On February 7, 2011, an unsung hero of the Russian Orthodox website community reposed in the Lord. The Moscow Archpriest Maxim Obukhov has left this eulogy of Alexander Dyatlov, who made great contributions to the technical side of Orthodox charitable causes.
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| Alexander Dyatlov. |
Alexander was a very humble man; he was never in the center of attention in the press, and did not sign his name to the projects created through his technical assistance, but very many people knew him personally. He gave technical assistance to projects, the authors of which were unable to manage the technical side, and that included many dioceses and parishes not only in Russia, but also abroad. The assistance he provided was irreplaceable for many, because a person with his level of expertise is always highly paid, while he not only did his work gratis, he often even personally covered the additional expenses.
Dyatlov was also a volunteer worker for many years at the “Life” center, standing behind the internet projects developed to help defend unborn children and families. The progress of the pro-life movements that we see [in Russia] today is greatly due to Alexander Dyatlov and his expert technical assistance. All of this requires daily work that goes largely unnoticed by outsiders.
Several years ago, Alexander became very ill, and got whatever treatment he could. He went to Germany and was often in the hospitals, but he did not abandon his administrative duties in support of charitable projects. He practically died with his laptop in his hands, not stopping his work. As he lay in the hospital bed, he continued to help his friends with advice, and never complained about life or burdened anyone with his pain.
I knew him for fifteen years and remember him as a person who was always geared to help someone or support them, without ever losing his vigorous spirit, and never feeling depressed.
Alexander was not poor, but this was due exclusively to his high qualifications and tireless labor. Credit is due to his employers, who nobly reserved his job and continued to pay him, even when he was in the hospital or at home, unable to rise from his bed.
The last time I saw him was in the hospital, when I gave him Communion. He was no longer able to rise from his bed, but he tried to appear “almost healthy,” in order not to depress his visitor by his suffering.
Alexander was responsible for the internet section of the annual Nativity Readings in Moscow, and was one of the creators of a society of Orthodox website developers. His death brings an irreparable loss, but he left pupils—a school which I hope will be able to at least partially continue to work on his projects.
I ask all to pray for the newly reposed slave of God, Alexander.
His funeral will take place on Wednesday, February 9, at 11:30 a.m. in the Annunciation Church at Petrovsky Park, Moscow.
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The staff of Pravoslavie.ru/OrthoChristian.com express their condolences to Alexander’s family and friends, and ask our readers to pray for the repose of his soul.
Archpriest Maxim Obukhov
