The latest achievements of Fedor Konyukhov. Biography of Fedor Konyukhov

Famous Russian traveler, writer, artist, clergyman, free balloon pilot. Archpriest of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Fedor Konyukhov. Biography

Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov born on December 12, 1951 in the Zaporozhye village of Chkalovo (later Troitskoye) in Ukraine, on the shores of the Azov Sea in a simple peasant family. In addition to Fedor, his parents - Philip Mikhailovich, a descendant of Arkhangelsk Pomor fishermen, and a native of Bessarabia Maria Efremovna there were two more sons and two daughters.

Since childhood, Fedor was preparing to become a traveler: he learned to swim, dive, bathed in cold water, walked on a boat with a sail and oars, Fedor often visited the Sea of ​​Azov on fishing trips with his father, who always told his offspring about the Great Patriotic War and urged them to take care of their native land and work honestly.

Realizing that the sea and travel were his life, Konyukhov studied in the Belarusian Bobruisk at vocational school No. 15 (later Bobruisk State Vocational and Technical Art College), receiving a diploma as an inlay carver. He graduated from the Odessa Naval School with a specialty as a navigator. And then he received an education as a ship mechanic at the Leningrad Arctic School. Along the way, he also studied at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.

Fyodor Konyukhov’s grandfather, a lieutenant colonel in the tsarist army, once told his grandson about a colleague from his garrison - Georgiy Sedov, who, before his tragic trip to the Arctic, left him an Orthodox cross, asking him to give the memento to the strongest of his descendants, so that he could bring his idea to life. As a result, Fedor fulfilled his promise - he visited the North Pole three times, including with that very cross.

Fedor Konyukhov. Career as a traveler and explorer

In 1966, being 15 years old, he first went on an expedition on a rowing boat and crossed the Sea of ​​Azov, and in 1977 he organized a yachting trip in the North Pacific Ocean - along the route Vitus Bering and other sailors. While traveling, Konyukhov learned how his compatriots discovered lands and bays several centuries ago and founded settlements there.

Fedor's interest in research never leaves him. He also carried out scientific activities during campaigns to Kamchatka, Commanders, and Sakhalin. Wherever Konyukhov appeared, he was always curious about the life of people, learning about how they survive in difficult northern conditions.

Before the assault on the North Pole, Fedor, as part of D. Shparo’s group, made a ski trip to the Pole of relative inaccessibility during the polar night, and also walked along Baffin Island with Canadian travelers. The researcher also has a trans-Arctic ski crossing (USSR - North Pole - Canada) and participation in the first autonomous expedition "Arctic" to the North Pole, led by V. Chukov.

In 1990, having gained experience in polar skiing by that time, Fedor set off on an independent voyage to the North Pole, which he reached after 72 days, thereby realizing his dream and fulfilling his covenant Georgy Sedov.

In 1998, Fedor Konyukhov became the head of the laboratory of distance learning in extreme conditions (LDEL) at the Moscow Modern Academy of the Humanities.

In 1995, Konyukhov single-handedly crossed the ice desert of Antarctica and on the 59th day of a very difficult journey he reached the South Pole, planting the Russian tricolor there for the first time. At the same time, as part of the trip, he fulfills the instructions of the Ministry of Atomic Energy, measuring the natural radiation field of Antarctica on the way to the pole, and the request of doctors - he evaluates his physical and psychological condition, and carries out other observations.

Konyukhov makes many of his expeditions alone, but also participates in groups. So, in 1989, he himself organized a Soviet-American bicycle ride along the route Nakhodka - Leningrad, and in 1991 - a Soviet-Australian motor rally - Nakhodka - Brest. However, the leitmotif of a yacht captain's travels is the sea and the ocean.

Konyukhov is the only Russian who has circumnavigated the world three times alone. In 1990-1991: the sailor started from Sydney, where he returned after 224 days. In 1992: he sailed on a large two-masted yacht along the route Taiwan - Singapore - Indian Ocean - Red and Mediterranean Seas - Gibraltar - Atlantic - Hawaiian Islands - Taiwan, visiting all continents and completing it in 508 days. The third circumnavigation, which lasted from September to May 1999, covered the entire World Ocean (50 thousand km) and passed along the route: the port of Charleston - Cape Town - Auckland - Punta del Este - Charleston.

In May 2012, together with the Russian team “7 Summits”, Konyukhov made his second ascent of Everest. In 2013, he had an expedition from Karelia to the southern point of Greenland via the North Pole. From December 2013 to May 2014, he traveled across the Pacific Ocean on the rowing boat Turgoyak and went from the Chilean port of Concon to Brisbane in Australia in 160 days. This was the best result for such a single crossing.

By 2016, the famous wanderer had made over fifty unique expeditions and ascents. Experts in the Russian Federation and abroad believe Fedora Konyukhova the most versatile of professional travelers, who has dozens of diverse hikes, including in the mountains. For example, in honor of the 850th anniversary of Moscow, he climbed the mountain peaks of all continents of the Earth, spending five years of hard work on this.

On July 12, 2016, Konyukhov set off on his solo flight around the world in a Morton balloon, starting at the Australian Northam airfield. The route was the same as its predecessor Steve Fossett, which made a record flight in 2002. But Fyodor Filippovich beat this world achievement: his aircraft landed safely in western Australia on July 23, 2016, and the result of circumnavigating the world was 11 days, 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Fedor Konyukhov about the flight on the Morton: For me, the main record is completing a circumnavigation of the world on the first try. It took my predecessor, American pilot Steve Fossett, six attempts in 2002. The balloon flew around the world in a record time - 11 days and 6 hours - on the first try. To finish off I was able to fly over Northam airfield and cross my start line which was unique! Imagine, the ball flew almost 35,000 kilometers and reached the starting point. Moreover, using only wind flows. For balloonists this is the highest class.

Konyukhov assures that there was no moment when he regretted his idea, since such a flight had been his dream for two decades:

I knew it would be difficult and dangerous, but it couldn’t be any other way. More than five thousand people have climbed Everest, but only two have flown around the world alone in a hot air balloon - Steve Fossett, and now me.

At the end of 2016, the Russian traveler received the highest award in the field of aeronautics: the International Aeronautics Association FAI-Breitling named him “Pilot of the Year.” Such a prize was awarded to a Russian for the first time in 110 years of its existence.

Fedor Konyukhov: This is a very big award for me. But I am pleased that it belongs to our country, Russia, for which I always stand.

In December 2016, at the Shevlino airfield near Moscow, Konyukhov began to take his first steps in the field of gliding, because he set himself a new task: to gain experience and knowledge for subsequent preparation for setting a world altitude record on a glider.

Fedor Konyukhov: It’s never too late to learn. I am turning 65 years old, and I am pleased to begin mastering a new type of aircraft for me - a glider. I hope that with the support of the Russian Gliding Federation we will be able to implement several beautiful projects in this sport...

Fedor Konyukhov. Creativity and spiritual activity

The traveler, in addition to the main passion of his life, also writes poetry and music for the organ, and composes works of art. While on expeditions, Konyukhov certainly expresses his vision of the world in notes and paintings, of which the author already has over three thousand.

In 1983 he was admitted to the Union of Artists of the USSR, and since 1996 he became a member of the Moscow Union of Artists. Fedor Filippovich is a participant in Russian and international exhibitions. Since 2012, he received the status of academician of the Russian Academy of Arts.

In 2010, on the day of the Holy Trinity, Fyodor Konyukhov was ordained a deacon, and in December of the same year, on the day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, he was ordained a priest in his small homeland in the St. Nicholas Church of Zaporozhye.

The traveler was awarded the Order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, 1st degree - for exemplary and diligent work for the benefit of the Holy Orthodox Church of God.

Fedor Konyukhov. Achievements and awards

Order of Friendship of Peoples - 1988. Order of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, 1st degree, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for exemplary and diligent work for the benefit of the Holy Orthodox Church of God. Gold medal of the Russian Academy of Arts. Gold Medal named after N. N. Miklouho-Maclay of the Russian Geographical Society - 2014. UNEP Global 500 Award for contribution to environmental protection. UNESCO Prize for Fair Play. Prize and Order of Friendship of Peoples “White Cranes of Russia” - 2015.

Fedor Konyukhov the first on planet Earth to reach the five poles of the Earth (North geographic - three times; Southern geographic; pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean; height pole - Chomolungma; yachtsmen's pole - Cape Horn). In addition, he is the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program and the first in the CIS to complete the Seven Summits program.

In 1990-1991, the traveler made the first non-stop circumnavigation of the world on a yacht in Russian history alone. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone on a UralAZ rowing boat, setting a world record - 46 days and 4 hours, as well as the Pacific Ocean (world record - 159 days 14 hours 45 minutes).

Fedor Konyukhov - Honored Master of Sports of the USSR in sports tourism; honorary resident of Nakhodka (since 1996), the village of Bergin, the city of Miass, Terni (Italy).

Fedor Konyukhov. Personal life

The wife of a famous traveler - Irina Anatolyevna Konyukhova - Doctor of Law, Professor. The couple has two children: a son Oscar Fedorovich(b. 1975) and daughter Tatyana Fedorovna(b. 1978).

In the fall of 2015, it became known that Konyukhov acquired 69 hectares of land in the Zaoksky district of the Tula region, on which he planned to build an entire village, nine chapels, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, a children's travel school and a sports and tourist camp, as well as a travel history museum, a hotel complex, library, etc. The site where it was decided to create the village of Fyodor Konyukhov is located three kilometers from the Oka River.

Fedor Konyukhov: It’s a pity, of course, that there is no longer a single free area along the banks of the Oka. If the village overlooked the water, we would set up a children's sailing school or open a rowing section.

The goal of the project is, first of all, to create a unique and cozy place for like-minded people to live and communicate, including travelers, writers, artists who are tired of the “concrete jungle,” people who value an active lifestyle and love wild nature, etc. The village itself is conceived not only as a place of residence Fedora Konyukhova, but also as a museum of the great traveler.

Fedor Konyukhov. Books

"My spirit is on the deck of the Karaana"
"All birds, all winged"
"Oarsman on the Ocean"
"Road Without Bottom"
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth...”
“How Admiral Ushakov made the Black Sea Russian”
"Antarctica"
"How I became a traveler"
"Sails knock the stars out of the sky"
"Alone with the Ocean"
"The ocean is my abode"
"Under Scarlet Sails"
"My travels"
"Pacific Ocean"
"The power of faith. 160 days and nights alone with the Pacific Ocean"
"My travels. The next 10 years"
"My path to truth"

Fedor Konyukhov. Expeditions

• 1977 - research expedition on a yacht along the route of Vitus Bering
• 1978 - research expedition on a yacht along the route of Vitus Bering; archaeological expedition
• 1979 - the second stage of a research expedition on a yacht along the route Vladivostok - Sakhalin - Kamchatka - Commander Islands; climbing the Klyuchevsky volcano
• 1980 - international regatta “Baltic Cup” as part of the DVVIMU crew
• 1981 - crossing Chukotka by dog ​​sled
• 1983 - scientific and sports ski expedition to the Laptev Sea. The first polar expedition as part of Dmitry Shparo's group.
• 1984 - international regatta for the Baltic Cup as part of the DVVIMU crew; rafting on the Lena River
• 1985 - expedition through the Ussuri taiga in the footsteps of Vladimir Arsenyev and Dersu Uzal
• 1986 - ski crossing into the polar night to the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean as part of an expedition
• 1987 - ski trip to Baffin Island as part of a Soviet-Canadian expedition
• 1988 - trans-Arctic ski expedition along the route USSR - North Pole - Canada as part of an international group
• 1989 - the first Russian autonomous expedition "Arctic" under the leadership of Vladimir Chukov to the North Pole; Soviet-American transcontinental bike ride Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad
• 1990 - solo ski trip to the North Pole (the first in Russian history) in 72 days
• 1990-1991 - solo circumnavigation on a yacht without stops along the route Sydney - Cape Horn - Equator - Sydney in 224 days (the first in Russian history)
• 1991 - Russian-Australian motor rally along the route Nakhodka - Moscow
• 1992 - climbing Elbrus (Europe); climbing Everest (Asia)
• 1993-1994 - around the world expedition on a two-masted ketch along the route Taiwan – Hong Kong – Singapore – We Island (Indonesia) – Victoria Island (Seychelles) – Yemen (port of Aden) – Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) – Suez Canal – Alexandria (Egypt) – Gibraltar – Casablanca (Morocco) – Santa Lucia (Caribbean Islands) – Panama Canal – Honolulu (Hawaii Islands) – Mariana Islands – Taiwan
• 1995-1996 - autonomous solo trip to the South Pole (the first in the history of Russia; in 64 days)
• 1996 - January 19: ascent to the Vinson Massif (Antarctica); March 9: Climbing Aconcagua (South America)
• 1997 - February 18: climbing Kilimanjaro (Africa); April 17: climbing Kosciuszko Peak (Australia); May 26: climbing McKinley Peak (North America); European regattas Sardinia Cup (Italy), Gotland Race (Sweden), Cowes week (England) as part of the crew of the maxi-yacht Grand Mistral
• 1998-1999 - American solo round-the-world race Around Alone on the yacht Open 60 (third solo round-the-world race)
• 2000 - The world's longest sled dog race, the Iditarod, crosses Alaska from Anchorage to Nome.
• 2000-2001 - French single round-the-world sailing race (non-stop) Vendee Globe on a yacht (the first in Russian history)
• 2002 - caravan expedition on camels “In the footsteps of the Great Silk Road (the first in the history of modern Russia); crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rowing boat (the first in Russian history; world record - 46 days 4 hours) along the route Canary Islands - Barbados
• 2003 - Russian-British record transatlantic passage with a crew along the route Canary Islands - Barbados (world record for multihull ships - 9 days); Russian-British record transatlantic passage with a crew on the route Jamaica - England (world record for multihull ships - 16 days)
• 2004 - single transatlantic record crossing from east to west on a maxi-yacht along the route Canary Islands - Barbados (world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean - 14 days and 7 hours)
• 2004-2005 - solo circumnavigation on a maxi-yacht along the route Falmouth - Hobart - Falmouth (the first solo circumnavigation in the history of world sailing on a maxi-class yacht via Cape Horn)
• 2005-2006 - project “Around the Atlantic Ocean”. As part of the Russian crew, sailing on a yacht along the route England - Canary Islands - Barbados - Antigua - England
• 2006 - tests of an experimental polar iceboat on the east coast of Greenland
• 2007 - crossing Greenland by dog ​​sled from the east to the west coast (record 15 days 22 hours)
• 2007-2008 - Australian race around Antarctica along the route Albany - Cape Horn - Cape of Good Hope - Cape Luin - Albany (102 days; single yachtsman, non-stop)
• 2009 - the second stage of the international expedition “In the footsteps of the Great Silk Road” (Mongolia - Kalmykia)
• 2011 - expedition “Nine Highest Peaks of Ethiopia”
• 2012 - May 19: climbing to the top of Everest along the Northern Ridge (Konyukhov became the first priest of the Russian Orthodox Church to climb Everest)
• 2013 - crossing the Arctic Ocean on a dog sled along the route: North Pole - Canada
• 2013-2014 - Pacific crossing on a rowing boat without calling at ports in a record 160 days (Chile (Con Con) - Australia (Moololuba)
• 2015 - Russian record for flight duration on an AX-9 class hot-air balloon (19 hours 10 minutes)
• 2016 - world record for duration of flight in a hot air balloon (32 hours 20 minutes); dog sled expedition “Onega Pomorie”; solo round-the-world flight in a Morton balloon (the fastest round-the-world flight for any type of balloon: 11 days 4 hours 20 minutes - an absolute world record)

Domestic and foreign experts consider Fedor Konyukhov the most versatile of professional travelers. He has about forty different types of hikes to his credit, including in the mountains. Having no special mountaineering training, but possessing great physical endurance and perseverance in achieving his intended goal, he decided, in honor of the 850th anniversary of Moscow, to climb the mountain peaks of all continents of the Earth. It took five years of persistent work. As a workout, I ran to Klyuchevskaya Sopka, 4,750 meters high, and believed in myself. Then there were the Caucasian peak Elbrus (5642 m), the Asian Everest (8848 m), the Australian Mount Kosciuszko (2230 m), and the South American Aconcagua (6960 m). Of course, Everest was the most difficult to climb, but the three peaks were interesting, mysterious and difficult in their own way. The long-extinct African volcano Kilimanjaro (5895 m), glorified by Ernest Hemingway, especially attracted the attention of the Russian traveler. Rising upward from the tropical zone, he gradually experienced a change in climatic and weather conditions. If at the foot there was vegetation scorched by the sun, then from 3-4 kilometers the evergreen tropical forest begins, even higher - alpine meadows, then rocks and, finally, the kingdom of ice and snow. As an artist, he could not stop admiring the beauty of nature, made sketches, and took a lot of photographs. But the most difficult and dangerous for the climber were the ice-rocky mountains: the North American McKinley (6193 m) and the Antarctic Vinson Massif (5140 m). There is deep snow, treacherous cracks in the ice, and a fierce cold wind that chokes your breath. And having safely descended (in some places he had to crawl) from the massif, he almost died from cold and hunger - for more than three days the plane could not fly for him due to a severe blizzard.

The traveler makes most of his trips alone, but he also willingly takes part in collective expeditions. And he himself organized and led two interesting transcontinental runs: the Soviet-American bicycle race along the route Nakhodka - Leningrad (1989) and the Soviet-Australian automobile race - Nakhodka - Brest (1991). On a long journey across the Russian expanses, Fedor showed his foreign fellow travelers many natural attractions: cedar forests, Lake Baikal, mighty Siberian rivers, the Ural Mountains, new cities. The results of these runs were reports, documentaries, photo albums released in our country and abroad.

And yet, the main line of travel for a yacht captain is the sea and ocean. And he, the only Russian, made three circumnavigations of the world alone. The first of them was in 1990 - 1991 on the yacht “Karaana”. It took off from the Australian port of Sydney and returned there after 224 days. Moreover, he chose the most difficult route: between the “roaring” forties and the “furious” fifties latitudes, where the wind was predominantly favorable and where the first Russian circumnavigators Ivan Kruzenshtern, Mikhail Lazarev and others sailed. But at the same time, the route was cold and sometimes stormy winds with snow or rain, dangerous encounters with whales and icebergs, especially in the Drake Passage, near Cape Horn. But the sailor overcame everything, although he lost 11 kilograms.

A year later, Konyukhov set off on a second circumnavigation of the world along a different, equatorial route: Taiwan - Singapore - Indian Ocean - Red and Mediterranean Seas - Gibraltar - Atlantic - Hawaiian Islands - Taiwan, calling at all continents. The solo voyage on the large two-masted yacht Formosa lasted 508 days and was associated with a dramatic and at the same time heroic event. In the Philippines area, the captain became very ill and was hospitalized. Meanwhile, pirates stole his yacht to another island. But Fedor is not a timid person. After all, he served on a Baltic landing ship and carried out command assignments in the jungles of Vietnam and Nicaragua. To find the Formosa on a distant island, they had to steal a boat from other pirates. And the daredevil tied up the drunken robbers found on board the yacht and loaded them onto their rubber boat.

Taking part in the international sailing race "Around the World - Alone", he completed his third circumnavigation of the world, sailing the yacht "Modern Humanitarian University". At first, 39 applicants from many countries signed up for the competition, but only 16 ships took the start; the rest dropped out for various reasons, including those that did not pass the 2,000 nautical mile qualifying run. Fedor passed the test, but was hit by three hurricanes. It was especially difficult for him in the fight against Hurricane Daniel in the Bermuda area. For three days the yacht lay on board, and the captain had to make incredible efforts to straighten it.

The race covered the entire World Ocean with a length of 27 thousand nautical miles, i.e. 50 thousand kilometers, and passed along the route: the American port of Charleston - Cape Town (South Africa) - Auckland (New Zealand) - Punta del Este (Uruguay) - Charleston. (It’s interesting that all these points were flown by supra

ha Irina, son Oscar - for moral support of Fedor. And they helped him troubleshoot technical problems on the yacht).

In total, the yachtsmen were on the road for eight months, from September 1998 to May 1999. We experienced the tropical heat and piercing wind of the Antarctic, dodged steel ships and icebergs and constantly drove forward, not knowing sleep or peace. Some ships had up to 15 different breakdowns, and Konyukhov’s yacht did not escape this. In the dark, he collided with a sleeping whale, as a result of which the steering wheel was bent. When approaching Cape Horn, a dolphin jumped on board, which rarely happens in sailing practice; the skipper barely managed to push the heavy and slippery body of the sea guest into his native element. And off the coast of Brazil, he barely fought off modern filibusters with the help of a flare gun.

Unable to withstand the conditions of the extreme race, seven participants left the race. Fedor Konyukhov finished third. A government telegram from Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov arrived in America addressed to him. “We are pleased,” it said, “that such a legendary traveler lives in Moscow and continues the traditions of our compatriots in exploring the planet.”

At the request of F. Konyukhov, he is registered to participate in the international sailing race “Windy Globe 2000”, the start of which is scheduled for November 5, 2000. The main feature of this global competition is that it is held non-stop, without a single port call! And another thing that attracts Konyukhov here: he needs to go around Antarctica, and he has long wanted to go the way of the discoverers of the sixth continent, Russian naval officers Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev. This will be the fourth circumnavigation of the courageous navigator. And before that, he managed to take part in the international Iditarod 2000 sled dog race through snowy Alaska, along the path of gold miners of the 19th century.

The hikes and expeditions of this wonderful traveler give a lot to our science, sports, tourism, and the whole society. They show what can be achieved by a person who is well prepared physically and mentally, who knows how to maintain health and performance, sometimes in difficult situations. And it's no surprise that the 48-year-old explorer plans to travel until 2020.

Replenishing his knowledge, he studies at the Faculty of Law of the Modern Humanitarian University, where he also runs a laboratory for distance learning in extreme conditions.

Fyodor Konyukhov always writes and draws a lot, even during hikes. He is a member of the Union of Artists and a member of the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation. In 1999, three of his books were published: “And I saw a new sky and a new earth”, “Le Havre - Charleston” and “How Antarctica was discovered”; The almanac “Russian Traveler” was previously published. These are basically the author's diary entries, but they are perceived as adventure stories.

The name of Fyodor Konyukhov is among the outstanding figures of science and technology in the international encyclopedia “Chronicle of Humanity”. The traveler was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples and a UNESCO diploma for his contribution to the cause of ecology. He is an Honored Master of Sports, a yacht captain.

Fyodor Konyukhov's biography briefly and interesting facts from the life of the Russian traveler - extreme sportsman, artist, journalist, yacht captain, priest - are presented in this article.

Fedor Konyukhov short biography

Fedor Filippovich Konyukhov was born on December 12, 1951 in the village of Chkalovo, which is located on the shores of the Azov Sea. His father was a hereditary fisherman from the Arkhangelsk province.

Konyukhov studied at the Odessa Naval School and the Leningrad Polar School, Bobruisk Art School, specializing in wood carving.

Afterwards, in 1970, he studied at the Leningrad Seminary. He served in the army, staying in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Vietnam. Fedor also served as a sailor on ships of the Baltic rescue fleet and on trawlers, catching fish in the Pacific Ocean.

Ever since childhood, Konyukhov showed a love of travel. For 20 years, as a tester of the limits of human capabilities, he took part in expeditions to the South and North Poles.

Fyodor describes all his vivid impressions from his travels in paintings and books. He is the author of more than 3,000 paintings and a participant in international and Russian art exhibitions. Many of his works are currently in private collections and museums. In 1983, Konyukhov was accepted into the Union of Artists of the USSR, and in 1996 he became a member of the Moscow Union of Artists in the section “Graphics” and “Sculpture” (since 2001). In addition, Fyodor Konyukhov holds the titles of laureate of the Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Arts and Honorary Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts.

He is the author of 9 books entitled – “The Diaries of Fyodor Konyukhov about the Sailing Ship Race “Around Alone”, “And I Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth”, “My Spirit on the Deck of the Karaana”, “Under Scarlet Sails”, “The Rower in the Ocean” “,” “Road without a bottom,” “All birds, all winged,” “The ocean is my abode.”

In 1998, the traveler headed the laboratory for distance learning in extreme conditions at the Humanitarian Academy. And a year later he was awarded the title of Honored Master of Sports, awarded the UN Global 500 environmental prize, the Order of Friendship of the Peoples of the USSR, and the UNESCO Prize for Fair Play.

In 2010, Fyodor Konyukhov became a subdeacon, and on May 23 of the same year he was ordained a priest in the Zaporozhye St. Nicholas Church.

Today, Father Fedor never tires of traveling, although no longer as a scientist or athlete, but as a missionary.

As for his personal life, he is married for the second time. His first wife was Lyubov, who now lives in the USA. And Konyukhov’s second and last wife was Irina, a professor and doctor of legal sciences. They are raising two children from a previous marriage and one child in common - sons Oscar, Nikolai and daughter Tatyana.

Fedor Konyukhov interesting facts

• He made his first expedition at the age of 15. Fedor crossed the Sea of ​​Azov in a rowing boat. In total, he carried out more than 50 expeditions, participating in dog sled races and traveling around the world four times.
• He is the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program (bypassing the South Pole, North Pole, Everest). And he was the first traveler to reach the 5 poles of the planet - the Southern Geographical, the Northern Geographical, the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean, the Pole of Heights (Everest) and the Yachtsmen's Pole (Cape Horn).
• In addition to being a writer, Konyukhov also writes poetry and music for organ performance.
• He also draws well - his paintings are exhibited at home and abroad.
• In 1983 he was accepted into the Union of Artists. In this organization, he was the youngest member of this organization.
• In 2010, Fyodor Konyukhov was ordained a priest in his homeland, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church awarded him an order for his work for the good.

The childhood of Fyodor Konyukhov

Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov was born on the shores of the Azov Sea in the Ukrainian village of Chkalovo, Zaporozhye region, into an ordinary peasant family. The father of the future traveler, Philip Mikhailovich, came from a family of Arkhangelsk Pomor fishermen, and his mother, Maria Efremovna, was a native of Bessarabia.

The family was large - three sons and two daughters. From early childhood, Fedor got used to hard rural work in the fields and gardens. The father fished in the Sea of ​​Azov and often took his son with him. Fedor happily served as helmsman and helped pull out the nets. Konyukhov’s father fought in the Great Patriotic War, reached Budapest with Soviet troops and often shared stories with his children related to the military part of his biography.

Konyukhov was also told many interesting things by his grandfather Mikhail, a lieutenant colonel in the tsarist army. Mikhail Konyukhov served in the same garrison with Senior Lieutenant Georgy Sedov, the famous Russian polar explorer. Shortly before his last expedition to the North Pole, which ended in tragedy, Georgy Sedov left Mikhail Konyukhov with a pectoral cross with a request to give it to the strongest and bravest of the children who could reach the Pole. Fyodor Konyukhov had a chance to fulfill Sedov’s will - he visited the North Pole three times, one of which reached the extreme point of the planet alone, with Sedov’s cross on his neck.

Fyodor had a thirst for travel, especially sea travel, from early childhood. Standing at the helm of a fishing boat, Fedor peered into the Azov distance and dreamed of visiting the opposite bank of Azov. At the age of fifteen, he made his first expedition - he crossed the Sea of ​​Azov on a rowing boat alone. I prepared for this for several years - I devoted almost all my free time to rowing, sailing and swimming. He was also actively involved in football and athletics, and slept in the hayloft almost all year round. Fyodor also loved to read and voraciously “swallowed” books by Jules Verne, Stanyukovich, Goncharov and other marine writers and travelers.

Fedor Konyukhov set a new record

Education and service of Fedor Konyukhov

Already in his senior year, Konyukhov realized that the sea was his calling. After graduating from school, there were no questions about where to go - Konyukhov went to the Odessa Naval School (specialty ship mechanic). Fedor did not stop there and entered the Leningrad Polar School, receiving a second specialty upon graduation - navigator. Fedor served in the Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningrad region. During his service, as a result of one of the conflict incidents with senior soldiers, Fedor ends up in a guardhouse, from where a captain of the third rank, who selected the most courageous sailors for special forces, takes him to Vietnam. For two and a half years, Fedor served as a sailor on a boat in a special detachment whose task was to supply ammunition to the Viet Cong.

After the service, Fedor graduated from vocational school No. 15 in the city of Bobruisk in Belarus, specializing in inlay carving.

Arctic expeditions of Fedor Konyukhov

Expeditionary research activities began in 1977. This year Fedor is organizing a passage on a sailing yacht along the route of Vitus Bering in the North Pacific Ocean. Being a patriot, the explorer sought to reproduce all the conditions in which our compatriots, more than three hundred years ago, sailed on fragile boats, discovered islands and bays, explored America and founded settlements there.

Then there were expeditions pursuing similar goals - Kamchatka, Sakhalin Island, Commanders. Fedor spent a long time in Chukotka, mastering the science of dog sledding, building ice huts and surviving in extreme polar conditions. By this time, the goal was set - to reach the North Pole alone. Preparation for the expedition took several years. The unprecedented journey was preceded by a ski trip to the Pole of relative inaccessibility during the polar night, participation in the Canadian expedition to Baffin Island, the trans-Antarctic Soviet-Canadian ski expedition USSR - Pole - Canada, the first autonomous expedition to the North Pole "Arctic" as part of the group of V. Chukov. Thus, by the time he began his own solo forced march, Konyukhov had already visited the North Pole twice.

In 1990, having gained sufficient experience in polar research, Fedor set off to his cherished goal on skis. In addition to the heavy backpack, the traveler was towing a sledge with provisions and equipment. Fedor slept right on the ice in a tent and sleeping bag. The path was difficult - constantly had to overcome hummocks and ice holes, but Konyukhov was steadily approaching the Pole. 200 km before the cherished goal, Fedor almost repeated the fate of Georgy Sedov - during ice hummocking, the traveler almost died. However, on the 72nd day of the journey, Fedor still reached the North Pole, becoming the first person in the world to make such a journey alone. It was then that Konyukhov fulfilled Sedov’s will.

Antarctic expedition

Konyukhov's next goal was the South Pole. In 1995, the brave explorer went on a solo expedition to Antarctica, eventually reaching the extreme southern point of the planet on the 59th day of the trip and planting the Russian flag there. While moving towards the Pole, Konyukhov conducted a number of studies: measuring the natural radiation field of Antarctica, the physical state of the body in extreme conditions of high altitude (above 5 thousand m), lack of oxygen, strong winds and low temperatures.

As a result of the expedition, Konyukhov wrote several scientific papers that made an invaluable contribution to the development of polar science. For his research activities and scientific works after this expedition, Konyukhov was accepted as an honorary member of the Russian Geographical Society.

Climbing

It is not only the circumpolar regions that attract the attention of the intrepid explorer. Having visited the South Pole, Fedor completed the “Grand Slam” program - visiting the North and South Pole and Mount Everest. Konyukhov became the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam.

The history of Konyukhov’s ascents under the “Seven Summits of the World” program begins in 1992, when the traveler single-handedly conquered the highest point in Europe - Mount Elbrus. In the same year, together with Evgeny Vinogradsky, Fedor climbed Everest, the highest point in Asia and the planet. As part of his Antarctic expedition, on January 19, 1996, the researcher conquered the highest point of the southern continent - the Wilson Massif. In March of the same year, the climber climbed Aconcagua alone in South America, and in 1997 he completed the program with a solo ascent of the Kilimanjaro volcano in Africa, the Australian Kosciuszko Peak and, together with Vladimir Yanochkin, conquered the most difficult peak - the North American Mount McKinley.

In 2012, Konyukhov once again climbed Everest as part of the Russian team that climbed Chomolungma to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the first conquest of Everest by a Soviet mountaineering team.

Land expeditions

In 1981, Fyodor Konyukhov crossed Chukotka on a dog sled in preparation for conquering the North Pole. Preparing for the polar march, Fedor chose between two transportation options - skis and dog sled. As a result, he recognized skiing as more promising. In 1985, Fedor organized a walking expedition along the route of the famous taiga explorers V. Arsenyev and Dersu Uzala.

In the summer and autumn of 1989, Konyukhov supervised the joint Soviet-American bicycle ride across the USSR Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad. The second run from Nakhodka to the capital of Russia, this time on SUVs, Russian-Australian, took place in the summer of 1991. In 2002, Fyodor Konyukhov organized the first camel caravan expedition in Russian history following the Great Silk Road in Kalmykia, Dagestan, Astrakhan, Volgograd regions and Stavropol Territory. In 2009, the expedition continued - the second stage of the research took place along the route Kalmykia - Mongolia.

Sea expeditions and trips around the world

Sea travel occupies the largest part of Konyukhov’s research activities. Fedor made more than forty unique sea expeditions, crossed the Atlantic Ocean 17 times alone, and once on a rowing boat in autonomous mode in 46 days, setting an absolute world record. Fedor traveled around the world six times. One of these trips on a yacht took place non-stop, non-stop. There were also “serious”, according to the traveler, adventures - during one of the trips around the world, Fedor became seriously ill and was hospitalized in the Philippines. At this time, pirates stole his yacht to a neighboring island. To return the ship, Konyukhov had to temporarily become a sea robber himself - he stole a boat from drunken pirates in order to return his yacht. Fedor is a regular participant and winner of extreme marine races on sailing and rowing vessels.

Creation

In his travels, Fedor is engaged not only in research activities. He draws and writes books. In total, more than 3 thousand paintings came out of his brush. Since 1983, Konyukhov has been a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. At the time of his admission to the Union of Artists he was the youngest member of the USSR Union of Artists. Fedor is also a member of the Moscow Union of Artists and Sculptors and is an honorary academician of the Russian Academy of Arts. Based on the results of his expeditions, Fedor wrote nine books. Konyukhov is a member of the Writers' Union and the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation.

Fedor Konyukhov. Arctic 2013. Prelude

Religious rank

On May 22, 2010, Fyodor Konyukhov received the rank of subdeacon of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. Konyukhov was ordained subdeacon by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine. After being ordained, Fedor began to devote less time to travel and expeditions, but did not stop this activity completely. In December 2010, in Zaporozhye, Konyukhov, who by that time had graduated from the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, was ordained a priest and sent to serve in the Zaporozhye diocese.

Family of Fedor Konyukhov

Fedor Konyukhov is married to Irina Anatolyevna Konyukhova, professor, Doctor of Law. They have three children - a common son Nikolai, Fyodor's eldest son Oscar and daughter Tatyana - children from their first marriage. Oscar Konyukhov also travels, goes in for sailing, and is the executive director of the Sailing Federation of the Russian Federation.

Fyodor has six grandchildren - Polina, Philip, Arkady, Ethan, Blake and Kate.

Fyodor Konyukhov is the first “professional traveler” in the USSR and Russia, sea captain, free balloon pilot, dog sled rider, mountaineer, writer, priest of the UOC MP. Among Konyukhov’s achievements are five expeditions around the world, 17 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean on sailing yachts and once on a rowing boat.

Fedor Konyukhov was born on December 12, 1951 in the village of Chkalovo, Zaporozhye region. The future traveler spent his childhood on the shores of the Azov Sea. Father Philip Mikhailovich often went to sea to fish and took his son with him. Grandfather Mikhail often shared with his grandson the knowledge he gained from communicating with the famous Russian polar explorer. Mikhail happened to serve with him in the same garrison of the tsarist army. The polar explorer left Konyukhov his own pectoral cross so that it would go to the strongest of his friend’s descendants. My grandfather gave this cross to Fedor.

Even then, the boy began to have a thirst for travel, when Fyodor stood at the helm of his father’s ship and peered into the sea. At the age of 15, the young man took the risk of making his first journey and swam across the Sea of ​​Azov in a boat with oars. True, before this Fedor had to actively engage in rowing and master sailing.

Like any teenager, Fedor enjoyed playing football. Like any village boy, Konyukhov often slept in the hayloft, and also voraciously read adventure novels by Jules Verne and other authors. By the end of school, the young man realized that he wanted to connect his life with the sea.

Fedor entered the Odessa Marine Corps and received the specialty of a ship mechanic. Then he studied at the polar school in Leningrad to become a navigator and served in the Baltic Fleet. For 2 years, Fyodor Konyukhov served in Vietnam as a sailor on a special vessel supplying ammunition to the Viet Cong. During his service he also visited Nicaragua and El Salvador. After returning home, Konyukhov did not leave his studies and received a specialty as an inlay carver at a specialized school in the Belarusian city of Bobruisk.

Trips

The first serious expedition took place in 1977, when a young man sailed in the Pacific Ocean and repeated the route. The first was followed by expeditions to Kamchatka and Sakhalin.

Fedor Konyukhov set a new goal - to conquer the North Pole alone.

Konyukhov prepared for the expedition in Chukotka, mastered dog sledding, learned to build ice huts, and developed other skills for extreme travel - this took several years. Initially, Konyukhov undertook a training trip to the Pole of Relative Inaccessibility. The traveler complicated his task by going skiing during the polar night.

Then Fedor visited Canada, Baffin Island and the North Pole itself as part of a Soviet-Canadian group led by Vladimir Chukov. In 1990, Konyukhov set off on skis, with a heavy backpack and equipment, and after 72 days he reached the North Pole. Overcoming ice holes and hummocks along the road, Fedor almost died during a collision of ice floes. Konyukhov became a pioneer in a solo journey there. In 1995, Fyodor Konyukhov conquered the South Pole, and 59 days later the Russian flag was already flying over the extreme southern point.

There were other routes in the traveler’s biography. Fedor became the first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program, that is, to conquer the North, South Pole and Everest. Previously, in 1992, he climbed Mount Everest alone, in January 1996, Mount Aconcagua, and in 1997, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Among the expeditions in which Fedor Konyukhov participated are the Soviet-American bicycle ride across the USSR Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad in 1989, the Russian-Australian off-road rally Nakhodka - Moscow in 1991, and a caravan expedition along the route of the Great Silk Road in 2002 and 2009. Fyodor Konyukhov also makes land expeditions, repeating the path of famous taiga explorers.

During his life, Konyukhov made a total of 40 sea expeditions. Not everything went smoothly during such travels. In addition to the troubles created by natural disasters, Fyodor Konyukhov received unpleasant surprises from people. During one voyage, Konyukhov contracted a tropical infection and was forced to stop in the Philippines. Local pirates took advantage of the forced parking of Konyukhov’s yacht and stole it. After recovery, in order to find his own ship in the sea latitudes, Fedor took possession of the robber’s yacht and caught up with his own.

In July 2016, Fedor Konyukhov set a new record in a hot air balloon in 11 days. The Russian traveler was 2 days ahead of the previous record holder Steve Fossett.

During his travels, Fyodor Konyukhov is engaged in research and creativity: he writes paintings and books. In total, the traveler created almost 3 thousand paintings and published twenty books. In his own works “My Travels”, “Under Scarlet Sails”, “Alone with the Ocean”, “How I Became a Traveler” Fyodor Konyukhov shares his life experiences and events from his travels. The author also has historical works: “Crimean War. Defense of Sevastopol", "Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov", "How Admiral Ushakov made the Black Sea Russian." In the books “My Path to the Truth”, “The Power of Faith. 160 days and nights alone with the Pacific Ocean”, “The Ocean is my abode” Konyukhov covers issues of faith. The traveler introduces readers to his works from the pages of the official website, where he also posts photos of his own paintings.

Fedor Konyukhov is a current member of the Union of Journalists, the Union of Artists and Sculptors, and the Union of Writers of Russia. With his drawings, Konyukhov decorated the publication of the book “Tao Te Ching”, which he considers second to himself after the “Bible”.

In addition to the main work of his life, service in the Orthodox Church became an important page in Fyodor’s biography. Konyukhov received the rank of subdeacon in 2010 on the holiday, the patron saint of travelers and seafarers. After graduating from a theological seminary in the Northern capital, Konyukhov went to serve in Zaporozhye, without leaving sea, land and air travel.

Personal life

Fedor Konyukhov was married twice. His first wife Lyubov gave Fyodor two children - son Oscar (born 1975) and daughter Tatyana (born 1978). Later, the woman moved to the USA, where she settled with her daughter. Konyukhov’s eldest son heads the All-Russian Sailing Federation.

The second wife of the famous traveler is professor, doctor of legal sciences, expert on international law Irina Anatolyevna. The future spouses met in 1995. Irina by that time was also divorced and was raising two sons. Fyodor honestly warned the girl about his hobby, but this did not frighten Irina. For the sake of her beloved, Irina Anatolyevna refused to work at the UN and the European Parliament.

Often the wife herself went on trips with her husband. In 2004, while crossing the Atlantic, the ship carrying Fedor and Irina was caught in a strong storm. After returning home, the Konyukhovs erected a chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker near Fyodor’s Moscow creative workshop. For a long time the couple did not have a child together, but in 2005 the long-awaited son Nikolai was born.

Now Fyodor Konyukhov is a happy grandfather, who has four grandchildren - Philip, Arkady, Ethan, Blake and two granddaughters - Polina and Kate, but this does not stop him from doing what he loves.

Traveler, artist, writer, cyclist, climber, navigator - this is all about Konyukhov. Since 1998, the navigator has been sharing his experience with young followers and running a distance learning laboratory. In the laboratory he teaches young travelers survival techniques in difficult conditions.

Fedor Konyukhov now

Fedor Konyukhov continues to break records. The latest hobby for the traveler was ballooning. In 2017, Fedor spent 55 hours and 10 minutes of continuous time in the air. The previous record of 50 hours 38 minutes belonged to Japanese pilots Michio Kanda and Hirazuki Takezawa, who set it in 1997.

The tireless traveler will not stop there. For summer rafting on rivers, Konyukhov has already chosen a place at the Sheregesh resort in the Kemerovo region, where he managed to visit in January 2018 with his family.

Awards

• 1996 – Honorary resident of the city of Nakhodka
• 1988 – Order of Friendship of Peoples
• 2014 – Gold medal named after N. N. Miklouho-Maclay of the Russian Geographical Society
• 2015 – People’s Friendship Award “White Cranes of Russia” and the order of the same name
• 2017 – Order of Honor

Records

• The first person in the world to reach the five poles of the Earth: the Northern and Southern geographic poles, the Pole of relative inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean, the altitude pole - Qomolungma, the yachtsman's pole - Cape Horn
• The first Russian to complete the Grand Slam program (North Pole, South Pole, Cape Horn, Chomolungma).
• Crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone in a rowing boat with a world record of 46 days 4 hours.
• Crossed the Pacific Ocean alone in a rowing boat with a world record of 159 days 14 hours 45 minutes.

The biography of Fyodor Konyukhov is the life story of a unique and incredibly gifted person. Most people know him as a brave and tireless traveler who conquered the highest mountain peaks and crossed the oceans alone. However, long-distance expeditions are not his only hobby. In his free time, Konyukhov paints pictures and writes books. In addition, he is a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP).

Childhood

Fyodor Konyukhov was born in 1951 in the Ukrainian village of Chkalovo (Priazovsky district, Zaporozhye region). His parents were simple peasants. Mom Maria Efremovna was born in Bessarabia. She devoted her life to raising children (besides Fyodor, there were 2 more sons and 2 daughters growing up in the Konyukhov family). Father, Philip Mikhailovich, was a hereditary fisherman; his ancestors lived in the Arkhangelsk region. During the Great Patriotic War, he and Soviet troops reached Budapest. Konyukhov Sr. fished in the Sea of ​​Azov and often took little Fedor with him. The son liked to fish with his father. The boy took great pleasure in helping Philip Mikhailovich pull fishing nets out of the water and carried out his other instructions. Already in those days, Konyukhov’s travels began to attract. While in a fishing boat on the open sea, he often peered into the distant horizon and dreamed of swimming to the opposite shore.

First sea voyage

Fyodor Konyukhov realized his cherished childhood dream at the age of 15, by independently crossing the Sea of ​​Azov on his father’s fishing boat. The teenager prepared for his first expedition for several years, learning to row, swim and sail. In addition to traveling, young Konyukhov was seriously interested in drawing, athletics and football. He also loved to read. His favorite writers were Jules Verne, Ivan Goncharov and Konstantin Stanyukovich. The famous Russian naval commander Fyodor Ushakov became the idol of a simple village boy. Reading the biography of this great man, Fedor dreamed of repeating his fate in the future.

Education, military service

In high school, Fedor already knew for sure that he would devote his life to the sea. After graduating from school in his native village, he entered the Odessa Naval School, where he received a specialty as a navigator. This was followed by studying to become a navigator at the Leningrad Arctic School. After graduation, Konyukhov was drafted into the army. He served in the Baltic Fleet, where for his courage he was selected into a special detachment intended to be sent to Vietnam. Arriving in Southeast Asia, Fedor served for 2.5 years as a sailor on a boat providing ammunition to Vietnamese partisans. After demobilization, Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov studied as an inlay carver at Bobruisk Vocational School No. 15 (Belarus).

Beginning of expeditionary activities

Konyukhov made his first serious journey at the age of 26, exactly repeating the route in the Pacific Ocean that he followed during his Kamchatka expeditions. Fedor sailed a huge distance on a sailing yacht. He gave up comfort and repeatedly risked his life, but danger did not frighten him. The brave traveler decided to make the transition under the same conditions as his predecessor Bering, who plowed the ocean in the first half of the 18th century. Konyukhov managed to independently reach the shores of Kamchatka and Sakhalin. During these expeditions, the knowledge and skills that the Odessa Naval School gave him were more useful than ever. And he was able to survive in difficult natural conditions thanks to his unconditional faith in God.

Conquest of the North

Since childhood, Fyodor Konyukhov had a dream to reach the North Pole on his own. It took him several years to prepare for this expedition. He spent a lot of time in Chukotka, where he learned to survive in extreme conditions, mastered the secrets of traveling on dog sleds and learned the science of building ice huts. Before making a solo trip to the North Pole, Konyukhov managed to visit it several times as part of group expeditions.

The independent conquest of the North began in 1990. Fedor went on the expedition on skis, carrying a large backpack on his back and dragging a sledge with food and equipment behind him. The journey was not easy. During the day, Konyukhov had to overcome many obstacles, and at night he slept right on the ice, hiding from the harsh arctic winds in a tent or sleeping bag. When only 200 km remained until the end of the route, the Russian traveler found himself in an ice hummocking zone and almost died. Having miraculously survived, 72 days after the start of the campaign he achieved his cherished goal and became the first person in history who managed to conquer the North Pole without anyone’s help.

Expedition to Antarctica

In 1995, Fyodor Filippovich made a solo trip to Antarctica. He reached the South Pole on the 59th day of the expedition, ceremoniously planting the flag of the Russian Federation at the end of the route. The biography of Fyodor Konyukhov indicates that during this expedition he conducted many important studies on measuring the radiation field of the southern continent and finding the human body in conditions of extreme weather conditions and lack of oxygen. Based on his experiments and research, he subsequently created several scientific works that made an invaluable contribution to the study of Antarctica.

Conquering the highest mountain peaks

In 1992, Konyukhov, as part of the “7 Summits of the World” program, made a solo ascent of Elbrus, the mountain that is the highest point in Europe. A few months later, together with the famous Russian climber Evgeny Vinogradsky, he conquers the highest mountain peak in Asia and the world - Everest. In January 1996, during an expedition to the South Pole, Fyodor Filippovich climbed the highest point in Antarctica - the Wilson Massif. In the spring of the same year, the traveler climbed Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. In 1997, he single-handedly conquered the highest points of Australia and Africa - Kostsyushko Peak and in the same year, Konyukhov completed the program with a heroic ascent of Mount McKinley in North America. The brave traveler managed to climb the last peak in the company of climber Vladimir Yanochkin. After conquering McKinley, Konyukhov became the first person from the CIS who managed to successfully complete the “7 Summits of the World” program. In 2012, Fedor Filippovich, together with a group of Russian athletes, made a second ascent of Everest, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the conquest of the mountain peak by Soviet climbers.

Travel by land

The fascinating biography of Fyodor Konyukhov was not complete without long land expeditions. In 1985, he hiked along the route laid by the Russian traveler Vladimir Arsenyev and his guide Dersu Uzala. In mid-1989, on the initiative of Konyukhov, the Nakhodka - Moscow - Leningrad bicycle ride took place, in which athletes from the USSR and the USA took part. One of the participants in the bike ride was Fyodor Filippovich’s younger brother Pavel. Two years later, the traveler organized a Soviet-Australian off-road race, which began in Nakhodka and ended in the Russian capital. In 2002, Konyukhov led the first caravan expedition in the history of our country along the route of the Great Silk Road. It passed through the desert territories of Kalmykia, Dagestan, Stavropol Territory, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. The second stage of the expedition, which took place in 2009, covered the route from Kalmykia to Mongolia.

Sea adventures

Conquering the North and South Poles, climbing the highest mountain peaks in the world and hiking are only a small part of Konyukhov’s travels. Since childhood, Fyodor Filippovich's main passion has been the sea, and he has remained faithful to it throughout his life. The Zaporozhye region has the right to be proud of its illustrious fellow countryman, because he has more than four dozen sea expeditions and 5 trips around the world. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone 17 times. During one of these voyages, he set an absolute world record, covering the required distance on a rowing boat in just 46 days. Another record of Konyukhov was recorded during his crossing of the Pacific Ocean. To sail the route from Chile to Australia, the Russian traveler spent 159 days and 14 hours on the road.

Fyodor Konyukhov's sea expeditions did not always go smoothly. During one of them, the traveler became seriously ill and ended up in a Philippine hospital. While he was being treated, pirates stole his ship and hid it on a nearby island. After recovery, Konyukhov went to rescue the stolen vehicle. To get him back, he was forced to steal a boat from his offenders and use it to get to his own ship. This unpleasant adventure ended happily for the traveler and allowed him to successfully complete his expedition around the Earth.

Creative activity

Konyukhov is not only a traveler, but also a talented artist. During his expeditions he painted more than three thousand paintings. The artist’s creativity did not go unnoticed. His works have been repeatedly demonstrated at Russian and international exhibitions. In 1983 he became the youngest member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. Later he was accepted into the Moscow Union of Artists and Sculptors and awarded the title of Academician of the Russian Academy of Arts.

The biography of Fyodor Konyukhov would be incomplete without mentioning his literary activities. The traveler is the author of 9 books telling about his adventures during expeditions and ways to overcome difficulties in extreme conditions. In addition to literature for adults, Konyukhov publishes children's books. Member of the Russian Writers' Union.

Father Fedor

During his travels, Konyukhov often risked his life and was on the verge of death. Whether on the open ocean or on the top of a mountain, in difficult situations he could only count on the help of the Almighty. Having become a religious man in adulthood, Fyodor Filippovich decided to devote the rest of his life to serving God. This is how the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary appeared in his destiny, where he studied to become a priest. On May 22, 2010, in Zaporozhye, Konyukhov received the rank of subdeacon from the hands of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Vladimir. The next day, Bishop Joseph of Zaporozhye and Melitopol ordained him a deacon. In December 2010, Fyodor Filippovich was elevated to the rank of priest of the UOC MP. His place of service is his native Zaporozhye region. Having become a priest, Father Fyodor Konyukhov began to spend less time on expeditions, but did not completely abandon them.

Wife, children and grandchildren

Fyodor Filippovich is married to Doctor of Law Irina Anatolyevna Konyukhova. He has three adult children (daughter Tatyana, sons Oscar and Nikolai) and six grandchildren (Philip, Arkady, Polina, Blake, Ethan, Kate). Of all the traveler’s offspring, the most famous is his son Oscar Konyukhov, who dedicated his life to expeditionary voyages and manages projects in which his father takes part. From 2008 to 2012, Oscar served as executive director of the Russian Sailing Federation. The son of Fyodor Filippovich has a cherished dream - to sail around the world without stopping in 80 days. The expedition requires huge financial investments and for this reason remains only in plans.

Preparing for the hot air balloon

With the adoption of religious rank, Fyodor Filippovich's desire for adventure subsided a little, but did not completely disappear. Recently, he set his sights on a new world record by deciding to fly around the Earth alone in a hot air balloon. The length of the flight route is 35 thousand kilometers. Fyodor Konyukhov's balloon is called "Morton", it should take off in Australia and land there. The launch was originally scheduled for July 2, 2016, but due to strong winds it was forced to be postponed until weather conditions improved. The priest prepared for his next journey for more than a year. His hot air balloon was built in England. Weather instruments were delivered to it from Belgium, burners from Italy, and an autopilot from Holland. In total, about fifty people from 10 countries took part in the preparation of the project.

Father Fedor plans not only to fly around the planet, but also to break the world record of the American extreme traveler Steve Fossett, who was the first in the history of mankind to fly around the Earth alone in a hot air balloon. Konyukhov’s entire flight will be broadcast online, and anyone can watch it.