Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev of Moscow and all the Russias (1946- )
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This is the first week of the reign of Patriarch Kirill. The new First Hierarch of the MP didn’t linger in the capital after the celebrations of his formal installation. On Saturday, 7 February, he went into the depth of the Russian provinces, to Smolensk. For a quarter of a century, Kirill was the archpastor of this diocese. First, he was the Archbishop of Smolensk, and, then, he became the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Here, in the cathedral, when he was still the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, he prayed before an icon of the Mother of God and received a word of farewell, before he left for Moscow for the election that named him the First Hierarch of the Church. Here below is his first interview as the Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias.
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Yevgeni Revenko
Your Holiness, your first trip in your new capacity was to Smolensk. Why here?
Patriarch Kirill
It was because I was the ruling bishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad for almost 25 years. Indeed, the Local Council called me forth from this diocese when I was elected Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias. A major and very important part of my life is connected with the life of this city.
Yevgeni Revenko
A quarter of a century?
Patriarch Kirill
Yes, a quarter of a century.
Yevgeni Revenko
Now, essentially, one assumes that you’ll have to move to Moscow to carry out your new duties? How is life and ministry here different from that in the capital?
Patriarch Kirill
I arrived in Smolensk from St Petersburg, which was called Leningrad then. I was the rector of the Leningrad spiritual seminaries. From time to time, I visited Moscow, and I also worked abroad. Other places in Russia are outside my experience. It was through Smolensk that I learned about Russia. In order to know our country, you need to know not only the capital, which is a “showcase” of public life; you must also know the life in the provinces. You need to know the lives of ordinary people, those same grandparent-pensioners, who live in our villages, sometimes all alone. You need to know what roads lead to the villages. You need to know what people think, how they eat, how they dress. Only then can you form an accurate and realistic picture of what is happening in the country. When you know this picture, it’s possible for you to build a definite pastoral strategy. Such knowledge helps you to build a realistic programme of action and identify priorities. Therefore, I thank God for the living examples and the experience I received here during my almost 25 years of life connected with the Diocese of Smolensk. In my opinion, if I’d lacked this experience, I’m certain that the Church wouldn’t have handed to me the responsibility of the Patriarchate.
Yevgeni Revenko
Your Holiness, I’d like to address a serious topic, the topic of the current crisis. How does it affect the people? What do people say to you in the course of your duties, both in Smolensk and in the capital?
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Patriarch Kirill
One of the truths that I’ve learned through my experiences of communicating with ordinary people in Smolensk is that our people are very patient. Unfortunately, in our history, this national quality of ours was often exploited through the use of deception. It’d seem to me that after all the failures of all the historical experiments that were carried out exploiting the enthusiasm of the people and supported by the people’s patience, this patience was reaching its end. Yet, this wasn’t the result. As I see it, in many respects, this strong inner spirit explains why our people have the ability to resist adverse external circumstances. True, there are dangerous consequences that can flow from such a constant resistance.
For example, look at the problem of alcoholism, which many psychologists call an “explosive relaxation”, which necessarily must erupt in one way or another. Sometimes, this “discharge” manifests itself in an extreme manner. All this, of course, is a response to difficult situations in life. Nevertheless, this ability to resist adverse external conditions, including in Orthodoxy, grew over centuries in the soul of our people. It’s very important. Our people didn’t lose this inner force, this drive. I believe that we can handle this crisis. For us, if we find that the water supply isn’t working, especially in the villages, it won’t shake the foundations of national life. We deal well with electrical stoppages. We even shrug off problems concerning irregular pay-packets. It’s because we know how to endure.
However, it’s very important that this commendable quality of our people wouldn’t tempt some to attempt behaviour that could turn into exploitation. I believe in the spiritual power of our people, its patience, and its ability to overcome difficulties. Moreover, here, in the provinces, I see it clearly. People know that there’s a crisis. Yes, of course, there are certain problems that didn’t start yesterday. Yet, the overall wellbeing of the people hasn’t changed radically for the worse. May God give us the strength so that the underlying vigour of our people would withstand this new trial, which, unfortunately, is our lot at this time.
Yevgeni Revenko
With your ascension to the patriarchate, many are asking the question, “In which direction will the Russian Orthodox Church go?” Or, in another way, in the vernacular, what language are you going to speak to the people?
Patriarch Kirill
We’ll speak in understandable and accessible language. Indeed, we shouldn’t be talking in the categories of ancient Byzantium or Medieval Russia; we should speak in a language understood by the people. The Church must use clear language as a means of communication with the surrounding world. In this, I’m not discussing questions of liturgical language. One shouldn’t confuse one with the other. Rather, this is about the cultural categories through which priests, pastors, and, even more emphatically, archpastors transmit the Evangelical message to the world.
Perhaps, here, it’s very important to remember the following. Man can assimilate faith to the extent that he’s able to match the faith with the fundamental truth of his real everyday life. If people demand faith, if they rely on faith in overcoming life’s adversities, yes, in general, in the ordering of their lives, then, religion becomes a living and viable matter. Then, the lives of the people begin to change. Subsequently, they become better people. The Church is called to do everything possible to support the spiritual life of modern man, helping him go through stresses, troubles, and frustrations, including psychological upsets; it aids him to pass through trials and temptations. If we remain strong, clean, and honest internally, then, God will live in our hearts. Only the pure in heart can apprehend God. A life with God, this is what we call salvation. The Church serves in order to save lives. Furthermore, the Church doesn’t exist for any other purpose.
Yevgeni Revenko
Your Holiness, before your installation, many remember your very active missionary work in recent years, in particular, your speech at the Maidan Square in Kiev and your unprecedented trip to South America. As Patriarch, shall you continue such a ministry?
Patriarch Kirill
First of all, the Patriarch is the bishop of the city of Moscow. He should exercise his pastoral and missionary duties for his people, that is, for his diocese. However, the Patriarch is also the leader of the whole Church. Therefore, his concern should not be confined only to his own diocese. For that reason, with the aid of God, I will continue what I did previously, to travel, to pray with the people, to serve, to preach, and to speak in the furtherance of the same goal, of which we just spoke.
Yevgeni Revenko
After Smolensk, where do you plan to go in the near future?
Patriarch Kirill
I want to visit Kaliningrad, the other part of my diocese. Then, I wish to visit St Petersburg, my hometown, to pray at the shrine with the relics of the Right-Believing Prince St Aleksandr Nevsky, my patron saint, whose name I’ve defended, in particular, on the forum Imya Rossiya (Name of Russia), organised by the television channel Rossiya (Russia). Today, thanks be to God, the name of this holy man is the “Name of Russia” {this refers to a recent TV poll where St Aleksandr Nevsky was voted the most representative Russian of all time. Graf Pyotr Stolypin, Tsar St Nikolai II’s Prime Minister was second. Stalin was third. Guess what the western press accentuated? Drat! You knew!: editor}. After that, I’d like to visit the mother of all Russian cities, Kiev, our ancient capital and centre of Russian Orthodoxy. These are my plans for the near future. After that… what God gives.
8 February 2009
Vesti (News)
http://www.vesti7.ru/news?id=13530
Editor’s Note:
His first major trip is to… Kiev! This is obvious evidence, even for the slow learners, that Metropolitan Vladimir Sabodan played his role as “kingmaker” and that Kirill is going to Kiev to give his (rightful) thanks. Note well that expanded autonomy was just granted to the UOC/MP. Yes, indeed, friends and neighbours, Vladimir exacted his “price”. I’m not criticising; I’m observing. No doubt, part of the deal was Kirill’s aid in fighting the Uniate menace in the Ukraine. If anything upsets the ecumaniac apple cart that shall do it. Rome has a choice. You may have the Uniates or you may have good relations with us. I fear that they shall choose the former, and blame us into the bargain. So be it. Let’s exchange gestures of friendship; let the theological folderol cease. Then, we can be a good neighbour, which is all that is possible, in any case.
BMD
