Fedor Emelianenko: “My greatest joy is that I am an Orthodox believer. Fedor Emelianenko: Faith does not happen according to schedule Fedor Emelianenko on Orthodoxy
In Nizhny Novgorod, a drunken priest in a wild frenzy caused an accident and threatened witnesses with a gun; hiding behind the name of the Lord, he promised journalists death the next day, pestered the ladies and called them bunnies, and also put all the blame on his... evil twin brother (I'm not kidding!) - in general, spiritual bonds as they are. In general, typical everyday life, a typical priest - there would be nothing special or remarkable in this story if not for one BUT. The priest turned out to be the spiritual mentor of Fedor Emelianenko. Yes, yes, one of those priests who joyfully jumped in their dresses around the ring around Fedor after his victory over Rogers. At the end there is an amazing video with a pop.
So, the priest, having read my morning post about the hungry militia wives, decided, apparently, to console them, so to speak, to fill the vessels of their souls with his seed of spirituality, and therefore he fucked up the waters from the bottom of his heart, got into his cool SUV and rushed off to bring the word of God to the ignorant masses .
He got behind the wheel drunk for a reason. The fact is that priests in Russia are not subject to jurisdiction in principle. He is above the law. A priest can do ANYTHING AT ALL - even twist children in a meat grinder, even rape minors - he will never get anything for it. Even if it suddenly turns out that the pope is a serial killer and a cannibal, I assure you that a miracle of God will immediately appear to the world, and all the evidence, video footage from surveillance cameras and testimony will disappear into thin air with lightning speed. We could see a similar miracle when another drunken priest knocked down road workers to death. Isn't this direct proof of the existence of God? Checkmate, amethysts! A priest is even more immune from jurisdiction in Russia than a Chechen or a Dagestani. Now, why the hell is there some kind of drunk driving in this background? The chickens laugh. And I’ll say more - priests, purely out of principle, always drive drunk, in order to demonstrate to the common people (i.e. you) all their divine greatness. And if it suddenly turns out that some priest was driving sober in the car, Gundyaev personally will immediately defrock him.
The priest, of course, was very patriotic - the spiritual mentor of our Bogatyr cannot help but be a patriot. However, for some reason the priest was driving an imported jeep that was alien to our spirituality. Where the priest got an expensive car from - I won’t even ask the question, it’s clear that God sent it down for deeds pleasing to him (God). Well, just as the recording from that priest’s cameras was dissolved, the jeep materialized this one. Why is the jeep imported? Well, most likely because imported ones are more expensive. And now even more so. After all, the priest clearly wanted to push this jeep halfway through the crowd in order to distribute money to hungry old women, parishioners of his church. I’m not some kind of national traitor to doubt the purity of the thoughts of the priest - the master of Russia!
But the bourgeois adversary was not asleep, and therefore sent a zombified kamikaze killer to the priest so that he would hinder the good deeds of the clergyman. And he provoked an accident. What could be the reaction of a decent person to such arbitrariness? Of course, only one: the priest rushed to defend the word of the Lord - he took out the barrel and attacked the witnesses.
During the arrest, the priest was found in his pocket... three million rubles, which he, of course, was taking to an orphanage. I’m not some kind of fascist - a national traitor - to doubt the piety of our Orthodox faith!
I present to your attention an amazing video from the news. The empty bottles of vodka scattered chaotically throughout the interior of the car (apparently he used them to ward off demons), as well as the luxurious mansion of the servant of our Lord God, are particularly rewarding.
And I want to remind you that the word of the Lord can be very significant, so if you see a priest on the street, don’t risk it, go to the other side of the street. Because only God knows what’s going on in this man’s head - the priest is ABSOLUTELY always drunk and often irresponsible, so he can easily throw acid in your face, because he understands that he won’t go to jail for this. A priest in a vodka stupor can rip open a pregnant woman's belly with a knife, and if you're nearby, they'll blame you for it. Don't take risks! Hide when the pop comes - you will live longer.
And in general, I think that it is necessary to build a separate highway on the roads for priests - it is unacceptable when the gentleman, the owner of Russia, rides in the same traffic with the slaves! be vigilant, and may the Lord protect you! Amen!
Fedor Emelianenko is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. Many major publications have recognized Emelianenko as the best heavyweight fighter in the world over the past ten years.
In addition to the fact that Fedor has won victories against many famous fighters, he has also won numerous tournaments in various types of martial arts, among which the most outstanding are the PRIDE Grand Prix, the World Combat Sambo Championships (four times) and the Russian Judo Championships. Fedor is a sports idol for hundreds of thousands of teenagers not only in Russia, but also abroad. Japanese fans nicknamed him “The Last Emperor” for his sporting achievements and noble qualities of soul.
Fedor, you are a believer. How does faith in God fit into your aggressive sport?
I have no aggression in the ring. I go out and try to clearly do everything I can. Although many things have been developed to the point of automaticity, first of all, during a fight I think. In 2009, Fedor Emelianenko won the Russian Sambo Championship, spending a total of 41 seconds on three opponents Because the fight is won not only by the one who is stronger, but often by the one who is smarter, because the main thing in the ring is to think. Faith in God is not just worshiping something, it is the meaning of our life, we must live by it, and not just combine some qualities of a Christian. You need to improve your spirituality. I go into the ring and I'm not angry, I'm not aggressive. I fight because I am an athlete, this is my job.
Like any athlete, you probably have days when you are not motivated to train. What are you doing at this time?
I never have days when I don't want to train. This is my favorite thing that I do, my job, my favorite pastime.
What qualities do you value most in people? How do you, with your popularity, manage to remain such a modest person?
In people I value kindness and love for others, the ability to remain a decent person in any situation. Being a decent person and helping loved ones is probably the most important thing today.
What book are you reading now?
And the answer to the second question is obvious: whatever qualities I value in people, I try to be like that myself. I respect modesty and learn it.
How does your wife feel about your passion for martial arts?
Thank God it's good. She is understanding and always supports me. Of course, it’s very hard for her, she’s worried, she’s probably even suffering from what’s happening in the ring. But she understands that this is my choice. And, like a loving wife, she believes that this is not only mine, but what we have in common with her.
There must always be someone at the head of the family; are you inferior to your spouse, or are you also the “avant-garde” in family relationships?
We discuss our affairs together, some decisions, I listen to my wife’s point of view, she listens to mine, but the last word is always mine. As a rule, I make decisions because I am a man and the head of the family.
How are your daughters doing? How do you spend your free time with them?
Thank God my family is okay. The eldest Mashenka has finished the school year. And the youngest Vasilisa is in kindergarten. In our free time we go to the cinema and for walks. The older one likes to take me to the toy store, and the younger one likes to take me to the amusement park. She loves walks, playing in the sandbox, watching cartoons together and going to church.
Why do you play sports?
I perform and win because I understand that I am a representative of my country, who represents combat sambo and mixed martial arts on the international stage. 
I go out and try to adequately represent Russia in this field. It’s very unpleasant for me when you hear that somewhere in some country Russian people did not behave quite appropriately. When communicating with foreigners, you hear words like “vodka” - that’s all they know about us.
Therefore, you are trying to change the attitude towards Russian people, and of course, so that people think that in such a tough sport you can remain human. In life you need to try to strive for good: not to talk about the revival of faith, but to revive it; do not talk about the rise of morality and spirituality, but strive to go to church and confess. Otherwise, everything works out for us: beautiful words, but no actions. I want people to think about it.
How do you feel about the proverb: “God loves a trinity”? Didn't she scare you after two defeats?
I don't think this saying applies to my case. But even the worst result cannot kill my faith. I will always talk about this. The Lord does not punish those whom he does not love.
Have defeats affected your self-confidence? Did you learn anything from them?
They didn't have any impact. In sports, anyone can lose. If the Lord gives me trials, I must pass them. I am doubly grateful to God for these defeats.
But do you still have the strength and desire to continue training and go to fights? Or do you want to devote more time to your family?
I spend my entire adult life training and being involved in sports. Faith in God is not just worshiping something, it is the meaning of our life, we must live by it, and not just combine some qualities of a Christian Of course, I would like to perform more. Of course, I will train. And, God willing, I will continue fighting. But we'll see. My first priority is faith. On the second is my family, thanks to whom I live. Work and everything else is important too. But now I want to go home quickly. I miss my daughters a lot.
Many consider you a legend. When you look back, what are you thinking about at that moment?
I never considered myself a legend. I am a simple person who was lucky enough to achieve some success in sports.
How has military service affected your life and career? Do you consider this time lost for yourself, or, on the contrary, did you gain something for it?
My father taught me this: whoever has not served in the army is defective, and girls do not pay attention to him. I was brought up in love for my homeland, for Russia, and therefore I considered serving in the army a very important thing. And he joined the army voluntarily, with great desire. I consider my service to be the best years of my life. During her time, I grew stronger, matured, learned obedience and to endure adversity. He went into the army as a young man and returned as a man. It is a pity that now many young people do not serve, that their life guidelines are changing. Many people want to stay at home, but there is drinking and drug addiction. Many people say: “I need to go to college.” Well, go and serve and study. I think that a year of service, as it is now, is not so much. Giving just one year to the Motherland, learning something, making new friends, in my opinion, is simply necessary.
Do you think anything will happen in 2012 that will radically change the world and contribute to the transition of humanity to the spiritual path of development?
Why exactly in 2012? If we are talking about the predicted end of the world, then, as Jesus Christ said, no one knows when the end of the world will happen, not even the angels know, only the Father knows. We must not talk about the rise of morality and spirituality, but strive for it ourselves, go to church, confess. Otherwise, everything works out for us: beautiful words, but no actions And I don’t even know what needs to happen for spiritual uplift. Unfortunately, today everything that is far from spirituality, everything that lulls the conscience is being intensively promoted. What can we talk about if every channel promotes debauchery, corruption, drunkenness, cruelty... And we remember the promotion of sports only in case of failure. As it happened at the Olympic Games, for example. But they don’t remember these problems for long...
Do you understand your meaning in life? What is your mission here on Earth?
The meaning of life is clear. It's about preparing yourself for the next one. As a Christian, I try to live by the commandments, help and treat my neighbors with understanding. As Father Seraphim said, “acquire the spiritual spirit.” You need to get rid of bad habits, sins, harmful passions and grow spiritually.
All-Russian newspaper "Living Faith"
On October 29, Fedor Emelianenko came to MGIMO to talk with students about the struggle between physical and spiritual. The audience was packed, an hour and a half of conversation and, naturally, dozens of selfies with the champion at the end. What were they talking about? “Foma” publishes the most interesting excerpts from the conversation.
Imagine that 100-150 years will pass and one of the heirs of our young students will open an encyclopedia with the letter E, it will be written there: Emelianenko Fedor, then a dash - what would you like to be written after that? How do you want your descendants to remember you?
Emelianenko: If in 100 years, I would like to be known only as an Orthodox Christian, in principle, all the regalia, all the terms, they... not that they are not worth it, but... they cost a lot, a lot of effort, work, but that’s not the case important in our life. I would like to be remembered only as an Orthodox Christian.
How to become a champion?
Emelianenko: You can become a champion in any business through a lot of work. Of course, our aspiration and desire alone are not enough. I am now faced with a problem that our young people have a great desire, but it is not backed up by hard work. That is, this desire disappears somewhere when some kind of stress comes, you have to overcome yourself, get tired, and overwork somewhere. Therefore, you need to love work, you need to love your business and understand where you are going. Set feasible steps to achieve your goal. Well, to become a champion, you need to train, listen carefully to the coach, follow his orders, or a teacher, senior adviser. And, of course, the most important thing is to use your head.
Is it possible for a situation in which you would not fight your opponent because of disagreements, for example political ones, or is this not important for sport?
Emelianenko: Probably, political differences have nothing to do with it. In principle, I never wanted to fight with the Russians, with our fraternal peoples - Ukrainians, Belarusians, Serbs... And, there was a moment when a meeting in the ring with Sergei Kharitonov could have taken place, but, to be honest, I avoided it in every possible way. Because Sergei and I were friends for a long time, he lived and trained with me, and when the possibility of our meeting arose, I asked the manager to separate us. It so happened that we participated in the same tournament, and Sergei did not reach me. I think that sport is outside of politics; for us, sport has always been a unifying thing that brings rapprochement. Although, reading the same reviews on the Internet, forums, you understand that now everything can turn upside down. The unpleasant thing is that there are people who are trying to destroy old values. Instead of some kind of friendly duel or match, a confrontation between some nations begins, and with bitterness - this is wrong.
You have become the personification of fortitude, vitality, willpower for young people, and not only for young people. Just tell me honestly, have you ever been overwhelmed by rage during a fight? And what did you do about it, if this happened?
F. Emelianenko: I think that we should still be amazed at the greatness of the spirit of our holy martyrs and look up to them, people who have already walked their path in life and really proved their strength of spirit with their feats. As for me, there was no rage, never in battle. And I believe that a person who artificially angered himself before a fight, who goes into a fight with some kind of rage, he only clouds his head with unnecessary emotions. I try to go into battle with a clear head, so that nothing interferes with my thought process, no unnecessary emotions.
What is the most common thought that comes to you in the morning when you open your eyes? And the second question: please tell us about your very first fight in your life as a child.
F. Emelianenko: You know, this is too personal, but I try to fall asleep and wake up with the name of the Lord. And the first thing I ask in the morning, the first words: Lord, bless!
And as a child, I fought a lot, even as a child, before I took up sports. I don’t remember exactly for what reason, but for a reason, not for the sake of some kind of bravado. There were some conflicts, but there was no anger, no resentment. We could have a conflict, criticize each other, and then literally half an hour later we could walk together hugging each other. But this was in very early childhood. And when I took up sports, thank God, I had no conflict situations. Only my knowledge in the army was a little useful, but also without consequences: in the harsh male team, small conflicts arose when someone from my conscription tried to establish their own rules, but they were quickly resolved.
Are you happy with the way the media covers sports?
F. Emelianenko: No, I’m not happy. You know, sometimes I get very upset. Our guys performed at the Olympics, someone did not manage to become a champion, did not manage to become a medalist due to some circumstances, but this is the best representative of our country in this sport, who went to defend the honor of Russia, our flag. And when something doesn’t work out for him, immediately begins, if not bullying, but extremely unpleasant statements addressed to him and speculation from correspondents who put forward their own thoughts, hypotheses, sometimes offensive. They often don’t know a person’s life, they don’t know how the athlete got to this result, how many years it took for him to even get into the Russian national team, to get to the Olympics. You know, this is very hard work, very, very hard work, during which a huge amount of sweat, sometimes tears, and blood are shed. It seems to me that people who write about sports should do some sports themselves and experience some kind of stress. I have a Dutch coach who always trains next to me, in addition to training me, he always runs cross-country with me, always speeds up. He even goes to church with me, he attends all the services from beginning to end. I say: why are you doing this? He says, “I have to feel what you feel.” But what we have is that people who don’t know what an athlete’s life is like begin to criticize them, to put it mildly, to tell lies.
I would also like for us to show not only the results of our matches, sports matches, world championships, Europe, where we compete, but more coverage of the life of an athlete, relationships in teams, relationships with a coach, relationships with parents. That is, they showed more of life. Then people will choose their heroes. They will know their heroes, they will see how this athlete lives. Look, we had the Olympics, and since then we haven’t seen or heard anything about our Olympians. Well, yes, they called me, well, yes, they awarded me for six months, they saw me in the Kremlin, then in the Ministry, then somewhere else... and that’s it, they forgot.
Did you know from childhood that you wanted to specifically engage in sports and nothing else; from childhood did you want to become a champion? Or did you still have a crossroads in your life when you knew that you had talent, but you wanted to do something else? And why did you choose this?
Emelianenko: You know, as a child I was so untalented in terms of sports... Doctors diagnosed me with bronchitis with asthmatic components. There were health problems. When the trainer gave me loads, I began to feel short of breath. I was very worried about all this - to the point of tears. But you know, there was probably also persistence and a strong desire to prove that I could handle it...
We had really talented guys, they made a minimum of effort, but they went to competitions, they were taken everywhere, they won. The coach, seeking discipline, always said that the one who did not miss a single training session would go to competitions. I thought: that’s it, I’ll definitely go. But for some reason I didn’t go again, I stayed at home, and those who gave results went. But gradually it began to smooth out, I became brighter, they began to lag behind. I came to training before everyone else and after training I still stayed and worked out with iron. We had a glass wall between the corridor and the gym. In the gym, for example, I was bench-pressing, and the guys walked away and twirled their fingers at their temples: completely crazy! Thank God, everything gradually leveled out.
I didn’t have much results before the army; I wrestled somewhere at the level of a master of sports, but I never became a master. And when I served in the army and returned, I began to see visible results. The guys who were in the Russian national team said: “Where did you come from on our heads?” They didn’t see you, didn’t hear you, and then I immediately joined the Russian sambo team, and a little later - the judo team.
As for studies, I always tried to study well. Even when I went to competitions, I never fell behind, I loved learning. I understood: sport is sport, but a profession is necessary. I studied at the lyceum, received the profession of electrician, advanced fifth category, and later entered Belgorod State University and graduated from it. That is, there was always an understanding that a profession was needed, it was unknown how everything would go: man, we need to move on with our lives! But it so happened that my childhood dreams, in principle, came true.
Have you dreamed of becoming a wrestler since childhood?
Emelianenko: I dreamed, but they were, let’s say, rosy dreams. Then they showed films with the participation of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Schwarzenegger. You'll see enough of all this and run to the gym as soon as possible. It seemed to me that, like in the movies, I would also dream about a master at night and tell me the magic secret of success. But everything had to be done through a lot of work. I understand that in childhood these dreams were not justified, but gradually, little by little, everything got better and the result came.
You know, the Lord probably endowed me with the most important thing - the desire to win and let everything go through my head. I knew how to highlight what was most necessary among the information that came in. I was 12-13 years old when one of the coaches said that you need to absorb everything like a sponge, all the information that is given to you. You are young, you need to know and be able to do everything. Later I realized that you can take all the information, but you need to filter it, leave what is needed for growth, and discard the rest. And my coach, seeing my work, seeing how I trained in the gym, said: Fedya, plow, plowing will never be in vain, no matter, sooner or later, you shoot, the result will be. Thanks to these parting words, thank God, I was able to get through a lot.
Every believer has had a moment when he was strongly drawn to church for the first time. How was it for you?
Emelianenko: You know, I made a lot of mistakes in my life when I was an unbeliever. I have always been touched by the question - what’s next after death, our earthly death, what’s beyond the stars, what’s next, what’s there? But there was no person nearby in my family, in my environment, who would give answers to my questions. Plus, I came across incorrect, pagan books... I understood that it was stupid to worship those deities instead of the Creator, but the Creator did not exist for me then...
And once we had a competition in Nizhny Novgorod, a trip to the monastery in Diveevo was planned for the morning. And this trip was organized by Protodeacon Andrei, who records songs for me to enter the ring. And imagine, the guys and I won, we were happy, we walked all night. In the morning I have a headache, they knock on me and say: “Fedya, it’s time to go to the monastery,” - I say: “What monastery, what are you talking about? Let others go instead of me - my coach, my friends.” He says: “No, they can’t go, but you have to anyway, because all this was organized for your sake.” I realized that that was it, I couldn’t jump. Now I understand that the Lord arranged everything this way... I got on the bus, I had a headache, I fell asleep somewhere, woke up, Father Andrei told us a little about the place where we were going. Well, I visited the monastery itself, we went on a tour... And then I realized, I felt that the Lord was here. That the Lord exists, firstly, and that the Lord is here – in the Orthodox Church. I realized that I was not living like that, that it turned out that I needed to go not where I was going, but in the completely opposite direction. My conscience worked completely differently.
And after leaving the monastery, I decided to change my life. You know, they say that when the first meeting with Christ occurs, the Lord takes a person in his arms and carries him. I began to meet believers, I began to come across books, I learned that it turns out that I need to go to church at least once a week. When I went to the first service, it was such a slight shock for me... I came out, my legs were terribly buzzing, despite all my physical fitness, my back was aching. But from that moment I realized that this is where I should be. And at first, when I started going to church, I had a constant struggle with myself: I need to go to church, but you start looking for excuses for yourself - it’s hard, the service is long, I still don’t understand what’s happening at the service. But if I didn’t go to church, then my conscience tormented me terribly. And if I walked, I came out with a clear conscience, but wildly tired from unaccustomed use. But gradually everything came. Like at school: first we go to first grade, gradually learn letters, then it becomes more and more difficult, we begin to learn words, add numbers, then add sentences. So here, too, we must begin little by little, gradually... Now I really love going to church, I just can’t live without church. But probably only a believer will understand this...
When you came to God, was there any conflict with what you were doing, because sport is a confrontation?
F. Emelianenko: I am often asked this question and I also asked myself this question when changes occurred in my life. But I received an answer from the clergy, and I found it myself by studying the lives of our saints. When I go out to fight, I represent the country, I go out to fight not with any aggression, not with anger, not with hatred for my opponent, I go out for a fair fight.
What does success mean to you?
F. Emelianenko: Probably, success is the implementation of the work that I have put in for many years. But this is not only my success - this is the success of my wife, who was always there, my team, of course, my coaches, those people who surrounded me and supported me. Now, to be honest, I would step away from all this success. Today my task is to ensure that those guys who are next to me have success. Then I will have internal success too.
“I have never seen an athlete like him, who fights for the sake of the battle itself,” this is what the famous boxer Mike Tyson said about Fedor Emelianenko. Emelianenko is truly a paradoxical figure: a four-time world champion in mixed martial arts in the heavyweight division, but in conversation he is quiet and modest. I came for an interview and was given a box of chocolates from the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Recently - in the summer of 2012 - he announced the end of his sports career. What role did faith play in this decision? How do humility and a championship title combine in sports? What place does anger have - in the ring and in life? What do martial arts have in common with the stories of the Solovetsky martyrs? Fedor Emelianenko spoke about this and much more in an interview with Foma.
Bite down your emotions
- In many interviews you say that during a fight you do not feel aggression towards the enemy...
It seems to me that a believer simply cannot do otherwise. And not only the one who is engaged in wrestling. You can even hit the shuttle with a racket with such anger, as if there was your personal enemy behind the net.
- But there is a term “sports anger”. Is she supposed to help and mobilize?
I completely disagree with this. “Sports anger” is some kind of artificial notion, I don’t understand - what is it about? Sports patience, overcoming oneself, expanding one’s capabilities - yes. When it seems to you that you can’t do it anymore and you don’t have enough strength, take it and step over yourself, bite your emotions, fatigue and still move forward. And anger - why is it necessary? She just gets in the way. It clouds the head, a person cannot soberly assess the situation, and cannot react adequately. Somewhere you need to be careful, but the person does not notice anything. There is a desire to take revenge, to rush forward just to hit harder, to get even - but this does not lead to anything good. As a rule, people pay for this with mistakes. Moreover, in my opinion, this applies not only to sports, but also to relationships between people in general.
You are one of the most titled modern athletes, a world champion in mixed martial arts. How does all this fit in with the gospel call to be last, to be servant of all?
If the Lord put me in this business, then I must do it as well as possible. If I were a welder by profession, I would try to weld to the highest standard. In sports, the sign of maximum performance is victory. It is not important in itself, it is evidence that you did everything to the end. After all, we, Orthodox Christians, will be judged by our actions. We must do everything for the glory of God. But we cannot afford to do something carelessly for the glory of God.
- But don’t big victories carry with them the danger of becoming proud?
They carry it. And it is no coincidence that today even many priests speak critically about big-time sports. This is because for some athletes, playing sports and winning are really just a means to satisfy their own passions and ambitions. Of course, the temptation to be proud of your successes awaits every person - including me. I try my best to prevent this from happening. There is only one way to fight this: dedicate every victory to God and your country.
I’ve been thinking about this often lately and would like to address my colleagues, among whom there are many who truly serve in sports not their passions, but their country. Young people pay attention to us, athletes. I remember myself as a teenager: I carefully followed all the performances of our champions on television. And I never heard any of them say: “Thank God” or even talk about God in any way. All of them, as a rule, talked only about themselves, about their achievements and grievances. My own self stood above everything else. I think that if at least one of them once said: “I am grateful to God for the victory,” many boys, their fans, including myself, would think about something. The thinking of young people would change, they would turn to God.
- Wouldn’t it seem strange to you to hear about God from an athlete?
I think no. It is easier for young people who are seriously involved in sports to come to God. After all, education plays a big role in both faith and sports. In sports, it is the coach who educates you, and you must trust him. After this, it is easier to trust the priest as a spiritual mentor. By participating in the sports section, people learn to live in a team and treat each other with respect in the most difficult situations. You have to be able to deny yourself a lot. When your peers run outside to enjoy all the joys of life or sit for hours in front of the computer, you are in training, where ten sweats are squeezed out of you. Then you crawl home - and there you still have to do homework. That is, the guys in the sports section already know from childhood what it means to carry out their small feat.
In one interview, I read your instructions to young athletes that even if the opponent is physically stronger, you can win with the “Orthodox spirit.” What does this look like in practice?
There are fights in which you feel that your opponent is better prepared, but in any competition there is also a spiritual side... It is hardly possible to explain this in words, especially to an unbeliever. But I know for sure from myself that when you trust in God, you don’t care what kind of opponent is in front of you - more or less pumped up, taller or shorter, stronger or weaker. A person goes into a fight with faith - to win.
I imagine young people lifting weights in the gym, and suddenly they are told about victory in the “Orthodox spirit.” Will they have a desire to twirl their finger at their temple?
If I had not experienced this myself, they would probably have felt the lie in my words and would have twirled their finger at their temple. But I'm talking about what I know. What people cannot see, they perceive subconsciously. And if a person speaks sincerely and from the heart, then the people who hear him have no doubts. Even if the details are not fully understood, it doesn’t matter. There is a well-known phrase: to become a believer, sometimes it is enough to look into the eyes of another believer. This is exactly what we're talking about here.
Beast and Man
There is information in the media that you played for the St. Petersburg club “Red Devil Fighting Team” - somewhat strange for an Orthodox believer...
This is not entirely true. I have always played only for the St. Alexander Nevsky club in the city of Stary Oskol, Belgorod region. For some reason, journalists persistently assign me to the “Red Devil Fighting Team”. Apparently, because I was actually invited to speak for him, but one of the reasons why this was impossible was precisely the name. We talked a lot about this with the head of the club, I insisted that the name be changed. At first they didn’t understand me, they said that the public was already used to it. But in the end I managed to convince my interlocutors. And now the club in St. Petersburg is called the same as my home club in Stary Oskol - St. Alexander Nevsky. It would seem that it’s just a name, but the atmosphere and operating principles of the club have truly changed.
Aren't you embarrassed by such a radical change? It turns out that it’s so simple - to take and make a club in honor of an Orthodox saint from a club in honor of the “red devil”? It’s as if nothing like that ever happened and there’s no significant difference between them - they just swapped one for the other...
I can only speak for myself: I don’t see any contradiction here. Yes, the change is radical. But this is exactly how everything should change in life when a person gains faith: you are turned 180 degrees - either you are with Christ or you are not. This is exactly a radical choice. You are breaking with your past - I am sure there is no other way. Do you remember the words of Saint Prince Vladimir about your baptism: “I was a beast, but I became a man”? This is about me too. In my life before coming to faith, everything was far from ideal. Yes, parents raised the desire for good, to live according to moral laws, but education alone is not enough: a person still goes astray. I relaxed once, twice, three times - and off we went. A visit to the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery helped me personally get out of this.
- What happened there?
I took part in competitions in Nizhny Novgorod, and I was invited to the monastery for a tour. On the way on the bus, we had a very warm conversation with Father Andrei Zheleznyakov, a protodeacon from the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. He did not call for anything, did not agitate. I was just telling you.
The tour of the monastery made a particular impression on me. The nun told how the holy ascetics carried out their feats in this monastery. And suddenly, in these stories, the lives of the saints began to come to life for me. And then he venerated the relics of Father Seraphim - and after that all questions disappeared. What did I feel? I don't know how to describe it in words. I just suddenly felt that God exists and that I live every second of my life before Him.
You have completed your sports career and you must have free time. Do you see it as a resource for diving deeper into church life?
Here I disagree with you. You cannot live in such a way that now you are an athlete, and then, when you have more free time, you will become a Christian. It is impossible to create such a “schedule”. Faith in God cannot be postponed until later, otherwise it is simply not faith. Life in Christ comes first, then everything else. Or rather, even such a prioritization is not quite right. Sometimes people ask me how they manage to combine faith and life. But it’s impossible "combine", because they are not separated. You can simply live by faith. After all, who Orthodox Christians are will be judged by our faith and our actions.
Who are the judges?
- Which processes taking place in the Church today make you happy, and which ones worry you?
You know, for me this question is not worth it at all. I just know that our faith is true, and I find it in the Russian Orthodox Church. And I am not the person to judge someone, to rejoice at some “processes” or be upset about them. I am part of the Church - such as it is. If a church person does something that, in my opinion, is wrong, you need to pray for him. Now many people condemn priests. It seems to me that this should under no circumstances be done. This is stated in the Gospel of Matthew: Whoever accepts the prophet, in the name of the prophet, will receive the reward of the prophet(Matt. 10 :41 - Red.). And when a person comes into the temple to point out that the priest is so and so - why is that? This says a lot about the critics themselves. This means that they do not look inside themselves, they do not fight their passions, but they practice how to find more specks in the eye of another. But the Russian Orthodox Church is all of us, believers. It’s strange when you are an Orthodox Christian, but at the same time you look at the Church “from the outside.” No, you yourself are part of the Church. And everything that concerns her, you take upon yourself.
- But a person can separate himself not from the Church in general, but specifically from the hierarchy...
Today the media talk a lot about His Holiness Patriarch Kirill - both bad and good. But for me the Patriarch is a non-discussable figure. He stands before God more than all of us. People who condemn the hierarchy, in my opinion, simply forget that everything is in the hands of God, not even in the hands of the Patriarch. He tries to instruct us in the faith. Everyone reacts differently. Anyone who does not want to fight his sins gets angry and swears. But it normal. After all, not everyone accepted Christ himself when He walked the earth...
Trials and "trials"
- In your entire career you had only four defeats, three of them in a row. Does faith help in such situations?
I cannot answer you: “Faith helps when you fail.” Are there other situations in which faith should not help? It doesn't happen that way. I cannot divide my actions into those “with God” and “without God.” If I am a believer, faith is always with me.
And yet. When a believer fails, he can say to himself: “Everything is God’s will, this was sent to me, so this is what is needed now.” And the unbeliever looks and says: “All this is nonsense and self-justification. Nothing like that was sent to you, it’s just that you yourself did something wrong”...
Yes, I'm familiar with this. I've been in this situation many times. But I am sure that we need to praise God not only for victories, but also for defeats. For difficult situations, for losses. Saint John Chrysostom spent the last years of his life in persecution, and yet his dying words were: “Glory to God for everything.” I was shocked by the film about the prisoners of the Solovetsky camp - the holy ascetics endured such torment there that it is difficult for us to imagine - and still glorified God. This is not some defeat in some battle, this is half a life, many years, cold, hunger and often martyrdom. And for all this they thanked God. So should we! We are no different from these people! It's just easier for us. Our “trials” are nothing compared to theirs. I know and feel that the Lord acts in our lives not only when everything is good, but also when everything is bad, or rather, it seems to us that everything is bad. But in reality... After all, all these fights, competitions, fights, victories, defeats - all this is such a small thing compared to the fact that God is next to you.
- A trifle?! And it seems to the audience that fights are your whole life.
This is wrong. If fighting were my whole life, I would still not have ended my sports career. Now there are many different proposals - one is better than the other. But all this is vanity. There is only life in Christ. There is a family - a small Church, which is much more valuable than sports. And no competition can compare with this.
Konstantin Matsan
Photos courtesy of M1 Global
Photo1 - Vladimir Eshtokin
He is called a legendary man, books are written about him and films are made about him. Many know him as the "Last Emperor" and one of the most prominent athletes in the history of mixed martial arts. “Everything is with God’s help” - this is his motto. Fedor Emelianenko is an eight-time world champion in mixed martial arts in the heavyweight division, today he is an adviser to the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation, while in conversation he is always a very quiet and modest person. The Elitsa social network met with Fedor Vladimirovich to talk about faith, the proper upbringing of children and how to remain human in any situation.
Fedor, how, when practicing an outwardly very cruel sport, such as martial arts, where pain is deliberately caused to an opponent, can one be restrained and not show aggression towards the opponent?
I do not consider martial arts to be a cruel sport, and what’s more, I have never entered the ring with bitterness or even irritation. Any martial arts should instill, first of all, respect for the opponent, so the external manifestation and what is going on in a person’s heart at this time are completely different things.
Indeed, when Alexander Nevsky defended the Russian land from enemies, his heart remained peaceful, that is, there was no place for hatred and anger in him.
Yes, that’s why it is very important, despite any situations, be it even biased refereeing or violation of the rules of the fight, to respect your opponent and not respond to aggression. I would give another example. You can go into the ring and fight without any negative emotions, or you can hit a tennis ball, breaking rackets, and hate your opponent. Education is very important in this matter. When they brought me to the gym, the first thing the coach told us was: “You will have knowledge that even many adults do not possess. You will have great power, but it should never be used outside the ring, boasted about or flaunted.”
There is an opinion that in any competition where two people participate, the winner will become proud, and the loser will become envy...
We encounter this at every step, and not only in sports. And here proper education is important - it is necessary to explain to young people that they compete not for their own pride or vanity, but for the glorification of their sports school, their city, their country. In any type of activity we can encounter these passions and vices, and no matter what we do, the joy of victory and the bitterness of defeat will always be present. You need to be able to accept them correctly - having lost, you don’t need to despair, and treat it as your own shortcoming, but having won a victory, you shouldn’t be proud and attribute it only to yourself.
Your rivals always speak very warmly of you. Do you maintain relationships with them and communicate?
Of course, we communicate as much as possible. You need to remain human in any situation, no matter who you are. After all, man is the image of God. There were battles when they tried to throw mud at our team on the Internet. However, after the fight they came up with the words: “Sorry, nothing personal...”.
Is this kind of pressure affecting you?
No. I try not to even read it and not react to it in any way. I know that if you approach people with love and kindness, then they will answer you in kind. Even if at first there is some negativity, then with a good attitude people thaw and change their point of view.
Today, during a very unstable geopolitical situation, Orthodoxy is recognized by many as a unifying factor. Can Orthodoxy today really gain such strength and unite people as you think?
I would phrase this a little differently. We have always united with our Orthodox brothers, other nations, under the name of Christ. In my opinion, this is a more correct formulation - it is the Lord who unites us. And you can only win with faith, only with God’s help. After all, there is no such commandment in Orthodoxy that would go against our conscience. In this regard, we recall the words of the Holy Venerable Sergius of Radonezh: “We will be saved by love and unity.” Today, this is more relevant than ever.
Which most revered saints are especially close to your heart?
There are many such people of holy life. Of course, this is Father Seraphim of Sarov, St. Sergius of Radonezh, Holy Righteous Warrior Fyodor Ushakov. I have been traveling to Serbia for two years now, and Tsar Lazar and Prince Milos evoke special awe and reverence. The Kosovo events are our Kulikovo field. I am very worried about the Serbian people, they also had to go through a lot. Of our current contemporaries, this is Patriarch Paul of Serbia, the Greek elder Paisius the Holy Mountain. These are the ones we must look up to - our saints, who with their lives and their deeds proved their holiness.
Fedor, your victories inspire completely different people. And above all, your success motivates young people. Such concepts as sport and patriotism are very close. What do you think needs to be done to ensure that people who are healthy in body and spirit grow up in Russia?
We must all try to live in such a way as not to disgrace our name and the name of Christ. And for this, of course, we need to educate children and youth. After all, we often try to feed our children, put them on shoes, clothe them, that is, to create all the conditions and blessings of this earth, but we forget about the spiritual component of raising a child. Not even spiritual, but sometimes we simply forget about elementary morality. This is where big troubles come from - drug addiction, alcoholism, children forgetting their parents. That is why education, first of all, should be in the spirit of morality based on faith.
Television has a great influence on young, fragile minds. Today there are many programs that not only do not contribute to the development of morality and culture, but, on the contrary, corrupt. Do you think the state should influence this situation?
It seems to me that the time has come when such “freedom” needs to be limited. There must be freedom of good, and not freedom in the propaganda of evil and violence.
I think that now a lot is moving towards this - our president, V.V. Putin listens to the voice of the Church. In addition, the events that are currently taking place in the international arena in relation to Russia may accelerate this process.
However, it is important to remember that everything starts in the family, and it is the parents who are responsible for raising their children. It is necessary to raise a child so that he can not only distinguish good from evil, but also take the side of good in any situation. When the foundation is laid, the teacher, the school gets involved in the upbringing... By the way, a lot depends on the coach: there are moments in life when the coach has more authority than the parents, so you need to approach his choice very carefully.
In modern society, the role of the Internet in people’s daily lives is increasing. Do you often use the Internet and do you allow your children to use social networks?
Of course, I use the Internet, but only purposefully: I get only the information I need there. I like to visit Orthodox websites, such as Pravoslavie.ru, the Patriarchate website, and regularly read the lives of the Saints. But I am not registered on social networks.
As for children, my youngest daughters have not yet grown up with the Internet, but the eldest has already learned to filter information - read only what she needs. In addition, my wife and I watch what she is interested in.
In your opinion, can the Internet be used as a platform for uniting Orthodox people, communication, spiritual enlightenment, and conducting missionary activities?
Yes, of course it can. We must always remember that the Internet, as a tool, is a double-edged sword that can both hurt and help. There is a lot of negative information there, but at the same time there is useful and necessary information. That is why I see great prospects for the Orthodox social network “Elitsa”, which allows Orthodox people around the world to unite, communicate, share experiences and help each other.
At the end of the conversation, what would you wish to the users of the Elitsa social network?
I would like to wish that we treat each other with more love, come to the rescue at the right time, always have compassion and hear our neighbor. Our strength lies in unification.
Fedor, thank you for the interesting conversation.
Thank you and success to the Elitsa project.
