Patriarch Kirill of Moscow

Date of birth: November 20, 1946

Date of ordination: March 14, 1976

Date of tonsure: April 3, 1969

Angel's Day: May 24

Country: Russia

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

Father-Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev, a priest, died in 1974. Mother-Raisa Vladimirovna Gundyaeva, a German language teacher at school, in recent years a housewife, died in 1984. Older brother-Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev, ProfessorSt. Petersburg Theological Academy, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Grandfather-Priest Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev, a prisoner of Solovki, who was imprisoned and exiled for his church activities and the fight against renovationism in the 20s, 30s and 40s of the twentieth century.

After graduating from the 8th grade of secondary school, Vladimir Gundyaev joined the Leningrad Integrated Geological Expedition of the North-Western Geological Department, where he worked from 1962 to 1965 as a cartographer, combining work with high school education.

After graduating from high school in 1965, he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and then the Leningrad Theological Academy, where he graduated with honors in 1970.

April 3, 1969, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov)of Leningrad and Novgorod He was tonsured a monk with the name Cyril. On April 7, he was also ordained a hierodeacon, and on June 1 of the same year-a hieromonk.

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

1970-1971-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.

On September 12, 1971, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.

1971-1974-representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Russian Orthodox Church.World Council of Churches in Geneva.

From December 26, 1974 to December 26, 1984 — Rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary. 1974-1984-Associate Professor of the Department of Patrology 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 December 26, 1984-Archbishop of Smolensk and Vyazma.

Since 1986, he has been managing 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), a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

On February 25, 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.

On January 27, 2009, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Kirill Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

On February 1, 2009, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was enthroned.

Fulfilling the obediences of the Hierarchy, His Eminence Kirill was:

from 1975 to 1982-Chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Leningrad Archdiocese;

From 1975 to 1998, he was a member of the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches;

From 1976 to 1978 — Deputy Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe;

From 1976 to 1984, he was a member of the Holy Synod's Commission on Christian Unity.;

From 1978 to 1984, he was the administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in Finland.;

From 1978 to 1984-Deputy Chairman of the Leningrad branch of the Department for External Church Relations;

From 1980 to 1988, he was a member of the commission for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus;

1990-member of the commission for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church;

In 1990, he became a member of the Commission for assistance to efforts to overcome the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident;

From 1989 to 1996, he was the administrator of the Orthodox Hungarian Deanery.;

from 1990 to 1991-Temporary ManagerDiocese of The Hague and the Netherlands;

from 1990 to 1993-Temporary ManagerBy the Diocese of Korsun;

From 1990 to 1993, he was Chairman of the Holy Synod's Commission on the revival of religious and moral education and charity;

From 1990 to 2000, he was Chairman of the Holy Synod's commission on amendments to the Charter on the Governance of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Charter was adopted at the Jubilee Council of Bishops in 2000.;

From 1994 to 2002, he was a member of the Public Council for the Revival of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow;

From 1994 to 1996, he was a member of the Foreign Policy Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation;

From 1995 to 2000-Chairman of the Synodal Working Group on the Development of the Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church on church-State relations and problems of modern Society in general;

From 1995 to 1999, he was a member of the Russian Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of events in connection with the commemoration of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.;

From 1996 to 2000, he was a member of the Supervisory Board of the 50th Anniversary of Victory Foundation.

At the time of his election to the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Kirill was:

Permanent member of the Holy Synod (since 1989);

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (since 1989);

Administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in Finland (since 1990);

as a memberSynodal Theological Commission (since February 26, 1994);

as a memberPatriarchal and Synodal Bible Commission (since 1990);

Co-chairman (since 1993) and Deputy Head (since 1995) World Russian People's Council, Chairman of the Smolensk (since 1996) and Kaliningrad (since 1997) branches of the VRNS;

Member of the Zemstvo Movement Council (since 1993);

member of the Russian Palestinian Society;

author and presenter of the weekly TV program "Word of the Shepherd" on Channel One (since 1994);

Honorary President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace (since 1994);

Member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation (since 1995);

Member of the Presidential Commission for State Awards in the Field of Literature and Art (since 1995);

Honorary member of the Moscow Intellectual and Business Club (since 1995);

co-chairChristian Interfaith Advisory Committee (since 1996);

Member of the Presidium of the Inter-Religious Council of Russia (since 1998);

Editor-in-chief of the magazines "Church and Time" (since 1991), "Smolensk Diocesan Vedomosti" (since 1993), "Orthodox Pilgrim" (since 2001).;

Member of the Church Research Council for the publication of the Orthodox Encyclopedia (since 1999);

Member of the Supervisory Board of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow (since 2002);

Co-Chair of the Council of European Religious Leaders (since 2002);

Chairman of the Organizing committee of the exhibition "Orthodox Russia" (since 2003);

Co-Chair of the Working Group on Cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (since 2003);

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the CIS Inter-Religious Council (since 2004);

Member of the Presidium of the CIS Inter-Religious Council (since 2004);

Member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation (since 2004);

Chairman of the Commission for Old Believer Parishes and Interaction with the Old Believers (since 2005);

Chairman of the working group for drafting a concept document outlining the position of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of interreligious relations (since 2005);

Chairman of the working group for the preparation of a document expressing the position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the problems of globalization (since 2005);

Member of the Joint Commission on National Policy and Relations between the State and Religious Associations (since 2006);

Co-chair of the World Conference " Religions for Peace "( since 2006);

Head of the working group on the development of the "Fundamentals of the Russian Orthodox Church's Teaching on Human Dignity, Freedom and Rights";

Locum tenens of the Patriarchal Throne (since December 6, 2008).

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill holds the following academic degrees and titles::

Since 1986-Honorary member of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy;

Since 1987-Honorary Doctor of Theology at the Theological Academy in Budapest;

since 1992-member of the Academy of Creative Arts;

Since 1994-Honorary Member of the International Academy of Eurasia;

Since 1996-Honorary Professor of the Military Academy (now a University) Air DEFENSE of the Ground Forces;

since 1997-Full member of the Academy of Russian Literature;

Since 2002-Full member of the Academy of Social Sciences and Humanities (since 2003-Public Russian Academy of Social Sciences);

Since 2002-Honorary Doctor of Political Science at the State University of Perugia (Italy);

Since 2004-Honorary Doctor of Theology at the Christian Academy of Warsaw (Poland);

Since 2004-Honorary Professor of the Smolensk University for the Humanities;

Since 2005 — Honorary Professor of Astrakhan State University;

Since 2005 — Honorary Doctor of the Russian State Social University;

Since 2006-Honorary Professor of the Admiral Fyodor Ushakov Baltic Naval Institute;

Since 2007-Honorary President of the Academy of Russian Literature;

Since 2007-Honorary Doctor of St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University;

since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of TheologyKiev Theological Academy;

since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of TheologyInstitute of Theology named after sts. Methodius and Cyril of the Belarusian State University;

Since 2009-Honorary Doctor of Theology of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy;

Since 2009 — Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Education;

Since 2009-Honorary Doctor of the Russian Presidential Academy of Public Administration;

Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of the National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI";

Since 2010-Honorary Professor of the Peter the Great Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces;

Since 2010-Honorary Doctor of Petrozavodsk State University;

Since 2010-Honorary Doctor of Yerevan State University;

Since 2010-Honorary Doctor of the Odessa National Law Academy;

Since 2010-Honorary Doctor of the Dnepropetrovsk National University named after V. I. Abramovich. Olesya Gonchara;

since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of TheologyMoscow Theological Academy;

Since 2011-Honorary Doctor of the T. G. Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University;

Since 2011-Honorary Doctor of Voronezh State University;

Since 2011-Honorary Doctor of Lomonosov Moscow State University;

Since 2012 — Honorary Doctor of Sofia University of Cultural Heritage;

since 2012 - honorary doctor St. Tikhon Orthodox University for the Humanities.

As Metropolitan, he was invited to give lectures in Rome (1972), the University of Helsinki, the Abu Academy in Turku, the Orthodox Seminary in Kuopio (Finland, 1975), the Ecumenical Institute in Bosse (Switzerland, 1972, 1973), the University of Munster (Germany, 1988), the University of Udine (Italy, 1988), the State University of Perugia (Italy, 2002), the Christian Academy of Warsaw (Poland, 2004). presentations at many Russian and foreign conferences, symposia and forums.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill is the author of the following books::

Formation and development of the church hierarchy and the teaching of the Orthodox Church about its grace-filled character. - l.: 1971;

Challenges of modern civilization. How the Orthodox Church responds to them, Moscow: 2002;

The Word of the Shepherd. God and man. History of Salvation — Moscow: 2004;

L’Evangile et la liberte. Les valeurs de la Tradition dans la societe laique. — Paris: 2006;

Freedom and Responsibility: in Search of Harmony, Moscow: 2008;

Patriarch and Youth: a Conversation without Diplomacy, Moscow: 2009;

Holy Russia-together or apart? Patriarch in Ukraine, Moscow: 2009;

Vanguard of the Church. - Tver: 2009;

Words. Sermons. Performances. - Kiev: 2009;

Be true to God. A book of conversations with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. - Minsk: 2009;

The strength of a nation is in the strength of the spirit. - Minsk: 2009;

The Church calls for unity. - Minsk: 2010;

Sermons 2009-2010. - Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, 2010;

Keep faith in your hearts. - Minsk: 2011;

Sermons 2010-2011. - Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, 2012;

The mystery of repentance. Lenten Sermons (2001-2011), Moscow: 2012;

The Primate's speech. Collected works. Series I. T. 1 (2009-2011). Moscow: 2012;

The word of the shepherd. Collected works. Series II. Vol. 1 (1991-2011), Moscow: 2013;

Overcoming the troubles. // Series "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch", Moscow: 2013, Issue 1;

The word of the shepherd. Collected works. Series II. Vol. 2 (1991-2011), Moscow: 2014;

Holy Land. // Series "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch", Moscow: 2014, Issue 2,

as well as about 2,340 publications, including in domestic and foreign periodicals (data are given as of March 2013).

Series of TV programs with speeches by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill were published: "The Word of the Shepherd" — Introduction to the Orthodox Faith; "The Word-Sacrament-Church" — History of the Early Christian Church and the doctrine of the Church; "Jubilee Bishops 'Council" — Fundamentals of the social concept — The Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church — Acts on Canonization, "Attitude to Non — Orthodoxy"; "The Word of the Shepherd" - Church, State, Politics (Part 1), Church, Person, Society (Part 2), On Faith and Salvation (Part 3), There are whether Russia has a future (part 4).

Dozens of videos dedicated to the life and work of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the election and enthronement of His Holiness, with recordings of divine services, sermons, meetings and live speeches made during his visits to Russian dioceses, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia and Armenia,as well as His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's speeches on Russian television, have been created and released on CD. His Holiness ' sermon cycles and recordings of a number of meetings with young people are also available on audio media.

Interaction with Local Orthodox Churches

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has worked and continues to work in the field of inter-Orthodox relations. He was the first representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Syndesmos, the World Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth Organizations. From 1971 to 1977-member of the Executive Committee of Syndesmos; participant of the VIII (Boston, 1971), IX (Geneva, 1977), X (Finland, 1980) and XIV (Moscow, 1992) General Assemblies of this organization; participant of the first Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference (Chambesy, 1976) and the inter-Orthodox Commission for the preparation of the Holy and Great Council of the Eastern Orthodox Church (chambésy, 1993, 1999); the main speaker at the Orthodox consultations "Common understanding and vision of the WCC" (chambésy, 1995); member of the pan-Orthodox consultations on issues of ecumenism (Thessaloniki, 1998) and the Assembly of Heads of local Orthodox Churches on the healing of the Bulgarian Church schism (Sofia, 1998); member of the pan-Orthodox celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity in Bethlehem 7.01.2000 G.; participant in the talks between Moscow and Constantinople Patriarchates (Istanbul, 1977 Geneva, 1978, Istanbul, 1990, Moscow, 1991, Istanbul, 1993) and regular consultations on current issues between the two Churches; held talks with the Orthodox Church of Constantinople on Estonia and with the Romanian Orthodox Church on the problem of the Bessarabian Metropolis in Moldova (twice in 1997 in Geneva, Chisinau, 1999).

In 2005, as head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he took part in the enthronementPatriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem.

As DECR Chairman, he visited all Local Orthodox Churches as part of official delegations, including accompanying themHis Holiness Patriarch Pimen andHis Holiness Patriarch Alexy II on their trips abroad.

As the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, he officially visited the Local Orthodox Churches of Constantinople (2009), Alexandria (2010), Antioch (2011), Jerusalem (2012), Bulgaria (2012), Cyprus (2012), Poland (2012), and Greece (2013).

Inter-Christian relations and cooperation

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill took part in the work of inter-Christian organizations. As a delegate he participated in the IV (Uppsala, Sweden, 1968), V (Nairobi, Kenya, 1975), VI (Vancouver, Canada, 1983) and VII (Canberra, Australia, 1991), the General Assemblies of the WCC, and as the guest of honor in the IX General Assembly of the WCC (Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006); the world missionary conference, "today Salvation" (Bangkok, 1973); was President of the world conference on "Faith, science and the future" (Boston, 1979. and the World Convention "Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation" (Seoul, 1990); participated in the assemblies of the WCC Faith and Order Commission in Accra (Ghana, 1974), Lima (Peru, 1982), Budapest (Hungary, 1989). Was a keynote speaker at the World Missionary Conference in San Salvador, Brazil, in November 1996.

He was a delegate to the XI General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (Stirling, Scotland, 1986) and the XII General Assembly of the CEC (Prague, 1992), as well as one of the main speakers at the European Assembly of the CEC "Peace and Justice" (Basel, May 6-21, 1989).

He participated in the Second CEC European Assembly in Graz, Austria (23-29 June 1997) and the Third in Sibiu, Romania (5-9 September 2007).

He participated in four rounds of bilateral interviews between theologians of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (Leningrad, 1967; Bari, Italy, 1969; Zagorsk, 1972; Trento, Italy, 1975).

Since 1977-Secretary of the International Technical Commission for the Preparation of Dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Since 1980-Member of the International Theological Commission for Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue. In this capacity, he participated in four plenary sessions of this commission: (Patmos-Rhodes, Greece, 1980; Munich, Germany, 1982; Crete, 1984; Valaam, Finland, 1988) and in the work of its Coordination Committee.

He co-chaired the second round of the Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue (Debrecen II) in 1976 in Leningrad and participated in Evangelical Kirkhentags in Wittenberg (GDR, 1983), Dortmund (1991) and Hamburg (1995).

Participant of the dialogue with the delegation of the Old Catholic Church on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Rotterdam-St. Petersburg Commission, Moscow, 1996.

As DECR Chairman, on behalf of the Hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, he participated in contacts with Churches in the United States, Japan, the GDR, Germany, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ethiopia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Jamaica, Canada, Congo, Zaire, Argentina, Chile, Cyprus, China, South Africa, Greece.

As Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, he held a number of meetings with heads and representatives of non-Orthodox Churches and Christian organizations.

In 2012, it was signed by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the President of the Polish Catholic Bishops ' ConferenceJoint message to the peoples of Russia and Poland.

Participation in the Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church

He was a member of the Local Jubilee Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (Zagorsk, June 1988), Chairman of its Editorial Committee, and author of the draft Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted by the Jubilee Council.

He participated in the Council of Bishops dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate (October 1989) and the Extraordinary Council of Bishops on January 30-31, 1990, as well as the Local Council on June 6-10, 1990, and the Councils of Bishops on October 25-26, 1991; March 31-April 4, 1992; June 11, 1992; November 29-December 2, 1994; February 18-23, 1997; August 13-16, 2000; October 3-6, 2004, June 24-29, 2008.

He presided over the Episcopal (2009, 2011, 2013) and Local Councils (2009), and was Chairman of the Editorial Committee at the other Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church mentioned above.

As DECR Chairman, he made reports on the DECR's work. At the Jubilee Council of 2000, as Chairman of the relevant Synodal Working Group and Synodal Commission, he presented the Foundations of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church.

At the Council of Bishops on October 3-6, 2004, he also delivered a report on Relations with the Russian Church Abroad and the Old Believers.

Administration of the Smolensk-Kaliningrad Diocese (1984-2009)

During His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's tenure in the Smolensk-Kaliningrad Diocese, 166 parishes were opened (94 in Smolensk and the region, 72 in Kaliningrad and the region). 52 Orthodox churches were restored and 71 were built again.

In 1989, the Smolensk Theological School was opened, which was transformed into the Smolensk Theological Seminary in 1995.

Since 1998, an Inter-Diocesan Theological School has been operating, training choir directors, catechists, icon painters, and sisters of mercy. Most parishes in the diocese have Sunday schools. There are Orthodox gymnasiums and kindergartens.

Since 1992, the basics of Orthodox culture have been taught in public schools in the Smolensk and Kaliningrad regions.

Work as DECR Chairman (1989-2009)

He represented the Russian Orthodox Church in the commissions for drafting the USSR Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations of October 1, 1990, the RSFSR Law on Freedom of Religion of October 25, 1990, and the Federal Law of the Russian Federation on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations of September 26, 1997.

As DECR Chairman, he took part in many international public and peace initiatives.

He took part in the development of the church's position and peace actions during the events of August 1991 and October 1993.

He was one of the initiators of the creation of the World Russian People's Council in 1993. He took part and delivered the main reports at the Councils (1993-2008). Since his election to the Patriarchal Throne, he has been the chairman of the VRNS (since 2009).

As Chairman of the Holy Synod's Commission for the Revival of Religious and Moral Education and Charity, he initiated the creation of synodal departments for religious education, social service and charity, and interaction with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. He was the author of the Concept for the Revival of Charity and Religious Education, adopted by the Holy Synod on January 30, 1991.

He developed and submitted to the Holy Synod the "Concept of Interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armed Forces" in 1994.

From 1996 to 2000, he led the development and presented the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Jubilee Council of Bishops in 2000.

He took an active part in the normalization of the church situation in Estonia. In this regard, he visited the Patriarchates of Antioch and Jerusalem (trips to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel in 1996), and also participated in negotiations with representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Zurich (Switzerland) in March and twice in April 1996: in Thessaloniki, Tallinn and Athens (1996), in Odessa (1997), in Geneva (1998), in Moscow, Geneva and Zurich (2000), in Vienna, Berlin and Zurich (2001), in Moscow and Istanbul (2003He also visited Estonia on several occasions, where he held talks with representatives of the Government, members of Parliament and with the business community of this country.

He took an active part in peacekeeping operations in Yugoslavia. During the war, he repeatedly visited Belgrade, held talks with the leadership of that country, initiated the creation of an informal international Christian peace group for Yugoslavia (Vienna, May 1999) and the convening of an international inter-Christian conference on "Europe after the Kosovo crisis: Further actions of the Churches" in Oslo (Norway) in November 1999.

He was the main speaker at the Parliamentary hearings on " Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church "(Moscow, 2001), and the topics "Religion and health" (Moscow, 2003), "Improvement of legislation on freedom of Conscience and religious organizations: practical application, problems and solutions" (Moscow, 2004).

Initiated a dialogue with European organizations in Brussels and established in 2002.Representative offices of the Russian Orthodox Church at European international organizations.

As DECR Chairman, he visited Estonia (multiple times), Switzerland (multiple times), France (multiple times), Spain (multiple times), Italy (multiple times), Belgium (multiple times), Holland (multiple times), Germany (multiple times), Israel (multiple times), Finland (multiple times), Ukraine (multiple times), Japan (multiple times), Canada (multiple times), China (multiple times), Hungary (multiple times), Moldova (multiple times), Norway (multiple times), Lebanon and Syria (multiple times), Serbia (multiple times), the United States (multiple times), Turkey (multiple times), Brazil (multiple times), Australia (1991), Austria (multiple times), Latvia (1992), Chile (1992), Bulgaria (1994, 1998, 2005), Czech Republic (1996, 2004, 2007), Slovakia (1996), Iran (1996), Lithuania (1997), Denmark (1997), Morocco (1997), Argentina (1997, 2006), Mexico (1998), Panama (1998), Peru (1998), Cuba (1998, 2004, 2008) Luxembourg (1999), Nepal (2000), Slovenia (2001), Malta (2001), Tunisia (2001), Mongolia (2001), Croatia (2001), Vietnam (2001), Kampuchea (2001), Thailand (2001), Ireland (2001), Iraq (2002), Liechtenstein (2002), Philippines (2002), special regions of the People's Republic of China — Hong Kong (2001, 2002), Macau (2002), South Africa (2003, 2008), Malaysia (2003), Indonesia (2003), Singapore (2003), United Arab Emirates (2004), Poland (2004), Netherlands (2004), Dominican Republic (2004), Yemen (2005), North Korea (2006), India (2006), Romania (2007), Turkmenistan (2008), Costa Rica (2008), Venezuela (2008), Colombia (2008), Ecuador (2008), Angola (2008), Namibia (2008). He paid official visits to Hungary, Mongolia, Slovenia, Iran, Iraq and Yemen at the invitation of the Governments of these countries.

Patriarchal service. Administration of the Russian Orthodox Church

In 2009, a reform of the central bodies of church administration was undertaken. Fundamentally reorganized activitiesDepartment of the Moscow Patriarchate Affairs, clarified the scope of the Department for External Church Relations, created new synodal departments, divorced functionsPublishing Council Of the Russian Orthodox Church andPublishing houses of the Moscow Patriarchate, an analytical work was carried out to formulate the necessary changes in the structureThe Educational Committee of the Holy Synod and in general in the system of spiritual education. Activities have been activatedChurch-wide court.

The Charter was updated in 2010The Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, clarified the powers and structures of the Administration of the Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate andSynodal Commission for Monasteries, the Secretariat for Foreign Institutions was transformed intoDepartment of the Moscow Patriarchate. Activities have been activatedMetropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan: its Charter and Internal Regulations were adopted, new dioceses were established in this country.

Formed in 2011Central Asian Metropolitan Area. A number of documents on social, missionary work, religious, educational and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church have been adopted. The meeting of Heads of Synodal Institutions has been transformed intoThe Supreme Church Council with its subordination to the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. Metropolitanates are formed to coordinate the activities of dioceses located in the same subject of the Russian Federation. Vicariates have been established in the Moscow Diocese.

In 2012-2013, the formation of metropolitanates and an increase in the number of bishops and dioceses continued. The implementation of orders issued by the Councils of Bishops in 2011 and 2013 is being monitored. Based on the adopted documents on social, missionary, youth work, religious-educational and catechetical ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church, a detailed database of documents was developed, as well as partially provisions regulating the special training of ministers in these areas. Changes are spreading from the central office of the Church to the level of dioceses. The subject "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" is included in the curriculum of secondary schools in all regions of Russia.

During the Patriarchal ministry, the following were formed::

- Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church (2009)

- Church executive authorities:

Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (2011)

Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations (2009)

Synodal Information Department (2009)

Financial and Economic Management (2009)

Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks (2010)

Synodal Department for Prison Ministry (2010)

Patriarchal Council for Culture (2010)

Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism (2012), transformed from the Synodal Commission for Monasteries (2010)

- Church-wide collegial bodies:

Patriarchal Commission for Family and Maternity Protection (2012) , formerly known as the Patriarchal Council for Family and Maternity Protection (2011)

- Church-wide Postgraduate and Doctoral Program named after Saints Cyril and Methodius (2009)

- Interdepartmental Coordination Group on Teaching theology in Higher Education Institutions (2012)

- Church and Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for Perpetuating the Memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church (2013), former name-Church and Public Council for Perpetuating the Memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia (2012)

As Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, in 2009-2013 he visited the following countries: Azerbaijan (2009, 2010), Armenia (2010, 2011), Belarus (2009, 2012, 2013), Bulgaria (2012), Greece (2013), Egypt (2010), Israel (2012), Jordan (2012), Kazakhstan (2010, 2012), Cyprus (2012), China (2013), Lebanon (2011), Moldova (2011, 2013), the Palestinian Authority (2012), Poland (2012), Syria (2011), Serbia (2013), Turkey (2009), Ukraine (2009, 2010 — 3 times, 2011 — 5 times, 2012, 2013), Montenegro (2013), Estonia (2013), Japan (2012).

By February 2014 His Holiness Patriarch Kirill made 124 trips to 67 dioceses, 156 trips to 26 Stavropol monasteries, and repeatedly visited 21 of them. Visited 7 farmsteads of Stavropol monasteries. Made 432 trips to 105 churches in Moscow (data as of January 31, 2014).

During the five years of his Patriarchal ministry, he performed 1,137 services (data as of January 31, 2014).

During the ministry of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the following organizations were formed::

46 metropolitanates of the Russian Orthodox Church;

113 dioceses, including 95 dioceses in Russia*;

Central Asian Metropolitan Area (2011);

vicariates in the Moscow Diocese (2011).

The number of dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church increased from 159 at the beginning of 2009 to 273 at the beginning of 2014 (in Russia — from 69 to 164).

At the beginning of 2009, the Russian Orthodox Church had 200 bishops, and at the beginning of 2014 — 312*.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presided over 109 episcopal consecrations, including: in 2009 — 5; in 2010-9; in 2011 — 31; in 2012 — 41; in 2013 — 22; in 2014 — 1*.

Also, during his 5 years of Patriarchal service, he performed 144 ordinations as a deacon and presbyter (18 as a deacon and 126 as a presbyter).

* — data as of February 1, 2014

Awards

Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church

Church-wide awards

1973-Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir (II degree)

1986-Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (II degree)

1996-Order of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow (I class)

2001-Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (II degree)

2004-Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (I class)

2006-Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia (II class)

Orders of Self-Governing and Autonomous Churches of the Russian Orthodox Church

2006-Order of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves (I class) (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

2006-Order of the Most Faithful Voivode Stefan the Great and Saint (II degree) (Orthodox Church of Moldova)

2009-Order of the Holy Martyr Isidor Yuryevsky (I class) (Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate)

2009-Order in honor of the 450th anniversary of the bringing of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God to the land of Volyn (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

2011-Order of St. Theodosius of Chernihiv (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

Awards of Local Orthodox Churches

2007-Order of St. Sava the Consecrated (II degree) (Orthodox Church of Alexandria)

2009-Saint Innocent Gold Medal (Orthodox Church in America)

2010-Memorial Medal of St. Vladimir's Seminary (Orthodox Church in America)

2010-Grand Cross of the Order of St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist (Orthodox Church of Alexandria)

2011-Order of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (I class) (Antiochian Orthodox Church)

2012-Order of St. Boris the Tsar (Bulgarian Orthodox Church)

2012-Golden Order of the Apostle Barnabas (Orthodox Church of Cyprus)

2012-Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene (I class) (Polish Orthodox Church)

2012-Order of the Life-Bearing Holy Sepulchre " Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood "(Jerusalem Orthodox Church)

Awards of other religious organizations and Christian denominations

2006-Order of St. Gregory of Parumal (Malankara Church, India)

2010-Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Armenian Apostolic Church)

2011-Order of Sheikh-ul-Islam (Caucasian Muslims Office)

2012-Order for Services to the Ummah of the First degree (Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus)

State awards of the Russian Federation

1988 - Order of Peoples ' Friendship

1995-Order of Friendship

1996-Jubilee Medal "300 years of the Russian Navy"

1997-Medal "In memory of the 850th anniversary of Moscow"

2001-Order of Merit for the Fatherland (III degree)

2006-Order of Merit for the Fatherland (II degree)

2011-Order of Alexander Nevsky

State awards of foreign countries

2009 - Order of Peoples ' Friendship (Republic of Belarus)

2010-Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)

2010-Sharaf Order (Republic of Azerbaijan)

2011 — Order of the Republic ("OrdinulRepublicii") (Republic of Moldova)

2011-Order of Saint Mesrop Mashtots (Republic of Armenia)

2012-Order of the Star of Bethlehem (Palestinian National Authority)

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has also been awarded a number of other federal, departmental and regional state awards; has received more than 120 awards from Russian and foreign public organizations; is an honorary citizen of the cities of Smolensk, Kaliningrad, Neman (Kaliningrad region), Murom (Vladimir region), Smolensk, Kaliningrad, Kemerovo regions, the Republic of Mordovia and other regions and localities of the Russian Federation.