. Four children were born into their family. In 1938, Vassili completed his military service in the Estonian Defence Forces. Then the Soviet occupation occurred: in 1940, his farm was nationalised and he had to hide .

During World War II, Borin was mobilised into the German army. He served in the reserve as a mechanic and driver before deserting and joining the partisans. He was arrested several times and sentenced to be shot, but miraculously escaped at the last moment. At the end of the war, he moved with his family to Tartu and worked, among other things, as a forester. He often visited the monastery in Pechery, where he was the spiritual child of the monk-priest Simeon (Želnin). He had great respect for St Ioann of Kronshtadt, considering him a great example. In 1950, on the recommendation of Rostislav Lozinsky, the first priest of the Uspenskii church in Tartu, Vassili began his studies at the Leningrad seminary, which he did not complete.

On 16 November 1952, Vassili was ordained by Metropolitan Grigorii of Leningrad and Novgorod. From 1953 to 1959, he served in the Pskov parishes of Finjova Gora, Vysokii Most, and Lossitsa. By nature, Father Vassili was helpful, simple, and approachable in his communication, quickly winning the trust and love of his parishioners. With the blessing of the bishop and his spiritual father, Borin was authorised to read invocations to cast out evil spirits, using the 1646 office of St Petr Mogila, rites which caused puzzlement and misunderstanding among some parishioners.

In 1959, Vassili decided to continue his studies at the Leningrad seminary. Upon graduation in 1963, he received an invitation from Bishop Aleksii (Ridiger) to join the diocese of Estonia. He was assigned to serve as a priest in Alajõe and vicar in Lohusuu. Commissioner Jaan Kanter initially opposed Father Vassili's appointment, citing a conflict with the Pskov oblast’ commissioner in 1959 and ignoring Soviet religious legislation. After negotiations between the bishop and the commissioner, a compromise was reached: Father Vassili received permission to serve, along with a warning that if something similar happened in Estonia, he would be permanently banned from ministry.

In 1969, Bishop Aleksii appointed Vassili to care for the Orthodox believers of Vasknarva. Built in the nineteenth century, the three-vaulted Vasknarva Church of St Elijah was destroyed during World War II in 1944 and then stood in ruins. The parishioners built a small wooden shrine on the ruins, which was registered as an independent parish on 1 January 1947. Prior to Father Vassil, the small parish was served by Nikolai Beliaev (1880-1956), Pavel Sokolov (1900-1971), and the monk Lazar (Sarv) (1907-1969). The congregation attempted to restore the church in 1960, but this was not supported by Bishop Joann or Commissioner Jaan Kanter. In order to reduce tensions, the parish priest, Father Pavel, was transferred to Kiviõli: the new priest, the monk Lazar, served the parish until his death in 1969. Afterwards, Father Vassili was appointed.

The restoration of St. Elijah's in Vasknarva became Father Vassili's mission in life. The work began in 1969 and lasted until his death in 1994. These efforts were supported by the Puhtitsa convent, led by Abbess Varvara (Trofimova).

Father Vassili also continued to provide exorcisms for the mentally ill, soon becoming a nationally popular exorcist. In the 1970s and 1980s, Vasknarva became a pilgrimage destination for many Orthodox believers. Pilgrims were accommodated in the church, their donations being channelled into the restoration work. While in 1970 Vasknarva's annual income was 703 roubles, by 1980 this had risen to 13,304 roubles by 1980 and 16,365 roubles by 1985. Borin held regular services for parishioners and pilgrims while also leading the restoration work. In addition, an inn with outbuildings and a heating system were completed. In 1976, work began on the church roof, which was completed in 1984.

The executive committee of the Kohtla-Järve district, together with various other government organs, tried to prevent the restoration of the church and restrict the flow of pilgrims, but without much success. In 1972, for example, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs of the Kohtla-Järve District complained to Leopold Piibu that Borin had been violating the passport regime for many years: although he was registered in Tartu, he worked in Alajõla and Vasknarva and often stayed in Leningrad, among other places. 

In 1977, Father Vassili was elevated to the position of archpriest. In 1980, he was released from care for the Alajõe and Lohusuu parishes. From then on, he was able to devote himself exclusively to Vasknarva. On 15 October 1978, Metropolitan Aleksii consecrated the main altar of St. Elijah’s and celebrated the first liturgy in the restored church. Vassili's organizational acumen won the recognition of the church leadership. For example, in 1981 he was awarded the Order of St Vladimir the Apostle (third class).

In the early 1990s, Father Vassili's health deteriorated. He died on 29 December 1994: his remains were buried in St Elijah’s. Many Orthodox believers visit and pray at his tomb, venerating him as a holy man and miracle worker.

Author

Andrei Sõtšov

Sources

Журнал Московской Патриархии 1988, No. 3, С. 18-20

ERA R-1961–2 s–56, lk 15. Кантер, Ян. О состоянии религиозных православных обществ в Эстонской ССР. Отчет за 1963 ГОД. Таллин, „17” января 1964 г.

ERA.R-1989–3–363 EAÕK Vasknarva Prohvet Eliase kogudus (1947–90)

ERA R-1989-3-354, lk 79. Kohtla-Järve rajooni TK sekretäri O. Parmani kiri NSVL Ministrite Nõukogu j.a. Usuasjade Nõukogu volinikule Eesti NSV-s Leopold Piibule

Вершинин, Александр и игум. Андроник (Трубачёв). БОРИН Василий Антонович.  Православная Энциклопедия под редакцией Патриарха Московского и всея Руси Кирилла. Т. 6, С. 28-29 опубликовано в интернете: 14 июня 2009г. См. подробнее: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/153129.html

Published: 14/09/2021

Funded by Estonian Research Council grant PRG1274