Who is the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia?
If we take the Patriarch of Russia as an example, we would probably say that he is the tserkovnik. But if we take a look at the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia, we would see that Patriarch Aleksii is a churchman.
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Patriarch of Russia
During his almost two-decade tenure as Patriarch of Russia of the Orthodox Christian Church, Patriarch Aleksii II made many strides to improve the spiritual climate in the country. Among his top priorities was reopening parish churches and enchurching believers. The patriarch also expanded the ecclesiastical bureaucracy, increasing the number of dioceses, prelates, and priests. He also established many monasteries and Patriarchal schools.
Among the roles he held at the synod were those of the head of foreign relations, rector of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Institute for Post-Graduate Studies, and administrator of the Budapest-Hungarian Diocese. In addition to his role as Patriarch of Russia, he also served as the Orthodox representative at the World Council of Churches meetings.
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is a separate entity from the Orthodox Church in Russia. It was founded in Constantinople, but after the second world war, the church’s headquarters were relocated to New York City. For decades, it was part of the Orthodox Church in America, but it has split up and reestablished itself independently. Several parishes have moved in and out of the Russian Orthodox Church, and its members are largely divided.
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia has its own voting system. The majority of its institutions were built after the 1920s with donations from Russian emigrants. In addition, the administrative center was moved to Sremsky-Karlovtsy, Yugoslavia, where it remained from 1921 until the Church Abroad was merged with the Church of Russia in 2006.
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church voted to elect a new patriarch in July. The new patriarch, Kirill, comes from the “clerical estate” and carries deep personal grievances against the Soviet regime. With the support of the popular Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), Kirill rose quickly up the hierarchy. Kirill is known for his ability to inspire people.
The church was instrumental in Russia’s reform. The church’s role in the new era would ultimately determine the country’s social and political development. Whether it opted for compassion or xenophobic nationalism would affect the country’s future democratic structure. In the end, the Russian Orthodox Church voted to recognize two of its most important figures from the 20th century.
During Patriarch Aleksii II’s two decades in power, the Russian Orthodox Church has expanded significantly. During his tenure as patriarch, he worked to enchurch the faithful and reopen parish churches. In addition, he significantly expanded the ecclesiastical bureaucracy by adding dioceses, prelates, parishes, and priests. He also funded a number of Patriarchal schools.
Patriarch Aleksii
The Orthodox Church is divided over the choice of its next patriarch. Many believe that Kirill will seek greater independence from the Russian state and the Kremlin, but others have said that he will likely remain subservient to both. During his tenure, the Orthodox Church in Russia has added more than 5,000 new parishes and priests per year.
The Patriarch’s blessing came with a twist of mistrust toward the outside world. He left out the mention of Stalin’s Lubyanka address, which ordered the imprisonment and execution of millions of innocent people, including many Russian Orthodox clergy. The move was intended to defuse the atmosphere within the inner circle of Patriarch Pimen.
Patriarch Kirill
Kirill is the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’. He became Patriarch on 1 February 2009. In a nutshell, he is the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Originally, Kirill was a bishop. On 1 February 2009, he was elected Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus.
Kirill was born in 1946 in Saint Petersburg, the former imperial capital. During his time in the Church, he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming its head of external relations. In addition, he hosted a television program focusing on religious ideas. Today, Kirill oversees the religious life of about 110 million Russian Orthodox believers.
Under Patriarch Kirill, the Church has re-energized mechanisms of communication with key state institutions. It has established new consultative bodies and appointed senior clergy to existing bodies. It has also linked itself with networks of influence within the Russian state. Among these initiatives is the establishment of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations, which brings senior clerics to the table for discussions. Additionally, the Government Commission for Religious Associations, led by influential ideologue Vladislav Surkov, has worked on improving relations between the Church and state institutions.
