Patriarch Cyril. Biography

Patriarch Cyril, whose biography interests so many people today, is the Primate of the Orthodox Russian Church and recognized as one of the most influential and respected people of our time. The facts of his life confirm the true destiny of a man who chose this difficult but noble way of serving God in his life.

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

Patriarch Kirill - biography

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

Metropolitan Kirill - biography

Since 1989, he is the Chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Chairman of the Synod Committee. He successfully serves for the benefit of the Fatherland and Orthodoxy. Despite such busyness, Metropolitan Kirill begins to lead on the first channel the spiritual and educational program "The Word of the Shepherd", which to this day brings people the Word of God. Metropolitan Cyril, whose biography can serve as an example of selfless service to our Lord and people, dedicates all his strength to the service of society, considering it his main duty.

January 27, 2010 was elected His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Nowadays the living Patriarch Kirill, whose biography is full of bright events of the Orthodox life, bears the dignity of the Patriarchal Cross and promotes the strengthening of Orthodoxy more and more not only in our country, but also in the CIS and countries around the world. He constantly makes pastoral visits, takes part in the Divine Services, with his direct participation 8 new dioceses were created. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill works for the benefit of not only Orthodox Christians, but also representatives of other religious faiths, who deservedly deserve to be respected. The biography of Patriarch Kirill continues, and all Orthodox pray that the Lord gave him many summers and good health for further activities in this difficult Patriarchal arena.