Metropolitan Yuvenaly Krutitsky and Kolomna: biography

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The highest link in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church is the episcopate. One of its most influential representatives in Russian Orthodoxy, Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna, will be the subject of this article.

Birth, education

The future hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church was born on September 22, 1935 in Yaroslavl. Vladimir Poyarkov - and this is the name Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna bore in the world - came from a family of employees. From the age of eleven, he began to attend church, serving at the altar in the Cathedral of Yaroslavl. After graduating from high school, he passed the entrance exams to the Leningrad Theological Seminary, which he later graduated in the first category. Then he continued his studies at the Leningrad Theological Academy.

Monastic tonsure and ordination

In 1959, Vladimir Poyarkov decides to take the monastic vows. The ceremony is conducted by Nikodim (Rotov), at that time still an archimandrite and future Metropolitan of Leningrad and one of the most prominent hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century. It is he who names him Juvenaly in honor of the saint of the same name, who during his lifetime was the patriarch of Jerusalem. Less than a month later, monk Yuvenaly is ordained a hierodeacon, and two months later, a hieromonk.

Serving as a priest

As a priest, the future Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomensky, whose photo is located below, takes part in various delegations from the Russian Orthodox Church in Europe, including the World Council of Churches. He works in the Department of External Church Relations, and in 1961-1962 he taught the New Testament at the seminary. Then a number of appointments to parishes abroad were replaced, and in 1964, by decision of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Yuvenaly was determined to become a bishop.

Episcopal consecration and service before appointment to the Krutitskaya and Kolomna sees

Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna was ordained a bishop on December 26 at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The rite of consecration was headed by the same Nikodim (Rotov), who at that time had already occupied the Leningrad cathedra and became a metropolitan. As a place of service for Bishop Juvenaly, the Zaraisk see was determined. His service there, however, was short-lived. As in his time as a priest, he mainly ministered to foreign communities. The Japanese deanery, and then parishes in the United States - that's where Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna served and did business in the 1960s and 1970s. His biography is associated with such events as the birth of an autocephalousAmerican Orthodox Church and Autonomous Orthodox Church of Japan.

For his work in organizing a local council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, Patriarch Pimen elevated Juvenaly to the rank of archbishop. And a year later he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan. Since then, he has been a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the ROC MP and chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. In 1977 he was appointed Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

Service in the Diocese of Krutitsy and Kolomna

He leaves the post of chairman of the above department in 1981 at his own request. Since then, in different years he has been a member of many state, public and church societies and commissions. For example, he served as vice president of the US-USSR Society and the USSR-Germany Friendship Society, and was also a member of many other similar structures.

Today, occupying the same chair, Metropolitan Yuvenaly is the manager of the affairs of the Moscow diocese. In addition, he presides over meetings of the Synod's commission for the canonization of saints. Since 1993, his duties also include co-chairing the organizing committee, which is responsible for the preparation and holding of the Days of Slavic Literature and Culture.

Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna was awarded many church and secular awards for his service to the church. Among other things, he is the owner of the orders of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and Daniel of Moscow. In addition, he has received various awards from ten other local Orthodox churches, as well as the government of the Russian Federation.

Church reputation

One of the most influential and oldest hierarchs of the Patriarchate - this is how Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna is known today. Reviews about him from various church circles vary. Extreme conservatives dislike him as a member of Nikodimov and for his loy alty to the activities of the deceased priest Alexander Men and priest Georgy Kochetkov. On the other hand, he himself does not enjoy the glory of a liberal or a reformer, representing a church functionary and administrator with very traditional views. While maintaining ecclesiastical and ideological neutrality, Metropolitan Yuvenaly avoided scandal and is known as a hierarch devoted to the church, a talented manager and archpastor.