Height, weight, age. How old is Patriarch Kirill
Patriarch Kirill is not an American, or even a domestic star, so he has no particular need to chase the elusive youth or carefully monitor his figure. By the way, photos of Patriarch Kirill in his youth and now for comparison are very easy to find on the Internet. For him, as a church employee, it is much more advantageous to look more respectable. So it becomes clear that he doesn’t really care about his height, weight, or age. How old is Patriarch Kirill? It’s a simple question. Currently he is already 71 years old. With a height of 178 centimeters, the man weighs 92 kilograms.
Despite all of the above, the man tries to monitor his own weight, goes swimming from time to time, and often walks. As you can see, he remembers the truth that you also need to take care of yourself. After all, “God protects those who are careful.”
While studying at school, Vladimir refused to wear a red tie
Vladimir graduated from school No. 20, which is now called school No. 270 named after Alexander Berezansky, Krasnoselsky district. He had a difficult time during his studies due to his religious beliefs.
For example, the school director convinced Vladimir to wear a red tie, but he refused. As a result, he was constantly given a dressing down and summoned to teachers' meetings. This did not affect the results of the studies of the talented young man, who had a penchant for the exact sciences.
Young Vladimir Gundyaev worked on a geological expedition. After finishing the eighth grade of high school, Vladimir decided to live independently and therefore got a job while continuing to study at night school
After the future Patriarch graduated from the eighth grade of high school, he decided not to study further and start living on his own. He did not want to burden the needy parents who were raising their youngest daughter.
Vladimir went to evening school and entered the Leningrad complex geological expedition of the North-Western Geological Directorate. Here he worked from 1962 to 1965 as a cartographic technician, combining work with training.
At school, Vladimir Gundyaev refused to wear a red pioneer tie.
In 1965, Vladimir Gundyaev entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary. After this, he continued his studies at the Leningrad Theological Academy. Eyewitnesses claim that Metropolitan Nikodim Rotov demanded that he study according to an accelerated program and take all subjects externally. Later he became his cell attendant. This happened in 1970.
Biography of Patriarch Kirill
Patriarch Kirill (birth name - Vladimir Gundyaev) was born in the late autumn of 1946. An interesting incident is worth noting. When his mother first came to church with him as a child, the boy accidentally walked through the Royal Gate. The woman immediately took him to the pastor so that he would absolve him of his sin, but the clergyman only waved him off with the words: “He will be a bishop.” It was probably the fate of little Vladimir to take the long and thorny path of serving the church. Of course, he was still a long way from holding a big position, but at the same time, everything that happened in his life throughout his life, all these events ultimately led to one single conclusion - becoming an important person in the church. And Vladimir did not come immediately to receive the title of patriarch, as well as to adopt a new name.
His mother, Raisa Gundyaeva, worked as a school teacher and taught German. And the father - Mikhail Gundyaev - it is worth noting, was also a clergyman. It is difficult to deny that this fact also had a certain influence on Vladimir’s choice of future life path. Although, here we can say that the entire family of the future patriarch was connected with religion. His grandfather, for example, was often sent into exile, accused of having connections with the Christian Church. Brother - Nikolai - was a priest in the St. Petersburg Cathedral. And my sister, Elena, held the post of headmistress at the theological gymnasium.
Before starting his own religious activity, the future patriarch completed only eight classes at school. He tried out for geology, but a few years later he entered the seminary, and then the theological academy.
The guy received the name Kirill after becoming a monk. From that very moment the biography of Patriarch Kirill as a minister of the church begins.
Repeatedly he took part in what related to the development of the Moscow patriarchate. Since the nineties, Kirill began to pay much more attention to relations with society, as well as much more effort in developing this activity. So, in the early nineties, a program with his participation appeared on television - “The Word of the Shepherd.” It dealt with various religious topics, and it was very popular not only among ordinary people, but also among high officials.
A year later, Patriarch Kirill began to actively cooperate with the government of the Russian Federation. Often he even became a full-fledged participant in a variety of advisory organizations. Organized various cultural events. For example, the celebration of two thousand years of Christianity. Moreover, in accordance with information obtained as a result of a survey of the local population in 2012, the majority of ordinary people approve of the work of the patriarch.
Among other things, Patriarch Kirill maintains a Facebook profile. There he corresponds with visitors to his page and answers questions. Very often he gives answers to those questions that are of particular interest to other people. There are more than five hundred posts on his profile on this social network. He is also the author of books on religion and the clergy.
Briefly about personality
- Real name: Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev;
- Date of birth: November 20, 1946;
- Place of birth - Leningrad, RSFSR, USSR;
- Place of residence: Moscow;
- Education - Leningrad Theological Academy;
- Russian citizenship;
- Religion - Orthodoxy;
- Family: Father - Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev (01/18/1907 - 1310/1974), Mother - Raisa Vladimirovna Gundyaeva (11/07/1909 - 11/02/1984), Elder brother - Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev (11/18/1940), Younger sister Elena (05/08/1949) ;
- Position - Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus';
- Hobbies - Sports, writing.
- The Patriarch has pages on social networks VKontakte: Patriarch Kirill Facebook: Patriarch Kirill
Personal life of Patriarch Kirill
It is worth noting, first of all, that the personal life of Patriarch Kirill simply does not exist, at least according to official sources. He is obliged to serve the church, and all clergy, as you know, take a vow of celibacy. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing strange in the fact that this person, despite his already quite advanced age, does not have his own family.
In modern parlance, he “married his work.” After all, he has already spoken more than once about how important it is to spread the light of religion in the world. How true these words are, hardly anyone can seriously say. But one cannot ignore the fact that this man is a church employee and a priori he should not have love affairs.
Father Kirill was consecrated to the rank of bishop on March 14, 1976, and a year later he was already an archbishop
On March 14, 1976, Archimandrite Kirill was consecrated to the rank of Bishop of Vyborg, vicar of the Leningrad diocese. A year later he is already an archbishop. From November 1976 to October 1978, he served as the Deputy Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).
Hieromonk Kirill on the day of his ordination. Patriarch Kirill actively moved up the internal church career ladder thanks to his abilities
Kirill then managed the patriarchal parishes in Finland, and in 1978 he was appointed deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. At the same time, the future Patriarch continued to teach as a graduate student at the Moscow Theological Academy.
March 14, 1976
the future Patriarch is consecrated to the rank of bishop
In 1984, Father Kirill was transferred to the department of Archbishop of Smolensk and Vyazemsky. In addition, he was relieved of his post as rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary.
Kirill’s relatives and acquaintances say that his transfer to the provinces and removal from a leadership position in pedagogy is a consequence of his refusal to vote in 1980 against the resolution of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, which condemned the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. In 1989, the title of the archbishop changed to “Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad”.
Video: Interview with the future Patriarch Kirill, 1989. At the 25-minute mark, the author congratulates the future head of the Russian Orthodox Church on his appointment to the post of chairman of the department of external relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Frictions with the Soviet authorities did not seriously affect the career of the future Patriarch. He was appointed Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, a permanent member of the Holy Synod ex officio.
Since 1990 - Chairman of the Holy Synod Commission for the Revival of Religious and Moral Education and Charity, member of the Synodal Biblical Commission. On February 25, 1991, by decree of Patriarch Alexy II, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
Family of Patriarch Kirill
Taking into account all of the above, we can assume that the family of Patriarch Kirill are the same clergy as he himself. He does not have an official wife, nor do he have children. The most important thing, in his opinion, is to spend his life devoting it to the development of the community of religious houses at the international level.
And he does it very well, because even in his youth he successfully overcame the path of a clergyman in order to ultimately achieve what he is now. It is difficult to say whether he suffers from the fact that he did not leave behind heirs. But, if you look at it from the other side, he doesn’t have much time for it. And it cannot be said that he is lonely, because believers constantly come to him for advice or with requests.
Ecumenical and social activities
Already in his student years he actively participated in the public life of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In March-April 1968, he was a participant in the III All-Christian Peace Congress in Prague; in July of the same year - the IV Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala; in the annual meetings of the Central Committee of the WCC as a young adviser, as well as in the meetings of the KMK youth commission, as its vice-chairman.
In 1971, he represented the theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church at the General Assembly of the world Orthodox youth organization Syndesmos, where he was elected a member of the executive committee of this organization.
On October 19 of the same year, he was appointed acting representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
In 1972, he was elected a member of the board of the WCC Fund for Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Indochina.
On February 13, 1973, he was confirmed as the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
On September 9, 1976, he was approved as a permanent representative from the Russian Orthodox Church to the plenary commission of the WCC.
From November 21 to 28 of the same year he participated in the First Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Meeting in Chambesy.
From March 27 to 29, 1979, he participated in the Consultation “Responsibility of the Churches of the USSR and the USA for Disarmament.”
From January 28 to 31, 1980, he was present in Budapest at a meeting of representatives of Churches from the socialist countries of Europe and leading figures of the WCC.
On May 29, 1980, he participated from the Russian Orthodox Church at the first meeting of the Mixed Orthodox-Roman Catholic Commission on the island. Patmos and Rhodes.
August 14-22, 1980 - participant in the 32nd meeting of the Center. committee of the WCC in Geneva. August 22-25 - member of the delegation of representatives of Churches in the USSR and the USA (Geneva).
From August 16 to 26, 1981 - participant in the 33rd meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC in Dresden.
In the same year (July 19-28) he took part in the 34th meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC in Geneva.
From July 24 to August 10, 1983 - participant in the VI Assembly of the WCC in Vancouver (Canada), at which he was elected to the new composition of the Central Committee of the WCC.
From February 20 to 29, 1984, he took part in a meeting of the Executive Committee of the WCC in Geneva.
From May 31 to June 7, from the Russian Orthodox Church, he participated in a meeting of the Mixed Theological Commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the Local Orthodox Churches, held on Fr. Crete.
July 9-18, 1984 - participant in the meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC in Geneva.
As part of the Soviet public delegation, he participated in an international conference of scientists and religious figures from November 19 to 23 in Italy.
Patriarch Kirill on a yacht with girls
The patriarch, although not a singer or actor, is nevertheless a well-known public figure throughout the country. It is not surprising that scandals gather around this man with enviable regularity. Very often he was accused of a variety of sins. And it’s a bit difficult to discern what is truth and what is fiction. Once there was even a rumor that Patriarch Kirill often spends his free time on a yacht with girls, and spends all church proceeds on personal benefits.
The patriarch himself, of course, denies such rumors or even simply ignores them, claiming that these are only slander and slander on the part of ill-wishers and those who go against the church. Of course, everyone is a sinner, but it is not easy to say how reliable the accusations against Kirill are. After all, he serves God faithfully and truly, but, be that as it may, he is a man.
Jap and Patriarch Kirill are one person
It is impossible not to add that the personality of the patriarch is often associated not only with gossip, but also with a variety of rumors. At times it even reaches the point of absurdity. Take, for example, the recent rumor that Yaponchik and Patriarch Kirill are the same person. This rumor mentions the famous thief Mishka Yaponchik, who died in the early 2000s.
Some people notice striking similarities between these celebrities. For example, they say that the patriarch has a problematic past and thus he hid so as not to go to jail. This rumor was neither confirmed nor refuted, but most parishioners believe that these are the tricks of the patriarch’s ill-wishers who want to tarnish his dignity.
After the death of Patriarch Alexy II, Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev) became his successor
On December 5, 2008, Patriarch Alexy II died. The very next day, at a meeting of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Kirill was elected Patriarchal Locum Tenens by secret ballot.
The meeting of the Synod was chaired by Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Vladimir (Kotlyarov). Kirill became one of three candidates for the Moscow Patriarchal throne, while he himself received 97 votes from the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, and his opponents received 32 votes (Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement) and 16 votes (Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Filaret (Vakhromeev).
February 1, 2009. Enthronement of Patriarch Kirill. After the death of Patriach Alexy II, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Kirill as the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'
Kirill was elected the 16th Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 27, 2009. He received 508 out of 677 votes. Which is 75%. The enthronement of the newly elected patriarch took place on February 1, 2009 during the liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria took part in it, as well as representatives of part of the autocephalous Churches: Archbishop Anastasius of Albania, Metropolitans of All Poland Savva and the Czech lands and Slovakia Christopher. In addition to the enthronement, Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Naina Yeltsina and other government officials were present.
Children of Patriarch Kirill
As noted earlier, this person has no children of his own. The children of Patriarch Kirill are believers. Parishioners and those who need support or advice. This is what the patriarch himself says. Many times he said that he could help anyone who came to him. To do this, he also began to master social networks so that he could provide answers to the most interesting questions.
There is a possibility, of course, that he would like to have children of his own. But having a rank does not allow you to indulge in such worldly pleasures as a quiet life, a spouse and a child. But Vladimir chose the path of a clergyman.
Wife of Patriarch Kirill
The wife of Patriarch Kirill is a topic for a man that is better not to raise. After all, when he set out on the path of a church minister, having made this choice, he completely deprived himself of love. And although you can often hear that Kirill committed a sin, that he was often seen surrounded by young girls, nothing has been officially proven.
Most people believe that these are just fictions, and that in reality the patriarch serves his church faithfully and has no plans to deviate from his path. According to official information, this clergyman has neither children nor a beloved wife. He considers the church his home, and calls the parishioners his children.
How much does Patriarch Kirill's watch cost?
Some time ago, one could notice a watch on this cleric. And even an ordinary person, with one glance at them, can understand that the cost of the watch is far from small. Therefore, almost immediately after this, rumors spread that Kirill was greatly abusing his existing powers and was wasting church proceeds for personal purposes.
Many were interested in the question: how much does Patriarch Kirill’s watch cost? The patriarch himself actively denied everything and even tried to hide the expensive thing from prying eyes, but it still became known that this Breguet watch of Patriarch Kirill is a fairly well-known brand, and it costs about 30 thousand euros. Apparently, the holy father is not against occasionally pampering himself with too expensive trinkets.
Patriarch Kirill “The Word of the Shepherd”
It was already mentioned earlier that Patriarch Kirill has collaborated with society more than once to bring conversations about God among the people. A similar project of his was the popular television program “The Word of the Shepherd” with his participation. Patriarch Kirill hosted “The Word of the Shepherd,” examining a variety of religious topics and answering pressing questions. And although it seems that nowadays few people watch religious channels, or even just programs, a little earlier this program gained enormous popularity not only among lay people, but also among officials. The TV show was launched in order to help any person who wants to reconsider their views on life or needs help.
The Patriarch never refused to help those who tried to improve their lives. Of course, there were some evil tongues that said that Kirill needed all this just to attract more attention to himself. It is difficult to say how reliable this is, but, be that as it may, one must respect his dignity. As for rumors, they have always surrounded public people.
Interesting financial facts
- The property of Patriarch Kirill can be supplemented with several dozen books that he wrote independently or in co-authorship. Each publication brings a pretty penny to its author.
- The head of the Russian Orthodox Church is an ardent fan of alpine skiing. Whenever possible, the Patriarch goes for a ride, despite his advanced age. And professional ski equipment costs a lot. So we can add another expensive pleasure to Kirill’s piggy bank.
“We live today as richly as we have never lived since the revolution. And therefore, a slight decrease in our standard of living cannot be the reason for the destruction of national identity” - Patriarch Kirill on the economic crisis in Russia.
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