Patriarch Kirill (secular name: Vladimir Mikhaylovich Gundyayev; born November 20, 1946, Leningrad) is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia since February 1, 2009, and Metropolitan of Kaliningrad since August 24, 2023 (as head of the Kaliningrad Metropolitanate). He is connected to the The Diocese of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas through a number of official visits and public statements that attracted wide attention.[1]

Ecclesiastical career

Prior to his patriarchal enthronement, Kirill held the Smolensk see from December 26, 1984, bearing the title of Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. From November 14, 1989 to February 1, 2009, he headed the Synodal Department for External Church Relations (DECR) and was a permanent member of the Holy Synod. On January 27, 2009, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected him Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; his enthronement took place on February 1 of the same year.[1]

Significant events of the patriarchate

In 2016, Patriarch Kirill held a meeting in Cuba with Pope Francis — the first meeting in the entire history of Christianity between the heads of the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches.[1] In 2018, in connection with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople's intention to establish a unified autocephalous local church in Ukraine, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church broke Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.[1]

Sanctions

Since 2022, for his support of Russian military aggression against Ukraine, Patriarch Kirill has been subject to sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Canada, and Ukraine. From 2023, Australia, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and Estonia joined them.[1]

According to the Patriarch, direct appeals by Church hierarchs had produced no results, and it was the appeals of nuclear physicists from Sarov that helped the Church influence the situation: "When the physicists began to appeal, there was a certain influence." Patriarch Kirill recounted that he had visited Sarov and Diveevo during years when the revival of those places had seemed impossible, and that it was through the Sarov nuclear physicists, who believed in that revival, that the Church was then able to maintain a dialogue with the state: "I have a special relationship with this land through Sarov." Sarov is home to the Russian Federal Nuclear Center — the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics. The Sarov Monastery, where the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov had lived as a monk, was closed during the Soviet years; subsequently, facilities for the development of nuclear weapons were established on its grounds — the closed administrative-territorial formation bore the successive names "Arzamas-75" and "Kremlev."[5][4][10][9]

Presidential Envoy Igor Komarov quoted Sarov scientists as saying that among those seriously engaged in nuclear research there are no non-believers; the Patriarch agreed, remarking: "True knowledge draws one closer to God; deficient knowledge leads one away from God." The Patriarch spoke these words after the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery, declaring: "It is no coincidence that it was in this very place that the scientific work was carried out that preserved our people and our country from the most terrible and dangerous destruction." In 2023, when presenting the Order of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, First Degree, to physicist Radiy Ilkayev, Patriarch Kirill stated that nuclear weapons had been created "by the ineffable providence of God," and that "thanks to this force, Russia has remained independent and free."[4][5][9]

At the meeting, Governor Gleb Nikitin informed the Patriarch that by that point approximately 700 churches had been restored in Nizhny Novgorod Region, that restoration work was underway at sites in Arzamas, Diveevo, and Sarov, and that new Orthodox schools were being built. After the service, Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants of the celebrations, noting the significance of spiritual unity and the prayerful feat of Seraphim of Sarov: "The Venerable Seraphim became a saint of God for our land, for our people in a difficult time. Drawing upon his spiritual strength, our people were able to overcome those temptations and enticements that at another time might have destroyed faith and spiritual life." According to the Patriarch, it was in the Diveevo Monastery that a spiritual shield was forged that helped preserve the faith and protect the country from trials.[2] In particular, in Arzamas the restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral and the Transfiguration Cathedral has been completed; in Diveevo, a spiritual and educational center named after Seraphim of Sarov has been built and construction of the Holy Gates is underway; in Sarov, restoration of the sites of the Holy Dormition Monastery continues.[6] At that same meeting, the Governor noted that 2026 marks the 35th anniversary of the second discovery of the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov and the resumption of monastic life at the Diveevo Monastery, emphasizing the special significance of the Patriarch's visit for the monastery and the faithful.[6] The year 2026 is marked for the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery by several commemorative dates: the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Mill Community, the 35th anniversary of the second discovery of the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, and the 35th anniversary of the resumption of monastic life at the monastery.[3] Nikitin noted that he had been particularly struck by Patriarch Kirill's participation in a meeting of the scientific and spiritual club in Sarov, where a dialogue took place between scientists and clergy. The Governor also recalled a meeting with the Patriarch in Sarov in 2019, devoted to the combination of advanced technology and spiritual renewal, remarking: "I was enormously impressed that high science can communicate with clergy in a common language, and think about such lofty meanings of life."[6][10] At the meeting on August 1, 2026, Governor Nikitin informed the Patriarch that Nizhny Novgorod Region was implementing a project for the conservation of ruined churches, with a view to their subsequent full restoration. At the meeting in Diveevo, participants also discussed the interaction between the Church and the authorities on matters of demographic policy and the strengthening of the institution of the family.[2] At the meeting on August 1, 2026 in Diveevo, discussion also touched on the construction in Lukoyanovskiy District of a cathedral church in honor of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, which was at the time of the meeting in its final stage of construction.[9] Archbishop George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas informed meeting participants about the implementation of a program for the conservation of ruined churches with a view to their subsequent restoration.[2] Governor Nikitin, summarizing the meeting, expressed confidence in the realization of joint projects: "I am certain that, by combining the efforts of the Church and the secular authorities, we will be able to realize all projects and plans in full."[9] As part of the development of the "Arzamas — Diveevo — Sarov" pilgrimage and tourism cluster, Diveevo has seen improvements to Victory Park, the embankment of the Vichkinza River, and the recreation areas at the source of the Lubinka River.[9]

The service was held in the open air on the square in front of the Transfiguration Cathedral, at the shrine containing the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov. The Divine Liturgy on August 1, 2026 in Diveevo was attended by approximately 7,500 worshippers, according to data from the law enforcement agencies maintaining order on the monastery grounds. Presidential Envoy of the President of Russia to the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov described the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery as "a source of kindness and love for humanity, a bastion of spiritual strength and traditional values," emphasizing that visits by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to regions of the district are significant events.[2] A special atmosphere was lent to the celebrations of August 1, 2026 by a prayer procession of the faithful and the work of volunteers accompanying pilgrims on the monastery grounds.[3] Governor Gleb Nikitin, commenting on the celebrations, underscored the exceptional significance of the Diveevo Monastery and the Venerable Seraphim for the entire Christian world: "Year after year, thousands of pilgrims flock to Diveevo for this date."[3][2]

The meeting on August 3, 2026 also addressed construction in Lukoyanovskiy District: a cathedral church in honor of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk is being erected, and in Lukoyanov itself, Secondary School No. 1 is being built and has been named after the priest Vasily Gundyayev.[6] Lukoyanov Secondary General Education School No. 1 bears the name of the priest Vasily Gundyayev — Patriarch Kirill's grandfather.[9] At the meeting on August 3, 2026, Governor Nikitin particularly noted that Patriarch Kirill conveys an understanding of the connection between science and faith primarily to scientists rather than to clergy: "His Holiness the Patriarch understands this connection and imparts it not to priests but to scientists."[10]

Chronicle of events

Details of each event can be found in the article about it; dates and substance are given here.

The celebrations of August 1, 2026 in Diveevo were attended by Artyom Zdunov, head of the Republic of Mordovia, as well as Evgeniy Lyulin, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[2]

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (ru) — Kirill (Patriarch of Moscow) (archive)
  2. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Celebrations in Honor of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov Held in Diveevo (archive)
  3. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Thousands of Pilgrims in Diveevo: How the Feast of the Finding of the Relics of Seraphim of Sarov Unfolded (archive)
  4. Meduza — Patriarch Kirill Called Russian Nuclear Weapons "the Grace of God" — In 2023, presenting the Order of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, First Degree, to physicist Radiy Ilkayev, Patriarch Kirill… (archive)
  5. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Patriarch Kirill Called the Creation of the Nuclear Bomb in Sarov God's Mercy (archive)
  6. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — Patriarch Kirill Noted the Connection Between Science and Faith at a Meeting in Diveevo (archive)
  7. Newsroom24 — Patriarch Kirill Held Liturgy in Diveevo with 7,500 Worshippers in Attendance
  8. Vremya N — Patriarch Kirill Arrived in Nizhny Novgorod (photos)
  9. Vremya N — Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill Held a Meeting with Igor Komarov, Gleb Nikitin, and Archbishop George (archive)
  10. Vremya N — Around 700 Churches Restored in Nizhny Novgorod Region (archive)