Metropolitan Kirill Gundyaev of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (1946- ), elected Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia today. May God keep him and us in the Full Faith.
Today, Metropolitan Kirill Gundyaev of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was elected the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. He is viewed with much misgiving in many Church circles (as was shown by the fact that he received only 97 of the 198 votes cast at the Archpastoral Council). I agree with this wariness concerning this figure. His actions over the years have made him a controversial stormy petrel.
In particular, he has to prove himself insofar as relations with the Roman Catholics are concerned and show his commitment to Church Unity. The jury is still out. He was not elected because he is a beloved archpastor; he won because he was preferable to the antics of the Kapalin brothers.
Well… the king is dead, long live the king! May God keep both him and us. May Kirill keep the Faith untrammelled and complete.
There shall be “interesting” times ahead for the Church. God willing, Kirill shall “grow in office”. I truly do hope and pray for that.
Tuesday 27 January 2009
Vara Drezhlo
Albany NY USA
Voices from Russia 
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