Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsky received wide popularity in the secular world in 1993, when he became a member of the public chamber under Yeltsin. The black hood with a cross among the wild nascent democracy was perceived ambiguously. Someone shouted about the separation of church and state, others believed that the priests betrayed the faith, having hit the politics.
The second time he got on the lips of the Russian public in 2008, after the death of the Patriarch of All Russia Alexy II. The debate about who will take the "holy place", Cyril or Clement, went to the Bishop's Cathedral. The third candidate withdrew. Two Holiness was considered in the media as a confrontation of various concepts, a struggle of ambition. Holy Father Clement lost (508/169 votes).
Childhood
The Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsky Clement, whose biography was unusual for that time, was named German in the world. German Kapalin was born on 08/07/1949 in the Ramensky district of the Moscow region in a large working-class family. The Soviet Union was rebuilding after World War II, built developed socialism, considering religion the opium of the people. At that time, even the Oktyabrat were considered the builders of communism. The boy did not belong to any children’s organization: he didn’t have a October star, a pioneer tie, or a Komsomol ticket. This created certain difficulties, but he never spoke about it.
Orthodoxy came with mother’s milk; this is not a beautiful turn, but a fact. In one interview, Metropolitan Borovsky Clement said that he learned to pray in his school years, when my mother suffered two heart attacks in three years. When the doctors dropped their hands, the four sons of the dying woman were read by akathists and asked God for healing. He is sure that the prayers of mother, her sons and monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra did not allow orphaned children.
The boy’s father went through the entire Great Patriotic War with an icon in his breast pocket. The mother of a six-year-old boy put into her head - do not deny God under any circumstances. In the days of admission to the pioneers, the children did not go to school. Confidence that the missed lessons can be learned independently, but it is impossible to miss a prayer, arranged his life differently from ordinary Soviet children.
Youth
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, where Kapalins traveled with the whole family quite often, determined their fate - all four brothers became priests. Later, Herman's mother also became a schimonahine. The pages of the biography can be read in his book, "Growing in Faith." Throughout his life, he will carry firmness and unshakable faith in God, considering the Soviet period of life for a people devoid of truth, a path to ignorance.
There are several points that the Metropolitan reluctantly recalls. One is the engineering college, which he graduated immediately after school. Realizing the mistake, at 21, the future priest entered the Moscow seminary, immediately in the second grade. But a month later he was drafted into the army. In what troops he served, what he was engaged in - also does not advertise. In any case, six years of worldly “obligation” are not his best memories of his youth. For the rest, Metropolitan Clement did not hide his biography, did not rewrite, did not paint on.
The first steps in the clergy
After serving in the army, Kapalin returned to the seminary. Since 1974 he studied at the Moscow Theological Academy. Actively participated in the activities of the youth organization "Syndesmos", ESME. He completed his academic education as a candidate of theology. The career path in the field of Christianity began here as a teacher.
Elder Seraphim of Sarov said that the main goal of a believing Christian is to acquire the Holy Spirit. People go to God in different ways, common to all - prayer and repentance, pious deeds and mercy. For those who can climb this ladder higher, in the secular understanding it will be more difficult (physically), but it will bring God closer. This path was chosen by Herman: on December 7, 1978 he took tonsure at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, named after Clement. The mercy and steadfastness of the Roman bishop set an example for his own life.
Two weeks after the tonsure, the monk is ordained to the hierodeacon. Four months later, becomes a hieromonk. Less than six months have passed since the first stage was completed.
Priesthood
The first concern of the monk priest is the teaching of general church history in the seminary. For two and a half years he has been teaching seminarians. Here is a review of Clement, a teacher of Deacon Artem Martynov:
Vladyka is a wonderful person. Strict ascetic, caring father for seminarians, a prayer book. Doctor of Education, a serious theologian.
In autumn 1981, he was elevated to the rank of abbot. Taking into account the extraordinary communicative and literary abilities of the priest, he is sent to work in the executive committee of ESME.
In July 1982, Clement was elevated to the highest monastic rank of the second degree, he became archimandrite. He wore a black monastic robe with red tablets and miter. His High Reverend, so supposed to turn to the archimandrite, is appointed to manage parishes in Canada and the United States. Before this, he passed a consecration, allowing to perform rituals and sacraments, to read public sermons.
Five years later, another rector is sent to Canada, the archimandrite manages Orthodox parishes in America, and is engaged in scientific work. For seven years, the priest was the holder of a Soviet diplomatic passport. In the spring of 1989, Patriarch Pimen elevated Clement to the rank of archbishop. Passed the second degree.
Bishop
The clergyman returned to his homeland in July 1990, when perestroika was booming in the USSR. Having become the archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsky, he was the first deputy head of the department of external relations. But, having occupied a public position, he rarely appeared to the public, preferring direct contacts with specific people on each issue being resolved.
Perestroika allowed the population not to hide their religious beliefs. But this was a difficult period, because for decades religion in the country has been banned, property has been expropriated, and the level of sanctity is critically low. Here the excellent managerial abilities of the minister appeared.
Four years under Yeltsin, he worked in the Public Chamber. At the end of 2003, the priest was appointed manager of the Moscow Patriarchate.
An even more important appointment is a full member of the Holy Synod. Between the Councils of Bishops, in the secular sense, he is the Council of Ministers, deciding the vital issues of life. In the last winter days of 2004, the archbishop becomes Metropolitan Clement.
Posts and regalia
Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga continues to establish ties with the secular world:
- 2005 - Representative of the Public Chamber under V. Putin;
- 2009 - Head of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church;
- 2011 - Member of the highest Church Council.
Since 2013, his diocese has become a metropolis, which he successfully leads, combining with the post of rector of the Kaluga Theological Seminary. During the service, Father Clement was encouraged and rewarded many times. It is unlikely that you can see all the awards on the vestments; the monks should not be proud of their merits. But in the biography they are all indicated. Twenty church awards, including the orders of St. Sergius of Radonezh, German of Alaska (USA), Alexy of Moscow II, Svyatogrobovsky brotherhood (Jerusalem).
He has secular awards, a sign of gratitude for the joint efforts of the state and the church in the preservation of traditions, the revival of spirituality. Here are the Order of Honor, Friendship of Peoples, "For Merit to the Fatherland" IV degree. Medals, national prizes, diplomas - all this is the result of the actions of the Holy Father. In his piggy bank there are especially expensive awards - reviews of Christian believers about the ministry of Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsky. There are also reviews from lay people of unbelievers, these are especially expensive awards: “Public Recognition”, “To the Champion of Justice”, “Person of the Year”.
Publications
Metropolitan Clement became a doctor of historical sciences in 2014, defending a dissertation on Russian Christian Alaska. Before and after he wrote about 200 books, articles, materials. There is a book among them, in which the most significant quotes from all his works are collected - “Word and Faith”. Edification, advice, help in education - the wisdom of the holy father in one book.
Achievements
During the reign of Metropolitan Clement, the diocese several times more churches, added two theological educational institutions, seven monasteries, centers and missions. Newspapers, magazines, and a website appeared.
Metropolitan always paid particular attention to youth, a young family, and their morality. With his submission in schools appeared the foundations of Orthodox culture, chaplains in the army. He is actively promoting the idea of banning abortion, legitimized “church amendments” in Russian codes.
Yes, when Cyril was elected the patriarch of all Russia , Clement was removed from the immediate patriarchal entourage, but it was not possible to push it back, too powerful figure is the Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsky Clement. This is also proved by the reviews of all people who are familiar with him or at least once were in his service.