[[Image:Kyrill Gundyayev.jpg|right|frame]]His Holiness '''Metropolitan KirillKyrill (Gundyayev) of Moscow''' (Митрополит Кирилл), born as Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyayev (Владимир Михайлович Гундяев), on [[November 20]] , 1946, [[w:Leningrad|Leningrad]], [[w:Soviet Union|Soviet Union]], is a the current Patriarch of [[Russian Orthodox Church]] (ROC) bishop, the Metropolitan of [[w:SmolenskRussia|Smolensk]] Moscow and [[w:Kaliningrad|KaliningradAll Russia]] since 1991, the Chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate since November 1989, permanent member of the Holy Synod.
''==Early career==He took [[Locum tenensMonk|monastic vows]]'' [[April 3]], 1969, and April 7 of the Patriarchal See since December 6, 2008same year was [[ordination|ordained]] hierodeacon and [[June 1]] - [[hieromonk]].
==Early Career==In 1970 Kyrill completed a degree from the Leningrad Theological Academy, where he was retained as a professor of dogmatic theology and aid to the Academy's Inspector.
He took Since [[Monk|monastic vowsAugust 30]] April 3, 19691970, and April 7 of the same year he was ordained hierodeacon and June 1 - a personal secretary to [[Metropolitan]] [[hieromonkNikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod|Nikodim (Rotov)]], Metroplitan of Leningrad.
In 1970 Kirill completed a degree from the Leningrad Theological AcademyOn [[September 12]], 1971, where he became [[archimandrite]] and was retained posted as a professor representative of dogmatic theology and aid the ROC to the Academy's Inspector[[World Council of Churches]] (WCC) in [[w:Geneva|Geneva]].
Since August 30On [[December 26]], 19701974, he was a personal secretary to appointed [[Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad|Nikodim (Rotov)Rector]], Metroplitan of the LeningradAcademy and Seminary.
On September 12In December 1975, 1971he was appointed a member of the WCC Central Committee and Executive Committee. ==Episcopal career==In 1976, Kyrill was consecrated [[Bishop]] of [[w:Vyborg|Vyborg]]. In 1977, he became [[Archbishop]]. Since 1978, he has been the manager of the "Patriarch's parishes in [[w:Finland|Finland]]" (the name of the structures of the Russian Orthodox Church in Finland). In 1984, he became Archbishop of Smolensk and [[w:Vyazma|Vyazma]]. The title was changed to Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad in 1989. In 1991, he became archimandrite Metropolitan. In 1974-1984 he was the Rector of the Leningrad Spiritual Academy and Seminary. In 1971 he was posted as a appointed representative of the ROC to Moscow Patriarchate at the [[World Council of Churches]] (WCC) and has been actively involved in the ecumenical activity of the Russian Orthodox Church since then. In 1978, Kyrill was appointed Deputy Chairman, and in November 1989, Chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate and permanent member of the [[w:Geneva|GenevaHoly Synod]]. He is known as active and efficient diplomat.
On [[December 266]], 19742008, he was appointed Rector the day after the death of [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Patriarch Alexei II]] (1990-2008), the Holy Synod elected him ''Locum tenens'' of the Leningrad Academy and SeminaryPatriarchal throne.
In On [[December 19759]], 2008, during the funeral service for Patriarch Alexei II in the [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow)|Christ the Saviour Cathedral]], which was broadcast live by Russia's state TV channels, he was seen and reported to have fainted at one point.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B822020081209 Russians bid farewell to Patriarch at grand funeral, Reuters, December 9, 2008, accessed 2008-12-09]</ref> On [[December 29]], 2008, when talking to journalists, he said he was appointed "categorically opposed to any reforms" of a member of liturgical or doctrinal nature in the WCC Central Committee and Executive CommitteeChurch.<ref>[http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081229/119215944.html Russia's prospective church leader says opposed to reforms], RIA Novosti, December 29, 2008.</ref>
Since 1994 Kyrill has hosted a weekly Orthodox TV program on [[w:Channel One (Russia)|ORT/Channel One]].Conservatives in the ROC criticized Kyrill for his ecumenical activities throughout the 1990s. However, in a recent statement Metropolitan Kyrill stated that there could be no doctrinal compromise with the Roman Catholic Church, and that discussions with them did not have the goal of seeking unification.<ref>[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=Episcopal career==5605 Russian Church against compromise on belief-preaching with Catholics - Metropolitan Kyrill], Interfax, January 21, 2009.</ref>
In 1976, Kirill was consecrated Bishop of On [[w:Vyborg|VyborgJanuary 27]]. In 1977, he became Archbishop. Since 19782009, he has been the manager of the "Kyrill was elected as Patriarch's parishes in [[w:Finland|Finland]]" (the name of the structures of the Russian Orthodox Church in Finland). In 1984Moscow, he became Archbishop of Smolensk and was enthroned as the sixteenth Patriarch on Sunday [[w:Vyazma|VyazmaFebruary 1]]. The title was changed to Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad in 1989. In 1991, he became Metropolitan2009.
In 1974-1984 he was the Rector of the Leningrad Spiritual Academy and Seminary.
In 1971 he was appointed representative of the Moscow Patriarchate at the [[World Council of Churches]] and has been actively involved in the [[ecumenical]] activity of the Russian Orthodox Church since then. In 1978, Kirill was appointed Deputy Chairman, and in November 1989, Chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate and permanent member of the Holy Synod. He is known as active and efficient diplomat. {{start box}}
On 6th December, 2008, the day after the death of [[List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Moscow{{succession|before=—|Patriarch]] [[Patriarch Alexius II title=Archbishop of RussiaVyborg|Alexy II]] ([[1990]]years=1976-2008), the Holy Synod elected him ''Locum tenens'' of the Patriarchal throne. 1984|after=—}}
On 9th December, 2008, during the funeral service for Patriarch Alexy II in the [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow)|Christ the Saviour Cathedral]], which was broadcast live by Russia's state TV channels, he was seen and reported to have fainted at one point.<ref>{{cite websuccession|urlbefore=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B822020081209 |location=[[Moscow]]—|title=Russians bid farewell to Patriarch at grand funeral|publisher=[[Reuters]]Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad|dateyears=December 9, 2008|accessdate=2008-121984-09}}</ref><ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web|url=http://gazeta.ru/social/2008/12/09/2907600.shtml|location=[[Moscow]]|title=Упокоился с миром|publisher=[[Gazeta.ru]]|date=December 9, 20082009|accessdateafter=2008-12-09—}}</ref>
On December 29, 2008, when talking to journalists, he said he was "categorically opposed to any reforms" {{succession|before=[[Philaret (Vakhromeyev) of Minsk|Philaret (Vakhromeyev)]]|title=5th Chairman of a liturgical or doctrinal nature in the Department for External Church.<ref>Relations of Moscow Patriarchate|years=November 14, 1989 - February 1, 2009|after=[http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081229/119215944.html Russia's prospective church leader says opposed to reforms] [[RIA NovostiHilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk|Hilarion (Alfeyev)]] December 29, 2008.</ref>|}}
Since 1994 Kirill has hosted a weekly Orthodox TV program on {{succession|before=[[Channel One Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II (Ridiger)]]|title=[[List of primates of Russia)|ORT/Channel OnePatriarch of Moscow]].|years=2009-Present|after=—}}
The conservative wing in the ROC criticized Kirill of practising [[ecumenism]] throughout the 1990s. However, in a recent statement Metropolitan Kyrill stated that there could be no doctrinal compromise with the Roman Catholic Church, and that discussions with them did not have the goal of seeking unification.<ref>[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=5605 Russian Church against compromise on belief-preaching with Catholics - Metropolitan Kirill] [[Interfax]], January 21, [[2009]].</ref>{{end box}}
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==External linkslink==* [http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/3/4.aspx Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad]
* [http[Category:Bishops|Kyrill]][[Category://orthodoxeurope20th-21st-century bishops|Kyrill]][[Category:Patriarchs of Moscow|Kyrill]][[Category:St.org/page/3/4.aspx Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and KaliningradPetersburg Academy Graduates]]
[[Categoryro:BishopsChiril (Gundiaev) al Moscovei]]
