Church in history. Orthodox Church from Jesus Christ to the present day

Hilarion (Alfeev)
(born 1966), Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Chairman of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Rector of the All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Equal-to-the-Apostles, rector Moscow churches of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" on Bolshaya Ordynka and the patriarchal metochion - the churches of the holy martyrs Michael and Theodore of Chernigov and the Beheading of John the Baptist at Bor, member of the presidium of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church, chairman of the Commission on Theological Issues of the Inter-Council Presence, deputy chairman of the Commission on issues of counteracting church schisms and overcoming them of the Inter-Council Presence, member of the Commission on the attitude towards heterodoxy and other religions of the Inter-Council Presence, member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, chairman of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, chairman of the editorial board of the magazine “Theological Works”, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Interreligious Council of Russia In the world Alfeev Grigory Valerievich, born on July 24, 1966 in Moscow.

From 1973 to 1984 he studied violin and composition at the Moscow Gnessin Secondary Special Music School.

At the age of 15 he entered the Church of the Resurrection of the Word as a reader at the Assumption Enemy in Moscow. Since 1983, he served as subdeacon of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) of Volokolamsk and Yuryev and worked as a freelance employee for the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1984, after graduating from school, he entered the composition department of the Moscow State Conservatory.

From 1984 to 1986 he served in the army.

In January 1987, of his own free will, he left his studies at the Moscow Conservatory and entered the Vilna Holy Spirit Monastery as a novice.

On June 19 of the same year, he was tonsured a monk with the name given in honor of St. Hilarion the New in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit of the Vilna Holy Spirit Monastery by the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Nikita (Yakerovich) [1].

On June 21, 1987, he was ordained a hierodeacon in the same cathedral of the same monastery by Archbishop of Vilnius and Lithuania Victorinus (Belyaev).

On August 19 of the same year he was ordained hieromonk in the Prechistensky Cathedral of the city of Vilnius by Archbishop Anatoly (Kuznetsov) of Ufa and Sterlitamak.

In 1988-1990 he served as rector of churches in the city of Telšiai, the village of Kolainiai and the village of Tituvenai in the Vilnius diocese.

In 1989 he graduated in absentia from the Moscow Theological Seminary, in 1991 from the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate of theology degree, and in 1993 from the postgraduate branch of the Moscow Theological Academy under the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1990 he was appointed rector of the Annunciation Cathedral in Kaunas.

In 1990, as a delegate from the clergy of the Vilna and Lithuanian diocese, he participated in the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1991–1993 he taught homiletics, Holy Scripture of the New Testament, dogmatic theology and Greek at Moscow theological schools. In 1992–1993 he taught New Testament at the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Theological Institute and patrolology at the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Apostle.

In 1993, he was sent for an internship at Oxford University, where, under the guidance of Bishop Callistos (Ware) of Diocleia (Patriarchate of Constantinople), he worked on his doctoral dissertation on the topic “ Reverend Simeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition.”

", combining study with service in the parishes of the Sourozh diocese. In 1995 he graduated from Oxford University with a PhD.

Since 1995, he worked in the Department of External Church Relations (since August 2000 - communications) of the Moscow Patriarchate, from August 1997 to the beginning of 2002, heading the secretariat for inter-Christian relations of this department.

In 1995-1997 he taught patrolology at the Smolensk and Kaluga theological seminaries. In 1996, he gave a course of lectures on dogmatic theology at the St. German Orthodox Theological Seminary in Alaska (USA).

Since January 1996, he was a member of the clergy of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine on Vspolye in Moscow (a metochion of the Orthodox Church in America).
He was deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine “Church and Time”.

From 1996 to 2004 he was a member of the Synodal Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1997-1999, he lectured on dogmatic theology at St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Crestwood (USA) and on the mystical theology of the Eastern Church at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Cambridge (UK).

On Easter 2000, he was elevated to the rank of abbot in the Holy Trinity Church in Khoroshevo, Moscow, by Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

On December 27, 2001, he was elected Bishop of Kerch, vicar of the Sourozh diocese by a resolution of the Holy Synod.

On January 7, 2002, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

On January 10 of the same year he was named, and on January 14 he was consecrated Bishop of Kerch, vicar of the Sourozh diocese. The ordination in the Moscow Cathedral Church of Christ the Savior was led by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus'. Concelebrating with him were: Metropolitans of Krutitsa and Kolomna Yuvenaly (Poyarkov), Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill (Gundyaev), Volokolamsk and Yuryev Pitirim (Nechaev); Archbishops of Berlin and Germany Feofan (Galinsky), Kostroma and Galich Alexander (Mogilev), Istrinsky Arseny (Epifanov); Bishops of Philippopolis Niphon (Saikali) (Patriarchate of Antioch), Vasily Sergievsky (Osborne), Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy (Frolov), Dmitrovsky Alexander (Agrikov).

On July 17, 2002, he was appointed Bishop of Podolsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese, head of the Representative Office of the Russian Orthodox Church to European international organizations.

On May 7, 2003, he was appointed Bishop of Vienna and Austria with the assignment of temporary administration of the Budapest and Hungarian diocese and retaining the post of Representative of the Russian Orthodox Church to European international organizations in Brussels.

On March 31, 2009, he was released from the administration of the Vienna-Austrian and Hungarian dioceses and appointed Bishop of Volokolamsk, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', chairman of the Department for External Church Relations and a permanent member of the Holy Synod ex officio, also appointed rector of the newly formed All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles and Methodius, and was also relieved of his post as head of the Representative Office of the Moscow Patriarchate to European international organizations in Brussels.

On April 9 of the same year, he was appointed rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” on Bolshaya Ordynka Street in Moscow [2].

On April 20, 2009, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop in connection with his appointment to a post involving constant participation in the work of the Holy Synod, and for his diligent service to the Church of God in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin by Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) of Moscow and All Rus' [3].
On May 27 of the same year, he was appointed chairman of the Commission for the Affairs of Old Believer Parishes and for Interaction with the Old Believers under the Department for External Church Relations [4].

Since May 28, 2009 - member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation.

On July 27 of the same year he became a member and presidium of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since January 29, 2010, Chairman of the Commission on Attitudes towards Heteroslavism and Other Religions, Deputy Chairman of the Commission on Countering Church Schisms and Overcoming Them, Member of the Commissions on Theology, on Divine Services and Church Art and on Spiritual Education and Religious Enlightenment (the latter - until December 16, 2010 [5]) Inter-Council presence [6].

Since January 13, 2010 - member of the Board of Trustees of the Russkiy Mir Foundation.

On February 1 of the same year, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan in consideration of his diligent service to the Church of God and in connection with his appointment as chairman of the DECR - a permanent member of the Holy Synod at the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [7].

Since July 26, 2010 - member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture.

On August 18 of the same year, he was appointed rector of the Moscow Chernigov Patriarchal Metochion - the temples of the holy martyrs Michael and Theodore of Chernigov and the Beheading of John the Baptist near Bor.

In 2010, he was elected honorary doctor of the Russian State Social University and honorary professor of the Russian Christian Humanitarian Academy [8].

On March 22, 2011, he became a member of the newly formed Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church [9] ex officio.

On October 5, 2011, he was appointed chairman of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church [10].

In 2012, after several years of membership in the editorial board of the journal “Theological Works,” he was appointed its chairman by decree of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' [11].

On October 23, 2014, his obedience in the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church was partially changed - he was appointed chairman of the Commission on Theological Issues and was released from chairmanship of the Commission on Attitudes towards Heteroslavism and Other Religions [12].

On December 24, 2015, he was appointed representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Interreligious Council of Russia [13].

He carries out numerous church-wide obediences, representing the Russian Orthodox Church at various international and inter-Christian forums: he is a member of the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches, the Presidium of the Theological Commission of the WCC "Faith and Church Structure", the Standing Commission on Relations between the Orthodox Churches and the WCC, the Standing Commission on dialogue between the Orthodox Churches and the Roman Catholic Church, Permanent Commission for Dialogue between the Orthodox Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Permanent Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Permanent Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church Church of Germany. Member of the editorial board of the magazines “Church and Time” (Moscow), “Bulletin of the Russian Christian Movement” (Paris-Moscow), “Studia Monastica” (Barcelona), scientific and historical series “Byzantine Library” (St. Petersburg).

Angel Day - June 6/19.

Youth

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk (secular name: Grigory Valerievich Alfeev) was born in Moscow on July 24, 1966.
In the period from 1973 to 1984 he studied at the Moscow Gnessin Music School.

At the age of 15, he served as a reader in the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Assumption Vrazhek.

Since 1983, he served as a subdeacon under Bishop Pitirim (Nechaev), Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryev; worked at the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate in the status of a freelance employee.

After graduating from school in 1984, he entered the Moscow State Conservatory, the composition department.

In the period from 1984 to 1986, he served in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces.

At the beginning of 1987, leaving (of his own free will) his studies at the conservatory, he entered the Vilna Holy Spiritual Monastery.

On June 19, 1987, he took monastic vows and was given the name Hilarion.

Personal life

Metropolitan Hilarion has served faithfully in the church since his youth; he was tonsured a monk at the age of 20, so there is no need to talk about Alfeev’s personal life. His only beloved and dear person in the world remains his mother Valeria Anatolyevna. Metropolitan Hilarion’s entire life is subordinated to the service of the church.

Metropolitan Hilarion is not married

The theologian works a lot on dogmatic works, participates in divine services, and in organizing international and intra-church projects and commissions. Alfeev maintains active correspondence with Orthodox hierarchs, with people of other faiths, and diplomatic representatives of foreign states.

Priestly ministry

On June 21, 1987, he was elevated to the rank of hierodeacon, and two months later, on August 19, to the rank of hieromonk.

In the period from 1988 to 1989, he served as rector of several churches of the Vilna diocese (in the city of Telšiai, the villages of Kolainiai and Tituvenai).

In 1989, he completed a course of study in absentia at the Moscow Theological Seminary.

In 1990, he took part in the activities of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, representing the Vilna and Lithuanian diocese.

In 1991, he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy and worked as a teacher at the Moscow Academy of Science and History (he gave lectures in the disciplines: Holy Scripture of the New Testament, Homiletics, Greek, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology).

From 1992 to 1993 he taught at the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Theological Institute and the Russian Orthodox University of St. Apostle John the Theologian New Testament and Patrology respectively.

In 1993 he graduated from graduate school at the Moscow Academy of Sciences.

In the same year, by decision of the management, he was sent to Oxford University for an internship. While studying abroad, he combined it with pastoral activities in the Sourozh diocese.

Graduated from Oxford University in 1995 with a PhD.

Since 1995, he worked in the DECR of the Moscow Patriarchate.

From 1997 until 2002, he headed the secretariat for inter-Christian relations.

In the period from 1995 to 1997, he worked at the Smolensk and Kaluga Theological Seminaries as a teacher of Patrology.

At the same time, in 1996 he taught Dogmatic Theology at St. German Seminary in Alaska.

Since 1996, he has been a member of the clergy of the Moscow Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine on Vspolye.

From 1996 to 2004 he was a member of the Synodal Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1997-1999, he taught a course on Dogmatic Theology for students at St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in New York; taught at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Theology, Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church.

In 1999 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Theology by the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris.

In 2000 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

On January 7, 2002 he was ordained to the rank of archimandrite.

Social and political activities

Hilarion often represents the Russian Orthodox Church at various conferences and forums. One of his beliefs he presented on September 29, 2006. Encouraging the organization of an Orthodox-Catholic alliance to fight for traditional Christianity in Europe.

According to Alfeev, sharing the gospel and proclaiming Christianity is becoming more difficult every day. It is almost impossible to talk about the Christian value system. Hatred between traditionalists and liberals is growing. According to the bishop, uniting churches will help solve the problem. The union of Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic and other churches will open new boundaries for the protection of traditional values.

Metropolitan Hilarion takes part in the Vienna Interreligious Conference

In October 2007, Hilarion resigned his post at a meeting of the Mixed Commission on Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue in Ravenna. This gesture was made as a sign of objection to the verdict of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to attach a representative from Estonia to the Orthodox embassy. However, the bishop's objection did not affect the choice of the Patriarchate.

Episcopal ministry

On January 14, 2002, Father Hilarion was ordained bishop.

Since July 17, 2002 - Bishop of Podolsk, head of the representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church at international European organizations.

Since May 7, 2003 - Bishop of Vienna and Austria.

On February 1, 2005, he was awarded the title of Privatdozent of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Friborg.

Since March 31, 2009 - Chairman of the DECR of the Moscow Patriarchate; permanent member of the Holy Synod, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Bishop of Volokolamsk.

On April 20, 2009 he was consecrated archbishop.

On February 1, 2010, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

On July 26, 2010 he was added to the Patriarchal Council for Culture, and on March 22, 2011 - to the Supreme Church Council.

On October 5, 2011, he was appointed to the position of chairman of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission.

He is the author of many theological works of various directions, and a participant in religious television programs.

Essays

Author of more than 400 publications, including monographs on patristics, dogmatic theology and church history, as well as translations of the works of the Church Fathers from Greek and Syriac.

Author of musical works, including “Divine Liturgy” and “All-Night Vigil” for unaccompanied choir, “Matthew Passion” for soloists, choir and orchestra, “Christmas Oratorio” for soloists, boys choir, mixed choir and symphony orchestra, symphony for choir and orchestra “Song of Ascent” to the words of the psalms.

Publications

• The mystery of faith. Introduction to Orthodox dogmatic theology. M.-Klin: Publishing House of the Brotherhood of St. Tikhon, 1996. 2nd ed. revised - Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2000. 3rd ed. - Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2004. 4th ed. — Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2005.
• Fathers and teachers of the Church of the 3rd century: An Anthology. T. 1-2. M.: Round table on religious education and diakonia, 1996.
• Life and teaching of St. Gregory the Theologian. M.: Publishing house of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Compound, 1998. 505 p. 2nd ed. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2001.
• The spiritual world of St. Isaac the Syrian. M.: Publishing house of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Compound, 1998. 323 p. 2nd ed., corrected and expanded. St. Petersburg: “Aletheia”, 2002. 288; St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2005. 288 p.
• Venerable Simeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition. M.: Publishing house of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Compound, 1998. Publishing house. 2nd. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2001.
• Venerable Simeon the New Theologian. The chapters are theological, speculative and practical. Translation from Greek. M.: Publishing house "Zachatievsky Monastery", 1998.
• Eastern Fathers and Teachers of the Church of the 4th Century: An Anthology. T. 1-3. M.: Round table on religious education and diakonia, 1998-1999.
• The night has passed and the day has approached: Sermons and conversations. M.: Publishing house of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Compound, 1999.
• Orthodox theology at the turn of eras: Articles, reports. M.: Publishing house of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Compound, 1999. 2nd ed., additional. Kyiv: Spirit i literature, 2002. 534 p.
• Eastern Fathers and Teachers of the Church of the 5th Century: An Anthology. M.: Round table on religious education and diakonia, 2000.
• You are the light of the world. Conversations about Christian life. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2001. 2nd ed. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2004.
• Christ is the Conqueror of Hell. The theme of the descent into hell in the Eastern Christian tradition. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2001; 2nd ed. - St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2005. 432 p.
• About prayer. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2001. 2nd ed. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2004.
• The human face of God. Sermons. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2001.
• The sacred secret of the Church: Introduction to the history and problems of the name-slav disputes: In two volumes. St. Petersburg: “Aletheia”, 2002.
• Venerable Isaac the Syrian. About divine secrets and spiritual life. Newly discovered texts. Translation from Syriac. M.: Publishing house "Zachatievsky Monastery", 1998. Publishing house. 2nd. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2002.
• Venerable Simeon the New Theologian. "Come, true Light." Selected hymns in poetic translation from Greek. St. Petersburg: Aletheya, 2000.
• Venerable Simeon the New Theologian. Rev. Nikita Stifat. Ascetic works in new translations. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2001.
• What do Orthodox Christians believe?: Catechetical conversations. Klin: Christian Life Foundation, 2004. 174 p.
• Orthodox witness in the modern world: Reports, interviews, words. SPb.: Publishing house. Oleg Abyshko, 2006. 416 p.
• St Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian. // Cistercian Studies No. 175. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Cistercian Publications, 2000.
• The Mystery of Faith. Introduction to the Teaching and Spirituality of the Orthodox Church. London: Darton, Longman and Todd, 2002.
• Le mystere de la foi. Introduction a la theologie dogmatique orthodoxe. Paris: Cerf, 2001.
• L'Univers spirituel d'Isaac le Syrien. Bellefontaine, 2001.
• La gloria del Nome. L'opera dello scimonaco Ilarion e la controversia athonita sul Nome di Dio all'inizio dell XX secolo. Edizioni Qiqajon. Bose, Magnano, 2002.
• Uskon mysteeri. Johdatus ortodoksineen dogmatiseen teologiaan. // Ortodoksisen kirjallisuuden Julkaisuneuvosto. Jyvaskyla, 2002.
• Symeon le Studite. Discours ascetique. Introduction, text critique et notes par H. Alfeyev. // Sources Chretiennes 460. Paris: Cerf, 2001.
• Geheimnis des Glaubens. Einfuhrung in die orthodoxe dogmatische Theologie. Aus dem Russischen uberzetzt von Hermann-Josef Rohrig. Herausgegeben von Barbara Hallensleben und Guido Vergauwen. Universitatsverlag Freiburg Switzerland, 2003.
• La forza dell'amore. L'universo spirituale di sant'Isacco il Syro. Bose: Qiqajon, 2003.
• Cristo Vincitore degli inferi. Bose: Qiqajon, 2003.
• Le mystere sacre de l'Eglise. Introduction a l'histoire et a la problematique des debates onomatodoxes. Friborg: Academic Press, 2005.
• O agioj Isaak o Suroj. O pneumatikoj tou kosmoj. Aqhna: Akritaj, 2005.

amoralism

Sex education

If these lessons, as unfortunately often happens, turn into corruption of schoolchildren and young people, then yes, of course, the Church will oppose such lessons. But at the same time, the situation when children do not know basic things regarding so-called sexual safety is wrong.

According to Met. Hilarion, certain educational and preventive work should be carried out so that adolescents “observe precautions that will allow them not to become infected with AIDS or any venereal disease.” Work with teenagers in this direction should “be carried out chastely[5].

Metropolitan Hilarion now

The latest news from the life and church activities of Metropolitan Hilarion can be found in the VKontakte group. In 2021, Alfeev’s films “The Monastery” and “About Patriarch Kirill” were released. On the website you can also watch a video of the series of programs “Church and the World” with Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, which is shown on the Rossiya 24 channel.

Metropolitan Hilarion in 2021

Numerous photos from Alfeev’s meetings with representatives of other faiths are also posted there. Hilarion’s new book “Miracles of Jesus” has now been published. At the end of April, under the leadership of the Metropolitan, a symposium on the topic “St. Ephraim the Syrian and his spiritual heritage” was held at the All-Church Postgraduate School of the Theological Academy.

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Editor of the Europaica newsletter. Editor-in-Chief of the DECR Newsletter (2009). Chairman of the editorial board of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, chairman of the editorial board of the Church and Time magazine, chairman of the editorial board of the collection Theological Works. Until 2011, he was a member of the editorial board of Vestnik RKhD [2].

He performed on Radio Sofia.

He became the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church to take part in the “Library Night” event at the “Biblio-Globus” bookstore (Moscow)[3].

Vladyka was awarded many awards and regalia

For his enormous contribution to the development of culture and spirituality, for strengthening friendship between peoples, and for many years of fruitful spiritual activity, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev was awarded a number of state and international awards.

Among them: the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honor, the Hungarian Commander's Cross and the Mexican Order of the Legion of Honor, the Ukrainian Order of Merit, III degree, and the Lithuanian Memorial Medal of January 13.

Among the church awards are diplomas, orders and crosses for achievements in the spiritual and peacemaking fields.

Metropolitan at a meeting of the Synod on the issue of the canonical Ukrainian Church

The Metropolitan is an honorary doctor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

He is an honorary doctor of theology from several foreign universities, as well as a professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, Head of the Department of Theology at the National Research Nuclear Research Institute MEPhI, and an Honorary Professor at a number of Russian universities.