Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna: biography

The highest link in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church is the episcopate. One of its most influential representatives in Russian Orthodoxy - Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna - will be the topic of this article.

Birth, education

The future hierarch of the ROC was born on September 22, 1935 in Yaroslavl. Vladimir Poyarkov - namely this name was worn in the world by Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna - came from a family of employees. From the age of eleven he began to attend the church, serving in the altar in the Cathedral of Yaroslavl. After graduating from high school, he passed the entrance examinations to the Leningrad Theological Seminary, which he graduated from the first class. Then he continued his studies at the Leningrad Theological Academy.

Monastic vows and ordination

In 1959, Vladimir Poyarkov decided to take monastic vows. The ceremony is conducted by Nicodemus (Rotov), at that time still Archimandrite and future Metropolitan of Leningrad and one of the most outstanding hierarchs of the ROC in the 20th century. It was he who named him Yuvenaly in honor of the same-named saint, during the life of the former Patriarch of Jerusalem. Less than a month, the monk Yuvenaly is ordained a hierodeacon, and two months later - a hieromonk.

Ministry in the office of a priest

As a priest, the future metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomensky, whose photo is below, takes part in various delegations from the ROC in Europe, including the World Council of Churches. He works in the Department of External Church Relations, and in 1961-1962 he teaches the New Testament in the seminary. Then a number of appointments to foreign parishes are replaced, and in 1964, the decision of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Juvenal, was determined to become a bishop.

Bishop's consecration and service before the appointment to the Krutitsa and Kolomna departments

Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna was ordained bishop on December 26 in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The consecration was led by the same Nicodemus (Rotov), who at that time had already occupied the Leningrad chair and became a metropolitan. As a place of service to Bishop Juvenal, the Zaraiskaya Department was determined. His ministry there, however, was short-lived. As at the time of his priesthood, he mainly nurtured foreign communities. The Japanese deanery, and then the parishes in the US - that's where the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Yuvenaly served and conducted business in the 1960s and 1970s. His biography is connected with such events as the birth of the autocephalous American Orthodox Church and the autonomous Orthodox Church of Japan.

For his efforts to organize a local council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, Patriarch Pimen elevated Juvenal to the rank of archbishop. And a year later he was promoted to the rank of Metropolitan. Since then, he is a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church and the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. In 1977 he was appointed Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

Ministry in the Krutitsa and Kolomna diocese

The post of chairman of the above department he leaves in 1981 at his own request. Since then, he has been a member of many state, public and church societies and commissions in different years. For example, he served as vice-president in the US-USSR Society and in the Society for Friendship of the USSR-FRG, and was also a member of many other similar structures.

To date, occupying the same department, Metropolitan Yuvenaly is the manager of the affairs of the Moscow diocese. In addition, he chairs the meetings of the Synod Committee on the canonization of the saints. Since 1993, his duties also include co-chairing in the organizing committee, which prepares and conducts Days of Slavic writing and culture.

For his ministry of the church, Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna were awarded many church and secular awards. Among other things, he is the owner of the orders of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, Prince Vladimir of Equal-to-the-Apostles and Daniel of Moscow. In addition, he was awarded various awards from ten other local Orthodox churches, as well as the government of the Russian Federation.

Church reputation

One of the most influential and oldest hierarchs of the patriarchate - so known today is Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna. Reviews about it from different church circles vary. Extreme conservatives dislike him as a Nicodemian and for his loyalty to the activities of the deceased priest Alexander Me and priest George Kochetkov. On the other hand, he himself does not enjoy the fame of a liberal or a reformer, representing a church functionary and administrator with very traditional views. Preserving church-ideological neutrality, Metropolitan Yuvenaly escaped scandal and is known as a faithful hierarch, a talented manager and archpastor.