From the first minute of communication in the Orthodox clergyman and theologian, Metropolitan Hilarion, his piercing and very deep look attracted attention. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand that he is a man of difficult thinking, who knows something more, true and hidden, and tries to convey his knowledge and thoughts in every way to people and thereby make the world in their soul brighter and kinder.
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev (his photo is presented below) is a pathologist and doctor of philosophy at the University of Oxford and the Theological Institute in Paris. He is also a member of the Synodal Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, the head of the secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate for inter-Christian relations of the department of external church relations, and the author of musical epic oratorios and suites for chamber performance. In this article we will trace the life path of this person, get acquainted with his biography, in which there are many interesting facts.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk: biography
Alfeev Grigory Valerievich was born into the world on June 24, 1966. He was destined for a good musical career, since he, having graduated from the Gnesins' music school, then studied at the Moscow State Conservatory. Then he served two years in the Soviet army, after which he immediately decided to become a novice of the Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery.
A family
The future Metropolitan Hilarion was born in the capital of Russia, in a very intelligent family. His date of birth is July 24, 1966. His grandfather, Dashevsky Grigory Markovich, was a historian who wrote a number of books about the Spanish Civil War. Unfortunately, he died in 1944 in the war against the Nazis. Father Metropolitan, Dashevsky Valery Grigoryevich, was a doctor of physical and mathematical sciences and wrote scientific papers. He is the author of monographs on organic chemistry. But Valery Grigoryevich left the family and then died from an accident. Mother Gregory was a writer, who got that bitter share - to raise her son alone. He was christened at 11 years old.
From 1973 to 1984, Hilarion studied at the Gnesins Moscow Secondary Special Music School in the class of violin and composition. At age 15, he entered the church of the Resurrection of the Word on the Assumption Enemy (Moscow) as a reader. At the end of school, in 1984, he entered the composer department of the Moscow State Conservatory. In January 1987, he left training and entered as a novice in the Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery.
Priesthood
The biography of Metropolitan Hilarion further indicates that in 1987 he was tonsured a monk, then ordained to the rank of hierodeacon and to the rank of hieromonk archbishop.
In 1990, he became rector of the Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Kaunas (Lithuania). In 1989, Hilarion graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary in absentia, then studied at the Moscow Theological Academy, where he received the degree of candidate of theology. After a while, he became a teacher at the St. Tikhon Theological Institute and the University of St. Apostle John the Theologian.
In 1993, he graduated from the graduate school of the Theological Academy, and he was sent to Oxford University, where in 1995 he received a Ph.D. Then for six years he works in the department of external church relations. After becoming a clergyman at the Church of St. Catherine on Vspolye in Moscow.
In 1999, the Orthodox St. Sergius Institute in Paris, he was awarded the title of Doctor of Theology.
In 2002, Archimandrite Hilarion became Bishop of Kerch. And in early January 2002, in the Smolensk Cathedral, he was ordained archimandrite and literally a week later he was ordained bishop in the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
Work abroad
In 2002, he was sent to serve in the Diocese of Sourozh, headed by Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom, Russian Orthodox Church of Great Britain and Ireland), but soon the whole episcopate led by Bishop Vasily (Osborne, who was deprived of holy dignity and monasticism in 2010, because he express a desire to marry). All this happened because Hilarion spoke somewhat accusatory of this diocese, and for this he received critical comments from Bishop Anthony, in which he pointed out that they were unlikely to work together. But Hilarion is still that "tough nut", he delivered a speech where he withdrew all charges and insisted on the correctness of his opinion.
As a result, he was recalled from this diocese and appointed the main representative of the Russian Orthodox Church for work with international European organizations. In his speeches, the metropolitan has always advocated that Europe, tolerant for all religions, should not forget its Christian roots, since this is one of the most important spiritual and moral components that defines European identity.
Music
Since 2006, he has been actively involved in music and will write many musical works: “The Divine Liturgy”, “All-Night Vigil”, “Passion for Matthew”, “Christmas Oratorio”, etc. His work was highly appreciated, and with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of his works were performed at many concerts in Europe, the United States, Australia and, of course, Russia. The audience standing ovation noted these successful performances.
In 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion and Vladimir Spivakov became the creators and leaders of the Christmas Festival of Sacred Music (Moscow), held on January holidays.
Ministry of conscience
In the period from 2003 to 2009 he was already bishop of Vienna and Austria. Then he was elected bishop of Volokalamsk, a permanent member of the Synod, the vicar of the Moscow patriarch and rector of the Church of Our Lady on Bolshaya Ordynka in the capital.
At the same time, Patriarch Kirill for the faithful and diligent service of the Russian Orthodox Church elevates him to the rank of archbishop. A year later, he elevates him to the rank of Metropolitan.
Metropolitan Hilarion: Orthodoxy
It should be noted that in different years he always represented the Russian Orthodox Church. Hilarion zealously defended her interests at various inter-Christian conferences, international forums and commissions.
Sermons of Hilarion
The sermons of Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev are very solid and well-built. He is very interesting to listen to and read, because he has enormous experience, which he transfers to us among a huge number of theological literary works that are unusual in their content. They advance us to the great knowledge of the Christian faith of its followers.
Books on theology
One of his books is The Sacred Secret of the Church. Introduction. " In it, the reader gets acquainted with the thoughts of some fathers and teachers of the church about invoking the name of God in the practice of Jesus' prayer and in worship. Here we are talking about the comprehension of church experience and its correct expression. For this, the author was awarded the Makariev Prize in 2005.
In his book “Rev. Simeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition”, Metropolitan Hilarion presented a translation of his doctoral dissertation, defended at the University of Oxford, at the theological faculty. In it, he explores the attitude of the 11th-century theologian Rev. Simeon to Orthodox ministry, Holy Scripture, ascetic and mystical theological literature, etc.
Metropolitan Hilarion also ignored Isaac the Syrian and dedicated the book “The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian” to him. This great Syrian saint, like no one else, was able to convey the spirit of evangelical love and compassion, so he prayed not only for people, but also for animals and demons. According to his teaching, even hell is God's love, which is perceived by sinners as suffering and pain, because they do not accept it and have hatred for this love.
Among his books is the work “The Life and Teachings of St. Gregory the Theologian”. Here he describes the life of the great father and saint and his teachings, minted the dogma of the Holy Trinity.
Awards and titles
His activity did not go unnoticed, and therefore this priest has a huge number of awards in his arsenal - all kinds of letters, medals and titles, among which are the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow, II art. (2009, America, ROC), Order of the Holy Martyr Isidore of St. George II Art. (2010, Estonia, ROC MP), Order of the Holy Governor Stephen the Great, II art. (2010, Moldova, ROC), the gold medal of the University of Bologna (2010, Italy), the Order of the Serbian Falcons (2011) and other awards.
Films of Metropolitan Hilarion
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev of Volokolamsk became the author and presenter of the following films: “Man Before God” - a series of 10 episodes (2011), introducing Orthodoxy into the world, “The Way of the Shepherd” dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill (2011), “ Church in History ”- the history of Christianity,“ Byzantium and the Baptism of Rus ”- series (2012),“ Unity of the Faithful ”- a film dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the unity of the Moscow Patriarch and the Russian Orthodox Church abroad (2012),“ Journey to Mount Athos "(2012)," Orthodoxy in China "(2013)," Pilgrimage to the Holy Land "(2013)," With the Patriarch on Mount Athos "(2014)," P avoslavie on Mount Athos "(2014)," Orthodoxy in Serbian lands "(2014).
They present a real base for those who want to learn how to behave in a church, what icons are, how to understand holy works, films authored by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev. Orthodoxy in them appears as a world that fills a person’s life with depth. Through his eyes we will see holy pilgrimage sites and how Christianity is preached in other places alien to Orthodox people.