Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev: hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church

The famous cleric Hilarion is an outstanding personality. Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, vicar of Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Volokolamsky, theologian, teacher, church historian, patrologist and composer. Archbishop Hilarion Alfeev is the creator of the literary research work devoted to the life and activities of the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church, numerous Russian-language interpretations and all sorts of religious treatises written in Syrian and Greek. He is also noted in the field of dogmatic theology and is the author of epic oratorios and musical suites for chamber performance.

Biography

Before the adoption of the monastic rank, he was called Grigory Valeryevich Alfeev. Born July 24, 1966 in Moscow, in a creative, intelligent family. His grandfather, Dashevsky Grigory Markovich, was a historian and author of books on the Spanish Civil War. He was killed in the Great Patriotic War, in 1944. Father - Dashevsky Valery Grigorevich - was the author of research papers in the field of organic chemistry and doctor of physical and mathematical sciences. When Gregory was still a boy, his father abandoned his family and after a while, by an accident of circumstances, died. My mother was a writer, and she had to raise one son alone. Gregory was christened in 11 years.

Gnesinka

In 1973, Alfeev Ilarion entered the Moscow Gnesin School, where he studied violin and composition classes until 1984.

From the age of fifteen he was already a reader in the Church of the Resurrection of the Speaker at the Assumption Vrazka of Moscow. According to Hilarion, by this time the Church has become the main content and meaning of his life.

In 1983, he served as a subdeacon of the Volokolamsky and Yuryevsky Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) and was one of the freelance staff members of the publishing department of the Moscow Patriarchate.

After graduating from the Gnesin Musical Special School, he enrolled in the composition department of the Moscow State Conservatory, headed by Alexey Alexandrovich Nikolayev. In 1984, Alfeev went to serve in the Soviet Army musician of the brass band.

The novice of the monastery

In the middle of the winter of 1987 he left the Conservatory and became a novice of the Holy Spiritual Vilensky Monastery, then he was consecrated as a hierodeacon by Archbishop Victorin (Belyaev), and in the end of the summer Alfeyev received Hieromonk.

From 1988 to 1990, he serves as rector of the churches of the Vilnius-Lithuanian diocese in the villages of Kolainiai, Tituvėnai and Telsiai, and then becomes rector of the Kaunas Annunciation cathedral.

In 1990, he was elected a delegate from his diocese. He participates in the election of the Patriarch, which became the Metropolitan of Leningrad, Alexis (Ridiger). July 8, he gives a speech on the relationship of the ROC with foreign countries.

In 1989, Alfeev Hilarion, in absentia, finishes the Moscow Theological Seminary, and behind it the Moscow Theological Academy in the degree of candidate of theology. Not stopping at what has been achieved, in 1993 he graduated from the post-graduate course of the MDA.

Between 1991 and 1993, he embarked on the teaching of such disciplines as Holy Scripture, Homiletics, Greek and the dogmatic theology of the MDS and the MDA.

In 1992 to 1993, Alfeev Hilarion was a teacher of the New Testament and Patrology at the University of St. John the Divine and at the St. Tikhon Theological Institute.

Internship in Oxford

In the same year he was sent to an internship at Oxford University, where he worked on his doctoral dissertation and studied the Syriac language. He had to combine his studies with the ministry in the temples of the Diocese of Sourozh. In 1995, Hilarion Alfeev successfully graduated from the University in the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and began work in the Moscow Patriarchate in the Department of External Church Relations as secretary of inter-Christian relations.

Since 1995 he has been teaching patrology at the Kaluga and Smolensk theological seminaries for two years. Next year he lectures on dogmatic theology at the Hermitage Seminary in Alaska.

From the beginning of 1996 he served in the clergy at Vspilye in Moscow, in the church of St. Catherine (Compound Center in America).

In the period from 1996 to 2004, Hilarion Alfeev was a member of the Synodal Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church. And in 1999 in Paris received a doctorate in theology.

Hilarion Alfeev: Sacraments of Faith

At the same time, he worked for a whole year at the television channel TVC in the program "Peace to Your Home." At the same time, he continued to write articles and books, including "The Sacred Secret of the Church", "The Sacrament of Faith", etc. The list is interesting and great, so it makes no sense to list it all.

In 2000, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen of the Trinity Church in Khoroshev.

In December 2001, Hilarion became bishop of Kerch, and at Christmas 2002 he received the rank of archimandrite in the Smolensk Cathedral. On January 14, 2002, at the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, he was ordained bishop.

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev: feedback from colleagues

In early 2002, he arrived in the Diocese of Sourozh (ROC in Britain and Ireland) vicar Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom). Soon a whole group of priests, headed by Bishop Basil (Osborn), took up arms against the actions of Bishop Hilarion.

In May 2002, the critical speech of the ruling bishop Antonia, which gives his assistant three months to study the essence of the Diocese of Sourozh, came down on Illarion and decided whether he was ready to continue his service in accordance with the norms and ideals that already existed throughout 53 years. Antony emphasized that he admires the services of a young clergyman, but if they do not converge on major issues and do not work as a team, they will have to disperse.

Bishop Hilarion did not wait for reply. He issued a statement that rejected all charges against him.

As a result of this confrontation, Hilarion was recalled from this diocese, and in July 2002 was appointed Podolsky bishop, vicar of the Moscow diocese and the main representative of the ROC in international European organizations, where he was engaged in active information activities.

In all his speeches, he always stressed the importance of Christianity, which has been around for 2000 years. From his words, denying Europe its Christian roots is simply unacceptable, since this is the most important spiritual and moral component that determines the European identity.

Life in Conscience

In May 2003, he received a new appointment and became bishop of Vienna and Austria. In March 2009, the Holy Synod was relieved of this post and elected bishop of Volokolamsk, vicar of the Moscow Patriarch and a permanent member of the Holy Synod. At the same time, he became the rector of the All-Church Post-Graduate and Doctoral Studies of the MP.

In April 2009 he was appointed rector of the church of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Moscow on Bolshaya Ordynka.

Along the way, Patriarch Kirill, for the diligent service of the Orthodox Church, elevates him to the rank of archbishop.

Since May 2009, Hilarion is already a representative of the organization, which involves interaction with all religious communities or associations established under the aegis of the President of the Russian Federation.

In February 2010, for the personal merit of Hilarion Patriarch Cyril elevated him to the rank of Metropolitan.

In different years Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev zealously represented the ROC at various international interchristian forums.

From 2009 to 2013, he led the Orthodox religious commission, working on the Equal-to-Ethnic document, in which the position of the Moscow Patriarchate was expressed in the matter of the primacy of the Universal Church.

Trip to Ukraine

We all know that very sad events took place in a fraternal country and in May 2014, an outrageous case occurred - Metropolitan Hilarion, upon arrival at the airport in Dnepropetrovsk, was personally warned in writing that he was forbidden to enter Ukraine, where he was invited by the Metropolitan of Dnepropetrovsk UOC-MP, Patriarch Irenaeus, to celebrate his 75th birthday. Metropolitan Hilarion demanded an apology and explanation, which was not followed. Then he read the congratulation from the Patriarch of Moscow right at the point of border control and handed over to Patriarch Irenaeus the Order of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow I degree.

Musical creativity

In 2006-2007, Hilarion actively engaged in music and wrote for the mixed choir "All-Night Vigil" and "Divine Liturgy", for soloists and chorus - "Passion for Matthew", for the symphony orchestra and mixed choir - "Christmas Oratorio". In Moscow, these performances were preceded by the Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II. His music was highly appreciated by professional musicians.

During the year the Passion for Matthew was performed not only in Russia, but also in Australia and Canada. The audience noted the success, applauding standing up. In the period from 2007 to 2012, the oratorio was performed 48 times around the world. The premiere performance of the musical composition "Christmas Oratorios" in Washington was also marked by a storm of applause. The great success of the oratorio was sparked in Boston, New York and Moscow.

Divine music penetrated the soul of man. Bach's oratorio form was filled with the canonical Orthodox spirit. There were, however, critical remarks on this score, too, but there are very few of them.

In 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion, in close cooperation with Vladimir Spivakov, was the creator and leader of the Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music, which takes place every year on the eve of the holy January festivities.

Films

Bishop Hilarion Alfeev became the author and presenter of the series of films "The Man Before God" (2011), "The Church in History" (2012), "The Way of the Shepherd" timed to the 65th anniversary of Patriarch Cyril (2011), " Unity of the Faithful ", dedicated to the 5th Anniversary of the Unity of the ROC and the Russian Church Abroad (2012)," Journey to Athos "(2012)," Orthodoxy in China "(2013)," Pilgrimage to the Holy Land "( 2013) and many other very interesting cognitive Christian tapes.

In 2014, he also made films "With the Patriarch on Athos", "Orthodoxy in Georgia" and "Orthodoxy in the Serbian Lands."

Awards

Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev was awarded many state awards: he received the Order of the Holy Evangelist Mark II degree of the Alexandrian HRC, the Order of Friendship (2011), the Order Commander's Cross (2013, Hungary), the Order of Merit III degree (Ukraine, 2013 ), The Order of St. Constantine the Great (2011) Serbian HRC and many, many other high awards, including both public and academic. It is simply impossible to list everything.

One can immediately agree that not everyone can achieve such heights in life. Truly - a bright and unique cleric Hilarion Alfeyev. Photos with his image show an extraordinary piercing look of a very wise, with a scientific mindset of a man. There is a feeling that he sees what we, ordinary people, are not yet ready to see spiritually. Although still a young priest Hilarion Alfeyev, Orthodoxy, however, became for him the only religion that he is ready to profess all his life, and not only to the Russian people, but to the whole world.