He said: “I’m going to die in Tatarstan”: what will Metropolitan Feofan be remembered for?

Feofan (Ashurkov)
(1947 - 2020), Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan, head of the Tatarstan Metropolis In the world Ashurkov Ivan Andreevich, was born on May 21 [1] 1947 in the city of Dmitriev, Kursk region, into a working-class family.

After graduating from high school, he served in the army. In 1969-1970, he served as obedient to Bishop Gideon of Smolensk and Vyazemsk.

In 1970 he entered the second class of the Moscow Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1972 and was enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1973 he was accepted as a novice into the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On December 19, 1973, he was tonsured a monk with the name in honor of St. Theophan the Confessor. The tonsure was performed by the abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Archimandrite Jerome (Zinoviev).

On January 14, 1974, he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon by Archbishop Sergius (Golubtsov).

On April 7, 1976, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk by Metropolitan Juvenaly of Tula and Belevsky in the Cathedral of the city of Tula.

In 1976 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate of theology degree, awarded for his thesis “ The Dogmatic Teaching of Basil the Great”

“, and was enrolled in graduate school at the Moscow Theological Academy.

On July 22, 1977, he was appointed a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.

On August 28, 1979, he was elevated to the rank of abbot with the laying of a pectoral cross with decorations.

On July 16, 1982, he was released from his duties as a member of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.

From 1982 to 1984 he was a member of the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On September 6, 1984, he was sent for pastoral service to the Exarchate of Central and South America in Argentina.

On March 23, 1987, he was released from pastoral obedience in Argentina.

In 1985 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

From 1987 to 1989 he served in the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On July 6, 1989, he was appointed exarch of the Patriarch of Moscow under the Patriarch of Alexandria.

During the armed confrontation between the two branches of government in October 1993 in Moscow, he actively participated in negotiations between the conflicting parties. Repeatedly personally held negotiations in the besieged White House with Vice President of the Russian Federation Alexander Vladimirovich Rutsky, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation Ruslan Imranovich Khasbulatov and other participants in the conflict.

On November 1, 1993, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, with the release from the post of Exarch Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' under the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

On December 28, 1999, he was appointed representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole East, with the release of the Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On October 7, 2000, by resolution of the Holy Synod, he was determined to be Bishop of Magadan and Sinegorsk.

On November 25 he was named, and on November 26 he was consecrated Bishop of Magadan and Sinegorsk. The ordination at the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow 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), Solnechnogorsk Sergius (Fomin); Archbishops of Rostov and Novocherkassk Panteleimon (Dolganov), Tver and Kashinsky Viktor (Oleynik), Bronnitsky Tikhon (Emelyanov); Bishops of Orekhovo-Zuevsky Alexy (Frolov), Krasnogorsky Savva (Volkov).

Just before the start of the war in Iraq, he headed the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was sent on a special flight to Iraq with a peacekeeping mission as part of the Russian delegation, which also included Muslims.

On May 7, 2003, he was appointed Bishop of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz.
On July 30 of the same year he was appointed rector of the Stavropol Theological Seminary.

On February 25, 2008, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop [2].

On October 6, 2010, he was appointed rector of the Vladikavkaz Theological School [3].

On March 22, 2011, he was transferred to the Chelyabinsk department, with an expression of gratitude for his many works to strengthen church life in the North Caucasus. On May 30 of the same year he was relieved of his rectorship at the Stavropol Theological Seminary.

On July 26, 2012, he was appointed head of the newly formed Chelyabinsk Metropolis and temporary administrator of the Trinity Diocese [4].

On August 1, 2012, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan [5].

On May 30, 2014, he was transferred to the Simbirsk See and headed the Simbirsk Metropolis [6].

On July 13, 2015, he was moved by Metropolitan of Kazan, head of the Tatarstan Metropolis [7].

On October 22, 2015, he was appointed rector of the Kazan Theological Seminary [8].

From April 4 to July 7, 2021, he was also entrusted with temporary administration of the Chistopol diocese [9].

He died on November 20, 2021, at the age of 74, from complications caused by coronavirus infection [10].

Metropolitan Feofan died at the age of 74

On the morning of November 20, it became known that Metropolitan Feofan of Kazan and Tatarstan had passed away.
The cause of death was complications caused by coronavirus infection. According to Tatar-inform news agency, the metropolitan died in one of the Moscow clinics. He left Kazan without any signs of illness, and during the trip he felt unwell. The President of the Republic of Tatarstan expressed his condolences and ordered all necessary work to be carried out to honorably see off the Metropolitan on his final journey.

“I offer my deepest condolences in connection with the death of Metropolitan Feofan of Kazan and Tatarstan. Huge loss... we mourn” Rustam Minnikhanov

Mufti of Tatarstan Kamil Hazrat Samigullin noted that the Metropolitan made a significant contribution to strengthening interfaith harmony.

“I thank the Creator for giving me the opportunity to communicate with him. I am grateful to the deceased for their joint work in protecting and strengthening universal human values.” Kamil Hazrat Samigullin

sources

• Naming and consecration of Archimandrite Feofan (Ashurkov) as Bishop of Magadan and Sinegorsk // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - M. - 2001. - No. 2. - P. 22-30.
• Visit of Bishop Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz to the Chechen Republic // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - M. - 2005. - No. 3. - P. 54-55.
• Biazarti D., correspondent for the newspaper “Yuzhny Reporter” (Rostov-on-Don). News of the Stavropol diocese: Baptism of Beslan // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - M. - 2006. - No. 1. - P. 52-53.
• Biography on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate
• Biography on the website biografija.ru
• Biography on the diocese website
• On July 26, the Holy Synod decided to create the Chelyabinsk Metropolis
• The end of globalization. The United States is splitting the world, says Bishop Feofan (Ashurkov) of Magadan // Nezavisimaya Gazeta
• Bishop Feofan: I felt close to people // Stavropolskaya Pravda
• https://www.business-gazeta.ru/article/324535
• Biography on the website of the Tatarstan Metropolitanate

Footnotes

1. Rectors of 33 theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church have been appointed and approved. // Patriarchia.ru
2. At a meeting of the Academic Council of the Kazan Theological Seminary, heads of departments of the theological school were elected
3. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 7, 2003. Journal No. 24.
4. On the name day of His Holiness the Patriarch, a number of bishops received church awards. // Patriarchia.ru
5. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of March 22, 2011. Journal No. 12. // Patriarchy.ru
6. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of July 26, 2012. Journal No. 63. // Patriarchy.ru
7. On the day of remembrance of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Primate of the Russian Church celebrated the Liturgy at the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery and led the consecration of Archimandrite Pitirim (Tvorogov) as Bishop of Dushanbe and Tajikistan
8. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 30, 2014. // Patriarchia.ru
9. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of July 13, 2015. // Patriarchia.ru
10. Church “castling” // Arguments and facts. — 2015. — July 15. - No. 29.
11. Feofan (Ashurkov) ortho-rus.tk
12. A meeting took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the leaders of the Iranian delegation at the 10th meeting of the Joint Russian-Iranian Commission on Dialogue “Orthodoxy-Islam”
13. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 14, 1995 No. 709 “On the formation of the Russian Organizing Committee for the preparation and conduct of events in connection with memorable events of the military history of the Fatherland and for veterans’ affairs” (as amended on September 19, December 12, 1995, 26, 28 February, September 23, 1996)
14. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 23, 1996 No. 1521 “On the composition of the Russian Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of events in connection with memorable events in the military history of the Fatherland and for veterans’ affairs” (as amended on February 10, March 24, June 20, November 19 1997, February 13, May 15, 1998)
15. Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 23, 2006 No. 1813-r
16. Biography on the website of the Public Chamber (about the convocation of 2006)
17. Biography on the website of the Public Chamber (about the convocation of 2008)
18. Pravostok.Ru
19. ↑ 19,019.1 Airat Nigmatullin, Valery Beresnev, Ivan Scriabin, Alexander Shagulin Vsevolod Chaplin: “Theophanes is a man with a strong will, a practitioner and a builder of church life” // Business electronic newspaper Business Online, 07.14.2015
20. A meeting dedicated to the reconstruction of the Kazan Cathedral was held in the capital of Tatarstan // Patriarchy.ru. – 2021. – March 22. – Date of access: 8.11.2017.
21. Archbishop Feofan of Stavropol made a statement in connection with the assassination attempt on the President of Ingushetia // Patriarchia.ru. – 2009. – June 23. – Date of access: 03/15/2018.
22. Archbishop Feofan made a statement in connection with the murder of the former mayor of the capital of North Ossetia Kazbek Pagiev // Patriarchy.ru. – 2008. – December 31. – Date of access: 03/15/2018.
23. Bishop of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz Theophan: “Orthodox journalists, writers, directors are also a kind of missionaries” // Patriarchy.ru. – 2007. – October 13. – Date of access: 31.3.2018.
24. Celebrations were held in Kazan on the occasion of the inclusion of the Assumption Cathedral and the Sviyazhsk Monastery in the UNESCO World Heritage List // Patriarchia.ru. – 2021. – August 22. – Date of access: 6.5.2018.
25. The head of the Tatarstan Metropolis took part in a press conference held in the city of Kazan // Patriarchy.ru. – 2021. – June 24. – Date of access: 6.5.2018.
26. The hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church takes part in the International Primakov Readings taking place in Moscow // Patriarchia.ru. – 2021. – June 30. – Access date: 11/16/2018.
27. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 18, 2021 No. 215 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation”
28. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of April 13, 2007 No. 478 “On awarding the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, IV degree, to Bishop Feofan (I. A. Ashurkova)”
29. https://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/15965%7Ctitle=Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of August 11, 2000 No. 1490 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation” // Official website of the President of Russia. — 2021. — August 7
30. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 28, 1995 No. 1324 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation”
31. Order of the President of the Russian Federation of August 14, 1995 No. 379-rp “On encouraging individuals who made a great contribution to the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945”
32. The head of North Ossetia awarded the Bishop of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz Feofan with the medal “Badge of Glory” for the courage shown in Beslan
33. Metropolitan Feofan was awarded the Medal of Honor “For Merit in the Protection of Children of Russia” / Website “Orthodoxy in Tatarstan”
34. Bishop Feofan was presented with a certificate of Honorary Citizen of Stavropol
35. 31.Bishop Feofan became an honorary citizen of Cherkessk
36. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill awarded a number of bishops celebrating anniversaries high church awards
37. Extract from the minutes of the IOPS Council on admission to membership of the IOPS and on the awarding of honorary badges and diplomas of the IOPS

From Ivan Ashurkov to Feofan: the history of church service

In the world, Metropolitan Feofan bore the name Ivan Andreevich Ashurkov. He was born on May 21, 1947 in the city of Dmitriev, Kursk region. After graduating from school, he served in the Soviet Army, and then in 1969 he accepted obedience from the Bishop of Smolensk and Vyazemsk Gideon. Then the future metropolitan graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary and the Moscow Theological Academy.

In 1973, he became a novice in the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra - he was tonsured a monk. He received the name Theophanes in honor of the Venerable Theophanes the Confessor.

In subsequent years, Theophan improved himself in serving the church and went through all the stages: he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon, hieromonk, abbot, archimandrite, and bishop. In 2008, Feofan was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and in 2012 to the rank of metropolitan. In 2012, he headed the Chelyabinsk Metropolis and was the temporary administrator of the Trinity Diocese.

In 2014, the Holy Synod appointed him head of the Simbirsk Metropolis, and in 2015 - head of the Tatarstan Metropolis. He held this post until his death.

organizations

Since July 14, 1995 - member of the Russian Organizing Committee for the preparation and holding of events in connection with memorable events in the military history of the Fatherland and for veterans' affairs[13][14]

Since December 23, 2006 - member of the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the voluntary entry of Kabardino-Balkaria into the Russian state[15]

Since 2006 - member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Head of the working group on international relations through international religious organizations, working group on peacekeeping activities in the North Caucasus, chairman of the subcommittee on freedom of conscience[16].

In 2008, he entered the second convocation of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Member of the Public Chamber's commission on interethnic relations and freedom of conscience, member of the Intercommission Working Group on International Activities of the Public Chamber and an advisory member of the Public Chamber's commission on affairs of veterans, military personnel and members of their families[17].

Metropolitan's initiative - reconstruction of the Kazan Cathedral

In addition to his daily service to the church, Metropolitan Theophan will be remembered by the believers of the republic as the man who initiated the revival of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

On November 4, 2015, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov issued a decree on the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of God. Words did not diverge from deeds, and within five years a white stone cathedral rose in the center of the city. Authorities, businesses, philanthropists and ordinary people contributed to the restoration of the shrine. Therefore, the cathedral became a kind of symbol of the unity of the republic.

“The cathedral, through the grace-filled illumination of the Mother of God, strengthens the spirit of the people and, if you want, glorifies Kazan and Tatarstan” Metropolitan Feofan

Just a few weeks ago, believers of the republic gathered for a prayer service at the foot of the recreated Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The Metropolitan led the service and addressed the flock.

“The whole world is in alarm: Covid, grievances. Scientists, politicians, and corporations are feverishly searching for a vaccine. Of course that's correct. Of course, we need to be careful. But we, believers, say: “There is already a vaccine.” There is a vaccine, I was not mistaken. You ask me: “Where is this vaccine?” This vaccine is the faith of our people. This is the people’s appeal to historical moral and religious roots,” Metropolitan Feofan

The great consecration of the cathedral is scheduled for next year - tentatively on the day of remembrance of the appearance of the icon on July 21. Now the walls are being painted.

pathological speech

Image stamps

: “By recreating the monastery with a pilgrimage center, we will make Kazan even more attractive to believers all over the world, this is
the image of the capital of our Republic
” [20].

Peace and harmony

: “All of us, people of different nationalities, different faiths, Orthodox and Muslims, must do everything possible so that peace and harmony, and not enmity and hatred, become the norm of our lives”[21][22].

Vision, understanding

: Our society, our Orthodox community knows little about St. Ignatius. But his life and works contain incredibly rich material for spiritual life, for understanding today, the Russian soul, the Orthodox vision, the relationship of the Orthodox East with the Protestant and Catholic West[23].

Model

: Here we have a working
model
of how people of different nationalities, different cultures, and different faiths can live as one family[24].

Over the Barriers

: Football is a holiday that unites people across ideological and political barriers. We live on one small Earth and we are beginning to understand this. Sport has always been a symbol of the unity of humanity as a whole[25].

Tension

: In our time, when Russia faces difficult challenges, representatives of various countries gathered here (at the Primakov Readings 2021 - Ed.) to search for and develop directions that would help relieve tension in the world as a whole[26].

A course towards cooperation: how the Metropolitan treated Muslims

Since the beginning of his ministry in Tatarstan, Metropolitan Feofan has set a course for strengthening interethnic and interfaith good neighborliness. Under him, the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Bulgarian Islamic Academy signed a cooperation agreement.

The priest called for spiritual improvement and reminded of the importance of dialogue between representatives of different faiths. To exchange experiences and solve common problems, the Metropolitan invited Muslims, Catholics and Jews to events organized by the Metropolis.

“As citizens and brothers, we solve many common problems” Metropolitan Theophan

events

In the Magadan diocese he conducted Christmas readings with the participation of A.I. Osipov and Deacon Andrei Kuraev. Cooperation agreements were concluded with the education department of the Magadan region, and soon electives “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” began to operate in the city’s schools. [18].

• Orthodoxy and the new European reality (conference) (June 30, 1993)
• II World Russian Council (February 1, 1995)
• VII World Conference "Religions for Peace" (November 27, 1999)
• II Festival of Orthodox Media “Faith and Word” (October 30, 2006)
• I forum “The Caucasus is our common home” (July 14, 2008)
• Local Council 2009 (January 27, 2009)
• X meeting of the joint commission on dialogue “Orthodoxy-Islam” (September 26, 2016)
• Award ceremony November 15, 2021 (November 15, 2017)
• XI meeting of the joint commission on dialogue “Orthodoxy-Islam” (May 5, 2018)
• World Tolerance Summit 2021 (November 15, 2018)
• V meeting of the Russia-Islamic World Group (November 28, 2019)

Achievements of the Metropolis: return of the church and renewal of the seminary

During the five years that Theophan headed the metropolis, several important changes took place in church life. The Nikolo-Gostinodvor Church was returned to the Kazan diocese. The priest Ermolai, the future His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow Hermogenes, served in it. He was the first clergyman to pick up the revealed Kazan Icon of the Mother of God and move it from the place where it was found

In addition, renovations were carried out at the Kazan Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a new educational building appeared at the Kazan Orthodox Gymnasium named after St. Gury.

essays

• Ashurkov I., MDA student. Patronal feast day and annual act in Moscow theological schools // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - M. - 1972. - No. 12. - P. 23-24.
• Feofan (Ashurkov), hieromonk. On the “Accurate Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” by St. John of Damascus // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - M. - 1976. - No. 7. - P. 72-76.

interview

• The end of globalization. The United States is splitting the world, says Bishop Feofan (Ashurkov) of Magadan // Nezavisimaya Gazeta
• Bishop Feofan: I felt close to people // Stavropolskaya Pravda.
• Metropolitan Feofan: “The first thing I saw was machine guns with bayonets pointed straight at me.”

Metropolitan about Tatarstan: “I’m thinking about dying here”

Metropolitan Feofan seemed to know that he would end his life’s journey serving in Tatarstan. He spoke about this in an interview last year.

“I still have a lot of plans here. “I’m going to die in Tatarstan” Metropolitan Feofan

During the pandemic, he repeatedly called on believers to take precautions to protect themselves from the coronavirus. The Metropolitan believed that mortal danger should push believers to think about spiritual values: family, love, kindness, empathy and responsibility.

“In these very troubling days, humanity must think about how to continue to live, what kind of relationship to build between earth and heaven” Metropolitan Theophan

reviews

Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev in July 2015:[19]

This is a very smart person, with extensive experience working in Muslim regions. Before becoming a bishop, he served for many years in Jerusalem, in Egypt, and knows the Middle East and the Muslim world very well. In addition, he was a bishop in Stavropol for several years, and this is also a border region, and the North Caucasus was part of his diocese. He carried wounded children out of school in Beslan. This is a person who is ideal for your region in this sense.

Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin:[19]

His Grace Theophan was also the deputy chairman of the department for external church relations, and worked in such different regions of Russia as the Magadan and Chelyabinsk regions, the Stavropol Territory, and the Ulyanovsk Region. So, of course, this is a very experienced person, with a strong will, always striving to do the maximum for the development of church life. He knows how to build relationships with representatives of other religions, mainly with representatives of Islam and Judaism, as evidenced by the work of Bishop Theophan in Israel, which I have already mentioned. I repeat once again: Theophan is a brilliant Orthodox hierarch, practitioner and builder of church life.

“I always warned people about the coronavirus. But I couldn’t protect myself.”

State Duma deputy Fatih Sibagatullin had known Feofan since 2003, when he was appointed to the Stavropol and Vladikavkaz departments.
According to him, the metropolitan was even a candidate for the position of patriarch. The parliamentarian and the Orthodox hierarch met and discussed a lot. — Feofan is a person not only of Tatarstan or Russia, but also of a global scale. He also worked in Israel and in South and Central America. He was a diplomat of the highest level. He did his job, and no one was offended by him. He was not stubborn - some are only drawn towards Orthodoxy. Feofan was politically neutral. He always found a way out of any situation. It’s a pity that he didn’t see the opening of God’s temple,” the deputy said.

He also noted that the bishop very quickly “fit into Tatarstan.”

— Regarding the coronavirus, he always warned people to be careful. And now, you see how it happened... I couldn’t protect myself,” said Sibagatullin.

“Co-worker” and participant in the “laboratory”

The day before, Tatarstan learned the sad news - Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan Feofan (Ashurkov) passed away. He was the head of the Orthodox community of the republic for five years, from 2015, and during this time he was remembered by all Tatarstan residents as a sincere supporter of peace and friendship between representatives of different faiths and peoples on this land.

“I would pay attention to collaboration in Tatarstan,” said the bishop. — We are in Bolgar, admiring the monuments of Islamic culture. But there are also Orthodox churches nearby. We have no problems. The museum in Sviyazhsk, which we created together, now delights everyone. Only collaboration, there is no other way to what a person strives for - peace and harmony. This is how humanity can preserve a human face.

Feofan is remembered by all Tatarstan residents as a sincere supporter of peace and friendship between representatives of different faiths and peoples on this land. Photo: Oleg Tikhonov

The word “collaboration” was perhaps one of Feofan’s favorites when he described the situation in the region or paid tribute to the work of the first president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, and the Revival Foundation.

“Tatarstan is a bird that has two wings: Orthodoxy and Islam,” this is how the Metropolitan spoke about the good neighborliness of the two faiths in the region.

By the way, at all meetings, conferences, he cited Tatarstan as an example, using another word - “laboratory”.

— Tatarstan is a wonderful laboratory that is already having positive results. “A laboratory for building the life of a society of different religious and ethnic affiliations,” he said.

And he told about this not only to “his own people,” but also to guests from other regions and abroad.

— When I talk about the laboratory, this laboratory is located in Tatarstan. And the main weapon that is being developed here is a weapon of peace and harmony, interfaith, interethnic and interstate,” the Metropolitan emphasized.

Moreover, when conflict situations arose involving adherents of Islam, Feofan supported Muslims, noting the peaceful nature of their faith. For example, in October he commented on the high-profile murder of a teacher in France, noting that the roots of extremism should not be sought in religion.

“It is impossible to solve this problem [of extremism] using force, doctrinal and other methods alone,” said the bishop. - We saw the last wild case in France - the murder of a teacher. Where are the roots of this extremism? In this teenager's head? Or a teacher who cruelly provoked young minds by caricaturing the highest values ​​in class. What did this lead to? Towards enlightenment? Or inciting hatred, anger and resentment? This is also our concern.

He also spoke out about the “scarf scandal,” when at the end of 2016 in the Tatar village of Belozerye (Mordovia), the school director and local officials banned teachers and high school students from wearing headscarves within the educational institution. The Metropolitan again took the side of the believers, calling on them to “take into account the traditions of the people.”

When conflict situations arose involving adherents of Islam, Feofan supported Muslims, noting the peaceful nature of their faith. Photo: realnoevremya.ru

Serving the Lord Abroad

By decision of the Holy Synod, Feofan was sent to the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem in 1977. Here he carried out obedience until 1982.

1981 -1984 Feofan carries out spiritual activities in the countries of Central and South America, being the secretary of the exarchate.

1987-1989 carries out obedience in the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

1989 -1993 occupies the rank of Exarch under the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

In 1999, Metropolitan Theophan is the representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch and the whole East.

During the period of armed confrontation between the Supreme Council and the President of Russia, he was directly involved in organizing peace negotiations, September - October 1993.