Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev Vladimir) is the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, and also after the elections in 2009 by the Local Council - the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', chairman of the DECR and permanent member of the Holy Synod. Before his enthronement, he held the position of Metropolitan of the Smolensk and Kaliningrad churches.
Born in the fall of 1946 in Leningrad. In high school I combined study with work. After completing his studies, he entered the clergy seminary.
At the end of the 60s he took monastic vows, and a year later he graduated with honors from the Academy of the Clergy. Two years later he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and during the same period became a representative of the capital Patriarchate in Geneva.
In the mid-70s, he was elevated to the rank of bishop of the Vyborg diocese and subsequently assumed the office of archbishop. Since the early 90s, he has been chairman of the commission of the Holy Synod, and a year later he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
At the beginning of 2009, he became a candidate for the post of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and two days later he won the vote with 75% of the votes.
A significant event in 2021 was his meeting with Pope Francis, which took place on neutral territory in Havana.
Childhood and family
Vladimir Gundyaev was born in Leningrad on November 20, 1946 into a religious family, despite the anti-church sentiment that reigned in those years.
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 to the Orthodox Church after the revolution and for some time was supported by the Bolsheviks), of whom 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.
Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev
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.
Mikhail Vasilievich Gundyaev
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.
Parents of Patriarch Kirill
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.
Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gunyadev) in childhood
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.
Vladimir, Elena and Nikolai Gundyaev
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.
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 anise liqueur ouzo. In the spirit of the Orthodox tradition, in such cases he does not offend those who show him hospitality.
Education
After graduating from eight years of school, Vladimir did not continue his school education. He decided to live an independent life, without burdening his needy parents, who still had his younger sister in their care. Having settled into the “evening”, in 1962 Vladimir began working as a cartographer in the Leningrad complex geological expedition.
Young Vladimir Gundyaev worked on a geological expedition
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.
Cleric's vehicles
It is naive to believe that a clergyman walks or uses exclusively cars from the domestic automobile industry. Its own fleet consists of:
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class Pullman limousine;
- the iconic Cadillac Escalade SUV;
- Soviet limousine "GAZ-13" "Chaika", which is one of the patriarch's most favorite cars.
In addition, he charters planes for official visits.
It's not over yet. The clergyman’s immediate plans include the purchase of an Aurus executive car. And this is by no means a cheap pleasure! This is how representatives of the clergy know how to make money on scraps that they actively preach to ordinary Russians!
Religious activities
In April 1969, Vladimir Gundyaev was tonsured a monk and named Kirill, ordained a hierodeacon, and then a hieromonk. A year later, he graduated from the academy with honors and a candidate of theological sciences degree.
In the photo: Vladimir Gundyaev and Metropolitan Nikodim
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 of an Orthodox church in Geneva, Switzerland.
Hieromonk Kirill on the day of his ordination
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)
Oil
At one time, Vladimir Gundyaev was one of the co-founders of the Peresvet commercial bank and some other organizations. And since 1996, he has been exporting Russian oil. And oddly enough, he didn't pay taxes for it either. According to official data, in 1997 alone, this business allowed him to earn about $2 billion. It is unknown whether he is engaged in it now.
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Social activity
In the 90s, Patriarch Kirill became increasingly involved in public activities. In 1994, the television program “The Word of the Shepherd” was released with his participation, which covered spiritual and educational issues in a language understandable to the common viewer. “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.
In the photo: Patriarch Alexy II and Metropolitan Kirill
Since 1995, the fruitful work of Patriarch Kirill began together with the Government of the 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.
Before his enthronement, Metropolitan Kirill was active in public work
State
Here we come to the question that interests everyone. Patriarch Kirill's fortune grew very quickly. In 2004, he had $1.5 billion in his bank account, in 2005 he already owned $5 billion, and as of 2021 he owns several tens of billions. But Patriarch Kirill himself never considered himself rich. In his interviews, he always maintained that the money did not belong to him personally, but to the church. This is due to the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church receives the bulk of its income from donations from parishioners, which amount to millions of dollars a year. In addition, the church annually receives about 370 million rubles from the state treasury in the form of assistance for the restoration of churches, the purchase of necessary utensils, etc. Therefore, the exact size of the fortune is impossible to determine, but, according to unofficial data, it is about 10 billion dollars.
Patriarchate
Patriarch Alexy II died in 2008. Metropolitan Kirill was appointed to the post of Patriarchal Locum Tenens. In 2009, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', gaining about 75% of the votes in the voting of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
On February 1, 2009, Patriarch Kirill was enthroned
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.
Patriarch Kirill and Vladimir Putin
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 behind beautifully designed slogans hides a powerful weapon for destroying the church.
House in Gelendzhik
Gelendzhik is another city where the residence of Patriarch Kirill is located. The construction of the Spiritual and Educational Center here was carried out on an area of 16 hectares, although, according to some media outlets, the apartments personally belong to His Holiness. This mansion can be considered one of the most luxurious, and locals even call it a palace, because the building with a dome on the roof looks very majestic.
Ordinary citizens cannot admire the exterior of the building. The house is surrounded by a three-meter brick fence, reminiscent of a fortress wall.
They say that the Patriarch stays here for several days: he loves to walk along the paved paths among the centuries-old pines, breathe fresh air and go straight down to the sea, and also relax in the beautiful rotunda gazebo above the cliff.
Scandals
One of the first scandals that arose with the mention of the name of then Metropolitan Kirill was the case of the use of tax breaks on the import of alcohol and tobacco products in the early 90s. The Novaya Gazeta publication published an article that spoke about the metropolitan’s personal interest in transactions for the import of excisable goods. However, the vast majority of religious leaders said that this was nothing more than a provocation; a planned campaign that aims to tarnish the name of an honest man.
Patriarch Kirill and Dmitry and Svetlana Medvedev at the Easter service
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 colleague Lydia Leonova discovered a thick layer of dust in his apartment. 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 an expensive Breguet watch on his wrist was posted on the Russian Orthodox Church website. 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.
The patriarch's watch disappeared from the photograph, but remained in the reflection
Residence in Moscow
The main working Patriarchal residence is located in Chisty Lane, building 5, and is the former city estate of the Ofrosimovs. Patriarchal institutions have been located here since 1943. Currently, Patriarch Kirill holds diplomatic meetings at this address, names bishops, and performs other important work.
Residence of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Chisty Lane
The house in Chisty Lane is a federal architectural monument. It was built back in the 18th century and was the property of the Ofrosimov family. During the fire of 1812, the estate burned down and was then rebuilt in an enlarged form (the main house and brick extensions on the sides). The current appearance of the façade was redesigned in 1878, at which time the last redevelopment was carried out.
The main room where meetings and other important events take place is the White Hall. The decor here is monumental: the walls are decorated in a classical style, in light colors, with an abundance of stucco and gold. On the central wall, just above the Patriarch’s chair, hangs a large icon, and the rest are decorated with images of saints in peculiar niches and vaults. The luxurious ceiling is decorated with plaster stucco with gold ornaments. The lighting system is represented by many classic gilded chandeliers in the form of candlesticks on long massive pendants. The furniture in the White Hall matches the rest of the decor: made of carved wood of valuable species, with soft gold upholstery made of velor and velvet.
Interior of the patriarchal residence
Personal life of Patriarch Kirill
When, after a scandal involving property damaged by dust, it became clear that in the ill-fated apartment of Patriarch Kirill on the street. A certain Lidiya Mikhailovna Leonova was registered as Serafimovich, and as expected, there was a fuss in the press. From her biography, journalists only found out that she is the daughter of a cook at the Leningrad Regional Committee of the CPSU.
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) or children.
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 mobile phone does the patriarch have?
- 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 emails or update his 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 of Patriarch Alexy, which are already 12 years old. Now His Holiness travels by means of transport provided by a special-purpose garage.
