Metropolitan Kirill biography of his family and children. Kirill, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' (Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich)

Childhood and family

His grandfather Vasily Stepanovich (b. 1879), a native of Lukoyanovsky district, was a machinist by training, and he himself began to study theological literature. In 1922, he ended up in Solovki following a denunciation by the Renovationists (a religious movement that stood in opposition Orthodox Church after the revolution and for some time supported by the Bolsheviks), of which he was an opponent. But even in the camp, Vasily did not abandon his faith, he held secret services, for which he once spent a month in a punishment cell. The Christian remained in exile until 1955.

The father of the future patriarch, Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev (b. 1907), dreamed of becoming a clergyman from a young age. After leaving school, he worked for some time as an assistant in Lukoyanov’s church, and in 1926 he moved to Leningrad, where he entered the Higher Theological Courses. He regularly attended all lectures and wrote them down verbatim.

Two years later the courses were closed, Mikhail went into the army. After serving, he entered a technical school, then an industrial university. Initially, he planned to go to study to become a doctor, but because of the mark on theological courses in his personal file, he was turned away. In 1934, he was arrested in the “Kirov case” for serving in church and singing in the choir - just a few days before the wedding. Mikhail was accused of attempting to kill Joseph Stalin.

His wife, Raisa Vladimirovna Kuchina (born 1909), taught German at school. Also being a religious person, she enjoyed singing in the church choir, where she met her future husband.

Together with his wife, Mikhail spent three years in Kolyma, then returned to Leningrad and worked at a factory. In 1940, the first-born Nikolai was born. During the war years, Mikhail helped strengthen the city during the siege, and in 1943 he went to the front. After the victory, the family began to live in the city, which was recovering from the blockade, and soon their second son, Vladimir, was born. At this time, the state began to establish a dialogue with the church, and therefore Gundyaev, risking losing his high position in society, nevertheless asked for ordination. In 1947, Mikhail was elevated to the rank of deacon and assigned to the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.

Two years later, relations between church and state that had been warming began to deteriorate again. For his service, Mikhail was imposed an unimaginable fine at that time - 120 thousand rubles (for comparison, for the Pobeda car, which cost about 15 thousand, even wealthy people saved for years). Part of the money was collected from Leningrad parishes, but until Mikhail’s death, the large family (besides Nikolai and Vladimir, the couple had a daughter, Elena, born in 1949), was constantly in debt and suffered terrible poverty. Saved by grateful parishioners who helped out with food.

The formation of Vladimir’s views was greatly influenced by his grandfather, who returned home in the mid-50s. He told his grandson that even during the most severe camp trials, which claimed the lives of most people, he never felt fear. “For me it was a living experience and a living image of a person who knew what God’s love is,” the patriarch later recalled.

Every school day was a test for Vladimir. An opponent of the communist regime, he became neither a pioneer nor a Komsomol member. When the school director convinced Gundyaev to wear a pioneer tie, he replied: “Okay. If you don't mind me wearing a red tie to church. Because I will." Constant teacher councils and beatings from the director did not prevent Vova from studying well. The soul of the future patriarch lay in physics and other exact disciplines.

Education

In 1965, Gundyaev entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and in 1967 continued his studies at the Theological Academy. According to information found in some sources, he completed the program in an accelerated mode at the request of Metropolitan Nikodim Rotov, whose cell attendant (i.e. secretary) Vladimir became later, in 1970.

Religious activities

He combined his activities as Nikodim's secretary with teaching at his alma mater. In 1971, Kirill was elevated to the rank of archimandrite, and in October of the same year he became rector Orthodox church in Geneva, Switzerland.

From this moment on, Kirill begins to move up the career ladder, so to speak. In 20 years he went from archimandrite to metropolitan; was the chairman of the Holy Synod commission, which deals with current issues of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Interview with the future patriarch (1989)

Social activity

“The Word of the Shepherd” with Metropolitan Kirill (1997)

At the same time, Kirill, as chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church MP, organized work on the creation of the concept of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of church-state relations. The result of his work was the “Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church” adopted in 2000 at the bishops’ council - a document outlining the official position of the Orthodox Church in interaction with the state.

Since 1995, the fruitful work of Patriarch Kirill began together with the Government Russian Federation. He was repeatedly a member of various advisory bodies, took part in resolving issues related to the Chechen Republic during military campaigns; was involved in organizing various cultural events: celebrating the 2000th anniversary of Christianity, holding the Year of the Russian Federation in a number of countries.

Patriarchate

Patriarch Kirill did a lot to unite the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. Regular visits to neighboring countries and meetings with religious leaders and representatives of other faiths have significantly strengthened the position of the church, and also expanded the boundaries of cooperation between states.

Despite his dedication to the cause, the Patriarch has repeatedly spoken out against radical groups, saying that such preachers must be feared. According to him, false teachers are increasingly appearing among the people and plunging people into confusion, because beautifully designed slogans hide a powerful weapon for destroying the church.

Scandals

Metropolitan Kirill was also accused of having connections with the KGB. In 2003, President Vladimir Putin received a letter that directly stated that Kirill was a KGB agent. The author of the letter was a priest of the Moscow Helsinki Group, but his actions, regarded by society as a provocation, did not bring any results.

In 2010, a new scandal erupted around the name of the patriarch. Kirill's comrade Lydia Leonova found him in his apartment thick layer dust. The arriving commission decided that the substance came from the apartment below - its owner, academician and clergyman of the UOC-MP Yuriy Shevchenko was doing renovations. The examination showed that the dust contains carcinogenic substances. The damage caused to the property amounted to more than 20 million rubles, which Lydia Leonova eventually sued from Shevchenko.

Patriarch Kirill: “Don’t strive to live better”

However, the press was interested not so much in the damage caused to the patriarch’s property as in the status of Lydia Leonova, who apparently lived in Vladimir Gundyaev’s apartment. Later, on Vladimir Solovyov’s radio program, the owner of the property explained that the apartment was given to him by Yuri Luzhkov’s deputy by order of Boris Yeltsin, while the patriarch himself “did not live in it for even a week,” but gave it to his second cousin, Lydia Leonova, for use.

In 2012, a photograph of the patriarch with expensive watch Breguet on the wrist. Later, the clock disappeared from the photo, but remained in the reflection on the table. The press service of the Russian Orthodox Church called this incident “a ridiculous mistake by the photo editor.” Soon the original version of the photo – with a clock – returned to the site.

Journalists believe that in this photo Vladimir Gundyaev was photographed with Lydia Leonova and their son

Despite the fact that the patriarch personally called her his second cousin, in the press she was called “Kirill Gundyaev’s partner,” and he himself was called “an exemplary family man,” and even cited as an example a photograph of them together in 1988. However, the statement about any love affair between them does not stand up to criticism, because Patriarch Kirill completely abandoned his personal life in the name of serving the Lord. Accordingly, he cannot have a wife (let alone a cohabitant) and children.

Patriarch Kirill now

Patriarch Kirill is a well-known personality modern Russia, whose abundant activity commands respect throughout the world. In addition to his main responsibilities, the head of the Orthodox Church contributes to the development of Russia, delves deeply into the country’s foreign policy activities and leads an active charity program.

Patriarch Kirill (in the world Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich) was born in the cultural capital of Russia on November 20, 1946 in the family of a priest. The father of the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' was ordained a priest of the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God at the time of his son’s birth, and his mother Raisa Kuchina worked as a German language teacher at a local school. Vladimir Mikhailovich was the middle child in the family; he has an older brother, Nikolai, and a younger sister, Elena, whose activities are also closely related to religion.

Patriarch Kirill's childhood passed like that of ordinary children - he completed eight classes of secondary school, after which he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and upon graduation, the Theological Academy. In 1969, he was tonsured a monk, where he was given the name Kirill.

In 1970, the future head of the Orthodox Church graduated with honors from the Theological Academy and received a candidate's degree in theology. From that moment, the church activity of the priest began, who reached the religious pinnacle and became the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' in history to be born in the Soviet Union.

Bishopric

The religious activity of Patriarch Kirill developed rapidly from its very beginnings. During the first year after graduating from the theological academy and taking monastic vows, the priest was elevated to the highest rank several times, and was also appointed as a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the Geneva World Council of Churches. Three years later, he was appointed to the post of rector of the Theological Seminary and Academy of Leningrad and headed the diocesan council of the Leningrad Metropolis.

In March 1976, Father Kirill received ordination to the rank of bishop and became a member of the commission on inter-church relations and Christian unity in the Synod. In 1977, the Bishop of Vyborg was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and a year later he already ruled the patriarchal parishes in Finland. In 1978, Archbishop Kirill became deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations and began teaching at the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1984, the future head of the Orthodox Church was appointed Archbishop of Vyazemsk and Smolensk, and in 1986 he became the manager of Orthodox parishes in the Kaliningrad region. Having demonstrated remarkable hard work and a desire to serve God, Patriarch Kirill in 1989 was appointed a permanent member of the Synod, where he actively participated in the development of laws on religion and religious freedoms. In February 1991, Archbishop Kirill was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

During the period of the collapse of the USSR and political upheavals in Russia, he took a clear peacekeeping position, which earned him trust and respect among the population. At the same time, the Metropolitan made a significant contribution to the preservation and strengthening of peace, for which he was awarded the honorary Loviya Prize three times.

In the mid-90s, the Moscow Patriarchate significantly showed its political activity, and the future head of the Orthodox Church became a kind of “prime minister of the Russian church.” Thanks to him, the Russian Orthodox Church was reunited with parishes abroad, and relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vatican were stabilized.

Patriarchate

Metropolitan Kirill came to the patriarchal throne thanks to his active social and political activity. Since 1995, he has carried out fruitful work with the government of the Russian Federation and widely covered spiritual and educational issues on television in the “Word of the Shepherd” program. Then he managed to create the concept of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of church-state relations, and already in 2000 the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church were adopted.

In 2008, after the death of Alexy II, Metropolitan Kirill became the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, who in 2009 was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' in a local vote, gaining 507 votes and 677 possible. Metropolitan Kirill's enthronement took place on February 1, 2009. The ceremony was attended by top officials of the country's political elite, namely the then-current President of Russia and his wife, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, the wife of the ex-president of the country and the head of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin. The Russian leadership then expressed hope for further cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the state.

Patriarch Kirill still bears the patriarchal cross. He regularly makes visits abroad, where he is considered a person with fundamental knowledge, broad erudition and high intelligence. His meetings with Western religious leaders significantly strengthened the position of the Russian Orthodox Church and expanded the boundaries of cooperation between Russia and foreign countries.

Scandals

Despite opinion polls confirming that Patriarch Kirill is supported by about 99% of the population, he has repeatedly become involved in high-profile scandals that are widely discussed in society. He was criticized for his involvement in organizing the import of tobacco and alcoholic products to Russia and illegal use of tax benefits. Then the majority of religious leaders called this action a provocation of the head of the Orthodox Church and an intention to tarnish the name of a religious person.

After this, they tried to convict the clergyman of material weaknesses, to which, according to church laws, he has no right. Foreign media “calculated” that Patriarch Kirill’s fortune reached $4 billion. At the same time, the possessions of the head of the Patriarchate included an expensive penthouse, a gold Breguet watch worth 30 thousand euros, yachts, planes and expensive cars.

Patriarch Kirill made categorical denials of all the scandals associated with his person and stated that the funds of the Moscow Patriarchate are used for the intended purpose and go to the development of churches and charity. The head of the Orthodox Church considers all such statements to be attempts to humiliate and undermine his authority in the Russian Orthodox Church, and calls on people who “criticize the church” to spiritual healing.

Personal life

The personal life of Patriarch Kirill consists of serving people and God. According to church laws, he is not allowed to have a secular family. The children of Patriarch Kirill are his large flock. The head of the Orthodox Church devotes Special attention charity and care for children deprived of parental care.

In addition, he deeply delves into the political processes of Russia, is active in foreign policy and boldly expresses his opinion, even if it runs counter to the ideology of the political elite of the Russian Federation.

Scientific and educational activities occupy a special place in the life of Patriarch Kirill. He is the author of a number of books and articles on the history of the Christian church and Orthodox unity. In addition, he is an honorary member of Russian and foreign theological academies and is a member of the Commission for State Prizes in the field of literature.

Patriarch Kirill is a famous Russian religious figure. For certain reasons, this man devoted his entire life to serving God and the church. This patriarch was able to become one of the most famous religious figures in the Russian Federation; some people admire his personality, and some blame him.

It is worth noting that many rumors and a variety of gossip were previously associated with the patriarch. Some actually happened, some are far-fetched. But what were the origins? How did Kirill become a church minister? How well does he fulfill his obligations and does he even love what he does?

Height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch Kirill is not an American, or even a domestic star, so he has no particular need to chase the elusive youth or carefully monitor his figure. By the way, photos of Patriarch Kirill in his youth and now for comparison are very easy to find on the Internet. For him, as a church employee, it is much more advantageous to look more respectable. So it becomes clear that he doesn’t really care about his height, weight, or age. How old is Patriarch Kirill? It’s a simple question. Currently he is already 71 years old. With a height of 178 centimeters, the man weighs 92 kilograms.

Despite all of the above, the man tries to follow own weight, goes swimming from time to time, and often walks. As you can see, he remembers the truth that you also need to take care of yourself. After all, “God protects those who are careful.”

Biography of Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch Kirill (birth name - Vladimir Gundyaev) was born in the late autumn of 1946. An interesting incident is worth noting. When his mother first came to church with him as a child, the boy accidentally walked through the Royal Gate. The woman immediately took him to the pastor so that he would absolve him of his sin, but the clergyman only waved him off with the words: “He will be a bishop.” It was probably the fate of little Vladimir to take the long and thorny path of serving the church. Of course, he was still a long way from holding a big position, but at the same time, everything that happened in his fate throughout his life, all these events ultimately led to one single conclusion - the formation important person in the church. And Vladimir did not come immediately to receive the title of patriarch, as well as to adopt a new name.

His mother, Raisa Gundyaeva, worked as a school teacher and taught German. And the father - Mikhail Gundyaev - it is worth noting, was also a clergyman. It is difficult to deny that this fact also had a certain influence on Vladimir’s choice of further life path. Although, here we can say that the entire family of the future patriarch was connected with religion. His grandfather, for example, was often sent into exile, as accused in connection with Christian Church. Brother - Nikolai - was a priest in the St. Petersburg Cathedral. And my sister, Elena, held the post of headmistress at the theological gymnasium.

Before starting his own religious activity, the future patriarch completed only eight classes at school. He tried out for geology, but a few years later he entered the seminary, and then the theological academy.

The guy received the name Kirill after becoming a monk. From that very moment the biography of Patriarch Kirill as a minister of the church begins.

Repeatedly he took part in what related to the development of the Moscow patriarchate. Since the nineties, Kirill began to pay much more attention to relations with society, as well as much more effort in developing this activity. So, in the early nineties, a program with his participation appeared on television - “The Word of the Shepherd.” It dealt with various religious topics, and it was very popular not only among ordinary people, but also among high officials.

A year later, Patriarch Kirill began to actively cooperate with the government of the Russian Federation. Often he even became a full-fledged participant in a variety of advisory organizations. Organized various cultural events. For example, the celebration of two thousand years of Christianity. Moreover, in accordance with information obtained as a result of a survey of the local population in 2012, the majority of ordinary people approve of the work of the patriarch.

Among other things, Patriarch Kirill maintains a Facebook profile. There he corresponds with visitors to his page and answers questions. Very often he gives answers to those questions that are of particular interest to other people. There are more than five hundred posts on his profile on this social network. He is also the author of books on religion and the clergy.

Personal life of Patriarch Kirill

It is worth noting, first of all, that the personal life of Patriarch Kirill simply does not exist, at least according to official sources. He is obliged to serve the church, and all clergy, as you know, take a vow of celibacy. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing strange in the fact that this person, despite his already quite advanced age, does not have his own family.

Speaking modern language, he “married his job.” After all, he has already spoken more than once about how important it is to spread the light of religion in the world. How true these words are, hardly anyone can seriously say. But one cannot help but take into account the fact that this man is a church employee and a priori he should not have love affairs.

Family of Patriarch Kirill

Taking into account all of the above, we can assume that the family of Patriarch Kirill are the same clergy as he himself. He does not have an official wife, nor do he have children. The most important thing, in his opinion, is to spend his life devoting it to the development of the community of religious houses at the international level.

And he does it very well, because even in his youth he successfully overcame the path of a clergyman in order to ultimately achieve what he is now. It is difficult to say whether he suffers from the fact that he did not leave behind heirs. But, if you look at it from the other side, he doesn’t have much time for it. And it cannot be said that he is lonely, because believers constantly come to him for advice or with requests.

Patriarch Kirill on a yacht with girls

The patriarch, although not a singer or actor, is nevertheless a well-known public figure throughout the country. It is not surprising that scandals gather around this man with enviable regularity. Very often he was accused of a variety of sins. And it’s a bit difficult to discern what is truth and what is fiction. Once there was even a rumor that it was often free time Patriarch Kirill spends it on a yacht with girls, and spends all church proceeds on personal benefits.

The patriarch himself, of course, denies such rumors or even simply ignores them, claiming that these are only slander and slander on the part of ill-wishers and those who go against the church. Of course, everyone is a sinner, but it is not easy to say how reliable the accusations against Kirill are. After all, he serves God faithfully and truly, but, be that as it may, he is a man.

Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person

It is impossible not to add that the personality of the patriarch is often associated not only with gossip, but also with a variety of rumors. At times it even reaches the point of absurdity. Take, for example, the recent rumor that Yaponchik and Patriarch Kirill are the same person. This rumor mentions the famous thief Mishka Yaponchik, who died in the early 2000s.

Some people notice striking similarities between these celebrities. For example, they say that the patriarch has a problematic past and thus he hid so as not to go to jail. This rumor was neither confirmed nor refuted, but most parishioners believe that these are the tricks of the patriarch’s ill-wishers who want to tarnish his dignity.

Children of Patriarch Kirill

As noted earlier, this person has no children of his own. The children of Patriarch Kirill are believers. Parishioners and those who need support or advice. This is what the patriarch himself says. Many times he said that he could help anyone who came to him. To do this, he also began to master social networks so that he could provide answers to the most interesting questions.

There is a possibility, of course, that he would like to have children of his own. But having a rank does not allow you to indulge in such worldly pleasures as a quiet life, a spouse and a child. But Vladimir chose the path of a clergyman.

Wife of Patriarch Kirill

The wife of Patriarch Kirill is a topic for a man that is better not to raise. After all, when he set out on the path of a church minister, having made this choice, he completely deprived himself of love. And although you can often hear that Kirill committed a sin, that he was often seen surrounded by young girls, nothing has been officially proven.

Most people believe that these are just fictions, and that in reality the patriarch serves his church faithfully and has no plans to deviate from his path. According to official information, this clergyman has neither children nor a beloved wife. He considers the church his home, and calls the parishioners his children.

How much does Patriarch Kirill's watch cost?

Some time ago, one could notice a watch on this cleric. And even an ordinary person, with one glance at them, can understand that the cost of the watch is far from small. Therefore, almost immediately after this, rumors spread that Kirill was greatly abusing his existing powers and was wasting church proceeds for personal purposes.

Many were interested in the question: how much does Patriarch Kirill’s watch cost? The patriarch himself actively denied everything and even tried to hide the expensive thing from prying eyes, but it still became known that this Breguet watch of Patriarch Kirill is a fairly well-known brand, and it costs about 30 thousand euros. Apparently, the holy father is not against occasionally pampering himself with too expensive trinkets.

Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd”

It was already mentioned earlier that Patriarch Kirill has collaborated with society more than once to bring conversations about God among the people. A similar project of his was the popular television program “The Word of the Shepherd” with his participation. Patriarch Kirill hosted “The Word of the Shepherd,” examining a variety of religious topics and answering pressing questions. And although it seems that nowadays few people watch religious channels, or even just programs, a little earlier this program gained enormous popularity not only among lay people, but also among officials. The TV show was launched in order to help any person who wants to reconsider their views on life or needs help.

The Patriarch never refused to help those who tried to improve their lives. Of course, there were some evil tongues that said that Kirill needed all this just to attract more attention to himself. It is difficult to say how reliable this is, but, be that as it may, one must respect his dignity. As for rumors, they have always surrounded public people. Article found on alabanza.ru

Patriarch Kirill is a famous Russian religious figure. For some reason, he decided to devote his life to serving the church. He is a patriarch who has become one of the most famous religious people in Russia, who can inspire both admiration and censure. It must be said that Patriarch Kirill was associated with many scandals, some of them genuine, and some not. But where did it all begin? How did Patriarch Kirill become a clergyman, and why did he choose the path of the church? How fair are his church views, and does he fulfill his duties well? We will tell you all this in this article, so that those who want to know more about Patriarch Kirill can do so without any problems.

Height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill

Patriarch Kirill is not a Hollywood or even pop star, so it is not at all necessary for him to look too young or be too slim. For a church minister, on the contrary, it will be better if he looks respectable and important. Answering questions: height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill, we can say that his height is 178 centimeters and his weight is 92 kilograms, and today his age has reached 70 years.

Despite the above reasons, the patriarch takes good care of himself and loves swimming, skiing and walking. So, in addition to serving God, he does not forget that he also needs to take care of himself. As they say, “God protects those who are careful.” For my long life, Patriarch Kirill has seen a lot, was able to go a long way, on which he encountered both good and bad. Let's look at all this in more detail.

Biography of Patriarch Kirill

The biography of Patriarch Kirill begins on November 20, 1946. Interesting fact is that when he was little, his mother took him to church. Then he mistakenly passed through the Royal Doors. Then the frightened mother dragged him to the priest so that he would forgive him his sin. But he just waved his hand and said: “He will be a bishop.” Whether it was a coincidence or a prediction, little Kirill then really took the first step towards walking the long church path. But this was still very far away, because everything that happened in his life, of course, happened step by step, and as ordered by fate. Kirill's real name, given at birth, is Vladimir. He was still very far from the activities of Patriarch Kirill.

The mother of the future patriarch worked as a teacher, teaching children German. My father was a priest, which may also have played a certain role in his choice of life path. However, the boy’s entire family was directly connected with religion. His grandfather was regularly exiled for his association with the church, his elder brother was the rector of one of the cathedrals in St. Petersburg, and his sister worked as a director in an Orthodox gymnasium.

Before starting his own activities related to the church, Vladimir completed eight years of high school. I tried my hand at geology, but after three years I decided to enter the theological seminary; after graduating, I transferred to the theological academy, which was then located in Leningrad.

Young Vladimir received his middle name Kirill when he became a monk. Then his religious path began, which at that time he went through to become a metropolitan.

He repeatedly took part in the development of the Moscow Patriarchate, and everywhere tried to do as much as possible for this. Since the nineties, Kirill has begun to pay more and more attention to public relations and develop this activity. In the first half of the nineties, a program appeared on television screens in which he took part. Called this program“The Word of the Shepherd,” which was dedicated to spiritual issues, and which had a significant rating both among the common population and among politicians.

A year later, Patriarch Kirill begins active work and cooperation with the Russian government. Very often he acted as a full participant in various advisory bodies. He organizes various cultural events, for example, the celebration of Christianity, namely the date of two thousand years. Moreover, according to data obtained through a survey among the Russian population in 2012, the majority of people support the actions of the patriarch.

In addition, the patriarch began to maintain his own Facebook page. The Patriarch communicated there directly with those who visited his page and asked questions. He often answered the most important and pressing questions that other people might ask. The clergyman has more than five hundred publications to his name, and he is also the author of several books that touch on the topic of spirituality and religion.

In the 2000s, Patriarch Alexy II dies. Metropolitan Kirill is appointed to his position. A year later, he was appointed to the post of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', since he collected the most votes in the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. It should be noted that the patriarch did a lot to unite the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. He made constant visits to other countries to meet there with local religious ministers, various representatives of this character. All this significantly strengthens the position of the church in Russia and expands the boundaries of church cooperation between different states.

But, despite the fact that Kirill is unusually devoted to his work, he could repeatedly be heard making statements against radical groups. He argued that such preachers should be feared, since nothing good could be expected from them. They say that most often among the people there are charlatans who teach the wrong things, subject people to confusion, and all this can quickly destroy the foundation of the church.

Personal life of Patriarch Kirill

The personal life of Patriarch Kirill, at least officially, is absent. After all, he is the person who should serve the church, not anyone in particular. Therefore, it is not surprising that Patriarch Kirill is not married and has no family. However, for him, his personal life is the whole country, because he has repeatedly admitted that it is very important for him to bring light and truth to the masses. To what extent this corresponds to the truth, no one can say for sure, but all the same, one must take into account the fact that he, a recognized religious figure, cannot have an official personal life, he has a completely different path, which belongs to the church.

Family of Patriarch Kirill

The family of Patriarch Kirill is his church activity, because he laid down his life to serve God. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is not married and has no children, because the most important thing for him is to do everything in such a way that cooperation between church houses in the Russian Federation and other countries develops.

He does this very well, because from his youth he successfully went through the “career” of a church leader, step by step, in order to achieve something here. It is difficult to say whether he suffers because he does not have his own family, in fact, he does not have time for this, in addition, he is far from alone, many ordinary people and others turn to him for advice.

Patriarch Kirill on a yacht with girls

It must be said that around Patriarch Kirill, as usual with public figures, gossip often circulates and scandals break out. He was often accused of various sins; it is difficult to say which of them may be true and which are fictitious. One could often hear accusations that Patriarch Kirill was having fun on a yacht with girls, that he was spending church income to improve his life. Kirill himself constantly denies or simply ignores such accusations, saying that all these are the machinations of his enemies and opponents of the church. Of course, all people are sinners, but as far as there are reasons to blame Patriarch Kirill, it is difficult to answer with precision, because, be that as it may, he still remains a man who, first of all, serves God.

Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person

Patriarch Kirill is also associated with completely absurd rumors. For example, on the Internet you can often find such an accusation that Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person. We are talking about a famous thief who was buried in the 2000s. Many parishioners see the undeniable similarities between these two people. They say that the patriarch has a dark past, and now he has successfully hidden himself in order not to end up in prison. Again, whether this is true or not, most Russian religious people are sure that all this is the machinations of other religious campaigns, the purpose of which is to ruin the reputation of an honest church leader.

Children of Patriarch Kirill

The children of Patriarch Kirill are all his parishioners and people who need his support and advice. So, in any case, he says himself. He has repeatedly said that he is ready to help anyone who turns to him. For this purpose, he even began to use social networks so that you can answer the most important and pressing questions. The patriarch does not have his own legitimate children, perhaps he would even like to have them, but his rank forced him to abandon such simple, family joys as a wife and children. But having chosen for himself the path of a monk, and then a metropolitan and patriarch, he preferred spiritual growth ordinary earthly values.

Wife of Patriarch Kirill

The wife of Patriarch Kirill is generally a closed topic for him, if only because he once took monastic vows, thereby voluntarily giving up his personal life. And although you can very often hear that Patriarch Kirill “sinned”, that he was repeatedly noticed in the company of long-legged models, in fact, all this has not been proven. Most people believe that all this is fiction, that in fact Patriarch Kirill faithfully serves the church, not wanting to deviate from the intended path. In any case, officially the church leader has neither a wife nor children. For him, the church has become his home, his children are his parishioners, he cannot even think about women.

How much does Patriarch Kirill's watch cost?

At one time, a watch was noticed on the hand of Patriarch Kirill. And you didn’t have to be a jeweler to understand that they were far from cheap. Hence the question immediately arose: how much does Patriarch Kirill’s watch cost? Immediately there were rumors that Kirill was abusing the power he had received, asking where he got such a thing. By the way, the watch was valued at thirty thousand euros, there were rumors that after this, Kirill tried with all his might to disown the fact that he was wearing such a watch, tried to hide it. But the request for the watch of Patriarch Kirill breguet constantly appeared on the Internet, the cost of the watch, apparently this question was of interest not only to his enemies, but also ordinary people who wanted to be convinced of the patriarch’s sinlessness or, conversely, that he really pampered himself with expensive things.

Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd”

As mentioned above, the religious leader has repeatedly collaborated with the public in order to bring the word of God to the masses. One of such projects is the television program “The Word of the Shepherd.” Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd” often flashed on the screens, millions of people looked at him who wanted to find answers to life’s questions. The religious and educational program was precisely aimed at ensuring that anyone who wants to reconsider their life, or simply needs advice, could try to do this together with Patriarch Kirill.

Kirill happily helped those who wanted to help themselves. Of course, there were also evil tongues that the clergyman was doing all this for the sake of PR. It is difficult to say who is right here, and to what extent Patriarch Kirill is who he claims to be, but one way or another, one must show respect for his rank and activities related to the church and religion. There have been and are many rumors about him, some of them reaching the point of absurdity. But, unfortunately, it turns out that public people are always susceptible to having many enemies, often those who crossed their path unintentionally. Therefore, all that remains is to choose the side of the one you think is right.

Patriarch Kirill is the main figure of the Russian Orthodox Church today. We learned the details of his biography and life from his press secretary, Deacon Alexander.

For 5 years, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has been Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.
Many people know about his extensive social activities and position on this or that issue, but his private life is hidden from prying eyes. For the first time, the head of the patriarch’s press service agreed to open the veil of secrecy only for AiF readers.

God's Allotted Time

Yulia Tutina, AiF: Father Alexander, they say that all great people sleep little. What is the patriarch's daily routine?

Alexander Volkov: Over decades of hard work in the Church, always under absolute time pressure, the patriarch developed a strict work schedule. And now we, the people who surround him, find ourselves in the same constant, almost unbearable time pressure. His Holiness values ​​every minute and therefore tries to optimize his time as much as possible, filling all 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, I took a habit of walking. So I never saw him there alone! He always calls one of the patriarchate employees. There is now even a duty jacket hanging at the entrance to this kindergarten for the people he walks with. This whole situation is a projection of a thought that he often repeats to those around him: God has given us a specific period of time to have time to do something to change the spiritual state in society. Time is by no means unlimited, so we must squeeze into each day maximum amount affairs that would benefit the Church and society.

- So what time does he get up?

- Around 7 am. Then prayer, breakfast, going to work or to church. He usually arrives at his work residence around 10 o'clock, and the service begins earlier. Then meetings, work with documents until late in the evening. If he leaves home for Peredelkino at 9 pm, he definitely takes a pile of documents with him - he works after dinner. He goes to bed late every day after midnight. Doctors recommend changing the regime, but he thinks there is no possibility. Health-improving activities include the already mentioned walks, as well as not very regular, but quite intense physical activity. For a clergyman, the first place of rest is worship. Orthodox worship in general is physically difficult, and patriarchal services are even more so. It is always solemn and very emotionally intense. But I have been convinced more than once that it is precisely this that gives the patriarch strength. If it turns out that the patriarch is not able to perform divine services during the week, then after a break during the service he is simply transformed, looking several years younger.

– And does it work on Sunday? But it’s not possible according to the canons?!

- Of course, Sunday is the Lord's Day. On this day, the patriarch mostly performs divine services. Meetings are never scheduled on Sunday, except in some emergency. But at the same time, he is still forced to work with documents at home.

The Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' prays in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Photo: Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

Gift of the Preacher

– Does he really delve into all the papers he signs in detail?

– 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 he prepares his main, large public texts and especially sermons 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 is, first of all, an economic position - so many things to do, 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, first of all. After all, this is a guarantee that the Church does not turn into an intercontinental corporation like the religious Gazprom. We must understand: everything that the Church does in the organizational, administrative, and economic areas of life is only so that every person can come to church and, if possible, live in accordance with the Gospel.

– Does the patriarch have relatives, a family, what kind of relationships do they have?

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

In Krymsk shortly after the flood. Conversation with local residents. Photo: Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

Friends as victims

- What about friends?

– The patriarch, and he himself has spoken about 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 at pressure. And in this sense, of course, this is the cross of the patriarch. He sacrificed his personal interests, affections, and communication habits for the good of the Church. 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 services, and he is always very happy to see them, communicates with pleasure, asks about life, and then says a warm goodbye, after which they most often do not see each other for a long time.

– Who is the patriarch’s confessor?

– Optina Elder Elijah, with whom he studied together at the Theological Academy in St. Petersburg. Father Eli 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 and other countries come to him for fellowship and confession. 5 years ago, after his enthronement, Patriarch Kirill asked him to move from Optina Pustyn to Peredelkino. Since then, Father Eli has lived in the patriarchal residence. There on the territory there is a separate house for a small monastic community. Father Elijah 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 of a spiritual father is evidence of certain life priorities. This shows: 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.

Elder Iliy of Optina is the patriarch’s confessor. Photo: Press service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

– People have an opinion: the patriarch is the spiritual father of President Putin. I understand that this cannot be, but is the patriarch even 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, Rachmaninov.

He usually listens to music when he works, takes some important decisions. He, of course, 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 every day. It is clear that by the end of the day, you probably just feel a slight dislike for the letters of the alphabet. But among domestic authors he likes Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Leskova. 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 him on his anniversary Tatiana Doronina.

- And the cinema?

– He doesn’t go to cinemas publicly, 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 an area directly related to his work. He is obliged, so to speak, to be in the know.

Native Penates

– How does the patriarch spend his vacation?

– He doesn’t have vacations, like days off, in the usual worldly sense. 15-20 days of rest are collected, which he usually distributes over months and spends this time in solitude.

– Doesn’t he go on vacation abroad?

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

– Which 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 manager of the local diocese, and 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 at all picky about food, he loves simple food. He also likes to try national cuisine, which he does when visiting foreign countries. It is clear that since he performs divine services and holds events in a variety of places, the patriarch’s assistants have an attentive attitude towards food. Moreover, various official receptions and protocol dinners with distinguished guests are often held. Therefore, it was decided that the patriarchate should have a permanent cook. He is not a monk, a professional in his field, he prepares food that is correct from the point of view of Orthodox traditions and canons.

– Can the patriarch afford to have a drink?

– If you need to support a toast, he usually raises a glass of white wine. Maybe in some situations he would drink stronger - in Japan he was treated to sake, in Greece, on Mount Athos - to the aniseed liqueur ouzo. In spirit Orthodox tradition, does not offend in such cases those who show him hospitality.

A taste for antiquity

– The Patriarch is a monk. In principle, he should not have his own property. But are there some things that bring him joy?

– The Patriarch, as a person brought up in the St. Petersburg environment, has very good taste and understands painting and architecture. When visiting certain dioceses, he carefully evaluates new construction and especially the decoration of churches. The tasteless remake offends his artistic sense. But he is very happy when people carefully preserve the authentic and ancient.

– What is the patriarch’s mobile phone?

– I can’t say for sure – the most ordinary one, definitely not an iPhone. He almost never uses his mobile phone and treats it with some detachment, but with an understanding of the need to use it. He has been given tablets and laptops as gifts several times, but somehow he is not inclined to use them. He likes to write by hand and always has a notepad with him.

– But he knows how to work on a computer and 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 up your Facebook account. Thank God, competent people are doing this, and he spends his time on objectively more important matters. In this way, by the way, he sets an example for us all.

– 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.

What's the rush?

– 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 given rare pre-revolutionary publications by church authors, he accepts them with gratitude. His Holiness appreciates objects that convey the atmosphere of past eras, and encourages us to take care of what has come to us from the past and that carries the meaning of that time, which we can judge, among other things, by some individual things.

– Probably, this is generally the tactic of the Russian Orthodox Church - not to rush?

- You're right. Just not tactics, but the main strategy of the Orthodox Church is to preserve and increase all that good that exists in our world and in every person. Everything that the Church does is done on the basis of centuries-old experience and the 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 church-going consciousness. From morning to evening, he lives a 100% church life, and in this sense, I really want each of us to have such a life to some noticeable percentage.

Patriarch Kirill: biography

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' (in the world Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev) was born on November 20, 1946 in Leningrad.

Father - Gundyaev Mikhail Vasilyevich, 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 of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Grandfather - Priest Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev, a prisoner of Solovki, who was subjected to imprisonment and exile for church activities and the fight against renovationism in the 20s, 30s and 40s of the twentieth century.

After graduating from the 8th grade of high school, Vladimir Gundyaev joined the Leningrad Complex Geological Expedition of the North-Western Geological Directorate, where he worked from 1962 to 1965 as a cartographic technician, combining work with studying at 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 with the name Kirill. On April 7 he was ordained a hierodeacon, and on June 1 of the same year - a hieromonk.

Since 1970 - Candidate of Theology at the Leningrad Theological Academy.

From 1970 to 1971 - teacher of dogmatic theology and assistant inspector of Leningrad theological schools; at the same time - personal secretary of Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod and class teacher of the 1st class of the seminary.

From 1971 to 1974 - 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 Department of Patrolology 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 Rus'.

Private life of Patriarch Kirill. Footage released to the media for the first time

The footage in which the Primate is presented was not taken for the “record”, and has not previously been published in newspapers and magazines - they are part of privacy His Holiness. “AiF” turned out to be the only newspaper to which Father Alexander Volkov, the Patriarch’s press secretary, provided them and told under what circumstances they were removed.

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

Patriarchal visit to Valaam in 2009. Meeting with V. Putin. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church has developed good relations with the President of the Russian Federation.

Unique photo - The Patriarch takes a daily walk in the garden at his residence in Chisty Lane, Moscow. With him are employees of the Patriarchate, they are resolving work issues...

Visit to Mordovia in 2011. The Patriarch visited the village of Obrochnoe, where his grandfather lived, and talked with his relatives over a cup of tea.

With the brethren of the Russian St. Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece in 2013.

A girl at the Patriarchal service. The Holy One finds it easily mutual language with children of all ages.

The Patriarch serves in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the first week of Great Lent.