At the beginning of the 
The Nativity FastThe Nativity Fast
“>Nativity Fast, Pravoslavie.ru spoke with Priest Sergei Nikulin, a cleric of the Spassky Cathedral in the city of Kirov. Our conversation began with an examination of the Parable of the Talents. We discussed human talents such as the ability to listen and truly hear others, as well as the ability to rejoice. Our discussion naturally turned to the subject of faith, which is also a talent—a gift from God. Reflections on faith led us to talk about Father Sergei’s personal journey to God and to the priesthood. At the conclusion of our conversation, Father Sergei shared advice on how to prepare for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and make the most of the time during the fast.
The Parable of the Talents
Parable of the Talents. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in the village of Krasnoe Sumarokovo. Photo by the Noskov brothers.
—Father Sergei, the Gospel contains the Parable of the Talents. How should it be interpreted, and what should we understand by “talents”?
—The Parable of the Talents can be understood this way: talents are the spiritual and physical abilities and opportunities, the will, that God has placed in each person. All people are different, and accordingly, each is given according to their abilities. Within the measure of our capabilities, everyone must work toward perfecting their heart and soul, using their talents for deeds pleasing to God. By doing so, we acquire additional talents—virtues.
Those who fail to do this are like the servant who buried his talent in the ground. In other words, they use their God-given abilities only to achieve earthly, temporary goals, without concern for eternal values. But those who strive to care for “the one thing needful” will receive the help of God’s grace, enabling them to cultivate and multiply the fruits of their labor.
Each person’s destiny will depend on the fruits of their work. Some will inherit the joy of eternal life with God, while others—the unfaithful servants—will, unfortunately, be condemned to eternal torment.
—The ability to listen and truly hear others is, perhaps, one of the most important talents in a priest’s ministry. Is it given from above, or can it be developed?
The ability to listen and understand others is innate in each of us, but this doesn’t mean these abilities don’t need development. A person is capable of growth and improvement, but also of decline—what we call “sliding downhill.” They can lose or even trample the abilities God has given them. Listening and understanding others does not mean agreeing with everything they say or do. It is about helping each other become better and praying for one another. But above all, one must strive for their own improvement. The Apostle Paul writes: Hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:21–22). This is how we should approach every person. As the Holy Fathers teach, we must condemn evil but not the person. By doing so, with God’s help, we will learn to listen and truly hear, thereby cultivating this gift within ourselves.
—How do you develop talents in your children?
—Developing talents in children, like any important and good endeavor, requires engaging all physical and mental efforts. The most important things are prayer and hope in God’s Providence. We hope that the Lord will guide them onto the right path where they can realize their potential. This also involves supporting them with advice and actions in their studies and interests. At times, it’s necessary to curb their carelessness and discipline them. All of this is done to help them become better and grow into conscientious Christians.
When we see a child is particularly drawn to something, we try to give him the opportunity to develop in that area, enrolling him in clubs or activities after discussing it with him. On one hand, it’s essential to help the child avoid laziness, and on the other, to give him a certain degree of freedom. Of course, love is paramount. A helpful piece of advice is to frequently put yourself in his shoes—remembering and imagining yourself at his age, trying to see the world through his eyes. This helps to remain objective and often saves me from being overly critical of my children.
—The realization of a talent involves action, and for every work, a person receives “praise,” often measured in monetary terms. Is it possible to find a reasonable balance in the question of receiving rewards for one’s labor?
—The key principle taught by the Holy Fathers is to strive for the golden mean in all things. For each person, this balance is determined individually, based on their abilities and circumstances.
Some people believe that striving for ever-increasing wealth isn’t bad because the more money one has, the more opportunities he has to help others. However, this mindset can often evolve into self-deception and a justification for greed. Unfortunately, the more a person pursues material wealth, the harder his heart becomes, leading to greed, stinginess, and other vices. Such a person begins to love his wealth and becomes enslaved by it, neglecting others. It’s very difficult to resist this temptation.
There is nothing wrong with earning a living by doing what one excels at, especially if you care for others in the process. What matters is that material well-being does not overshadow a person’s reason and will, so he can remain merciful, responsive, and compassionate. Therefore, as I’ve said before, everything we do should be guided by the golden mean.
—Being happy, cheerful, and joyful in different circumstances in life—is this a talent that can be learned, or is it something innate?
—It is also a God-given talent. Every person is destined for joy. This talent is given to each according to his strength. There are people who strive to remain calm and joyful in any life situation, people who have the talent to lift the spirits of friends and acquaintances, and those with what we call a “large soul,” who seem ready to love the entire world and share their optimism.
The greatest example of this kind of love and comfort is found in the God-man Jesus Christ, then in His Most Pure Mother, the Virgin Mary, and finally in the saints who prayed for the entire world, mourned for it, comforted and encouraged countless people, and guided them to the true path. These are examples for us to follow!
Of course, this divine gift can be lost if it is unused or unrecognized, which will inevitably lead to sorrowful consequences. This is why we must learn to preserve and multiply it.
—Do you feel that you are a happy person? What components, in your opinion, are necessary for this state?
—I think so. Again, it depends on what one means by happiness. For me, as a Christian, happiness is to be with Christ, to carry Him in my heart, and to see Christ in every person—beginning with my loved ones, my family, my wife, and my children. In this sense, family is also happiness. To be united in Christ!
Of course, this does not come easily. It requires constant effort—working on oneself and one’s many shortcomings. It is painstaking daily, even hourly, work. Sometimes you feel strong and full of energy, and other times you feel sad, burdened, weary, or even lazy.
I sincerely believe that only Christianity gives a person true freedom—the freedom to create, to build, to love, and thus, to be happy. For me, the components of happiness are identical to the components of Orthodox faith.
—Do you have pets? Do they have their own talents?
—Aside from aquarium fish, we have a cat at home. Undoubtedly, God has endowed every animal with its own unique qualities. As we know, the world before the fall into sin was one thing, and the world after the fall is another. All of visible creation bears the mark of sin, and nature itself has been distorted. This includes animals.
Nevertheless, domestic animals retain a sense of attachment to humans, showing affection and love for them. In many ways, they remind us of small children. They may, in their way, feel hurt or act aggressively, but this is usually the result of human behavior.
The main quality of a pet (such as a cat, for instance), in my view, is its lack of malice. You can scold it, forget to feed it on time, accidentally step on its tail, or trip over it, yet it will still show you devotion and affection as if nothing had happened! This is amazing, and it is a kind of goodness we humans can learn from our pets.
The Path to God and the Priesthood
—How did you become a believer? Faith, after all, is also a gift.
—My journey to faith was a long one, as it likely is for most believers. I will focus on the most important aspects. I first heard about God a long time ago (probably when I was about five years old), but at that age, I understood very little. At that time, my great-aunt would occasionally take me to church and have me recieve Communion. Now I understand how courageous that was on her part, as those were the Soviet years when atheism was taught in schools, and faith was ridiculed and condemned, even for those who showed the slightest curiosity.
More conscious reflections about God began during my school years, but these were probably born of idle curiosity. In the 1990s, religious themes suddenly flooded the public sphere, which had previously been inaccessible. My great-aunt had already passed away by then, and no one among my relatives or acquaintances spoke to me about faith.
—One time, my sister had a dream (this was in the late 1990s) in which, as she recounted, she saw our great-aunt looking very sorrowful.
For some reason, my sister felt compelled to light a candle for our aunt in church. She invited me to go with her, and we visited the St. Seraphim Church. There, memories flooded back of how, as a child, I had been brought to this very place. It was a reverent feeling, a sense of something deeply familiar. But at that time, I quickly forgot about it. After that visit, my sister started occasionally going to church and gradually became more religious. She would talk to me about the church, and I would sometimes drop by, but I didn’t show much enthusiasm for it.
After high school, I was drafted for mandatory military service. During my second year of service, influenced by my sister, her letters, and her words, I suddenly came to realize and feel that God exists. This was because I witnessed His clear help in my life. I returned from the army as a believer. Afterward, I began to gradually become more involved in church life.
I agree that faith is a gift given to everyone. The key is to preserve this gift, to protect and multiply it. It’s important that at the beginning of our journey in the church, especially at the Sacrament of Baptism, we have an experienced mentor in the faith—a godparent who can help us come to God. For me, that mentor and prayerful supporter was my great-aunt. May her memory be eternal!
—Why did you decide to become a priest? Did your family support you?
—It all seemed to happen on its own. As they say, God led me. When I had more or less started leading a life in the church, the question of my spiritual education arose. To be honest, I had no idea what spiritual education entailed, but I already understood that in the Church, there is such a thing as a blessing.
One day, the rector of the church where I served in the altar told me that he would write me a recommendation for seminary, and I needed to enroll to deepen my knowledge. This came as a complete surprise to me. But I obeyed and decided to submit the documents and prepare for the entrance exams. I thought, one way or another, education wouldn’t hurt.
In 2001, I entered the Vyatka Theological School. After a year of study, I became a subdeacon for Bishop Chrysanth (Metropolitan Chrysanth of Vyatka and Slobodskoy, †2011). Bishop Chrysanth was someone who greatly influenced my spiritual formation. After graduating from the seminary, I already understood that I was among those considered for ordination into the priesthood.
On the one hand, during seminary, I had come to terms with this idea. On the other hand, it frightened me. I deeply admired the priestly ministry—one could say I revered it—but I also understood that becoming a priest would mean taking a very serious step that would completely change my way of life and its familiar rhythm. It’s like undertaking a great feat.
In the end, I tried not to dwell on it and decided to let things unfold as they would.
Then I was introduced to my future wife. We began calling each other, meeting regularly, and soon I realized I couldn’t live without her. I proposed, and she agreed. We were married in 2006. In 2008, during Great Lent, Bishop Chrysanth called me aside and told me to prepare, as I was to be ordained a deacon the following week. Somehow, my wife and I had already accepted this with humility.
I had hoped to serve as a deacon for a few years to gain experience and confidence in the diaconate. However, I served for only a week. When I expressed my desire to remain a deacon longer, Bishop Chrysanth firmly responded, “I see you as a priest. Prepare for ordination.” Thus, I became a priest. This happened on March 30, 2008.
My family was not opposed. Some were surprised, but overall, my parents and relatives received the news well.
—You graduated from the Vyatka Theological School and the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary. Could you share any insights you gained during your studies?
—The most significant revelation for me was how profoundly different studying in a theological school is from studying in a regular school. It’s not just about outward forms but an internal difference. You find yourself as if in a family: the older and more experienced students show fatherly and spiritual care for the younger and newly enrolled, while the younger students show respect for their senior peers.
Just as in a family, there are all kinds of experiences here, but self-reproach, correction, repentance, and even ecclesiastical discipline—these are the grace-filled means known to every student that heal any discord. If someone is celebrating a feast day or a name day, everyone rejoices together; if someone passes away, everyone grieves and prays together. This sense of unity and shared experience was the greatest insight for me.
To be continued…