KYRILL

(in the world Gundyaev Vladimir; 20.HI.1946)
Born in the family priest. After graduating from high school he entered in 1965. the Leningrad Theological Seminary, and then Leningrad Theological Academy, where he graduated in 1970, was a monk with the appellation name Cyril (1969). In 1970-71. - Teacher of dogmatic theology and the Assistant Inspector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary. From 1971 to 1974. - Representative of the Moscow Patriarch at the World Council of Churches in Geneva in 1974. 1984. - Rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary. In 1984. elevated to the rank of bishop. Since 1984, Mr.. - Arhiepiskom Smolensk and Vyazemskij (later of Smolensk and Kaliningrad). In 1989. the Holy Synod appointed Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarch and a permanent member of the Holy Synod. In 1991. Decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.

During the administration of the diocese works to the Metropolitan. Smolensk, Kaliningrad Diocese established 73 new parishes, a system of spiritual education: open Smolensk Theological Seminary, the Orthodox high school, two kindergartens. In Kaliningrad the land arose Church will. With the blessing and involvement of the Metropolitan K. Smolensk held an international conference "Spiritual Education in Russia. Past and Present, "regional conference" The Church and the army ", a regional seminar on religious education.

Metropolitan K. - Doctor of Theology Theological Academy in Budapest, by about two hundred publications in national and foreign press. He was awarded with eleven local Churches and the Order of Friendship of Peoples. K. - Member of the Presidium of the World Russian People's Council and of the Land movement, . Member of the Commission on State Prizes for Literature and Art, . member of the Public Council for rebuilding the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, . honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy, . International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and a number of, . author and presenter of a weekly program ORT word Shepherd.,

. Lit
. Who's Who in Russia and CIS. - M., 1993; Work Path, 1996, 1 November.