Deacon Svyatoslav Drozdov, a cleric of Holy Trinity Church in the city of Pushkino, died suddenly of a heart attack on November 16, 2017, at the age of 29.

His wife Matushka Elena was pregnant with twin boys at the time, who were then born in January, and their daughter was not even two yet. Now Matushka is raising the three small children all by herself.

She was able to send them all to kindergarten this year, and her retired mother helps her. Without her help, Matushka wouldn’t be able to get by at all.

Many people came together to help them three years ago when this terrible disaster happened. The family didn’t have its own place to live then, but individuals and the parish where Dcn. Svyatoslav served quickly raised funds for housing and repairs. Now they live in their own apartment in Khotkovo in the Moscow Oblast.

The state assistance they live on is not enough, of course, as it’s practically impossible for Matushka to get a job with three small children.

Unfortunately, the stress she suffered during pregnancy negatively affected both her health and that of the boys. They are under a neurologist’s supervision and they need constant medical treatment for the complications it caused.

Nearly their entire budget is spent on food, diapers, medicine, and whatever other expenses crop up. The children are growing, which means expenses are growing too.

It is only with the help of kind people that the family can get by and Matushka can raise her children. They are in need of constant support, and Matushka is eternally grateful to all the compassionate people who have offered their assistance.

Dcn. Svyatoslav Drozdov was born in the city of Bender in Moldova in 1998. His mother raised him herself. Life was hard, and as Dcn. Svyatoslav would recall, they sometimes had to go hungry, especially in the 90s. Despite the difficult circumstances, his mother preserved her Orthodox faith and hope in God and was able to instill faith in her son.

After middle school, the future deacon went to the Bender Art School, from which he graduated in 2010. Desiring to dedicate his talents to the Lord, Svyatoslav entered the school of iconography at the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 2013. Hoping to be ordained, he then enrolled in correspondence courses through the Moscow Theological Seminary.

He was ordained to the diaconate on October 30, 2016, at the Church of the Archangel Michael in Krasnoznamenska, and was assigned to Holy Trinity Church in Pushkino.

Dcn. Svyatoslav proved himself to be a good deacon. He had a good voice, he often helped serve the Divine Liturgy, and he was kind and sympathetic, for which he was greatly loved and respected by the parishioners and students of the Sunday School where he taught.

Dcn. Svyatoslav served his final Divine Liturgy on November 16, 2017, the day of his death, and communed of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

There were no signs of trouble. According to Matushka, Dcn. Svyatoslav never complained about his health. He led an active lifestyle, and they were both full of energy and plans for the future.

Then, in the evening of that terrible day, Dcn. Svyatoslav had a heart attack and died. Such a sudden death was a terrible shock for everyone, especially his wife. He was a wonderful father and husband.

Now the whole family lives on the memory of Dcn. Svyatoslav, who never got to see his sons or raise his children.

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Священник: Deacon Svyatoslav Drozdov
Матушка: Matushka Helena Drozdov
Место жительства: Akhtyrka village, Moscow region, Russia