Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev) - head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Awarded with orders"For Merit to the Fatherland" III and II degree, Friendship of Peoples, St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir II degree, St. Sergius of Radonezh I and II degree. Honorary President of the Academy of Russian Literature and Honorary Doctor of the St. Petersburg State polytechnic university. He is the author of a number of books and publications in periodicals, as well as the author and host of the TV program "The Shepherd's Word" on Channel One.
Biography of Patriarch Kirill: young years:
The future metropolitan was born on November 20, 1946 in Leningrad. The biography of Cyril and the nature of his activities were largely predetermined family tradition: both his father and his grandfather were also priests. Grandfather, Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev, was repressed for church activities and exiled to Solovki. Father, Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev, was ordained a deacon in 1947; he was also repressed and, on charges of political disloyalty, was sentenced to three years in the camps. Kirill's mother, Raisa Vladimirovna Gundyaeva, taught at school German. The elder brother, Nikolai Gundyaev, is an archpriest, professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
Already in school years the future patriarch showed outstanding capacity for work and diligence, combining successful studies with work as a cartographic technician in the Leningrad Complex Geological Expedition of the North-Western Geological Administration. After leaving school in 1965, he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and in 1969 he was tonsured a monk, named Cyril. After graduating from the Leningrad Theological Academy, Kirill was awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology.
In the 70s, the biography of Cyril was marked by a number of important events. He teaches theology at the Leningrad Theological Academy, while simultaneously working as a personal secretary to Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod. In 1971, Kirill was elevated to the rank of archimandrite, and became the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. In the same place, in Geneva, he is the rector of the stavropegic parish of the Nativity Holy Mother of God. At the very end of 1974, Kirill was appointed rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary, then chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Leningrad Metropolis. In 1978, he began to work as deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. Since the 70s, the future patriarch has been regularly invited to European educational institutions to give lectures: the Ecumenical Institute in Bosse (Switzerland), the University of Helsinki, the Orthodox Seminary in Kuopio (Finland). This practice will continue in the future.
1984 becomes a landmark for Cyril's biography: the future head of the Orthodox Church was appointed Archbishop of Smolensk and Vyazemsky (in 1989 this title was replaced by a new one - Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad). Largely thanks to the efforts of Kirill in Smolensk and Kaliningrad regions more than 150 churches were restored and built, the first theological school in the post-war period was opened in Smolensk (since 1993 - a theological seminary).
Biography of Patriarch Kirill: mature years:
In 1989, Kirill became a metropolitan, in 1993 he began to work as a co-chairman, and then deputy head of the World Russian People's Council. As part of official delegations, Kirill participates in a number of peacekeeping actions, contributes to the establishment of inter-Christian and inter-Orthodox relations, and visits all local Orthodox churches. The activities of the future patriarch were awarded with an honorary international award - the International Lovi Peace Prize. And in 1994, another important event took place in Cyril's eventful biography: he became the author and host of the TV program "The Shepherd's Word", popular with viewers.
In the 2000s, Metropolitan Kirill - Chairman of the Synodal Working Group to develop the concept of the ROC on issues of church-state relations and problems modern society, member of the presidiums of the Interreligious Councils of Russia and the CIS, chairman and co-chairman of many international conferences. He also continues active teaching and becomes an honorary professor and doctor of several universities: Astrakhan, Smolensk, St. Petersburg Polytechnic, an honorary doctor of political science from the State University of Perugia and an honorary doctor of theology from the Christian Academy of Warsaw.
Without a doubt, one of the most important events in the biography of Cyril was his election to the patriarchal throne. After the death of Patriarch Alexy II in December 2008, Kirill was elected Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne by secret ballot. On January 27, 2009, Kirill was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. He won 508 votes out of 677, that is, more than 70%. On February 1, 2009, the enthronement of the patriarch took place in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The President and Chairman of the Government of Russia, head of the Roman catholic church Dad Benedict XVI and other religious and secular figures. During 2009, Patriarch Kirill made official visits to Ukraine, Belarus, and a number of Russian cities.

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© Biography of Patriarch Kirill. Biography of the clergyman Patriarch Kirill. Biography of Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church.

O privacy head of the Russian Orthodox Church to the readers of "AiF"
said his press secretary, Deacon Alexander Volkov.

For 5 years, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has been Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

Many people know about his extensive public activities, positions on this or that issue, but his private life is hidden from prying eyes. For the first time, the head of the press service of the Patriarch, Deacon Alexander Volkov, agreed to open the veil of secrecy only for readers of AiF.

Time Allotted by God

- Father Alexander, they say that all great people sleep little. And what is the daily routine of the patriarch?

— Over the decades of hard work in the Church, always being in a mode of absolute lack of time, the patriarch has worked out a tough work schedule. And now we, the people who surround him, find ourselves in the same constant, almost unbearable time pressure. His Holiness appreciates every minute and therefore tries to optimize his time as much as possible, filling all the free intervals. In a working residence in Moscow, in Chisty Lane, behind the main building there is a small old garden, where he recent months On the recommendation of doctors, he took a walk for a walk. So I never saw him there alone! He always calls someone from the staff of the patriarchate. At the entrance to this garden now even hangs a duty jacket for the people with whom he walks. This whole situation is a projection of the thought that he often repeats to those around him: God has given us a specific period of time in order to have time to do something to change the spiritual state in society. Time is by no means unlimited, so we must squeeze into every day maximum amount works that would benefit the Church and society.

— So what time does he get up?

— About 7 am. Then prayer, breakfast, going to work or to the temple. He usually arrives at his working residence by 10 o'clock, and the service begins earlier. Then meetings, work with documents until late in the evening. If he leaves home in Peredelkino at 9 pm, he will definitely take a pile of documents with him - he works after dinner. Goes to bed every day well after midnight. Doctors recommend changing the regimen, but he believes that there is no possibility. Of the recreational activities - the already mentioned walks, as well as not very regular, but quite intense physical exercise. For a clergyman, the first place of rest is worship. Orthodox worship generally complex physically, and even more patriarchal. It is always solemn, very emotionally intense. But I have been convinced more than once that it is it that gives the patriarch strength. If it so happens that the patriarch does not have the opportunity to perform divine services during the week, then after a break during the service, he simply transforms, becomes younger by several years.

— And does it work on Sunday? But after all it is impossible according to canons?!

- Of course, Sunday is the Lord's Day. On this day, the patriarch for the most part performs divine services. There are never appointments on Sunday, except in some extraordinary circumstances. But at the same time, he is still forced to work at home with documents.

The Preacher's Gift

— Does he really delve into all the papers that he signs?

- Yes, he is very attentive to any printed word that comes from him, because he understands the responsibility that lies behind all these texts. After all, each text is in any case an appeal to a specific person. There can be no formality in this appeal, and a person should not get the impression that this is a paper prepared by referents, to which the signatory did not personally participate. It must be said that their main, large public texts and especially the sermons he prepares himself. He is one of the few people who can speak well not from a piece of paper. The patriarch has an exceptional preaching talent. But behind each performance is his personal preliminary work.

— It seems to secular people that the head of the Church — it is primarily a business — so many cases, parishes, meetings. Is not it so?

- Prayer is in the first place for any Christian, and in this any clergyman is called to be an example for people, and the primate of the Church, of course, in the first place. After all, this is a guarantee that the Church does not turn into an intercontinental corporation like the religious Gazprom. It must be understood that everything that the Church does in the organizational, administrative, economic areas of life is only so that every person can come to the temple and, if possible, live in accordance with the Gospel.

— Does the patriarch have relatives, a family, what kind of relationship do they have?

— Yes, the patriarch has relatives in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Saransk. When the patriarch was in Mordovia, he met with very distant relatives in the house where his grandfather lived. He treats his relatives very humanly, supports and preserves family relationships, never distances itself.

Friends as victims

— What about friends?

– The patriarch, and he himself said this more than once, cannot have friends in the sense that the head of the Church needs to be at the same, equal distance with those around him so that there are no attempts of pressure. And in this sense, of course, this is the cross of the patriarch. He sacrificed for the good of the Church his personal interests, affections, social habits. There really are no close people around him who could boast of the status of "friend of the patriarch."

— And outside the Church?

- The same. First of all, because in general the relationship of the Primate of the Church with the secular community in general and with some specific people in particular is always a very big responsibility. Although, of course, this does not negate the fact that the patriarch has many good and kind acquaintances with whom he has maintained warm relations for decades. They come to congratulate him on personal dates, on holidays, attend divine services, and he is always very happy with them, communicates with pleasure, asks about life, and then warmly says goodbye, after which they most often do not see each other for a long time.

— Who is the confessor of the patriarch?

- Optina Elder Eli, with whom he studied together at the Theological Academy in St. Petersburg. Father Iliy is a confessor objectively recognized by the Orthodox Church, a man whose opinion is listened to by thousands of people. People from all over Russia, from other countries come to him for communication, for confession. 5 years ago, after enthronement, Patriarch Kirill asked him to move from Optina Hermitage to Peredelkino. Since then, Father Eli has been living in the patriarchal residence. There on the territory there is a separate house for a small monastic community. Father Eli lives there. Since he is very famous, visitors often come to him - ordinary people - for advice. He constantly accepts, is completely accessible, and at the same time he is the confessor of the patriarch. From my point of view, such a public presence spiritual father- evidence of certain life priorities. This shows that the spiritual component in life for the patriarch is the main one. Not administrative functions, not some kind of diplomatic relations, although this is necessary. But it’s not his press secretary who lives next to him, but his confessor.

— The people have an opinion: the patriarch is the spiritual father of President Putin. I understand that this cannot be, but is the patriarch generally someone's confessor?

- These are things that lie in the sphere of his private life, so I can’t say anything here.

— Does he have any hobbies — books, theater

- He loves classical music- I can list Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff. He usually listens to music when he works, makes some important decisions. Of course, he loves to read, like any intelligent person, but he has very little time to indulge in free reading. Hundreds of pages of documents need to be read daily. It is clear that by the end of the day, you probably already just feel a slight dislike for the letters of the alphabet. But from domestic authors, he loves Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Leskov. With some degree of regularity, he attends musical performances, the conservatory, and sometimes Moscow theaters. Recently I was at one of the productions of the Gorky Moscow Art Theater to congratulate Tatyana Doronina on her anniversary.

— And the cinema?

— He doesn’t go to cinemas in public, but several times he went to pre-screenings of films directly related to the Church.

— Watching TV?

- News programs - often, and it is clear that this is already an area directly related to his work. He must, so to speak, be in the know.

Native Penates

— How does the patriarch spend his vacation?

- Vacation, as well as days off, in the usual worldly sense, he does not happen. 15-20 days of rest are collected, which he usually distributes by months and spends this time in solitude.

— Doesn't go on holiday abroad?

— Travels with official visits. During these five years, I traveled abroad several times for treatment.

— What places in Russia are especially close to him?

– He loves his native St. Petersburg, Valaam, as well as Smolensk and Kaliningrad, where he comes about once a year, since he is still the head of the local diocese, he also visits the spiritual and administrative center of the Russian Orthodox Church in southern Russia.

Primate's cook

— What does the patriarch like to eat and who cooks for him?

- He is not picky about food, loves simple food. He also likes to try national cuisine which he does by visiting foreign countries. It is clear that, since he performs worship, holds events in the most different places, then on the part of the assistants of the patriarch, the attitude towards food is attentive. Moreover, various official receptions and protocol dinners with distinguished guests are often held. Therefore, it was decided that the patriarchy should have a permanent cook. He is not a monk, he is a professional in his field, he prepares food that is correct from the point of view of Orthodox traditions and canons.

— Can a patriarch afford to have a drink?

- If you need to support a toast, he usually raises a glass of white wine. Maybe in some situation it’s even better to drink - in Japan he was treated to sake, in Greece, on Athos, to ouzo anise tincture. In the spirit of the Orthodox tradition, in such cases he does not offend those who show him hospitality.

Taste for the old

— Patriarch — monk. He, in principle, should not have his own property. But are there any things that bring him joy?

- The patriarch, as a person brought up in a St. Petersburg environment, has a very good taste versed in painting and architecture. Visiting certain dioceses, he carefully evaluates new construction and especially the decoration of churches. A tasteless remake offends his artistic sense. But he is very pleased when people carefully preserve the authentic and ancient.

— What is the patriarch's mobile phone?

- I can’t say for sure - the most common, definitely not an iPhone. He hardly uses mobile, he treats it with some detachment, but with an understanding of the need to use it. He was given tablets and laptops several times, but somehow he is not inclined to use them. He likes to write by hand, he always has a notebook with him.

— But does he know how to work on a computer, access the Internet?

- Of course, he has a computer in his office, and he uses it when necessary. But of course he doesn't answer email and does not fill your Facebook account. Thank God, competent people are doing this, and he spends his time on objectively more important things. Thus, by the way, he sets an example for all of us.

— What kind of car does the patriarch have?

— For five years he used two cars Patriarch Alexy who are already 12 years old. Now His Holiness travels by means of transport provided by a special purpose garage.

Where to hurry

— And he doesn't collect anything? Books?

— I don't know how much he collects them, but he loves old books, especially theological literature. When he is presented with rare pre-revolutionary editions of church authors, he accepts them with gratitude. His Holiness appreciates objects that convey the atmosphere of past eras, and calls for careful consideration of what has come to us from the past and that carries the meanings of that time, which we can judge, including by some individual things.

— Probably, this is generally the tactics of the Russian Orthodox Church — do not rush?

- You're right. Only not a tactic, but the main strategy of the Orthodox Church is to preserve and increase all that is good that exists in our world and in every person. Everything that the Church does is done on the basis of centuries of experience and understanding that the Church has experienced terrible and tragic moments more than once in its history. But, whatever the external circumstances, the Church was, is and will exist and bring people the truth about Christ. And, probably, this is largely reflected in the human habits of the patriarch. He has a deeply spiritual consciousness. He lives 100% from morning to evening church life, and in this sense, I really want each of us to have such a life for some noticeable percentage.

Private life of Patriarch Kirill. Frames that hit the media for the first time

The frames on which the Primate is presented were not made for the “record”, and were not previously published in newspapers and magazines - they are part of the private life of His Holiness. AiF turned out to be the only newspaper to which Father Alexander Volkov, the press secretary of the Patriarch, provided them and told under what circumstances they were removed.

Patriarch on Valaam, one of the favorite places in his native land.

Biography

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia (in the world Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev) was born on November 20, 1946 in Leningrad. Father - Gundyaev Mikhail Vasilyevich, a priest, died in 1974. Mother - Gundyaeva Raisa Vladimirovna, teacher of German at school, in last years housewife, died in 1984. The elder brother is Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev, professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Grandfather - Priest Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev, a prisoner of Solovki, was imprisoned and exiled for church activities and the struggle against renovationism in the 20s, 30s and 40s of the twentieth century. After graduating from the 8th grade of secondary school, Vladimir Gundyaev joined the Leningrad Complex Geological Expedition of the North-Western Geological Administration, where he worked from 1962 to 1965 as a cartographer, combining work with studies in high school. After graduating from high school in 1965, he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and then the Leningrad Theological Academy, from which he graduated with honors in 1970. On April 3, 1969, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod was tonsured a monk and given the name Cyril. On April 7, he was ordained a hierodeacon by him, and on June 1 of the same year, a hieromonk. Since 1970 - candidate of theology of the Leningrad Theological Academy. From 1970 to 1971 - teacher of dogmatic theology and assistant inspector of the Leningrad Theological Schools; at the same time - the personal secretary of the Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nikodim and class teacher of the 1st class of the seminary. From 1971 to 1974 he was a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. From December 26, 1974 to December 26, 1984 - Rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary. In 1974-1984. - Associate Professor of the Patrology Department of the Leningrad Theological Academy. On March 14, 1976, he was consecrated Bishop of Vyborg. On September 2, 1977, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. Since 1986 - manager of parishes in the Kaliningrad region. Since 1988 - Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. From November 13, 1989 to 2009 - Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (since August 2000 - Department for External Church Relations), permanent member of the Holy Synod. On January 27, 2009, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

In modern Russia, Patriarch Kirill is a famous and famous person. His work is highly appreciated, as the head of the Orthodox Church makes a significant contribution to the development of religion. In addition, Kirill, in the world Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich, actively participates in various political processes and organizes charitable projects.

Vladimir Mikhailovich does not have a wife, since he leads a completely ecclesiastical way of life. In connection with his activities, the Patriarch often consults newlyweds, talking about the goals, objectives and purpose of the family in society.

Children of Patriarch Kirill

The children of the Patriarch are the parishioners who listen to his sermons. However, the spiritual guide takes care of the orphans who were abandoned in infancy. He deliberately creates charitable foundations to help disabled children.

Biography of Patriarch Kirill

Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich was born in the Northern capital of the Russian Federation on November 20, 1946. At first, Vladimir studied at an ordinary high school, but after completing eight classes, enter the Theological Seminary in St. Petersburg. He became a monk in the late 1960s, and then he received his new name - Cyril.

Kirill became a candidate of theology in the early 1970s, from that moment he began to carry out church activities, reaching the status of “Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.”

After graduating from the academy, religious activity young man developed rapidly. First, he was appointed rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, and then appointed head of the diocesan council.

In the mid-1970s, Kirill became a bishop, solving the problems of inter-church relations. In the late 1970s, he left for Finland to manage the patriarchal parishes. A little later, Kirill was sent to Kaliningrad to organize church directions. For diligence and exorbitant desire to serve God, the priest was made a permanent member of the Synod. Until the 1990s, he developed religious laws for the church, until he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

During the collapse of the USSR, Kirill tried to establish a connection between the people and politicians. He took a peaceful position, which made him a well-known personality in Russia. It is worth noting that the clergyman was repeatedly awarded the Lovi Prize for strengthening peace. In spite of hard times In the 1990s, Kirill worked with Western churches, creating a positive image of the ROC. And he succeeded, the Russian Orthodox Church became close to the Vatican.

Cyril knew how to stand out from the rest, as he led a public and political activity, solved many social issues and supported the underprivileged. Thus, he reached the patriarchal throne. In the mid-1990s, he was given airtime on a TV channel, Kirill hosted a program called "The Word of the Shepherd", where he covered issues of a spiritual and educational nature.

And already in 2009, the clergyman was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The ceremony of ascension to the patriarchal throne was held in a circle politicians, public figures and the President Russian Federation. The government expressed hope for cooperation between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church.

To this day, Kirill is a patriarch, often travels abroad, supporting the local Orthodox churches. He is described as a man of high intellect, moral principles and fundamental knowledge. Cyril significantly strengthened relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and foreign powers.

Despite his educational activities and public support, Cyril found himself in scandalous situations many times. For example, he has been criticized for supporting foreign goods, in particular tobacco and alcohol. But the inner circle of the patriarch called this action a provocation created to remove Kirill from his post.

Foreign media also wrote that Kirill had four billion dollars on his account. He owns several expensive cars, a yacht, a plane and a watch. well-known brand. However, the Patriarch denies the attacks of journalists, arguing that all funds are used for their intended purpose. The money of the Russian Orthodox Church is sent annually to the development of the Orthodox school and to charitable foundations. According to Kirill, all the accusations point to only one thing - to humiliate the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and criticize Orthodoxy in Russia.

Personal life of Patriarch Kirill

Like all spiritual superiors, Patriarch Kirill's personal life is connected with serving the people and the Holy Spirit. He cannot have a family according to church laws, so he honors and preaches the Gospel.

Family of Patriarch Kirill

Cyril was born into a religious family. His father was a priest of the church, and his mother was a simple teacher in high school. At the time of the boy's birth, his father was in charge of the church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. In addition to Vladimir, the family also had brother Nikolai and sister Elena, who also in the future devoted their lives to serving God.

Patriarch Kirill, whose biography is of interest to many people today, is the Primate of the Orthodox Russian Church and is recognized as one of the most influential and respected people of our time. The facts of his life confirm the true destiny of a person who has chosen this difficult but noble path of serving God in life.

The biography of Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich) began in the Soviet Union. He was born in 1946, November 20th. His father worked in those years as a mechanic at the plant. and my mother taught German in high school. The family was very pious and intelligent, they honored the Bible and kept all the Christian commandments. grandfather by paternal line passed the Stalinist exile and camps. Vladimir's grandfather was one of the first prisoners of the famous Solovetsky camp, and he was convicted for the struggle against church renovationism and spent about 30 years in prison. Father, Mikhail Vasilievich, graduated from the Higher Courses of Theology, but was arrested in 1934 for "disloyalty" to the authorities and spent three years in a camp in Kolyma. After the birth of his son Vladimir, Mikhail Vasilyevich became a priest in 1947. He was ordained to the rank of deacon, and then a priest, having begun to serve at the church, located on Vasilyevsky Island.

Patriarch Kirill - Biography

In secondary school, Vladimir studied 8 classes, combining the last years of his studies with the work of a cartographer. In 1965 he entered the Higher Theological Academy, from which he brilliantly graduated in 1970. In 1969, Vladimir Gundyaev was tonsured a monk, after which he was named Cyril. From this moment begins new stage in the life of the future Cyril. He works hard and hard: he teaches, is an assistant inspector of theological schools in Leningrad and a class teacher, as secretary of Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nikodim (Nikolai Rotov). In 1971 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Patriarch Kirill, whose biography contains information about his extraordinary diligence and desire to serve God and people, is worthy of all respect. In 1974 he became the rector of the Theological Academy and soon became Bishop of Vyborg, and in 1984 - Archbishop of Smolensk and Vyazemsky. The future patriarch became the Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad in 1986, and in 1991 he was elevated to the next rank of Metropolitan.

Metropolitan Kirill - Biography

Since 1989 he has been the Chairman of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Chairman of the Synod Commission. He successfully serves for the benefit of the Fatherland and Orthodoxy. Despite this workload, Metropolitan Kirill begins to broadcast the spiritual and educational program "The Word of the Shepherd" on the first channel, which to this day brings people the Word of God. Metropolitan Kirill, whose biography can serve as an example of selfless service to our Lord and people, devotes all his strength to serving society, considering this his main duty.

On January 27, 2010, he was elected His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The now living Patriarch Kirill, whose biography is full of bright events Orthodox life, bears the Patriarchal Cross with dignity and contributes to the ever greater strengthening of Orthodoxy not only in our country, but also in the CIS and countries of the whole world. He constantly makes pastoral visits, takes part in divine services, with his direct participation 8 new dioceses were created. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill constantly works for the benefit of not only the Orthodox, but also representatives of other religious denominations, whose respect he deserves. The biography of Patriarch Kirill continues, and all Orthodox pray that the Lord will give him many years and good health for further activity in this difficult Patriarchal field.

After the blessed death of Patriarch Alexei II, by the grace of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 27, 2009 in Moscow in cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior elected Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The election was by secret ballot.

The election of Metropolitan Kirill as patriarch was not a surprise to many of us. Because we all knew Vladyka well from his frequent appearances in the media when he was still a metropolitan and headed the Department for External Church Relations. All of us, of course, want to know about his childhood, youth, and in general about what kind of person he is, our Patriarch. We will not go anywhere from this, people are always curious about it. Meeting the interests of the believers of our country, Archbishop Hilarion (Alfeev) of Volokolamsk wrote the book “Patriarch Kirill. Life and worldview. The preface of the book says so: this book was written in response to numerous requests from people both ecclesiastical and those far from the Church, who are interested in the personality of the new patriarch.” Already during his previous ministry, he was a public person, because he always takes a very active role. life position. As His Holiness himself writes: “My principle of life is to do and do today, never put off.” And for all my not so far, thank God, great life he did so much! The church calendar for this year opens with an article that lists in small print the positions of the patriarch, the commissions he headed, numerous state and church awards, theological works ... All this takes up five pages. And today we will talk mainly about his biography.

But before talking about him, of course, I want to talk about his family. The patriarch is a clergyman in the third generation. His paternal grandfather Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev was born in Astrakhan, and in 1903 the family of the great-grandfather of the patriarch moved to the city of Lukoyanov Nizhny Novgorod province. Vasily at that time worked as a mechanical engineer in a railway depot. He was a deeply religious man and raised his children in Orthodox faith. Their family had seven children and one adopted girl. The family lived very modestly. Moreover, Vasily received a considerable salary, since railways were not so common, and railway workers enjoyed at that time the same respect as pilots under the Soviet regime, and their work was paid very well. For the main part of the year, the family lived in a service house at the railway depot, that is, there was no need to pay for an apartment. And for the summer they went to the village, where they also did not need much money. But at the same time they always lived extremely modestly. Such a modest image did not correspond to the income of the head of the family. Many years later, the future patriarch asked his grandfather: “Where is all your money. Why didn’t you accumulate anything before the revolution or after?” Grandfather answered briefly: "I sent all the money to Athos." Those. he kept for himself only what was required for the most modest life, and sent all his money to the monastery.

In October 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia. Part of their ideological program was the fight against religion. Immediately after the coup, severe persecution of the Church, arrests and murders of clergymen began. As a result, by 1939, only about a hundred functioning churches remained throughout the country. What happens at this time with Vasily Gundyaev? In the first four years after October revolution he was still free. But soon he was arrested and exiled to Solovki for fighting renovationism in the Church. The Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp - the infamous SLON - was established by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars in 1923 on the territory of the Solovetsky Archipelago. The ancient monastery, founded by the Monk Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky, turned into one of the branches of the Gulag, covering all of Russia with barbed wire. By the end of 1930, there were over 70,000 prisoners in this camp. And among them are academicians, professors, writers, poets, philosophers, actors. And it was also like a special place of exile for priests.

Vasily Gundyaev was one of the first Solovki prisoners. In conclusion, he worked as a mechanic and even repaired a stranded steamer that went between Solovetsky archipelago and the mainland. The inmates treated him with respect. Vasily did his best to maintain communication with the bishops and priests who were in the camp. One of the prisoners of this camp was Archbishop Hilarion Troitsky, the closest assistant to Patriarch Tikhon. Patriarch Kirill says that, in an amazing way, St. Hilarion is connected with his family through his grandfather, Priest Basil, also a confessor of God, who in the year 22 was imprisoned in the Solovetsky camp, where he met with St. Hilarion. He also knew other Russian hierarchs who were imprisoned. In total, he spent 30 years in prison and exile.

And at home he had a wife who raised eight children. How could they survive at that time. When he left, he could not help the family in any way, because he never saved money. In parting, he said: "Do not worry and do not despair, I will pray for you." Once the situation reached the point that there was nothing left in the house at all. And mother even cried in despair, because she did not know what to give the children for breakfast in the morning. We went to bed when suddenly someone knocked on the door. She opened it frightened, thinking that now they had come for them or again something to take away. Some hefty man came in and said: "Go, they brought you there." Frightened, she ran out into the yard, and there was a cart with a sack of flour on it. And while she was dragging this flour, she returned - there was no one there. Where this flour came from - we can only guess. Apparently - through the prayers of Father Vasily.

After his release, Vasily spent a long time in an illegal position. The only way to remain at large is to hide from the authorities, that is, not to get a job and not live long in one place. And only at the end of the 40s his position was legalized. He was able to come to Leningrad. Patriarch Kirill remembers meeting his grandfather, how he and his mother met him at the Moscow railway station. The patriarch writes: “I remember this scene well - a lean man got out of the car old man, even it seemed to me, the old man. With a huge black plywood suitcase. And mom ran to him: “Dad, dad, we’ll take a porter now!”. And he was indignant: “What other porter?” - "Well, to help you carry your suitcases." Grandfather smiled, took off his belt, bandaged the suitcase, put the suitcase on his shoulders and went.

The priesthood was Vasily's dream all his life. But the dream came true only at the end of his days - already in the Khrushchev era, he was ordained a deacon and assigned to the church in the city of Birsk. Then he was ordained a priest and appointed to serve in a Bashkir village. As an 80-year-old elder, Priest Vasily served God and the Church zealously. Sometimes he walked 14 kilometers on foot in order to give communion to the sick. After retiring, Father Vasily returned to the village of Obrochnoye in the former Arzamas province, where he had traveled as a child with his parents. There he died on October 31, 1969. Among the clergy who participated in the funeral were the son of Priest Vasily, Archpriest Mikhail Gundyaev, and two grandsons - Priest Nikolai, at that time a teacher at the Leningrad Theological Academy, and Hieromonk Kirill - a student of the same academy, the future patriarch.

Patriarch Kirill's father, Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev, was born on January 6, 1907. From childhood I wanted to become a priest. In the 26th year he entered the higher theological courses in Leningrad. At that time it was the only theological educational institution in the country that had not yet been closed by the Bolsheviks. The famous St. Petersburg Theological Academy was closed almost immediately after the revolution, and theological pastoral courses were created instead. In 1920 they were transformed into the Theological Institute, among the teachers were many prominent professors of the St. Petersburg Academy.

He studied at the courses until the spring of 1928, when this last theological educational institution was closed. Michael was drafted into the army. He served in the army for two years and returned to Leningrad, he wanted to enter medical institute. But the only educational institution, in which one could enter after studying at the theological courses, turned out to be a mechanical technical school. Studying at the theological courses, he already, as it were, compromised himself before the authorities. After graduating from a mechanical college, he began working as a designer at the Leningrad Plant. Kalinin. Then he graduated from the Leningrad Industrial Institute, and at the same time he met his future wife Raisa Vladimirovna Kuchina, a student at the Institute of Foreign Languages. Both sang in the church choir. Patriarch Kirill recalls: “Father sang on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in the choir of the Kiev metochion in St. Petersburg, on the Lieutenant Schmidt embankment. There, on the kliros, he met my mother, who was also studying and working then. A few days before the wedding, my father is arrested and sent to Kolyma. Moreover, he had a premonition that this would happen, because the night before they went to the Philharmonic, listened to Bach's Passions. When they left, the father, impressed by the music, said to the bride: “You know, it seems to me that they will put me in prison.” - "How can you say that, we have a wedding?" - "Throughout the concert, I had the feeling that I would be arrested." The young man accompanied the bride and, going up to own house, I saw a car in which those who came for him were sitting. Before the arrest, they conducted a search. We found notes on theology, in which the word "God" was written with a capital letter. Well, of course, that was enough to get him arrested. On February 25, 1934, Mikhail Gundyaev was sentenced to 3 years in labor camps and sent to the Far East.

In 1937, after serving his full term, Mikhail was released and returned to Leningrad, where he worked at various enterprises. When the Great Patriotic War began in June 1941, Mikhail worked as a chief mechanic at one of the military factories. On September 8, the blockade of Leningrad began. The Gundyaevs did not evacuate from the besieged city. My father worked at the factory, which continued to work even under the blockade.

The blockade lasted 871 days, the city was practically cut off from the rest of the country and was subjected to regular artillery shelling. The data given at the Nuremberg trials mentions the figure of 632 thousand - those who died in Leningrad during the blockade. Basically, people did not die from bombing and shelling, they died a hard and painful death of starvation.

In the first months of the blockade, Mikhail participated in the construction of defensive fortifications and, as a result of hard work, quickly reached complete exhaustion. He was picked up on the street as dead and brought to the morgue. Since the morgue was packed, he was placed in the hallway. A passing nurse accidentally touched the sheet with which he was covered, and, looking at the face of the deceased, saw that the pupil contracted when the sheet flew off. The woman raised a cry, and this saved the dying man. The publicity of sending a living person to the morgue could lead to disastrous consequences. The hospital management was scared. Mikhail began to be intensively fed so that there would be no noise. Having survived, since then he could no longer serve or work in civilian jobs. He was sent as a specialist to Nizhny Novgorod, where he was engaged in the acceptance of the T-34 tank. Until the very day of the Victory, he worked in this post.

During the war years, the policy of the Soviet state towards the Church softened somewhat. On the very first day, Metropolitan Sergius turned to the people with a fiery appeal to stand up for the Fatherland and called on God's blessing on the Soviet army. At the request of Metropolitan Sergius, some bishops were returned from exile and appointed to the cathedra. It became possible to talk about the need to convene a bishops' council and about the opening of spiritual institutions.

These changes in the Russian Orthodox Church made it possible for Mikhail Gundyaev to perform cherished dream- become a priest. He wrote a petition addressed to Metropolitan Grigory of Leningrad, he was ordained and assigned to the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God on Vasilyevsky Island. From 1951 to 1972, he changed a lot of churches. This track record looks quite good, but in fact his ministry was far from cloudless. Frequent transfers from one church to another - this was a kind of method of fighting the Church. After all, it takes time to form a parish and a community, so that a priest can delve into the life of his parishioners. As soon as the authorities felt that a parish was forming somewhere, they transferred the priest to another place - in order to prevent people from rallying. At that time, the benevolent attitude of the state towards the Church was declared, since the authorities were afraid to go too far, feeling a special spiritual need for the people during the war. They were afraid to apply the methods of the 30s.

Another form of struggle against the Church was the material oppression of the clergy. A whole campaign was unleashed against priests and parishes. As victims, they chose mainly those priests who were popular among the people. Raifo - district financial department- presented them with a demand to pay a tax, which was taken from the ceiling and was huge. An employee of the raifo came, named, unknown as the calculated astronomical amount of income that the parish allegedly received, and assigned a completely arbitrary tax - for example, 51%. And the priest is obliged to pay half of his imaginary annual income. Patriarch Kirill recalls: “My father was, like many others, invited to raifo. He was told that he had earned some fantastic money and therefore he had to pay about 120,000 rubles in tax.”

The family got into terrible debt. There were people who gave in debt. They sold everything that was superfluous and not superfluous, paid this tax. The patriarch recalls: “The father paid this debt until his death, then he died, and after his death, his son Vladimir began to pay this tax. And I paid this tax until I was sent to work in Switzerland.”

The family had three children. The eldest son Nikolay now serves as an archpriest in St. Petersburg. Sister Elena is now the head of an Orthodox gymnasium in St. Petersburg, where she for a long time worked in the library. Elena Mikhailovna recalls:

How we lived, I do not understand. As a child, I went out to the front door, and on the handle hung a string bag with food, they were brought by ordinary parishioners. People of very modest means. Most often in this grid were herring and a loaf of bread.

But, despite this, in parallel with the service in the parish, Father Michael continued to study theological sciences. In 1961, already a middle-aged man with many children, he graduated from the Leningrad Theological Seminary, in 1970 he graduated from the Leningrad Theological Academy and at the age of 63 he defended his dissertation and became a candidate of theology. He died on October 13, 1974 in Leningrad. And 10 years later, his wife died.

The middle child of Archpriest Mikhail and Raisa Gundyaev - son Vladimir - was born on November 20, 1946. His childhood and youth were spent in the city of Leningrad. At the age of seven, Volodya entered school. All children upon reaching the age of 10 were required to join a pioneer organization. It was children's version Communist Party, and at the age of 14 they joined the Komsomol. It was such a communist party for youth.

And in such a situation, of course, children from believing families in Soviet school were outcasts. The patriarch recalls: “I went to school as if I were going to Golgotha. Very often I was summoned to teachers' councils, to disputes. Their family never hid their religious beliefs. And Vladimir did not join either the pioneer or the Komsomol organizations. And he studied at the same time very well - he was one of the best students in the school. Those. he had to be sent to all sorts of reviews, olympiads - to report on his work with his successes. How about reporting? Neither a pioneer, nor an Octobrist. The director of the school was at a loss, called Volodya and said: "Still, I insist that you join the pioneers." To which Volodya replied: “Well, if you need it so much, I can join the pioneers, but you agree that I will go to church in a red tie. Because I will go to the temple.”

The fact that Volodya did not wear a tie was very striking. He was constantly asked: “Why don’t you wear it?”. Thus, the boy had to confess his faith all the time. What he successfully did, because even then he was distinguished by eloquence and the ability to find right word. Without becoming either a pioneer or a member of the Komsomol, he did not become a dissident, as he himself writes. Because he loved his country and his people and did not want to criticize them to the whole world.

Physics was Vladimir's favorite school subject, he was also interested in other natural disciplines. Once, when they were going through Darwin's theory, the children, apparently they had already talked on this topic both with Volodya and among themselves, shouted: “Let Gundyaev explain Darwin's theory to us,” and prepared to watch how their friend would get out of the situation. The boy stood up, very competently stated Darwin's theory, adding that from the point of view of Soviet science there is such a theory. And then he outlined his theory about the origin of species. And he stressed that he does not want to impose anything on anyone, and everyone should decide for himself with his views on this topic. Whether he wants to come from a monkey or not - everyone decides for himself.

Being the best student of the school, after the 8th grade, Volodya left the school. He also left the house. This does not speak of bad relationship in family. They were good. But, as he himself explains, the young man could not allow his parents to provide for his 15-year-old. Those. he did not consider it possible to accept material assistance from his parents, seeing how hard they live. Vladimir decided to start working and got a job on a geological expedition, while studying at an evening school at the same time. He worked on a geological expedition from 1962 to 1965. And after graduating from school, I wanted to enter the Physics Department of Leningrad University. In fact, he wanted to be a priest, but then he decided that he would first receive a higher secular education, acquire skills scientific work, and only then enter the theological seminary. But his elder brother advised me to speak with Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), ​​who at that time was the Metropolitan of Leningrad and, in fact, the second person in the Church. Patriarch Kirill recalls: “On the eve of the meeting I could not sleep, I was so worried. I went to the Lavra by trolleybus, and with each stop the excitement intensified. With trepidation he entered the Vladyka's office. But he met me so cordially that there was no trace of timidity left. After listening to me, he said: you know, Volodya, there are a lot of scientists in our country. If you put them one after the other, then the chain will reach Moscow. But there are few priests. And besides, it is not known whether we will be able to accept you into the seminary after the institute. Because no one knew how things would go. The liquidation of religious institutions was not completely ruled out. He says, "So go straight to the seminary."

Vladyka Nikodim should be told about, because the patriarch considers him his teacher and a person who had a great influence on him. His Holiness puts Metropolitan Nikodim on a par with such prominent representatives of the Russian hierarchy as Peter Mogila, Metropolitan of Kiev, or Metropolitan Philaret Drozdov. Vladyka Nikodim came from a working-class family. At the age of 17, he was already ordained a deacon and tonsured a monk. Then he very quickly made a church career and in 1959 he was already deputy chairman of the department for external church relations. Vladyka's accession to this position coincided with the beginning of another round of persecution of religion. In 1958, Communist Party leader Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev initiated a campaign against the Church. He promised that in 20 years he would build communism, and in the 80th he would show the last priest on TV. At that time, it was announced that Gagarin flew in space and did not see any God, therefore He does not exist. They probably expected to see God as an old man sitting on a cloud.

In order to finally discredit the Church, they began to offer priests to renounce God and engage in propaganda of scientific atheism. This was to show the people that the Church was falling apart. For this ignoble mission, as a rule, they were looking for those clergy who were banned from serving or had some kind of canonical violations. On December 5, 1959, the Pravda newspaper published an article in which he renounced God and the Church former archpriest, professor of the Leningrad Theological Academy Alexander Osipov (please do not confuse with Alexei Ilyich Osipov, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy). He had previously been banned from the priesthood for his second marriage and continued to teach. And so, having become an atheist, he turned all his gift to the denunciation of "religious prejudices." This renunciation of Osipov and other priests was a painful blow to the Church, which, nevertheless, was not afraid to adopt a decision to deprive the traitors of their holy orders and excommunicate them from church communion. In 1960, a conference "The Soviet public for disarmament" was held in Moscow, in which representatives of the international community participated. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy (Simansky) delivered a speech there and said: “The Russian Orthodox Church speaks to you through my mouth. This is the church that served the Russian state in the fight against foreign invaders both during the Time of Troubles and during the Patriotic War. And she remained together with the Russian people during the last world war. True, despite all this, the Church of Christ, which considers the good of people to be its work, is attacked and reprimanded by people. Nevertheless, she fulfills her duty, calling people to peace and love. This speech by the patriarch is said to have had the effect of a bombshell. Prior to this, they were afraid to openly say that there were oppressions against the Church in the USSR. According to the memoirs of Metropolitan Nikolai (Yarushevich), such an open statement to the whole world was made for the first time since the time of Patriarch Tikhon. The same Metropolitan Nikolai was declared the culprit of the scandal and the scapegoat, because he composed the speech of the patriarch. As a result, he was removed from the post of chairman of the department for external church relations. Here it must be remembered that all appointments and removals were carried out not by church, but by secular authorities. They appointed 30-year-old Archimandrite Nikodim Rotov to the post.

In 1948, the Russian Orthodox Church refused to join the World Council of Churches, and now, on the initiative of Metropolitan Nikodim, it has joined, because, as the patriarch says, the department for external church relations was a float, as if holding the whole Church.

On the one hand, the Soviet state needed external church activity, because it indirectly testified to the existence of religious freedom in the country. The logic is simple: if there are priests abroad, then there is a religious life, if there is a religious life, then the accusations of harassment are unfair. Those. from a propaganda point of view, it was beneficial for the government that the Church had the opportunity to carry out external relations. But from an ideological point of view, he did not need it. Because real priests went abroad, not figureheads. And such contacts provided a support system for the Russian Orthodox Church.

Such difficult conditions the service of the young monk Vladimir began. He took the monastic vows early - at the age of 22. The decision was not made immediately, I thought about it. There were people who not only dissuaded, but advised to think seriously. In particular, his teacher at the academy, when he found out about Vladimir’s intention to get a haircut, said: “Now you are 20 years old, and then you will be 30, 40, 50, 60, and now you have to answer not only for yourself as a 20-year-old, but and for the people that you will become over time. You have to think about this too."

The future patriarch appointed himself a certain period: if by that time I have not met a girl whom I want to marry, then I will take the tonsure. The girl did not meet and took the tonsure. And he was 22 at the time.

When Vladimir had just entered the seminary, Metropolitan Nikodim invited him and said that he would be his novice and personal secretary. The young man began to refuse, saying that he could not combine his studies and the hard work of the bishop's secretary. Metropolitan Nikodim replied that he felt great strength in him. Vladimir began to study according to an individual program (a year in two) and act as a secretary. And having already taken the tonsure, he again asked Vladyka for advice: where to find time for everything. The Metropolitan replied: “You must organize your life in such a way that you have absolutely no free time. You must fill all your time with useful things, then it will be easier for you, and you will have time for everything.

He was tonsured on April 3, 1969 with the name Cyril in honor of St. Cyril Equal to the Apostles, Enlightener of the Slavs. And already in his student years, he began to participate in the international activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. When in 1971 they created Sendismoz, a worldwide brotherhood of Orthodox youth, Vladyka Nikodim sent Kirill to a conference where the Russian Church was supposed to announce whether she was joining this youth organization or not. Vladyka Nikodim gave Kirill two letters: in one letter it was written that we agreed to join this organization, in the other - that we were rejecting the invitation. The young monk had to go, listen to all the speeches and understand what they are offering us, under what conditions, how it will look, whether there is a threat, whether there are any canonical violations in communicating with them, and make a decision himself. Those. even then such responsible decisions were entrusted to him. And on September 12, 1971, he was appointed representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. (That's just when he stopped paying his father's debts).

The temple at the representation was very modest. And at first there were very few people. But with the advent of a new rector, the church began to fill with parishioners. Once a high-ranking worker of our embassy came to him and asked him to marry his wife. But he asked: “Only for the sake of God do not tell anyone. Because I'm going to be in a lot of trouble." After a while, another employee of the embassy comes and says: “I want to marry my wife, but you don’t tell anyone and under no circumstances tell my boss,” and he names the name of the person who first came to marry Vladyka. funny case, but the future patriarch then thought: “Lord, we live in the kingdom of crooked mirrors. Two Orthodox person who could be close friends are separated by fears, prejudices.” This story made him very great impression, even now it is noticeable how much effort he devotes precisely to overcoming the division of Christians.

He became the rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy at the age of 28 - the youngest in the history of the academy. At the same time, he was elevated to the rank of bishop of Vyborg and made a vicar of the Leningrad diocese.

After 10 years of his quite successful leadership, suddenly an order came to transfer Archbishop Kirill to Smolensk. Just like that, one day, you might say. The patriarch writes: “Of course, it was a resignation, a demotion. And the first person who set me up correctly at that moment was His Holiness Patriarch Alexy.” Since then, they not only worked together, but also became very close people. Then Bishop Alexy said these words: “None of us can understand why this happened. From the point of view of human logic, this should not have happened. But it happened. And only then will we find out why all this was necessary. It has now become known from archival sources that the secular authorities were the initiators of the sudden transfer from Leningrad to Smolensk. But, of course, all this was providential - before that he worked in the power structures of the Church, in the capital cities of Moscow and Leningrad, and then he ends up in Smolensk and is engaged in the restoration of churches and all the work that he will also have to know, already being a patriarch. Thus the Lord prepared him for his future ministry.

Another reason for the transfer of Archbishop Kirill was his protest against the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. He, being a member of the executive committee of the World Council of Churches, together with the Metropolitan of Sukhum Elijah, contributed to the adoption of a resolution that condemned the invasion. It has now become known that one of the initiators of Bishop Kirill's resignation was General Oleg Kalugin, who at that time was the deputy head of the KGB department for Leningrad. Subsequently, he turned into an ardent critic of the Soviet regime and left for the United States.

We remember Vladyka Kirill as Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. And when Patriarch Alexy died and Metropolitan Kirill was elected Patriarch, everyone began, of course, to compare them. Many said: too much of him, talks too much. Here we must understand that they had absolutely different time compared to Patriarch Alexy. At Patriarch Alexei the main task was - to renew the life of the Church, to build and restore temples. And now we have enough temples built compared to how many there were. Now we need to think about who will fill these temples. We must strive so that people perceive the temple not as a Russian folk tradition but studied and understood the word of God and lived according to its commandments. Previously, priests dealt mainly with the elderly. The parishes were small, but they were made up of church people who were familiar with the Gospel and understood what the priest was talking about. Now people have come to the temples, most lives without a temple. It is difficult for them to understand the abundance of information that has poured on them, they need help. Therefore, new ways and forms of communication are required so that misunderstanding or indifference does not drown out the awakened voice of God in these people. Let us thank the Lord that he does not leave us with his mercy, sending our Church an educated, open, able to attract the attention of any audience of the patriarch.