Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev)

In the world Gundyaev Vladimir Mikhailovich, born November 20, 1946 in Leningrad in a family of Archpriest Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaeva (mind. 1974), grandfather - Vasily Gundyaev, by profession a railroad mechanic, repressed, with Ser. 50-x - priest.

Pious parents example of his life and dedication to the church brought up in his son the desire to serve the Church of God in the holy order.

In 1964 he graduated from high school and in 1965 enrolled in grade 1 of the Leningrad Theological Seminary, a full course which finished in 1967. In the same year he entered the first year of LDA.

Already in his student years, Vladimir actively participated in the public life of the Russian Orthodox Church

. In March-April 1968, he - Party III Vsehristianskogo Peace Congress in Prague in July of that year - IV Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, at the annual meetings of the Central Committee of the WCC as a young adviser, . as well as meetings of the youth commission HMK, . as its vice-chairman,
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Monasticism, the priesthood

April 3, 1969, Metropolitan of Leningrad Nicodemus was tonsured a monk;

7 April the same year was ordained a deacon.

1 June (the feast of Sts. Trinity) was ordained a celibate priest.

In the same 1969, he graduated with honors from the Leningrad Theological Academy.

In June 1970 he was awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology. After defending his dissertation was on scholarship at the Academy professors, professor of dogmatic theology and the Assistant Inspector LDA.

August 30, 1970 appointed personal secretary to Metropolitan Nicodemus. Combining the activities of the teacher academy and the Secretary of the Metropolitan, on. Kirill continues to devote much time participating in outside activities of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1971 he represented the theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church to the General Assembly of the World Orthodox youth organization SYNDESMOS, where he was elected a member of the executive committee of the organization.

September 12, 1971 on. Cyril was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite and appointed representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the WCC in Geneva.

Pastor stavropegic arrival of the Nativity of the Virgin in Geneva.

In 1972, about. Cyril Patriarch Pimen accompanied on his trip to the Middle East, as well as in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania.

In the same year elected a board member of the WCC Foundation for Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Indo-China.

December 26, 1974 appointed rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary.

June 7, 1975 appointed Chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Metropolitan of Leningrad.

In the same year (December), elected a member of the Central and Executive Committees of the WCC.

Bishop Vyborg

March 14, 1976 at Holy Trinity Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky Lavra consecrated Bishop of Vyborg, Leningrad vicar of the diocese. Consecration made: the metropolitans: Leningrad Nicodemus, Filaret of Kiev, Tula Juvenal, Archbishop of Vladimir Dmitrovsky, the bishops: Penza Melchizedek Tikhvinskij Meliton, Kursk Chrysostomos.

27-28 April 1976 in the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participated in the interviews with representatives of Pax Christi Internationalis;

Sep 9. 1976 approved by the Permanent Representative of the ROC in the plenary committee of the WCC.

November 18, 1976 was appointed Deputy Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe and from 21 to 28 November the same year participated in the first pre-conciliar meeting in Geneva.

From 22 to 31 January. 1977, led a delegation of Leningrad and Novgorod diocese in the Jubilee of the Patriarchal communities in Finland.

From 19 to 26 July 1977, headed the delegation from the ROC religious schools attended the IX General Assembly SYNDESMOS in Chambц?sy.

Sep 2. 1977 was elevated to the rank of archbishop and 5 September was awarded a commemorative panagiej.

From 12 to 19 October. 1977 with Patr. Pimen on an official visit at the rds. Demetrios I (Ecumenical Patriarchate).

From 23 Nov.. on December 4, 1977 at the head of the ROC delegation visited Italy.

23-25 December 1977 with the ROC delegation, headed by Patriarch Pimen participated in the inauguration of the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

22-27 June 1978 attended by a delegation of the ROC on Fifth Vsehristianskom Peace Congress in Prague;

October 12, 1978 dismissed Deputy. Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe, charged with nourishment of the Patriarchal parishes in Finland.

From 27 to 29 March 1979 participated in the Consultation "Responsibility of Churches USA and the USSR for disarmament".

From 12 to 24 July of that year, led a delegation of the ROC to the World Conference of Faith, Science and Future "in Cambridge (USA).

From 9 to 24 Nov.. 1979 of the ROC delegation at the invitation of the French Episcopal Conference visited France.

16 Nov.. 1979 appointed a member of the Commission SW. Synod on Christian unity.

From 28 to 31 January 1980 in Budapest, attended a meeting of representatives of the Churches of the socialist countries of Europe and the leaders of the WCC.

May 29, 1980 part of the ROC in the first meeting of the Joint Orthodox-Roman Catholic Commission for about. Patmos and Rhodes.

14-22 August 1980 - Party 32-th Meeting Center. Committee of the WCC in Geneva. 22-25 August. - Member delegation of representatives of the Churches in the USSR and the United States (Geneva).

25-27 Nov.. 1980 in the delegation participated in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the celebration of 1300 anniversary of the Bulgarian State.

From 30 Nov. on December 12. the same year led a pilgrimage group representatives and students of the LDA when going to NE. Land.

December 23, 1980 appointed a member of the Commission to organize the celebration of 1000 anniversary of the Baptism of Russia.

From 16 to 26 August 1981 - participant of the 33rd meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC in Dresden.

On August 31. on Sep 6. 1981, together with the Patriarch Pimen visited Finland.

30 October-3 November 1981 at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) participated in meetings of the Preparatory Committee for the VI Assembly of the WCC.

5-7 November the same year participated in the celebration of 30 anniversary of the founding of the National Council of Churches in the USA.

23-27 November in Amsterdam (Netherlands) from Christians in the Soviet Union was part of a group of hearings on nuclear disarmament.

3-16 January 1982 in Lima (Peru) participated in the meeting of the Board of WCC's Faith and Order ".

In the same year (19-28 July) took part in the 34 th meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC in Geneva.

From 28 Sep. October 4 was in Finland, and from October 25. November 1 - Japan.

From 24 July to 10 August 1983 - Party VI Assembly of the WCC in Vancouver (Canada), where the newly elected Central Committee of the WCC.

26-27 November the same year a delegation of the ROC has participated in the festivities celebrating 30 years of monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia.

From 20 to 29 February 1984 attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the WCC in Geneva.

From May 31 to June 7, from the Russian Orthodox Church participated in the meeting of the Joint Theological Commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the Local Orthodox Churches, which took place at about. Crete.

9-18 July 1984 - members of the Central Committee of the WCC in Geneva.

As part of the Soviet social delegation participated in an international conference of scientists and religious figures from 19 to 23 November in Italy.

At Smolensk Department

December 26, 1984 appointed Archbishop of Smolensk and Viazemsky.

From 2 to 9 June 1985 a delegation of the ROC was in the VI Vsehristianskom Peace Congress in Prague.

Sep 9. 1986. awarded the Order of the Venerable. Sergei Radonezhsky 2 nd degree in connection with the 40-birthday.

July 4, 1988 - for active participation in the preparation and celebration of 1000 anniversary of the Baptism of Russia - was awarded nominal panagiej.

Definition SW. Synod on April 10-11, 1989. Changed title. Diocesan Bishop to continue to be called: "Smolensk and Kaliningrad".

Definition SW. Synod of posts.

February 25, 1991, Mr.. elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

December 6, 2008, Mr.. after the death of Patriarch Alexy II of Metropolitan. Cyril at the meeting of the Holy Synod of the secret ballot, was elected Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne.

Honorary member of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Doctor honoris Causa "of the Reformed Theological Academy in Budapest. Has high awards of the Russian Orthodox Church and many Pravoslavnh Local Churches. In August 1993, Metropolitan Kirill was awarded International Loviyskaya Peace Prize, awarded by the Public Committee "Loviisa Peace Forum, chaired by Madame Tellervo Koivisto, wife of the President of Finland. The award every three years awarded peacekeeping figure who made a particularly significant contribution to this vital ministry to the family of nations.