This] shows their political and also anti-Russian motives. He has been a permanent member of the Holy Synod since 1989. Most persecutions of the Church occurred during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII . [107], On 25 December 2017, according to the website of Russia's administration of Crimea, Patriarch Kirill by his decree awarded the head of the Russian administration of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov and the head of the Russian "State Council of Crimea" Volodymyr Kostiantynov (both contributed to the occupation of Crimea and are wanted in Ukraine on charges of committing the actions aimed at seizing power by force, subverting the constitutional order, Ukraine's territorial integrity, and charges of committing a treason against the state and creating a criminal organization[108]) with two church awards, respectively, the Order of St. [22], On 3 September 2019, Kirill and Paulose II, the head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, met at the Patriarchal and Synod residence in St. Daniel Monastery, Moscow. Pope Francis greeted the chairman for external church relations of the Russian Orthodox Church after his weekly public audience on Wednesday. The call was all the more remarkable because Francis and Kirill have only met once at the Havana airport in 2016 in what . Russian Orthodox leader tells Pope Francis' peace envoy that churches The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca", "Exclusive | Pope Francis: "I am ready to meet Putin in Moscow", "Report: EU commission proposes sanctions against Patriarch Kirill", " / / .ru", " 4- / / .ru", "With war in Ukraine, Pope Francis' years long outreach to Kirill appears to be in ruins", "Expel Russian Orthodox from WCC says Rowan Williams", "Russian Orthodox church in Amsterdam announces split with Moscow", "Orthodox Church of Lithuania to seek independence from Moscow", "About 200 priests of the UOC-MP demand International Ecclesiastical Tribunal for Kiril", "Pressure on Kirill intensifies 400 priests call for condemnation by world Orthodoxy", "-: ", "Patriarch Kirill 'Understands' Ukraine Church Schism", "Resolution of the Council of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of May 27, 2022", "Ukraine hunts collaborators in its divided church", "The Russian Orthodox Church does not recognize the independence of Ukraine or the independence of the UOC", "The Charter of the UOC does not contain any provisions that could even hint at the connection with Moscow the Head of the Legal Department", "The UOC priest protested his inclusion in the ROC Publishing Council", "Top Vatican prelate calls Russian patriarch's defense of Ukraine war 'heresy', "Putin's top priest tells Russians not to fear death amid mobilization", "Kirill de Mosc sigue llamando a la guerra santa: Este sacrificio lava todos los pecados", "Russia's Patriarch Kirill Calls for Orthodox Christmas Ceasefire in Ukraine", "The Russian Orthodox Leader at the Core of Putin's Ambitions", "Patriarch Kirill escapes EU sanctions thanks to Orbn's intervention", "An Unorthodox Russian Vision of Heaven and Hell", "Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK", "Repblica Checa incluye al patriarca Kirill en su lista de sanciones por apoyar la invasin de Ucrania", "A Declaration on the "Russian World" (Russkii mir) Teaching", A Declaration on the 'Russian World' Teaching, "Putin Runs The Russian State--And The Russian Church Too", "New 'Proekt' investigation uncovers millions of dollars in real estate belonging to Patriarch Kirill and his family members", "Russian Orthodox delegation led by Metropolitan Kirill visit Chinnai and Kerala, India", " ", Official web-site "Slovo Patriarcha" ("The Patriarch's Speech"), Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, List of heads of the Russian Orthodox Church, List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Kyiv, List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Moscow, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Moscow Patriarchate's Administration for Institutions Abroad, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patriarch_Kirill_of_Moscow&oldid=1162044950, Russian individuals subject to United Kingdom sanctions, Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 1st class, Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class, Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class, Recipients of the Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, Recipients of the Order of Alexander Nevsky, Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples, Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, Articles with Russian-language sources (ru), Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people, Articles containing Russian-language text, Articles containing Church Slavonic-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. A close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Kirill has described Putin's rule as "a miracle of God. [58][59], In 2007 Kirill stated his goal of establishing a global Eastern Orthodox movement in Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Belarus, various Balkan states, Georgia, Armenia, and Moldova. [89], In 2016, Kirill stated that silencing priests that speak against same-sex marriage is similar to censorship, such as those that existed under Soviet totalitarianism. ", "After supporting Ukraine invasion, Russia's Patriarch Kirill criticized worldwide", "Russian Orthodox Church alleges gay pride parades were part of the reason for Ukraine war", "Russia's Patriarch Kirill defends invasion of Ukraine, stoking Orthodox tensions", "The pro-Putin preacher the U.S. won't touch", " / / .ru", " ", "Response by H.H. "[131][132], On 23 May 2022, Kirill stated that Russian schoolchildren must take Russian troops fighting against Ukraine as an example of heroic behaviour. Prior to becoming Patriarch, Kirill was Archbishop (later Metropolitan) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, and also Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church's Department for External Church Relations. [119] The speech came under international scrutiny, as Kirill parroted President Putin's claim that Russia was fighting "fascism" in Ukraine. [84] Later, it was stated by the Russian Church officials that it was a 24-year-old employee who "acted out of stupid, unjustifiable and unauthorized initiative" in editing the photo. [115], Kirill sees gay pride parades as a part of the reason behind Russian warfare against Ukraine. In 1952, he consecrated "the peoples of Russia, specifically." Pope Paul VI renewed the consecration in 1964, and Pope John Paul II did similar renewals during the Cold War in 1981, 1982, and . His elder brother, Archpriest Nikolay Gundyaev, is a professor at Leningrad Theological Academy and rector of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. He also said that Metropolitan Anthony, who replaced Hilarion as chairman for external church relations, comes to see me.. If there are talks, they are taking place without our knowledge, he said, according to CNN. Among the amendments was the amendment to protect Russia's territorial integrity, which prohibits negotiations on the transfer of Russia's territories to other countries. [133], When the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) removed itself from the Moscow Patriarchate on 27 May 2022, Kirill claimed that the "spirits of malice" wanted to separate the Russian and Ukrainian peoples but they will not succeed. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials were quick to deny that negotiations were taking place, but a close papal aide confirmed the popes statement in an interview with an Italian news outlet published Wednesday. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. He therefore engages in, provides support for, or promotes any policy or action which destabilizes Ukraine or undermines or threatens the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine. [87], In 2015, Kirill's envoy delivered his letter to Russian servicemen at Russia's Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. "[135] The church did not publish its new constitution. Pope Francis discusses Ukraine war with Russian Orthodox leader Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [37][36], When Kirill was elected Patriarch on 27 January 2009, by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church by secret vote he gained 508 out of 702 votes and enthroned during liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow on 1 February 2009 the service was attended, among others, by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and then prime minister Vladimir Putin. [3] After Kirill lauded the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, clergy in other Orthodox Churches condemned his remarks, with Bartholomew I saying that Kirill's support for Putin and the war were "damaging to the prestige of the whole of Orthodoxy. [4], In 1971, he was appointed representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches and has been actively involved in the ecumenical activity of the Russian Orthodox Church since then. In this letter, he did not express condolences over deaths among Ukrainians. The Christian community that developed into what is now known as the Russian Orthodox Church is traditionally said to have been founded by the Apostle Andrew, who is thought to have visited Scythia and Greek colonies along the northern coast of the Black Sea. "[102], In his sermon on 28 May 2022, Kirill stated that Vladimir Lenin had "tragically" dismembered "the historical Russia" into different countries, signing decrees destroying the country, which was a terrible decision that still leads to consequences even today. Pope. Russian Orthodox Church says Pope Francis 'chose the wrong tone' over [54] In his 2002 interview with Izvestia, Metropolitan Kirill called the allegations about his profiteering a political campaign against him. "[54] The duty-free importation of cigarettes ended in 1997. [72] Commenting on the case, Kirill said they were "doing the work of Satan" and should be punished. [117], In the days after the world learned about the 2022 Bucha massacre by Russian invaders of Ukraine, Kirill said that his faithful should be ready "protect our home" under any circumstance. 'Finally!': pope and Russian patriarch meet for first time in 1,000 Cardinal Matteo Zuppis visit, which lasts through Wednesday, follows his recent mission to Moscow and an earlier stop in Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In Moscow, Zuppi met with Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, as well as Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has strongly supported the war. He is a bishop who was a pastor in Rome and knows the situation well, and through him I am in contact with Kirill, he added. Your email Please enter a valid email. On 26 December 1974, he was appointed rector of the Leningrad Academy and Seminary. [110], During the vote on amendments to Russia's constitution, Kirill called upon Russians to support the amendments. The Russian Orthodox Church issued a warning to Pope Francis on Wednesday following comments he made imploring the Russian Bishop to stop being "Putin's altar boy." [24] The post-graduate department of the Moscow Theological Academy, which operated under the DECR, was transformed into the All-Church postgraduate and doctoral school named after Saints Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles[ru]. During his in-flight press conference April 30, the pope commented on meeting Hilarion, saying he is someone for whom I have much respect, and we have always had a good relationship.. The teaching states that there is a transnational Russian sphere or civilization, called Holy Russia, or Holy Rus', which includes Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus (and sometimes Moldova and Kazakhstan), as well as ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking people throughout the world. They noted that they "can't continue to remain in any form of canonical subordination to the Moscow Patriarch," and requested that the Council of Primates "bring Patriarch Kirill to justice and deprive him of the right to hold the patriarchal throne. To order Responding to the popes comments about secret talks, an official in the Ukrainian presidential office told CNN on May 1 that he was not aware of a peace mission. The brief . Russian Orthodox leader: Our churches must serve peace [100], Forbes reported on 20 February 2009 that, "Kirill, who was the Metropolitan of Smolensk, succeeds Alexei II who died in December after 18 years as head of the Russian Church. On 26 December 1974, he was appointed rector of the Leningrad Academy and Seminary. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Your message Please enter a message. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, the Cardinal expressed Vatican's readiness to assist through diplomatic channels and humanitarian initiatives. [23], Patriarch Kirill introduced significant changes in the administrative structure of the Church. [74], In March 2012, the former Russian Health Minister (19992004) Yury Shevchenko, pursuant to a court ruling, paid about 20 million rubles ($676,000) in compensation for the dust resultant from the renovation work that had settled in a flat upstairs in the prestigious House on the Embankment privately owned by Patriarch Kirill and occupied by the Patriarch's long-time friend businesswoman Lidia Leonova. In the livestream video of the May 3 general audience, Metropolitan Anthony, 38, could be seen approaching the pope and shaking his hand. The brief . [5], On 3 April 1969, Metropolitan Nicodemus (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod tonsured him with the name of Kirill after saint Cyril the Philosopher and on 7 April ordained him as hierodeacon and on 1 June as hieromonk. Question: Does the Russian Orthodox Church have a pope? [28], Kirill "heartily congratulated"[29] Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko for winning the Belarusian presidency in 2010[30][31][32] in a non-democratic election. "[81] This triggered at least one Internet blogger to study the issue and collect images of Kirill's wristwear. The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church is a close ally of Putin's, and has surprising links to the KGB. "[124], On 27 March 2022, Kirill expressed his support for the actions of Rosgvardiya in Ukraine, praising its fighters for performing their military duty, and wished them God's help in this matter. The Russian Orthodox Church hit back at the Vatican this week after Pope Francis told an Italian newspaper that Patriarch Kirill should not "transform himself into Putin's altar boy" amid the . [4], Since 1994, Kirill has hosted a weekly Orthodox television program " " (The Word of the Shepherd) on ORT/Channel One.[4]. "[86], In June 2012, Kirill was given the 2011 Silver Shoe Award[ru] (given in Russia each year "for the most dubious achievements in show business") for "immaculate disappearance of a watch" in the category "Miracles up to the elbows". Moscow, Russia, May 4, 2022 / 09:51 am The Russian Orthodox Church on Wednesday described Pope Francis' recent comments about his discussion of the Ukraine war with Patriarch Kirill as. Russian Church Warns Pope Francis After Comments on Powerful - Newsweek The Supreme Authority of the Church charged Kirill with the following functions: On 20 October 2008, while on a tour of Latin America, he had a meeting with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Fidel Castro. Russia demands immediate release of Orthodox cleric detained in Ukraine expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto [136] Although in this Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergymen now claims that 'any provisions that at least somehow hinted at or indicated the connection with Moscow were excluded' the Russian Orthodox Church ignores this and continues to include UOC-MP clerics in its various commissions or working groups despite these individuals not agreeing to this nor even wanting to be included. [61] He openly supported Putin's presidential bid in 2012 and said that Putin corrected the historically wrong path of Russia after coming to power, and conducted a special prayer ceremony in honor of Putin's re-election twice, on 7 May 2012 and in May 2018. Pope Pius XII and Russia describes relations of the Vatican with the Soviet Union, Russia, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Eastern Catholic Churches resulting in the eradication of the Church in most parts of the Soviet Union during the Stalinist era. [110], On 15 October 2021, at the opening of the VII Congress of Russian Compatriots in Moscow, he accused the West of trying to impose "false narratives" about World War II, stating the need to "protect" compatriots and Russians from Russia around the world, and said that not only do parishes of The Moscow Patriarchate unite Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians through religion, but also through Russian language. Aug 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis met Bishop Anthony, the second most powerful leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Friday ahead of an expected summit next month with its Patriarch. Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized. VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches should join efforts to promote peace before threats of a "major global armed conflict," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church told Pope Francis' envoy on a peace mission to Moscow. Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday appealed to Pope Francis, the head of the United Nations and other religious and political figures to show support for the . ", Jubilee Medal "300th Anniversary of Russian Navy" (1996), Medal "In memory of the 850th anniversary of Moscow" (1997), Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation (14 August 1995) for active participation in the preparation and conduct of the 50th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 19411945, Diploma of the State Duma of the Russian Federation (2001), Medal "65th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War" (Transnistria, 2010), This page was last edited on 26 June 2023, at 17:33. Full text of joint declaration signed by Pope Francis and Patriarch "[1] According to Putin, Kirill's father baptized him. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news. The Russian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church with an estimated 150 million members, accounting for more than half of the world's Orthodox Christians. In a statement Monday, the Vatican spokesman said Zuppi would travel to Washington with an official from the Vatican secretariat of state. [73] Polls by Levada Center showed that a majority of Russians thought the punishment of the punk group was excessive, although only six percent of Russian were sympathetic to the group. [106], On 14 August 2014, in an address to the heads of other Orthodox churches, Patriarch Kirill stated that the anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine is a war to eradicate Orthodoxy, waged by Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalists, whom he called "schismatics". [96], Since the 1990s, Kirill has advocated for banning Jehovah's Witnesses. [134] The Ukrainian church released a declaration in which it stated "it had adopted relevant additions and changes to the Statute on the Administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which testify to the complete autonomy and independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. [121][122], Kirill participated in a Zoom video call with Pope Francis on 16 March 2022, of which Francis stated in an interview[123] that Kirill "read from a piece of paper he was holding in his hand all the reasons that justify the Russian invasion. Since then, the United Nations and others have accused Russia of human rights abuses. According to a statement, an official from the Vatican secretariat of state is also accompanying the Zuppi on the trip, however, the official's details haven't been divulged. "He's a bastard, not a religious leader. According to material from the Soviet archives, Kirill was a KGB agent (as was Alexei). The Feb. 12 meeting took place in Havana, Cuba, a stop added at the start of the Holy Father's Feb.. For more on Orthodox beliefs and practices, see Eastern Orthodoxy. Pope Francis also said during the in-flight press conference that he has only spoken once with Kirill since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday appealed to Pope Francis, the head of the United Nations and other religious and political figures to show support for the . The Week is now on Telegram. From 1986 administrator of the parishes in the Kaliningrad Region. [130], On 10 April 2022, 200 priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) released an open request to the primates of the other autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches, asking them to convene a Council of Primates of the Ancient Eastern Churches at the Pan-Orthodox level and try Kirill for the heresy of preaching the "Doctrine of the Russian world" and the moral crimes of "blessing the war against Ukraine and fully supporting the aggressive nature of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine." Pope sends envoy to Washington D.C. as part of mission to help Ukraine The economist said the Vatican is carrying forward a seven-point plan for the peace process he outlined last September. [62], Three female members of the feminist group Pussy Riot were arrested in March 2012 for performing a song in Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow during which they called on the Virgin Mary to "chase Putin out". If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. The Cardinal met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior Ukrainian government officials during the visit. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star [52], Journalists of the newspapers Kommersant and Moskovskij Komsomolets accused Kirill of profiteering and abuse of the privilege of duty-free importation of cigarettes granted to the church in the mid-1990s and dubbed him "Tobacco Metropolitan". In 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimea and initiated a proxy war in the Donbas area of Ukraine, right up until the beginning of the full-fledged war against Ukraine and afterwards, Putin and Patriarch Kirill have used Russian world ideology as a principal justification for the invasion. )[17] He was enthroned on 1 February 2009. It read in part: The speeches of President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill (Gundiaev) of Moscow (Moscow Patriarchate) have repeatedly invoked and developed Russian world ideology over the last 20 years. Kevin Stitt signed a law Monday prohibiting gender reassignment surgery and hormone use for minors younger than 18 years old. All Pope, patriarch meet in Cuba nearly 1,000 years after split - USA TODAY Kirill urged families of these peoples to teach their own children to love their "historical homeland" Russia and to raise their children as Russophones. [156] Officials associated with the Moscow Patriarchate airbrushed the watch (but not its reflection on the table at which Kirill was sitting)[156] out of the photo,[1] while Kirill claimed that the watch had been doctored into the image. Order of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, I degree (Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2011), Gold Medal of St. Innocent (2009, The Orthodox Church in America), Order "Sheikh ul-Islam" (Caucasian Muslims Office, 2011), 2nd class (20 November 2006) for his great personal contribution to the spiritual and cultural traditions and strengthening friendship between peoples, 3rd class (11 August 2000) for outstanding contribution to the strengthening of civil peace and the revival of spiritual and moral traditions, Medal "50 Years of Victory in Great Patriotic War of 19411945. He has irked the U.S. and its allies by repeating Moscows argument that NATO was barking at its gates, and seemingly making a moral equivalence between Ukrainian and Russian losses. [92], In response, Kirill criticised the statement and said Bulgarians should only thank Russia, not anyone else, and that there was no place for "false interpretations of history". A Kyiv court ordered pre-trial detention on Friday for Metropolitan Pavlo, a senior figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who had been under house arrest since April. On the second day of his trip to Budapest, Hungary, April 28-30, the pope had a private meeting with Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop Hilarion. [95] After a litigation launched by a local Bulgarian pro-Russian activist, a local court found there was no defamation in Simeonov's words. [4] From 1970 to 1971, Father Kirill taught Dogmatic Theology and acted as rector's assistant for students' affairs at the Leningrad Theological Schools and at the same time worked as personal secretary to Metropolitan Nicodem and supervising instructor of the first-grade seminarians. Rome Newsroom, May 3, 2023 / 06:15 am. [103], On 18 July 2014, despite Russia's intervention in Donbas and Russia's occupation of Crimea (during which Putin, according to his own statement, threatened to use nuclear weapons in case of resistance to the Russians[104]), Kirill said that Russia poses no military threat to anyone. Russian Orthodox Church scolds Pope Francis after 'Putin's - Reuters "[138], Kirill supported the mobilization of citizens to go to the front in Ukraine, he urged citizens to fulfill their military duty and that if they gave their lives for their country they will be with God in his kingdom. [90], In February 2016 Pope Francis I and he held the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to Rev. While he explicitly mentioned a single amendment, the one that adds the mention of faith in God, saying that even atheists should vote for it, the voting itself was actually about the entire set of amendments, with people voting on all amendments at once, instead of voting on each amendment individually, one-by-one. Email Address. [25][26], On 27 July 2011, the Holy Synod of the Church established the Central Asian Metropolitan District, reorganizing the structure of the Church in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
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