Metropolitan Pitirim (in the world Konstantin Vladimirovich Nechaev): biography, monasticism

Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev)

Pitirim (Nechaev)
(1926 - 2003), Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryevsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese In the world Nechaev Konstantin Vladimirovich, was born on January 8, 1926 in the city of Kozlov (now Michurinsk) Tambov region in the family of priest Vladimir Nechaev. He grew up in a deeply religious, friendly and large family: he had four brothers and six sisters, he himself was the last, eleventh child.

Soon after the start of the war, Konstantin Nechaev with his mother and unmarried sisters was evacuated to Tambov, where he graduated from the 8th and 9th grades.

After graduating from high school in 1943, he entered the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers.

Since 1945, he fulfilled the obedience of the subdeacon of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy I. Patriarch Alexy wanted his young subdeacon to first receive an engineering degree, and then receive a spiritual education. For a whole year, Konstantin managed to combine parallel studies at a secular institute and at a theological school, but then this became difficult to achieve.

In 1947, after graduating from the Moscow Theological Seminary, he entered the Moscow Orthodox Institute, which was later transformed into the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

In 1951 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate of theology degree, and was retained as a professorial fellow in the departments of patristics and analysis of Western religions.

Since 1951, he taught history and analysis of Western religions at the Moscow Theological Academy.

On February 15, 1952, he was ordained a deacon by Patriarch Alexy I.

In 1953 he received the title of associate professor.

Priest Konstantin Nechaev, 1954

On December 4, 1954, he was ordained a priest.
He served as a pastor at the Patriarchal Church of the Cross in Peredelkino. He taught classes in comparative theology, liturgics, and general church history at the seminary. At the academy I taught a course on history and analysis of heterodox confessions.

From October 1956, he headed the Department of Holy Scripture of the New Testament, where he remained a professor until February 1992.

On April 13, 1959, he was tonsured a monk with the name Pitirim in honor of St. Pitirim of Tambov, and was tonsured at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On October 8 of the same year, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed inspector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary. This appointment was carried out overcoming administrative obstacles, since the patriarch’s ward was the son of a repressed clergyman and his name was on the appropriate list.

On January 2, 1962, he was appointed executive editor of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, while retaining his duties as inspector of Moscow theological schools.

On May 23, 1963, he was consecrated Bishop of Volokolamsk, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, and appointed Chairman of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate. The consecration was performed by Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Rus', Archbishops Nikodim of Yaroslavl and Rostov, Leonid of Mozhaisk, Leonid of Kaluga and Borovsk, Sergius of Novgorod and Staraya Rus, and Bishops of Dmitrov Cyprian and Donat (Shchegolev).

He was appointed chairman of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate. He headed it from 1963 to 1994, while retaining his duties as a professor at the Moscow Theological Schools, while also remaining editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate.

From October 23, 1964 to February 5, 1965, he temporarily ruled the Smolensk diocese.

On October 7 of the same year, he was appointed a member of the editorial board of the journal “Theological Works.”

From May 10 to November 28, 1968, he temporarily ruled the Tambov diocese.

Archbishop Pitirim (Nechaev), 1971.

On September 9, 1971, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
On December 30, 1986, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan while maintaining his current positions and responsibilities; to name His Eminence Pitirim Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryevsk with the elevation of his name during divine services in the churches of the Volokolamsk deanery of the Moscow diocese, after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'

.

Since 1987 - Chairman of the Editorial Board of the collection " Theological Works"

«.

In 1989, he became the abbot of the Holy Dormition Joseph-Volotsk Monastery [1].

On December 3, 1994, in connection with the transformation of the Publishing Department into the Publishing Council, its chairman was relieved of his post. On December 27 of the same year, he was also relieved of his post as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate

"and chairman of the editorial board of the collection "
Theological Works
."

Shortly before his death, he accepted the schema with the name of the Hieromartyr Pitirim, Bishop of Great Perm and Ustva.[2]

He died on November 4, 2003 in Moscow at the age of 78. On November 7, a funeral liturgy was celebrated for the deceased metropolitan at the Epiphany Cathedral. It was headed by Archbishop Evgeniy of Vereisky, who was co-served by Bishops Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy, Krasnogorsky Savva and Dmitrovsky Alexander. After the liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II performed the funeral service. He was buried at the Danilovsky cemetery in Moscow, next to the graves of his parents and relatives.

short biography

Metropolitan Pitirim has a normal biography, similar to almost any priest.

He became the head of the publishing house in the Moscow Patriarchate from 1963 to 1994. Since Konstantin Vladimirovich Nechaev was the chairman of the department, he could therefore constantly make various trips to foreign countries. Thanks to this, he mastered a foreign language and could communicate freely in it. But more often he communicated and spoke to people with the help of translators.

After his holy baptism in 1972 and until his death, he regularly served in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word. By the end of the 1080s he had become a celebrity among intellectual and musical circles in Moscow. He was never listed as a permanent member of the Synod, but many considered him one of the influential hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Links

• www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/561584.html

• Metropolitans of Moscow and All Rus' (1461-1589)	Theodosius • Philip I • Gerontius • Zosimas • Simon • Barlaam • Daniel • Joasaph • Macarius • Athanasius • Hermann () • Philip II • Cyril • Anthony • Dionysius • Job
  Patriarchs of Moscow and All Rus' (1589-1721)	Job • Ignatius • Hermogenes • Ephraim (Khvostov) () • Jonah (Arkhangelsky) () • Filaret • Joasaph I • Joseph • Nikon • Jonah Sysoevich () • Joasaph II • Pitirim • Joachim • Adrian • Stefan (Yavorsky) ()
  The leading members of the Holy Synod (1721-1917)	Stefan (Yavorsky) • Theodosius (Yanovsky) • Feofan (Prokopovich) • Ambrose (Yushkevich) • Stefan (Kalinovsky) • Plato (Malinovsky) • Dimitri (Sechenov) • Gabriel (Petrov) • Ambrose (Podobedov) • Mikhail (Desnitsky) • Seraphim (Glagolevsky) • Anthony (Rafalsky) • Nikanor (Klementyevsky) • Grigory (Postnikov) • Isidore (Nikolsky) • Palladium (Raev) • Ioannikiy (Rudnev) • Anthony (Vadkovsky) • Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) • Plato (Rozhdestvensky) Read also:  Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Veshnyaki, Moscow. Address, history, opening hours, service schedule, photo, how to get there
  Patriarchs of Moscow and All Rus' (since 1917)	Tikhon • Peter (Polyansky) () • Sergius • Alexy I • Pimen • Filaret (Denisenko) () • Alexy II • Kirill

How were his childhood years?

The family of Metropolitan Pitirim was deeply religious. Parents were priests. Even as a child, they instilled in Pitirim a love of faith. His upbringing and family life had a very strong positive impact on his entire life. His parents did not set any conditions for him where he would study after he graduated from school. Therefore, after he graduated from school, he decided to enter the department of motor transport engineers at the University of Moscow.

But as a result, he went to serve the clergy, like his relatives.

In 1944, he became the first student at the monastery of Novodevichy Theological University, which opened on June 14. Later it was renamed the Theological Seminary or Academy.

In 1945, Patriarch Alexy1 saw him and took him as a subdeacon.

In 1951, Metropolitan Pitirim graduated from the seminary and received a candidate of theology degree. He remained at the department of patristics. In 1951, he decided to become a teacher on the history of religion in Western countries.

In 1952, Alexy made him a deacon.

In 1953 he began to have the title of associate professor, and already in 1954 he became a priest. After which he began to serve in the patriarchal church.

In 1957 he began teaching the New Testament.

Since 1989, he became the abbot of one of the ancient Russian monasteries of a male monastery.

Two appearances of this man have caused a great stir over the past year. The first time was recently, during the Easter service that he led. The second time was in 2002, during a “prayer for peace” in the Italian city of Assisi, held on the initiative of the Pope.
Metropolitan Pitirim, one of the oldest hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the last years of Patriarch Pimen’s life, he was perhaps the most influential hierarch and represented the Russian Orthodox Church at almost all official events. And if life had turned out differently, he would have become the new high priest.

During the years of Gorbachev’s “perestroika,” Metropolitan Pitirim was an indispensable guest at various public meetings, constantly appeared on radio and television, and commented on many issues of Christianity and church life for the press. Together with Academician D.S. Likhachev and R.M. Gorbacheva, he actively participated in the activities of the Soviet Cultural Foundation. In 1989-1991 he was a people's deputy of the USSR.

“At that time, the very appearance of Metropolitan Pitirim, the biblical handsome old man, made a stunning impression on a completely de-churched society,” the author of the article in the Strana.ru newspaper very accurately noted. – And when it turned out that this man, as if stepped from the pages of sacred history, was also aware of all modern events, possessed a unique gift of preaching, knew, as it seemed, everything in the world, those who saw and heard Metropolitan Pitirim involuntarily began to take a closer look at what what he represented was the Orthodox church tradition.”

2

Bishop Pitirim was born on January 8, 1926 into the family of a priest. In 1945, Konstantin Nechaev, then a student at the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers (MIIT), became the senior subdeacon of Patriarch Alexy I. This was a time of enormous religious upsurge caused by the war and the mass conversion of people to God. The cannonade was still thundering on the Western Front, the Soviet troops had not yet crossed the Oder, but it was felt from everything that the war was coming to an end. Christmas passed, Great Lent was approaching, and behind it the bright holiday of Easter.

On February 4, 1945, the solemn enthronement of the new high priest took place within the walls of the Epiphany Cathedral. Twice that day the best archdeacons proclaimed many years, from the pulpit and after the prayer service, to all the Patriarchs.

Many years later, Bishop Pitirim recalled: “The elderly and infirm oldest Moscow protodeacon Mikhail Kuzmich Kholmogorov proclaimed many years to our Patriarch. He was one of the most remarkable Russian protodeacons, with rare musical talent, unique beauty of voice and immaculate life.

After the transparent tops of Georgy Karpovich Antonenko, the “tiger” bottoms of Sergei Pavlovich Turikov and some other thunderers unfamiliar to me, the cathedral fell silent. And then suddenly a soft power filled him. It's power. It seemed that something soft, sonorous, deep, dense, and abundant was irresistibly filling the cathedral to the top. From the dome to the far corner of the sacristy. It was a tangible sound. It flowed, overflowing everything, sounded in every particle of space, it was more than an organ or an orchestra, because this sound was alive and organic. It seemed like he came from nowhere, but he was in everything and filled everything with himself. It was "Mikhail Kuzmich". This was his swan song, the last and complete gift of his old age to the new Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. A minute later he sank exhausted onto a bench in the corner of the sacristy.”

3

Faced with a choice - the profession of a railway worker or the church path, Konstantin chose the second. After 60 years, he would return to his alma mater as head of the theology department. The temple will be restored within the walls of the institute, and regular services will begin.

In 1951, Nechaev completed the full course at the Moscow Theological Academy with honors (first on the list), the topic of his PhD thesis: “The meaning of divine love in the ascetic views of St. Simeon the New Theologian.” He remains a teacher at the Academy, and for more than 50 years he has been lecturing on the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament and the history of Western religions.

In 1954, Konstantin Nechaev was ordained to the priesthood, and in 1959, having taken monastic vows, he was appointed inspector of theological schools. In 1963, Archimandrite Pitirim became Bishop of Volokolamsk.

To understand the period during which his pastoral ministry took place, it is necessary to take a quick look at the then situation of the Church. This was the time of the fierce “Khrushchevite” persecution of Orthodoxy.

Churches were closed throughout the country, and the most active priests were removed from ministry. In 1960, Archbishop Job of Kazan was arrested and sentenced to 3 years. He was accused of not paying taxes on expenses for representation, which were not previously taxed. In 1961, Archbishop Veniamin of Irkutsk was arrested, and two years later the bishop died in custody.

Under very strange circumstances, Metropolitan Nikolai of Krutitsky and Kolomna died in the hospital (“from climate change”); dismissed at the insistence of the ideological department of the Central Committee to retire, he took a tough position towards the persecutors of the Church.

In many cities, authorities prevented religious processions from taking place even within the church compound. The clergy had no right to speak sermons without first reviewing the text by commissioners of the Council for Religious Affairs.

4

A strong blow was dealt to religious educational institutions. It got to the point that the question arose about the existence of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary - these, according to the definition of the Smena newspaper, are “nests of counter-revolution” in the city of three revolutions.

On April 16, 1961, the authorities forced the Holy Synod to adopt a resolution “On measures to improve the existing system of parish life.” It was to be approved by the Council of Bishops scheduled for July 18.

Three hierarchs, who were known for their firm, unyielding position, were not invited to its meetings, and Archbishop Hermogenes, who appeared uninvited, was not allowed to attend the meeting.

A particularly strong blow was dealt to the Church in the summer of 1962 - the authorities, intimidating people, introduced control over the performance of services: baptisms, weddings and funeral services. All of them were entered into special books indicating their names, passport details and addresses. For example, the baptism of an infant required the presence of both parents.

The monasteries were being liquidated. In 1961-1962, real battles broke out for the Pochaev Lavra. The monks were intimidated, deprived of their registration and threatened to be put on trial for “violating the passport regime.” Every religious resident of these places was specially registered with government bodies.

But the monastery did not give up. Chernetsov and lay people were dispersed with water, imprisoned, and forcibly taken out of the region. The defense of the monastery gained international fame.

Lavra survived. Despite administrative pressure, intimidation and repression, the persecutors had to retreat. The Orthodox also managed to preserve the Pskov-Pechersk and Pyukhtitsa convents that were scheduled for closure.

5

The frontal attack on the Church sparked mass outrage and resistance throughout the country. Storming the Skies was frowned upon even by some government agencies. One of the first to give a negative analysis of this campaign in his report was the head of the 5th Directorate of the KGB, Colonel F.D. Bobkov.

The fall of Khrushchev was perceived as heavenly punishment for the presumptuous “corn grower.” His sadly “famous” promise to show “the last Soviet priest” on television as a museum curiosity turned out to be clearly impossible to fulfill.

L.I. Brezhnev and the Soviet leadership tried to publicly demonstrate a change in the course of religious policy. On October 19, 1964, two metropolitans were invited to a government reception in honor of the space flight of the Vostok satellite.

From 1963 to 1994, Bishop Pitirim was chairman of the Publishing Department, editor-in-chief of the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” and chairman of the editorial board of the collection “Theological Works” (both publications in the Soviet years were the only legal organs of church thought).

On the pages of these publications he managed to publish the writings of the Church Fathers, theological works of Archpriest Sergius Bulgakov, priest Pavel Florensky and some other authors.

6

In 1971, Bishop Pitirim was elevated to the rank of archbishop. In the same year, he took part in the actions of the Local Council, which recognized the church reform of the 17th century as a “tragic mistake” and officially abolished all curses and anathemas in relation to the old Russian rite.

“We preserve tradition because it is the embodied, genetic memory of our people,” says Metropolitan Pitirim. - Yes, we had two fingers, we accepted three fingers. But in 1971, at the Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the young part of our theologians passed a resolution on the equal possibility of using both.

But here is the recent testimony of Bishop Anthony of Bogorodsky of the Ancient Orthodox (Old Believer) Church: Metropolitan Pitirim “in one of his first speeches to the students of our seminary (with the blessing of Bishop Anthony he was educated at the seminary and academy of the Moscow Patriarchate - Author), spoke about his warm feelings for Old Believers.

About how, after the decision of the 1971 Council to remove the oaths, he served the Old Believer liturgy. The Bishop then uttered an interesting thought: that there was no real schism, but only a dispute about what Orthodoxy was, which at times turned into a brawl.”

The Bishop attached great importance to the revival and popularization of Russian Orthodox singing. On his initiative, several church choirs were created that performed concert programs in Russia and abroad.

7

On December 30, 1986, Bishop Pitirim was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryevsk. And in the late 80s, in addition to his previous duties, he also became the rector of the Joseph-Volotsky Monastery, which was returned to the Church, where until today he often serves on Sundays and holidays.

In Moscow, the residence of Bishop Pitirim was located in the picturesque Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Uspensky Vrazhek (Bryusov Lane), a temple that has traditionally attracted people of art, writers, artists and public figures.

After the failure of the State Emergency Committee, several publications by the People’s Deputy of Russia, priest Gleb Yakunin (later defrocked and excommunicated) appeared in the capital’s press. In them, one of the leaders of “Democratic Russia” stated: he became aware of documents giving reason to believe that Metropolitan Pitirim collaborated with the KGB.

“Deep concern,” he wrote, “is caused by the visit of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) to the state criminal B.K., outlawed by the President of Russia. Pugo August 21, 1991. In diplomatic language, this is “de facto” recognition.

The breeding ground for such a visit was the fact that the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate was controlled by KGB agents. The reports of the 5th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR through the publishing department constantly mention agents “Abbot” (from the hierarchs) and “Grigoriev”, who often traveled abroad and, obviously, held (occupied) high positions in this institution.”

It is curious that Mr. Yakunin is now a member of the clergy of the so-called. The “Kyiv Patriarchate”, led by “patriarch” Filaret (Denisenko), whom Gleb Pavlovich himself most vehemently denounced in 1991 for belonging to the KGB.

8

The name of Lord Pitirim was mentioned at all liberal crossroads. Journalists (including Tatyana Mitkova and Andrei Karaulov) willingly exposed the “metropolitan in uniform.” Soon the church came and fell: in November-December 1994, at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, and then at a meeting of the Holy Synod, he was removed from all church positions. Only the Resurrection Church and the Joseph-Volotsky Monastery were left under his jurisdiction.

In recent years, Metropolitan Pitirim has begun to appear more often at high-level church meetings. On behalf of the Holy Synod, he headed representative delegations that visited Armenia, Bulgaria, Switzerland in connection with various events in church life.

On January 24, 2002, in the Italian city of Assisi, under the leadership of the Roman Pontiff, a “joint prayer for peace” took place, in which 300 representatives of 12 different religions took part.

Initially, this service was supposed to be held in one of the Catholic cathedrals, but the Jews declared that they would not pray with Christians in the temple. Then the action was moved to the open air - to the city square.

On behalf of the Moscow Patriarchate and on behalf of Patriarch Alexy II, an entire delegation of three bishops led by Metropolitan Pitirim took part in this annual event. Speaking on the RTR channel in the Vesti program, the bishop said that he was deeply satisfied with the “spirit of unity and brotherly love” that he was able to feel during such a joint prayer.

Angry telegrams were sent to Alexy II: “We received the news with horror and indignation that an official representative of the MP participated in the Sabbath under the leadership of the Pope. Metropolitan Pitirim not only does not hide his participation in this lawlessness, but even publicly praises joint prayer with heterodox and non-Orthodox people...”

The wider Orthodox community was outraged. As a result of such interaction, due to the imaginary “unity”, the foundations of the Faith are eroded. It is no coincidence that according to the ancient church canons (canon 45 of the Holy Apostle), “a bishop, or presbyter, or deacon who prayed only with heretics shall be excommunicated.”

9

Lord Pitirim is the bearer of tradition. Including the traditions of the Soviet period, when the Church, in order to survive in the conditions of an atheistic state, was forced to make extensive contacts within the framework of the World Council of Churches.

This protective tradition is preserved in the practice of foreign contacts of the Moscow Patriarchate to this day, causing criticism from Orthodox Christians both within the country and abroad.

However, who knows what lies ahead for the Church? And maybe this experience, but in new political conditions, will be in demand?..

“It seems that over time,” Strana.ru concludes, “the true scale of the personality of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) as a theologian, preacher, and church hierarch is becoming more and more obvious.

Random features are forgotten, everything transient is erased from memory, and the experience, calmness and wisdom of the hierarch come to the fore, without whose active and creative participation not a single significant event in the modern church history of the second half of the century has passed.”

On November 4, 2003, at the 78th year of his life, Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuryev died after a long and serious illness.

On November 7, 2003 at 10.00 in the Epiphany Cathedral, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II will perform the funeral service for the newly deceased Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryev Pitirim.

Metropolitan Pitirim (in the world Konstantin Vladimirovich Nechaev) was born on January 8, 1926 in the city of Kozlov (now Michurinsk) in the family of a priest. After graduating from school, he entered the Moscow State Institute of Transport.

In 1945 he became senior subdeacon of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I at the Epiphany Cathedral. In 1947 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary, in 1951 - from the Theological Academy with a candidate's degree in theology.

In 1952 he was ordained a deacon, and two years later, on December 4, 1954, he was ordained a priest. In 1959 he became a monk with the name Pitirim in honor of St. Pitirim of Tambov. In the same year he was appointed inspector of Moscow Theological schools.

For almost 30 years, he taught history and analysis of Western religions at the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, and since 1957, the Sacred History of the New Testament.

In 1963 he was ordained Bishop of Volokolamsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese. In 1971 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and since 1986 - Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryevsk.

From 1963 to 1994, Vladyka Pitirim headed the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate and was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. For a number of years he was also chairman of the editorial board of the collection Theological Works.

Heading the publishing center of the Russian Orthodox Church, he formed a professional editorial and journalistic team, raising church publishing activities to a new level. Metropolitan Pitirim is the author of several books and more than 70 theological articles. Under his leadership, several documentaries were made about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox art.

On the initiative of Metropolitan Pitirim, who paid great attention to the revival and development of the traditions of church singing, several choirs were created that not only sang in churches, but also performed at concert venues in our country and abroad with programs of Orthodox chants.

Metropolitan Pitirim was known as a comprehensively gifted person, distinguished by deep church culture. He remembered the old church life well and cared about preserving the continuity of its traditions - liturgical, pastoral, theological, literary, church-practical.

The late archpastor put a lot of effort into educating new generations of pastors and church workers. During the difficult years of persecution and restrictions, many church intellectuals worked under the leadership of Bishop Pitirim, including young people who, while working in the Publishing Department, studied in Theological schools, took monasticism and holy orders.

Metropolitan Pitirim took an active part in the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. He was the leader and member of many delegations participating in inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian and church-social events outside the Fatherland.

Under his care, exhibitions and other cultural and educational events were organized that told the foreign public about the life and heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church. With his active participation, many church and social events and programs were organized in Russia. Vladyka was always especially close to scientific, cultural and social circles, the creative intelligentsia, and enjoyed fame and respect among them.

Metropolitan Pitirim is a Doctor of Theology, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Head of the Department of Theology at the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers, Honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Prague, Professor of the UNESCO Department of the Golden Heritage of Russia.

The works of Metropolitan Pitirim were awarded high church and state awards. He was awarded the church orders of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (I and II degrees), St. Sergius of Radonezh (I degree), the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow (II degree), the state Order of Friendship of Peoples, the anniversary medal of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Supreme Council, an honorary gold medal "Fighter for Peace".

For extensive educational and missionary works and in connection with the 75th anniversary of his birth in 2001, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II awarded Metropolitan Pitirim the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow.

www.pseudology.org

Metropolitan Pitirim monasticism

In 1959, he was tonsured at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius with the name Pitirim. A little later he was appointed inspector at a theological seminary in Moscow.

In 1962, he became editor-in-chief of the journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, which was the official organ of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 1963, he became Bishop of Volokolamsk and was appointed chairman of the publishing house of the Patriarchate in Moscow. And a little later he was appointed bishop in the Smolensk diocese.

He was considered the son of the clergy, like the confessor Schema-Archimandrite Sebastian of Karaganda.

Awards

Church:

• Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, 1st and 2nd degree,
• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree,
• Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree

State:

• Order of Honor (February 23, 2001) - for his great contribution to the revival of spiritual and moral traditions and strengthening of civil peace
  [19]
• Order of Friendship of Peoples
• Order of the Badge of Honor

Bishopric

In 1963, at the Ascension, he was consecrated bishop.

Also at this time he was appointed chairman of the publishing house of the Patriarch of Moscow. He remained at the same place for 30 years. After being reorganized into the publishing council, he was relieved of his position. During this time, the number of employees has increased significantly.

From 1964 to 1965 he began to temporarily manage the Smolensk diocese.

In 1971, the English edition of the Patriarchate magazine was formed in Moscow, which had subscribers in many countries. There were about 50 countries.

In 71 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

His concern was the publishing council, which at one time huddled in the same building with the refectory of the temple of the Assumption Novodevichy Convent. He was also given this building for rent with subsequent reconstruction. He finally moved at the end of 81. Although he had a publishing operation in the building, he opened many other branches. For example, a photo exhibition, a film crew, a department for working with slide films, videos, sound recordings, a reference department for biographies, a translation service department, etc.

Death and funeral

The last public appearance of Pitirim Nechaev was on the night of Easter 2003, when, after the illness of Alexy II, he gave a service in the Cathedral of the Savior Christ. At the same time, he took part in the descent of the Holy Fire in the city of Jerusalem, which he subsequently delivered to Moscow for the beginning of the service.

In June he underwent a complex operation. But, despite his illness, he was able to take part in the celebration dedicated to the centenary of Sarovsky’s canonization. It took place in the cities of Sarov and Diveevo the same year. After returning, Pitirim Nechaev became seriously ill again and was forced to be hospitalized for several weeks.

After a complex illness in 2003, Metropolitan Pitirim died.

The body lay in the temple for several days. At this time, funeral services were held, and people could come and say goodbye to the deceased.

November 7 - celebration of the liturgy in Epiphany for the repose of his pure soul in the ministry of Evgeniy Vereisky. There were Savva Krasnogorsky, Bishop Alexy Orekhovo-Zuevsky, Alexander Dmitrovsky. After the end of the funeral service, Patriarch Alexy II with his members of the Synod and the Council of Bishops performed the ceremony for sending the soul to another world, uttered the last farewell words, where all the great works of the deceased were noted. The plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation Poltavchenko, the mayor of Moscow Luzhkov, and many famous personalities also attended the funeral service of the great metropolitan.

Notes

1. Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuryev of blessed memory // Church Bulletin. - No. 21(274). — November 2003.
2. ↑ 12
   Nikolay Bulchuk. “In our family there was only this: “Church is a holiday!” // Pravoslavie.Ru, 4.11.2016.
3. Metropolitan Pitirim. "His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and his entourage." On the official website of MP November 8, 2007.
4. Dronov M., archpriest
   . Chief Editor. Memoirs of an eyewitness. // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - 2011. - No. 8-9.
5. Pospelovsky D. N.
   The Orthodox Church in the history of Russia, Russia and the USSR. - M.: Biblical and Theological Institute of St. Apostle Andrew, 1996. - P. 355. - ISBN 5-87507-019-6.
6. Mitrokhin N.
   Russian Orthodox Church in 1990 // UFO: magazine. - 2007. - No. 3.
7. ↑ 1 2 3 Bulchuk N.
   “I liked everything about the ruler.” Metropolitan Pitirim in the memoirs of Vyacheslav Petrovich Ovsyannikov. Pravoslavie.ru.
8. METROPOLITAN PITIRIM
9. Extracts from the priest. Gleb Yakunin from KGB reports on work with agents-employees of the Moscow Patriarchate
10. Evdokimov P.
    Metropolitan in uniform. Archived copy from December 27, 2021 on the Wayback Machine religare.ru, 10.2.2006.
11. Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church November 29 - December 2, 1994. - Ed. Moscow Patriarchate, 1995. - P. 33.
12. Definition “On publishing activities”. Patriarchy.ru.
13. “Communication with Lord Pitirim has always been a school for any thinking person.” Pravoslavie.ru.
14. ↑ 12
    The Patriarch performed the funeral service for the Metropolitan: funeral. // Kommersant, 11/10/2003.
15. Valentin Nikitin. LIFE WAY OF METROPOLITAN PITIRIMA: FACTS AND DATES Pravoslavie.Ru, January 8, 2011
16. His Holiness the Patriarch performed the funeral service for Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuryevsk. Sedmitsa.ru
17. Pitirim's grave at the Danilovsky cemetery
18. A monument to Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) was unveiled in Volokolamsk near Moscow.
19. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of February 23, 2001 No. 229 “On awarding the Order of Honor to Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev K.V.)”

What works did he write?

He has published works in several languages ​​and on various topics. There are more than one hundred publications in total. Among his spiritual efforts captured on paper were those related to his scientific activities. Most of the works, of course, are devoted to the main calling of his life and are connected with his spiritual enlightenment.

The main works of the Metropolitan include:

• Candidate's essay on the topic of the end of the school year at a theological school in Moscow.
• “What is the significance of love in an ascetic worldview.” The work was released in the 1960s.
• “In the Name of Peace and Unity” - released in 1962.
• “What holidays are there in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra at the Theological School of Moscow” - released in 1962.
• “Word on the day of memory of the Wonderworker Alexy” - 1963.
• “A couple of days of pilgrimage” - 1962.

Pitirim was named Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryev in 1963.

Scientific work

Engaged in scientific and practical activities, Pitirim began to put forward all the tasks of the spiritual and patriotic world in Russian history while realizing the role of the Orthodox Church in Russia in all manifestations of human life, including all features from ecology to interpersonal relationships. The main scheme is presented as an understanding of the world as a unified system for the implementation of all the creativity of the Creator, which makes it possible to direct the free will of man into the world process. Pitirim believed that the world cannot be viewed in isolation from different points of view. All God's laws are understood by the free will of people and can be realized in the life of an individual. But, unfortunately, each person is individual, capable of causing a slight deviation in the world of the clergy and causing significant harm. This entire position is reflected in the UN declaration, called the Declaration of the Rights of the Earth. It tells about the relationship between man and the Earth, how it reacts to all negative human factors.

Trips, delegations, conferences

From April 25 to May 5, 1967, he visited the Holy Land with a delegation of pilgrims of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On June 24, 1968, he was appointed a member of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the IV Assembly of the WCC.

On March 20, 1969, he was included in the Holy Synod Commission on Christian Unity and appointed as a representative from the Moscow Patriarchate to the Inter-Orthodox Theological Commission for Dialogue with the Pre-Chalcedonian Churches.

On June 25, 1970, he was included in the commission of the Holy Synod for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the same year, in Zagorsk, from October 10 to 14, the Russian Orthodox Church participated in a consultation between representatives of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA.

Member of the Commission for the preparation of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'.

On March 17, 1989, he was elected People's Deputy of the USSR from the Soviet Cultural Foundation. He was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Committee on the Affairs of Internationalist Soldiers and a member of the Commission on Deputy Ethics.

On September 13, 1989, he was appointed a member of the Holy Synod Commission on Publishing and Church Press.