His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' (secular name Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev) was born on November 20, 1946, in Leningrad.

His father, Mikhail Vasilyevich Gundyaev, was a priest who passed away in 1974. His mother, Raisa Vladimirovna Gundyaeva, was a German language teacher in a school and later a housewife; she passed away in 1984. His elder brother, Protopresbyter Nikolai Gundyaev, is a professor at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and honorary rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral in St. Petersburg. His grandfather, Priest Vasily Stepanovich Gundyaev, was a Solovki prisoner who faced imprisonments and exiles in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s for his church activities and opposition to the Renovationist movement.

After completing the 8th grade of secondary school, Vladimir Gundyaev joined the Leningrad Integrated Geological Expedition of the North-Western Geological Department, where he worked from 1962 to 1965 as a technician-cartographer, combining work with studies in secondary school.

After graduating from secondary school in 1965, he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary and then the Leningrad Theological Academy, from which he graduated with honors in 1970.

On April 3, 1969, he was tonsured a monk by Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod, receiving the name Kirill. On April 7, he was ordained a hierodeacon by the same bishop, and on June 1 of that year, he was ordained a hieromonk.

Since 1970, he has held a Candidate of Theology degree from the Leningrad Theological Academy.

From 1970 to 1971, he was a lecturer in dogmatic theology and assistant inspector of the Leningrad Theological Schools. At the same time, he served as the personal secretary to Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad and Novgorod and as a class mentor for the first-year students of the seminary.

On September 12, 1971, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

From 1971 to 1974, he served as the representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches in Geneva.

From December 26, 1974, to December 26, 1984, he was the rector of the Leningrad Theological Academy and Seminary. During the years 1974-1984, he was also an associate professor in the Department of Patrology at the Leningrad Theological Academy.

On March 14, 1976, he was consecrated as Bishop of Vyborg.

On September 2, 1977, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Since December 26, 1984, he has served as Archbishop of Smolensk and Vyazma.

Since 1986, he has been overseeing the parishes in the Kaliningrad region.

Since 1988, he has been Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad.

From November 13, 1989, to 2009, he was the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (from August 2000, the Department for External Church Affairs) and a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

On February 25, 1991, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

On January 27, 2009, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Kirill as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

On February 1, 2009, the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill took place.

Fulfilling the obediences of the Supreme Church Authority, His Eminence Kirill was:

• from 1975 to 1982 — Chairman of the Diocesan Council of the Leningrad Metropolis;
• from 1975 to 1998 — member of the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches;
• from 1976 to 1978 — Deputy Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe;
• from 1976 to 1984 — member of the Commission of the Supreme Church Authority for Christian Unity;
• from 1978 to 1984 — Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Finland;
• from 1978 to 1984 — Deputy Chairman of the branch of the Department for External Church Relations in Leningrad;
• from 1980 to 1988 — member of the commission for the preparation and celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus';
• in 1990 — member of the commission for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church;
• in 1990 — member of the commission for assisting efforts in overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster;
• from 1989 to 1996 — Administrator of the Hungarian Orthodox Deanery;
• from 1990 to 1991 — Acting Administrator of the Diocese of The Hague and the Netherlands;
• from 1990 to 1993 — Acting Administrator of the Diocese of Korsun;
• from 1990 to 1993 — Chairman of the commission of the Supreme Church Authority for the revival of religious and moral education and charity;
• from 1990 to 2000 — Chairman of the commission of the Supreme Church Authority for amendments to the Charter on the administration of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Charter was adopted at the Jubilee Bishops' Council in 2000;
• from 1994 to 2002 — member of the Public Council for the revival of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow;
• from 1994 to 1996 — member of the Council for Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia;
• from 1995 to 2000 — Chairman of the Synodal Working Group for the development of the Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church on church-state relations and issues of modern society in general;
• from 1995 to 1999 — member of the Russian Organizing Committee for the preparation and conduct of events in connection with the celebration of memorable dates of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945;
• from 1996 to 2000 — member of the Supervisory Board of the 50th Anniversary of Victory Fund.

By the time he was elected to the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Kirill was:

• A permanent member of the Supreme Church Authority (since 1989);
• Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (since 1989);
• Manager of the Patriarchal Parishes in Finland (since 1990);
• a member of the Synodal Theological Commission (since February 26, 1994);
• a member of the Patriarchal and Synodal Bible Commission (since 1990);
• Co-chairman (since 1993) and Deputy Head (since 1995) of the World Russian People's Council, Chairman of the Smolensk (since 1996) and Kaliningrad (since 1997) branches of the WRPC;
• Member of the Zemstvo Movement Council (since 1993);
• Member of the Russian Palestinian Society;
• Author and host of the weekly TV program "The Pastor's Word" on Channel One (since 1994);
• Honorary President of the World Conference "Religion and Peace" (since 1994);
• Member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation (since 1995);
• Member of the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation for State Prizes in the field of literature and art (since 1995);
• Honorary member of the Moscow Intellectual and Business Club (since 1995);
• Co-chairman of the Christian Interconfessional Consultative Committee (since 1996);
• Member of the Presidium of the Interreligious Council of Russia (since 1998);
• Editor-in-chief of the journals "Church and Time" (since 1991), "Smolensk Diocesan Bulletin" (since 1993), "Orthodox Pilgrim" (since 2001);
• Member of the Church-Scientific Council for the publication of the "Orthodox Encyclopedia" (since 1999);
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow (since 2002);
• Co-chairman of the Council of European Religious Leaders (since 2002);
• Chairman of the organizing committee of the exhibition "Orthodox Russia" (since 2003);
• Co-chairman of the Working Group on Interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (since 2003);
• Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Interreligious Council of the CIS (since 2004);
• Member of the Presidium of the Interreligious Council of the CIS (since 2004);
• Member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation (since 2004);
• Chairman of the Commission for Old Believer Parishes and Interaction with the Old Believers (since 2005);
• Chairman of the Working Group for Drafting a Conceptual Document Outlining the Position of the Russian Orthodox Church on Interreligious Relations (since 2005);
• Chairman of the Working Group for Preparing a Document Expressing the Position of the Russian Orthodox Church on Globalization Issues (since 2005);
• Member of the Joint Commission on National Policy and Relations between the State and Religious Organizations (since 2006);
• Co-chairman of the World Conference "Religions for Peace" (since 2006);
• Head of the Working Group for the Development of the "Fundamentals of the Russian Orthodox Church's Teaching on Human Dignity, Freedom, and Rights";
• Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne (since December 6, 2008).

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill holds the following academic degrees and titles:

• Since 1986 — Honorary Member of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy;
• Since 1987 — Honorary Doctor of Theology from the Theological Academy in Budapest;
• Since 1992 — Member of the Academy of Creativity;
• Since 1994 — Honorary Member of the International Academy of Eurasia;
• Since 1996 — Honorary Professor of the Air Defense Academy (now University) of the Land Forces;
• Since 1997 — Full Member of the Academy of Russian Literature;
• Since 2002 — Full Member of the Academy of Social and Humanitarian Sciences (since 2003 — Public Russian Academy of Social Sciences);
• Since 2002 — Honorary Doctor of Political Science from the State University of Perugia (Italy);
• Since 2004 — Honorary Doctor of Theology from the Christian Academy of Warsaw (Poland);
• Since 2004 — Honorary Professor of Smolensk Humanitarian University;
• Since 2005 — Honorary Professor of Astrakhan State University;
• Since 2005 — Honorary Doctor of the Russian State Social University;
• Since 2006 — Honorary Professor of the Baltic Naval Institute named after Admiral Fyodor Ushakov;
• Since 2007 — Honorary President of the Academy of Russian Literature;
• Since 2007 — Honorary Doctor of Saint Petersburg State Polytechnic University;
• Since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Kyiv Theological Academy;
• Since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Institute of Theology named after Saints Cyril and Methodius of the Belarusian State University;
• Since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of Theology of Saint Petersburg Theological Academy;
• Since 2009 — Honorary Member of the Russian Academy of Education;
• Since 2009 — Honorary Doctor of the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation;
• Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of the National Research Nuclear University "MEPHI";
• Since 2010 — Honorary Professor of the Military Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great;
• Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of Petrozavodsk State University;
• Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of Yerevan State University;
• Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of Odessa National Law Academy;
• Since 2010 — Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Moscow Theological Academy;
• Since 2011 — Honorary Doctor of T.G. Shevchenko Pridnestrovian State University;
• Since 2011 — Honorary Doctor of Voronezh State University;
• Since 2011 — Honorary Doctor of Lomonosov Moscow State University;
• Since 2012 — Honorary Doctor of Sofia University of Cultural Heritage;
• Since 2012 — Honorary Doctor of the Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University;
• Since 2014 — Honorary Doctor of Belgrade University;
• Since 2015 — Honorary Doctor of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Postgraduate and Doctoral School.

He was invited to lecture in Rome (1972), at the University of Helsinki, at the "Abo" Academy in Turku, at the Orthodox Seminary in Kuopio (Finland, 1975), at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey (Switzerland, 1972, 1973), at the University of Münster (FRG, 1988), at the University of Udine (Italy, 1988), at the University of Perugia (Italy, 2002), and at the Christian Academy of Warsaw (Poland, 2004). He has presented papers at numerous Russian and international conferences, symposiums, and forums.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill is the author of the following books:

• The Formation and Development of Church Hierarchy and the Doctrine of the Orthodox Church on Its Gracious Nature. — Leningrad: 1971;
• The Challenges of Modern Civilization. How the Orthodox Church Responds to Them. — Moscow: 2002;
• The Word of the Shepherd. God and Man. The History of Salvation. — Moscow: 2004;
• L'Evangile et la liberté. Les valeurs de la Tradition dans la société laïque. — Paris: 2006;
• Freedom and Responsibility: In Search of Harmony. — Moscow: 2008;
• The Patriarch and the youth: Conversation without diplomacy. — Moscow: 2009;
• Holy Rus' — Together or Apart? The Patriarch in Ukraine. — Moscow: 2009;
• The Church's Vanguard. — Tver: 2009;
• Words. Sermons. Speeches. — Kyiv: 2009;
• Being Faithful to God. A Book of Conversations with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. — Minsk: 2009;
• The Nation's Strength is in the Strength of the Spirit. — Minsk: 2009;
• The Church Calls for Unity. — Minsk: 2010;
• Sermons 2009-2010. — Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, 2010;
• Keep the Faith in Your Hearts. — Minsk: 2011;
• Sermons 2010-2011. — Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, 2012;
• The Mystery of Repentance. Lenten Sermons (2001-2011). — Moscow: 2012;
• The Word of the Primate. Collected Works. Series I. Vol. 1 (2009-2011). — Moscow: 2012;
• The Shepherd's Word. Collected Works. Series II. Vol. 1 (1991-2011). — Moscow: 2013;
• Overcoming Turmoil. // Series "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch". — Moscow: 2013. — Issue 1;
• The Shepherd's Word. Collected Works. Series II. Vol. 2 (1991-2011). — Moscow: 2014;
• The Holy Land. // Series "The Word of His Holiness the Patriarch". — Moscow: 2014. — Issue 2,
• and about 2340 publications, including in domestic and foreign periodicals (data as of March 2013).

Television series featuring speeches by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill have been published, including: "Word of the Pastor" — Introduction to Orthodox Doctrine; "Word-Sacrament-Church" — History of the Early Christian Church and Doctrine of the Church; "Jubilee Bishops' Council" — Foundations of the Social Concept — Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church — Acts of Canonization, "Attitude to Non-Orthodox"; "Word of the Pastor" — Church, State, Politics (part 1), Church, Individual, Society (part 2), On Faith and Salvation (part 3), Does Russia Have a Future (part 4).

Dozens of video films have been created and released on discs, dedicated to the life and activities of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Holiness's election and enthronement, with recordings of worship services, sermons, meetings, and live broadcasts during visits to Russian dioceses, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, and Armenia, as well as His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's appearances on Russian television. Cycles of His Holiness's sermons and recordings of several meetings with youth have also been released on audio media.

Interaction with Local Orthodox Churches

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has worked and continues to work in the field of inter-Orthodox relations. He was the first representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in "Syndesmos" — the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Organizations. From 1971 to 1977, he was a member of the Executive Committee of "Syndesmos"; a participant in the VIII (Boston, 1971), IX (Geneva, 1977), X (Finland, 1980), and XIV (Moscow, 1992) General Assemblies of this organization; a participant in the first Pre-Council Pan-Orthodox Conference (Chambésy, 1976) and the Inter-Orthodox Commission for the preparation of the Holy and Great Council of the Eastern Orthodox Church (Chambésy, 1993, 1999); the keynote speaker at the Orthodox Consultation "Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC" (Chambésy, 1995); a participant in the Pan-Orthodox Consultation on Ecumenism (Thessaloniki, 1998) and the Meeting of Heads of Local Orthodox Churches to Heal the Bulgarian Church Schism (Sofia, 1998); a participant in the Pan-Orthodox celebration of 2000 years of Christianity in Bethlehem on January 7, 2000; a participant in negotiations between the Moscow and Constantinople Patriarchates (Istanbul, 1977, Geneva, 1978, Istanbul, 1990, Moscow, 1991, Istanbul, 1993) and regular consultations on current issues between the two Churches; he conducted negotiations with the Constantinople Orthodox Church on Estonia and with the Romanian Orthodox Church on the issue of the Bessarabian Metropolis in Moldova (twice in 1997 in Geneva, Chisinau, 1999).

In 2005, as the head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he participated in the enthronement of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem.

In his position as Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR), he visited all the Local Orthodox Churches as part of official delegations, including accompanying Patriarch Pimen and Patriarch Alexy II on their trips abroad.

As the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, he officially visited the Local Orthodox Churches: the Church of Constantinople (2009, 2014), the Church of Alexandria (2010), the Church of Antioch (2011), the Church of Jerusalem (2012), the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (2012), the Church of Cyprus (2012), the Polish Orthodox Church (2012), the Serbian Orthodox Church (2013, 2014), and the Church of Greece (2013).

Inter-Christian Relations and Cooperation

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill participated in the work of inter-Christian organizations. As a delegate, he took part in the IV (Uppsala, Sweden, 1968), V (Nairobi, Kenya, 1975), VI (Vancouver, Canada, 1983), and VII (Canberra, Australia, 1991) General Assemblies of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and as an honorary guest at the IX General Assembly of the WCC (Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2006). He attended the World Missionary Conference "Salvation Today" (Bangkok, 1973). He served as President of the World Conference "Faith, Science, and the Future" (Boston, 1979) and the World Convocation "Peace, Justice, and the Integrity of Creation" (Seoul, 1990). He participated in the assemblies of the WCC Commission on Faith and Order in Accra (Ghana, 1974), Lima (Peru, 1982), and Budapest (Hungary, 1989). He was the main speaker at the World Missionary Conference in San Salvador, Brazil, in November 1996.

He was a delegate at the XI General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) (Stirling, Scotland, 1986) and the XII General Assembly of the CEC (Prague, 1992), as well as one of the main speakers at the European Assembly of the CEC "Peace and Justice" (Basel, May 6-21, 1989).

He participated in the Second European Assembly of the CEC in Graz, Austria (June 23-29, 1997), and the Third in Sibiu, Romania (September 5-9, 2007).

He took part in four rounds of bilateral discussions between theologians of the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches (Leningrad, 1967; Bari, Italy, 1969; Zagorsk, 1972; Trento, Italy, 1975).

Since 1977, he has been the secretary of the International Technical Commission for the preparation of dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Since 1980, he has been a member of the International Theological Commission for Orthodox-Catholic Dialogue. In this capacity, he participated in four plenary sessions of this commission: (Patmos-Rhodes, Greece, 1980; Munich, FRG, 1982; Crete, 1984; Valaam, Finland, 1988) and in the work of its Coordinating Committee.

He was the co-chairman of the second round of Orthodox-Reformed Dialogue (Debrecen II) in 1976 in Leningrad and a participant in the Evangelical Kirchentags in Wittenberg (GDR, 1983), Dortmund (1991), and Hamburg (1995).

He participated in the dialogue with the delegation of the Old Catholic Church in connection with the 100th anniversary of the Rotterdam-St. Petersburg Commission, Moscow, 1996.

In his role as Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR), on behalf of the Supreme Church Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, he participated in contacts with the Churches of the USA, Japan, the GDR, the FRG, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ethiopia, Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Jamaica, Canada, Congo, Zaire, Argentina, Chile, Cyprus, China, South Africa, and Greece.

As the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, he held several meetings with the heads and representatives of non-Orthodox Churches and Christian organizations.

In August 2012, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Chairman of the Polish Catholic Bishops' Conference signed a Joint Message to the peoples of Russia and Poland.

In February 2016, the first-ever meeting between the Primates of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church took place in Cuba, during which His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis signed a Joint Declaration.

Participation in Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church

He was a member of the Jubilee Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (June 1988, Zagorsk), the chairman of its Editorial Commission, and the author of the draft Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted by the Jubilee Council.

He participated in the Bishops' Council dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate (October 1989) and the extraordinary Bishops' Council on January 30-31, 1990, as well as the Local Council on June 6-10, 1990, the Bishops' Councils on October 25-26, 1991; March 31 - April 4, 1992; June 11, 1992; November 29 - December 2, 1994; February 18-23, 1997; August 13-16, 2000; October 3-6, 2004, June 24-29, 2008.

He chaired the Bishops' Councils (2009, 2011, 2013, 2016) and the Local Council (2009), and at other specified Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was the chairman of the Editorial Commission.

As the chairman of the DECR, he presented reports on the work of the DECR. At the Jubilee Council in 2000, as the chairman of the relevant Synodal Working Group and Synodal Commission, he presented the Fundamentals of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church.

At the Bishops' Council on October 3-6, 2004, he also gave a report on "Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Old Believers."

Administration of the Smolensk-Kaliningrad Diocese (1984-2009)

During the time that His Holiness Patriarch Kirill served in the Smolensk-Kaliningrad Diocese, 166 parishes were opened (94 in Smolensk and the region, 72 in Kaliningrad and the region). 52 churches were restored and 71 new Orthodox churches were built.

In 1989, the Smolensk Theological School was opened, which was transformed into the Smolensk Theological Seminary in 1995.

Since 1998, the Interdiocesan Theological School has been operating, training choir directors, catechists, iconographers, and sisters of mercy. Most parishes in the diocese have Sunday schools. There are also Orthodox gymnasiums and kindergartens.

Since 1992, the Basics of Orthodox Culture has been taught in public schools in the Smolensk and Kaliningrad regions.

Work as Chairman of the DECR (1989-2009)

Represented the Russian Orthodox Church in commissions for drafting the USSR Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" dated October 1, 1990, the RSFSR Law "On Freedom of Religion" dated October 25, 1990, and the Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations" dated September 26, 1997.

As chairman of the DECR, he participated in many international public and peacekeeping initiatives.

He was involved in developing the church's position and peacekeeping actions during the events of August 1991 and October 1993.

He was one of the initiators of the creation of the World Russian People's Council in 1993. He participated in and delivered the main reports at the Councils (1993-2008). Since his election to the Patriarchal Throne, he has been the chairman of the WRPC (since 2009).

As the chairman of the Supreme Church Authority Commission on the Revival of Religious and Moral Education and Charity, he initiated the creation of synodal departments for religious education, social service and charity, and interaction with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. He was the author of the Concept for the Revival of Charity and Religious Education, adopted by the Supreme Church Authority on January 30, 1991.

He developed and presented the "Concept of Interaction between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armed Forces" to the Supreme Church Authority in 1994.

From 1996 to 2000, he led the development and presented the "Foundations of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" to the Jubilee Bishops' Council in 2000.

He actively participated in normalizing the church situation in Estonia. In this regard, he visited the Antiochian and Jerusalem Patriarchates (trips to Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel in 1996), and participated in negotiations with representatives of the Constantinople Patriarchate in Zurich (Switzerland) in March and twice in April 1996, in Thessaloniki, Tallinn, and Athens (1996), in Odessa (1997), in Geneva (1998), in Moscow, Geneva, and Zurich (2000), in Vienna, Berlin, and Zurich (2001), in Moscow and Istanbul (2003). He also repeatedly visited Estonia, where he conducted negotiations with government representatives, parliament deputies, and business circles of that country.

He actively participated in peacekeeping actions regarding Yugoslavia. He visited Belgrade multiple times during the war, negotiated with the country's leadership, initiated the creation of an informal international Christian peacekeeping group on Yugoslavia (Vienna, May 1999), and convened an international inter-Christian conference on the topic: "Europe after the Kosovo Crisis: Further Actions of the Churches" in Oslo, Norway, in November 1999.

He was the main speaker at Parliamentary hearings dedicated to the "Foundations of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church" (Moscow, 2001), and on the topics of "Religion and Health" (Moscow, 2003), and "Improving Legislation on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations: Application Practice, Problems, and Solutions" (Moscow, 2004).

He initiated dialogue with European organizations in Brussels and the creation of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to European International Organizations in 2002.

In his role as chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, he visited Estonia (multiple times), Switzerland (multiple times), France (multiple times), Spain (multiple times), Italy (multiple times), Belgium (multiple times), the Netherlands (multiple times), Germany (multiple times), Israel (multiple times), Finland (multiple times), Ukraine (multiple times), Japan (multiple times), Canada (multiple times), China (multiple times), Hungary (multiple times), Moldova (multiple times), Norway (multiple times), Lebanon and Syria (multiple times), Serbia (multiple times), the USA (multiple times), Turkey (multiple times), Brazil (multiple times), Australia (1991), Austria (multiple times), Latvia (1992), Chile (1992), Bulgaria (1994, 1998, 2005), Czech Republic (1996, 2004, 2007), Slovakia (1996), Iran (1996), Lithuania (1997), Denmark (1997), Morocco (1997), Argentina (1997, 2006), Mexico (1998), Panama (1998), Peru (1998), Cuba (1998, 2004, 2008), Luxembourg (1999), Nepal (2000), Slovenia (2001), Malta (2001), Tunisia (2001), Mongolia (2001), Croatia (2001), Vietnam (2001), Cambodia (2001), Thailand (2001), Ireland (2001), Iraq (2002), Liechtenstein (2002), the Philippines (2002), Hong Kong (2001, 2002), Macau (2002), South Africa (2003, 2008), Malaysia (2003), Indonesia (2003), Singapore (2003), the UAE (2004), Poland (2004), the Dominican Republic (2004), Yemen (2005), North Korea (2006), India (2006), Romania (2007), Turkmenistan (2008), Costa Rica (2008), Venezuela (2008), Colombia (2008), Ecuador (2008), Angola (2008), Namibia (2008). He visited Hungary, Mongolia, Slovenia, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen on official visits at the invitation of the governments of these countries.

Patriarchal Ministry. Administration of the Russian Orthodox Church

In 2009, a reform of the central organs of church administration was undertaken. The activities of the Administrative Office of the Moscow Patriarchate were fundamentally reorganized, the scope of the Department for External Church Relations was clarified, new synodal departments were created, the functions of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate were delineated, and analytical work was conducted to formulate necessary changes in the structure of the Educational Committee under the Holy Synod and in the entire system of spiritual education. The activity of the Church Court was intensified.

In 2010, the charter of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry was updated, the powers and structures of the Administrative Office of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Synodal Commission for Monastic Affairs were clarified, and the Secretariat for Foreign Institutions was transformed into the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate. The activity of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan was intensified: its Charter and Internal Regulations were adopted, and new dioceses were established in this country.

In 2011, the Central Asian Metropolitan District was established. Several documents were adopted concerning social, missionary work, religious education, and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church. The meeting of the heads of synodal institutions was transformed into the Supreme Church Council, subordinate to the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. Metropolises were established to coordinate the activities of dioceses located within the same subject of the Russian Federation. Vicariates were created in the Moscow diocese.

In 2012-2013, the formation of metropolises continued, along with an increase in the number of bishops and dioceses. The implementation of the mandates from the Bishops' Councils of 2011 and 2013 was monitored. Based on the adopted documents on social, missionary, youth work, religious education, and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church, a detailed document base was developed, including provisions regulating the special training of ministers in these areas. Reforms are being extended from the central apparatus of the Church to the diocesan level. The subject "Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture" was included in the curriculum of secondary general education schools in all regions of Russia.

During the Patriarchal ministry, the following were established:

— Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church (2009)

— Bodies of Church executive power:

• Higher Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (2011)
• Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations (2009)
• Synodal Information Department (2009)
• Financial and Economic Administration (2009)
• Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks (2010)
• Synodal Department for Prison Ministry (2010)
• Patriarchal Council for Culture (2010)
• Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism (2012), transformed from the Synodal Commission for Monastic Affairs (2010)

— General Church collegial bodies:

• Patriarchal Commission on Family Issues and Protection of Motherhood (2012), formerly known as the Patriarchal Council on Family Issues and Protection of Motherhood (2011)

— General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius (2009)

— Interdepartmental Coordination Group for Teaching Theology in Universities (2012)

— Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Commemoration of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church (2013), formerly known as the Church-Public Council for the Commemoration of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia (2012)

As the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, from 2009 to 2016, he officially visited the following countries: Azerbaijan (2009, 2010), Armenia (2010, 2011), Belarus (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015), Bulgaria (2012), Brazil (2016), Greece (2013, 2016), Egypt (2010), Israel (2012), Jordan (2012), Kazakhstan (2010, 2012), Cyprus (2012), China (2013), Cuba (2016), Lebanon (2011), Moldova (2011, 2013), the Palestinian Authority (2012), Paraguay (2016), Poland (2012), Syria (2011), Serbia (2013, 2014), Turkey (2009, 2014), Ukraine (2009, 2010 - three times, 2011 - five times, 2012, 2013), Montenegro (2013), Switzerland (2016), Estonia (2013), Japan (2012).

His Excellency Patriarch Kirill made 168 trips to 87 dioceses.

During the tenure of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, the following were established:

• 57 metropolises of the Russian Orthodox Church;
• 134 dioceses;
• Central Asian Metropolitan District (2011);
• Vicariates in the Moscow Diocese (2011).

The number of dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church increased from 159 (at the beginning of 2009) to 293 (at the beginning of 2016).

At the beginning of 2009, there were 200 bishops in the Russian Orthodox Church; at the beginning of 2016, there were 354.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presided over 109 episcopal consecrations, including: in 2009 — 5; in 2010 — 9; in 2011 — 31; in 2012 — 41; in 2013 — 22; in 2014 — 18; in 2015 — 22; in 2016 — 2. — data as of February 1, 2016.

Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church

Church-wide awards

• 1973 — Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir (II degree)
• 1986 — Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (II degree)
• 1996 — Order of the Holy Righteous Prince Daniel of Moscow (I degree)
• 2001 — Order of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (II degree)
• 2004 — Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh (I degree)
• 2006 — Order of St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia (II degree)

Orders of the Self-Governing and Autonomous Churches of the Russian Orthodox Church

• 2006 — Order of Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves (I degree) (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)
• 2006 — Order of the Righteous Voivode Stephen the Great and Holy (II degree) (Orthodox Church of Moldova)
• 2009 — Order of the Holy Martyr Isidore of Yuriev (I degree) (Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate)
• 2009 — Order in honor of the 450th anniversary of the arrival of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in the Volyn land (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)
• 2011 — Order of St. Theodosius of Chernigov (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

Awards from Local Orthodox Churches

• 2007 — Order of St. Sabbas the Sanctified (II degree) (Alexandrian Orthodox Church)
• 2009 — Gold Medal of St. Innocent (Orthodox Church in America)
• 2010 — Commemorative Medal of St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary (Orthodox Church in America)
• 2010 — Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (Alexandrian Orthodox Church)
• 2011 — Order of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (I degree) (Antiochian Orthodox Church)
• 2012 — Order of St. Tsar Boris (Bulgarian Orthodox Church)
• 2012 — Golden Order of the Apostle Barnabas (Cypriot Orthodox Church)
• 2012 — Order of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene (I degree) (Polish Orthodox Church)
• 2012 — Order of the Life-Giving Tomb of the Lord “Grand Cross of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher” (Jerusalem Orthodox Church)

Awards from Other Religious Organizations and Christian Denominations

• 2006 — Order of St. Gregorios of Parumala (Malankara Church, India)
• 2010 — Order of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Armenian Apostolic Church)
• 2011 — Order of "Sheikh ul-Islam" (Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus)
• 2012 — Order for Services to the Ummah I Degree (Coordinating Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus)

State Awards of the Russian Federation

• 1988 — Order of Friendship of Peoples
• 1995 — Order of Friendship
• 1996 — Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Fleet"
• 1997 — Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
• 2001 — Order of Merit for the Fatherland (III Degree)
• 2006 — Order of Merit for the Fatherland (II Degree)
• 2011 — Order of Alexander Nevsky
• 2016 — Order of Merit for the Fatherland (I Degree)

State Awards of Foreign Countries

• 2009 — Order of Friendship of Peoples (Republic of Belarus)
• 2010 — Medal "65 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic)
• 2010 — Order of "Sharaf" (Republic of Azerbaijan)
• 2011 — Order of the Republic ("Ordinul Republicii") (Republic of Moldova)
• 2011 — Order of Saint Mesrop Mashtots (Republic of Armenia)
• 2012 — Order "Star of Bethlehem" (Palestinian National Authority)

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has also been awarded several other federal, departmental, and regional state awards; he has received more than 120 awards from Russian and foreign public organizations; he is an honorary citizen of the cities of Smolensk, Kaliningrad, Neman (Kaliningrad region), Murom (Vladimir region), as well as the regions of Smolensk, Kaliningrad, Kemerovo, the Republic of Mordovia, and other regions and localities of the Russian Federation.