Height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill
Patriarch Kirill is not a Hollywood or even pop star, so it is not at all necessary for him to look too young or be too slim. For a church minister, on the contrary, it will be better if he looks respectable and important. Answering questions: height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill, we can say that his height is 178 centimeters and his weight is 92 kilograms, and today his age has reached 70 years.
Despite the above reasons, the patriarch takes good care of himself and loves swimming, skiing and walking. So, in addition to serving God, he does not forget that he also needs to take care of himself. As they say, “God protects those who are careful.” During his long life, Patriarch Kirill saw a lot, was able to go a long way, on which he encountered both good and bad. Let's look at all this in more detail.
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 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 to the patriarch’s property as in the status of Lydia Leonova, apparently living in the apartment of Vladimir Gundyaev . 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
Biography of Patriarch Kirill
The biography of Patriarch Kirill begins on November 20, 1946. An interesting fact is that when he was little, his mother took him to church. Then he mistakenly passed through the Royal Doors. Then the frightened mother dragged him to the priest so that he would forgive him his sin. But he just waved his hand and said: “He will be a bishop.” Whether it was a coincidence or a prediction, little Kirill then really took the first step towards walking the long church path. But this was still very far away, because everything that happened in his life, of course, happened step by step, and as ordered by fate. Kirill's real name, given at birth, is Vladimir. He was still very far from the activities of Patriarch Kirill.
The mother of the future patriarch worked as a teacher, teaching children German. My father was a priest, which may also have played a certain role in his choice of life path. However, the boy’s entire family was directly connected with religion. His grandfather was regularly exiled for his association with the church, his elder brother was the rector of one of the cathedrals in St. Petersburg, and his sister worked as a director in an Orthodox gymnasium.
Before starting his own activities related to the church, Vladimir completed eight years of high school. I tried my hand at geology, but after three years I decided to enter the theological seminary; after graduating, I transferred to the theological academy, which was then located in Leningrad.
Young Vladimir received his middle name Kirill when he became a monk. Then his religious path began, which at that time he went through to become a metropolitan.
He repeatedly took part in the development of the Moscow Patriarchate, and everywhere tried to do as much as possible for this. Since the nineties, Kirill has begun to pay more and more attention to public relations and develop this activity. In the first half of the nineties, a program appeared on television screens in which he took part. This program is called “The Word of the Shepherd”, which was dedicated to spiritual issues, and which had a significant rating both among the common population and among politicians.
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A year later, Patriarch Kirill begins active work and cooperation with the Russian government. Very often he acted as a full participant in various advisory bodies. He organizes various cultural events, for example, the celebration of Christianity, namely the date of two thousand years. Moreover, according to data obtained through a survey among the Russian population in 2012, the majority of people support the actions of the patriarch.
In addition, the patriarch began to maintain his own Facebook page. The Patriarch communicated there directly with those who visited his page and asked questions. He often answered the most important and pressing questions that other people might ask. The clergyman has more than five hundred publications to his name, and he is also the author of several books that touch on the topic of spirituality and religion.
In the 2000s, Patriarch Alexy II dies. Metropolitan Kirill is appointed to his position. A year later, he was appointed to the post of Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', since he collected the most votes in the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. It should be noted that the patriarch did a lot to unite the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. He made constant visits to other countries to meet there with local religious ministers, various representatives of this character. All this significantly strengthens the position of the church in Russia and expands the boundaries of church cooperation between different states.
But, despite the fact that Kirill is unusually devoted to his work, he could repeatedly be heard making statements against radical groups. He argued that such preachers should be feared, since nothing good could be expected from them. They say that most often among the people there are charlatans who teach the wrong things, subject people to confusion, and all this can quickly destroy the foundation of the church.
Career in the Church
On April 3, 1969, Vladimir Gundyaev “died for the world”, taking monastic vows and a new name - Kirill, in honor of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Byzantine missionary. The tonsure was performed by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod. And then our hero’s career took off like a rocket, which gives journalists reason to believe that Gundyaev was a KGB agent:
- April 7, 1969 – ordained to the rank of hierodeacon.
- June 1, 1969 – rank of hieromonk.
- In the 1970s, as a candidate of theological sciences, he became the secretary of Metropolitan Nikodim.
- 1971 – as an archimandrite, represented the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches.
- At the age of 28, since 1974, Kirill is already the rector of the seminary and academy, leads a class for future “mothers” and teaches physical education.
- 1975 - headed the Leningrad diocese and took a high position in the World Council of Churches.
- 1976 - became Bishop of Vyborg and Deputy Patriarchal Exarch in Europe under Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).
- 1977 – received the rank of archbishop.
- 1984 – Archbishop of Vyazemsky and Smolensk.
- 1986 – manages parishes in the Kaliningrad region.
- 1988 – Archbishop of Kaliningrad and Smolensk
- 1989-2009 – Member of the Holy Synod.
- February 1991 – rank of metropolitan.
- 2009 - after the death of Alexy II, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. On February 1, 2009, an enthronement ceremony took place in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The rapid career is explained by the fact that, according to journalists, Gundyaev’s candidacy was supported by the KGB. In the Soviet Union, without the permission of the “authorities,” church leaders of such magnitude could not act legally, not to mention the possibility of traveling abroad.
Journalists also present documentary evidence. In 1992, in the materials of the case on the investigation of the State Emergency Committee of the Commission of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation, the following is mentioned, in particular: “...Through the Department of External Relations of the Church, agents with the nicknames Alamant, Svyatoslav, Topaz, Mikhailov traveled abroad and carried out tasks of the KGB leadership, Kuznetsov, Nesterovich, Esaulenko, Ognev...”
In the early 2000s, dissident priests Georgy Edelshtein and Gleb Yakunin warned the President of the Russian Federation that (then Metropolitan) Kirill was still a KGB agent with the call sign “Mikhailov.” They did not respond to the statement.
Enthronement of Patriarch Kirill
Personal life of Patriarch Kirill
The personal life of Patriarch Kirill, at least officially, is absent. After all, he is the person who should serve the church, not anyone in particular. Therefore, it is not surprising that Patriarch Kirill is not married and has no family. However, for him, his personal life is the whole country, because he has repeatedly admitted that it is very important for him to bring light and truth to the masses. To what extent this corresponds to the truth, no one can say for sure, but all the same, one must take into account the fact that he, a recognized religious figure, cannot have an official personal life, he has a completely different path, which belongs to the church.
Family of Patriarch Kirill
The family of Patriarch Kirill is his church activity, because he laid down his life to serve God. Therefore, it is not surprising that he is not married and has no children, because the most important thing for him is to do everything in such a way that cooperation between church houses in the Russian Federation and other countries develops.
He does this very well, because from his youth he successfully went through the “career” of a church leader, step by step, in order to achieve something here. It is difficult to say whether he suffers because he does not have his own family, in fact, he does not have time for this, in addition, he is far from alone, many ordinary people and others turn to him for advice.
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.
Patriarch Kirill on a yacht with girls
It must be said that around Patriarch Kirill, as usual with public figures, gossip often circulates and scandals break out. He was often accused of various sins; it is difficult to say which of them may be true and which are fictitious. One could often hear accusations that Patriarch Kirill was having fun on a yacht with girls, that he was spending church income to improve his life. Kirill himself constantly denies or simply ignores such accusations, saying that all these are the machinations of his enemies and opponents of the church. Of course, all people are sinners, but as far as there are reasons to blame Patriarch Kirill, it is difficult to answer with precision, because, be that as it may, he still remains a man who, first of all, serves God.
Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person
Patriarch Kirill is also associated with completely absurd rumors. For example, on the Internet you can often find such an accusation that Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person. We are talking about a famous thief who was buried in the 2000s. Many parishioners see the undeniable similarities between these two people. They say that the patriarch has a dark past, and now he has successfully hidden himself in order not to end up in prison. Again, whether this is true or not, most Russian religious people are sure that all this is the machinations of other religious campaigns, the purpose of which is to ruin the reputation of an honest church leader.
Children of Patriarch Kirill
The children of Patriarch Kirill are all his parishioners and people who need his support and advice. So, in any case, he says himself. He has repeatedly said that he is ready to help anyone who turns to him. For this purpose, he even began to use social networks so that he could answer the most important and pressing questions. The patriarch does not have his own legitimate children, perhaps he would even like to have them, but his rank forced him to abandon such simple, family joys as a wife and children. But having chosen for himself the path of a monk, and then a metropolitan and patriarch, he preferred spiritual growth to ordinary earthly values.
Wife of Patriarch Kirill
The wife of Patriarch Kirill is generally a closed topic for him, if only because he once took monastic vows, thereby voluntarily giving up his personal life. And although you can very often hear that Patriarch Kirill “sinned”, that he was repeatedly noticed in the company of long-legged models, in fact, all this has not been proven. Most people believe that all this is fiction, that in fact Patriarch Kirill faithfully serves the church, not wanting to deviate from the intended path. In any case, officially the church leader has neither a wife nor children. For him, the church has become his home, his children are his parishioners, he cannot even think about women.
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 GundyaevThe father of the future patriarch, Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev (born 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 Vasilyevich 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, the relations between the church and the state that had warmed up 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 GundyaevThe 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.
How much does Patriarch Kirill's watch cost?
At one time, a watch was noticed on the hand of Patriarch Kirill. And you didn’t have to be a jeweler to understand that they were far from cheap. Hence the question immediately arose: how much does Patriarch Kirill’s watch cost? Immediately there were rumors that Kirill was abusing the power he had received, asking where he got such a thing. By the way, the watch was valued at thirty thousand euros, there were rumors that after this, Kirill tried with all his might to disown the fact that he was wearing such a watch, tried to hide it. But a request constantly appeared on the Internet for Patriarch Kirill’s breguet watch, the cost of the watch, apparently this question was of interest not only to his enemies, but also to ordinary people who wanted to be convinced of the patriarch’s sinlessness or, conversely, that he really indulges himself in expensive things.
Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd”
As mentioned above, the religious leader has repeatedly collaborated with the public in order to bring the word of God to the masses. One of such projects is the television program “The Word of the Shepherd.” Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd” often flashed on the screens, millions of people looked at him who wanted to find answers to life’s questions. The religious and educational program was precisely aimed at ensuring that anyone who wants to reconsider their life, or simply needs advice, could try to do this together with Patriarch Kirill.
Kirill happily helped those who wanted to help themselves. Of course, there were also evil tongues that the clergyman was doing all this for the sake of PR. It is difficult to say who is right here, and to what extent Patriarch Kirill is who he claims to be, but one way or another, one must show respect for his rank and activities related to the church and religion. There have been and are many rumors about him, some of them reaching the point of absurdity. But, unfortunately, it turns out that public people are always susceptible to having many enemies, often those who crossed their path unintentionally. Therefore, all that remains is to choose the side of the one you think is right.
The surname Gundyaev comes from the nickname Gundyay
The surname Gundyaev comes from the nickname Gundyay. Translated from the Tambov-Voronezh dialect, gundyavit means “to speak through the nose, to sound nasally.” Experts also find the roots of this word in central and northwestern Russian dialects, the Mari and Mordovian languages.
Unfortunately, many ignorant and stupid opponents of Patriarch Kirill often use the name of His Holiness to attack him.
Patriarch Kirill (Vladimir Gunyadev) in childhood. Scientists claim that the Gundyaev family has Mordovian roots, as evidenced by the etymology of the Patriarch's surname
It should be noted that his great-grandfather was born in Astrakhan and moved from there to the city of Lukoyanov, Nizhny Novgorod province. Historians claim that the patriarch’s ancestors come from the village of Obrochny, Lukoyanovsky district (now part of the Ichalkovsky district of Mordovia). At the same time, local historian Faina Kedyarikina says that the Mordovian population predominated in this part of the county.
Patriarch Kirill's father died in 1972, having served most of his life as a priest in the church.
The entire life of the parents of the future Patriarch passed under the sign of serving God. At the end of his life (1972), his father was a priest, rector of the St. Nicholas Church at the Bolsheokhotsk cemetery. His mother lived in marriage with him all her life, taught German at school, and was religious. Both parents are buried at the Bolsheokhotskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg.
Vladimir, Elena and Nikolai Gundyaev. Patriarch Kirill had an older brother Nikolai and a younger sister Elena
The elder brother - Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev - was a professor and rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral of St. Petersburg (1977-1986, 1987-2014). The younger sister Elena (born May 8, 1949) - director of the Orthodox gymnasium, vice-rector for culture and head of the regency department of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.
