Oleg Nikolaevich Ovchinnikov

Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation Oleg Nikolaevich Ovchinnikov was born in the ancient Russian city of Vyatka on September 28, 1971.

From his childhood, Oleg, raised in the spirit of family Orthodox piety, attended church services and sang in the church choir. In the 1980s, such a choice of life path by a young person could often become a reason for overt or covert persecution by state authorities.

To withstand, preserve his faith, and remain devoted to God and the Church in the face of such serious trials for a young heart, Oleg was helped by the constant spiritual support of his family and mentors: His Eminence Archbishop of Vyatka and Sloboda Chrisanf (now the late Metropolitan of Vyatka and Sloboda) and the secretary of the Vyatka Diocesan Administration, Archpriest Alexander Mogilev (now Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander).

In 1989, Oleg Nikolaevich Ovchinnikov became the choirmaster of the Archbishop's Choir of the Kostroma Diocese. Under his leadership, this church choir quickly gained not only national but also international fame and recognition. Evidence of this was the choir's numerous tour trips to European countries and the USA, awards from international competitions in Sylvanes (France), Milan (Italy), Munich (Germany), Hajnowka (Poland), and participation in services performed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin and in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

In 2005, by decree of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, the Archbishop's Choir was awarded the Order of Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, III degree.

In 1997, he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary.

In 2009, he graduated from the Uzhgorod Theological Academy named after Saints Cyril and Methodius with a master's degree in theology. The topic of his master's thesis was "Saints Joseph of Volokolamsk and Andrei Rublev as Restorers of Spirituality in Russia."

From November 21, 1993, to April 1, 2010, he served as Secretary of the Kostroma Diocesan Administration.

In 1999, by decree of the President of Russia, O.N. Ovchinnikov was awarded the title "Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation" for his significant contributions to the field of art.

In 2006, by decree of the President of Russia, he was awarded the Order of Friendship.

He graduated from the Kostroma State University named after N.A. Nekrasov. At the Department of History and Theory of Music, he defended his thesis "Traditions of Orthodoxy in Russian Choral Art."

By decision of the State Certification Commission on June 23, 2010, he was awarded the qualification of music teacher in the specialty "Music Education."

On April 1, 2010, by decree of the Head of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Archbishop of Astana and Almaty Alexander, O.N. Ovchinnikov was appointed Secretary of the Astana and Almaty Diocese

On August 1, 2010, by decree of the Head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander, O.N. Ovchinnikov was appointed Secretary of the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

On August 1, 2010, by decree of the Head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan of Astana and Kazakhstan Alexander, O.N. Ovchinnikov was appointed choirmaster of the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

Since 2016, O.N. Ovchinnikov has been a member of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Development of Russian Church Singing.

On May 12, 2018, the choir of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District, under the direction of the Honored Art Worker of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov, received the Grand Prix of the "Hajnowka Days of Church Music" festival.

On September 4, 2018, for his achievements in the revival and strengthening of church singing traditions, O.N. Ovchinnikov was awarded the Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) Award of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.

From February 1 to November 4, 2021, he was a member of the jury of the Patriarchal International Festival "Light of Christ" among the episcopal choirs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Church awards:

• 1990 - Order of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, III degree

• 1994 - Order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, III degree

• 1998 - Order of Saint Righteous Prince Daniel of Moscow, III degree

• 1999 - Medal of Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna

• 2005 - Order of Saint Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, III degree

• 2011 - Order of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan "Algys" ("Gratitude")

• 2012 - Patriarchal Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War of 1812"

• 2013 - Order of Saint Confessor Sebastian of Karaganda (award of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District)

• 2016 - Order of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan "Enbek Ushin" (For Labor)

• 2017 - Patriarchal Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church"

• 2021 - Order of Saint Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow, III degree

• 2021 - Order of Saint Sophronius (Sokolsky), Archbishop of Turkestan and Tashkent, Enlightener of Semirechye (award of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District)

• 2021 - Medal of Holy Martyr Thaddeus, Archbishop of Tver, I degree (Tver Metropolia)

• 2021 - Diploma of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill for participation in the I Patriarchal International Festival of Russian Sacred Music "Light of Christ"

Secular awards:

• Awarded the title "Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation" - 1994

• Awarded the title "Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation" - 1999

• Badge of the Governor of the Kostroma Region "Labor. Valor. Honor." - 2001

• Order of Friendship (Russian Federation) - 2006

• Order "Kurmet" (Order of Honor) - 2015

• Order "Dostyk" (Friendship) II degree - 2021

• Order "For Merit in Culture and Art" (Russian Federation) - 2022.