Patriarch Kirill leads the Russian Orthodox Church, a global church with more than 100 million members. He is a zealous defender of the faith, often using extreme language to describe evil.
The Moscow Patriarchate, however, has a different approach to ecclesiastical leadership that does not follow the traditional patterns of Christ-centred holiness. This has resulted in schism and heresy that has caused confusion, fear, and distrust among the faithful.
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Patriarch Kirill
Patriarch Kirill is the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is known for his commitment to world peace and interfaith relations. He has opened new Russian Orthodox parishes in Iceland, India and Southern Africa.
During his time as Patriarch, he traveled extensively and made many contributions to the Orthodox Church worldwide. He was also involved in the development of relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and other Local Orthodox churches.
In 1971, the Patriarch was granted permission to go to Geneva and represent the Russian Orthodox Church at the World Council of Churches. This was reportedly an attempt to influence the WCC in the Soviet Union’s favor.
Switzerland’s Sonntagszeitung and Le Matin Dimanche newspapers recently studied de-classified archives of the KGB and discovered that Patriarch Kirill, who was under an alias named Mikhaylov, carried out espionage activities during his stay in Geneva. These activities were aimed at influencing the WCC in the Soviet Union’s interests, according to reports from federal archives.
Metropolitan Hilarion
A leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion is responsible for ensuring that all Orthodox Christians are treated with respect. He also represents the Church at various international forums and conferences.
The Russian Orthodox Church is a unique and fascinating group of Christian denominations, with one key difference from the Catholics: it is committed to remaining as close to the New Testament Church as possible. This is often referred to as the “anti-progressive” position of the Church, and is a major reason why the Russian Orthodox remain so distinct from many other Christian groups, particularly in terms of their theology and the way they worship.
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion, reposed in the Lord on May 16 at 2:00 PM New York time. His condolences were received from Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow & All Russia, Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev & All Ukraine, and other hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad.
St. Gregory the Theologian Charity Foundation
The Russian Orthodox Church is a leading faith in the world. Its traditions and teachings provide the foundation for society, bringing about moral and spiritual order.
The Church is also involved in the education of youth for morality and public spirit, helping to assert the values of spiritual and moral order in society. In addition, the Russian Orthodox Church takes an active role in educational work for preventing HIV/AIDS among adolescents and children.
St. Gregory the Theologian Charity Foundation works to promote theological understanding of modern science and philosophy within the Russian Orthodox Church. The organization aims to train future leaders to consider how Orthodox theology intersects with contemporary scientific and philosophical inquiry.
The Cathedral is impacted by many of the major historical events that have shaped its course, including the 1917 revolution and the break with Russia, two world wars, waves of immigrants from Eastern Europe, and the establishment of a local self ruling Orthodox Church in America. These events have created both internal controversies and opportunities to reach out to the broader world.
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, also called ROCOR, is a self-governing church that was founded in 1920 by representatives of the Orthodox Christian population who had to leave their homeland during the Soviet Union’s era of persecution. In order to preserve their heritage, they established a number of emigre churches.
The ROCOR is led by the First Hierarch, who holds the rank of Metropolitan. He is elected for life by the Sobor of Bishops.
This hierarch is in charge of the church’s administrative and judicial affairs. He oversees the Sobor of Bishops, which is a body of law-making authority that has the highest judicial and legal status within the ROCOR.
The ROCOR is an independent, self-governing part of the Local Russian Orthodox Church, and is committed to canonical unity with the rest of the Church. This includes maintaining wholehearted fidelity to the ascetical, spiritual, liturgical and theological heritage of ancient Russian Orthodoxy. It also focuses on education and youth outreach, in order to help young people learn about the faith and practice.
