From the first minute of communion in the Orthodox clergyman and theologian, Metropolitan Hilarion, his piercing and very deep look attracts attention. Therefore, it is easy to understand that he is a man of difficult thinking, knowing something more, true and secret, and trying in every possible way to convey his knowledge and thoughts to people and thereby make the world in their soul brighter and kinder.
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev (his photo is presented below) is a patrologist and doctor of philosophy at Oxford University and the Theological Institute in Paris. He is also a member of the Synodal Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, head of the Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate for Inter-Christian Relations of the Department for 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
In the world Alfeev Grigory Valerievich was born on June 24, 1966. He was destined for a good musical career, since he graduated from the Gnesins' music school and then studied at the Moscow State Conservatory. Then he served the prescribed two years in the Soviet army, after which he immediately decided to become a novice of the Vilna Holy Spirit Monastery.
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. The Metropolitan's father, Dashevsky Valery Grigorievich, was a doctor of physical and mathematical sciences and wrote scientific works. He is the author of monographs on organic chemistry. But Valery Grigoryevich left the family and then died from an accident. Gregory's mother was a writer, who got that bitter share - to raise her son alone. He was christened at the age of 11.
From 1973 to 1984, Hilarion studied at the Gnesins' Moscow Secondary Special Music School in violin and composition. At the age of 15, he entered the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Uspensky Vrazhek (Moscow) as a reader. After graduating from school, in 1984, he entered the composition department of the Moscow State Conservatory. In January 1987, he left his studies and entered the Vilna Holy Spirit Monastery as a novice.
Priesthood
The biography of Metropolitan Hilarion further indicates that in 1987 he was tonsured a monk, then ordained a hierodeacon and a hieromonk archbishop.
In 1990 he became rector of the Cathedral of the Annunciation 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 completed his postgraduate studies at the Theological Academy and was sent to Oxford University, where he received his Ph. D. in 1995. Then for six years he worked in the department for external church relations. After that, he becomes a clergyman at the Church of St. Catherine on Vspolye in Moscow.
In 1999 he was awarded the title of Doctor of Theology by the Orthodox St. Sergius Institute in Paris.
In 2002, Archimandrite Hilarion became Bishop of Kerch. And in early January 2002, in the Smolensk Cathedral, he received the rank of archimandrite and literally a week later was consecrated 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 entire episcopate, led by Bishop Vasily (Osborne, who in 2010year will be deprived of the priesthood and monasticism, because he will express a desire to marry). All this happened because Hilarion spoke somewhat accusatory about this diocese, and for this he received criticism from Bishop Anthony, in which he pointed out that they were unlikely to work together. But Hilarion is still that “hard nut”, he made a speech where he cleared all the accusations 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. The Metropolitan has always advocated in his speeches that a tolerant Europe for all religions should not forget its Christian roots, as this is one of the most important spiritual and moral components that determines European identity.
Music
Since 2006, he has been actively involved in music and will write a lot of musical works: “Divine Liturgy”, “All-Night Vigil”, “Matthew Passion”, “Christmas Oratorio”, etc. This work of his was highly appreciated, and with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, his works have been performed at many concerts in Europe, the United States, Australia and, of course, Russia. The audience standing ovations celebrated these successful performances.
In 2011, Metropolitan Hilarion and Vladimir Spivakov became the founders and directors of the Christmas Festival of Sacred Music (Moscow), which takes place during the January holidays.
Serving with Conscience
During the periodfrom 2003 to 2009 he was already Bishop of Vienna and Austria. Then he was elected Bishop of Volokalamsk, a permanent member of the Synod, vicar of the Moscow Patriarch and rector of the Church of the Mother of God on Bolshaya Ordynka in the capital.
At the same time, Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of archbishop for his faithful and diligent service to the Russian Orthodox Church. A year later, he also elevated 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.
Hilarion's Sermons
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev's sermons are very solid and well-structured. He is very interesting to listen to and read, because he has a huge experience, which he passes on to us among a huge number of theological literary works, which are unusual in their content. They advance us to the great knowledge of the Christian faith of its followers.
Theology books
One of his books is “The Sacred Mystery 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 the Jesus Prayer and in Divine services. Here we are talking about comprehension of church experience and its correct expression. For this, the author was awarded the Makariev Prize in 2005.
In his book “St. Simeon the New Theologian and the OrthodoxTradition”, Metropolitan Hilarion presented a translation of his doctoral dissertation, defended at Oxford University, at the Faculty of Theology. In it, he explores the attitude of the theologian of the 11th century, St. Simeon, towards the Orthodox ministry, Holy Scripture, ascetic and mystical theological literature, etc.
Metropolitan Hilarion did not bypass Isaac the Syrian with his attention 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 gospel love and compassion, so he prayed not only for people, but also for animals and demons. According to his teaching, even hell is the love of God, 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, which minted the dogma of the Holy Trinity.
Awards and titles
His activities did not go unnoticed, and therefore this priest has a huge number of awards in his arsenal - all kinds of certificates, medals and titles, among which is the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow II Art. (2009, America, Russian Orthodox Church), Order of the Holy Martyr Isidore Yuryevsky II class. (2010, Estonia, Russian Orthodox Church MP), Order of St. Governor Stephen the Great II class. (2010, Moldova, Russian Orthodox Church), the gold medal of the University of Bologna (2010, Italy), the Order of the Serbian Falcons (2011) and other awards.
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Films of Metropolitan Hilarion
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeev of Volokolamsk became the author and presenter of the following films: "A Man Before God" - a cycle of 10 episodes (2011), introducing the world of Orthodoxy, "The Way of the Shepherd", dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Patriarch Kirill (2011 d.), "The Church in History" - the history of Christianity, "Byzantium and the Baptism of Russia" - 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 Athos” (2012), “Orthodoxy in China” (2013), “Pilgrimage to the Holy Land” (2013), “With the Patriarch on Athos” (2014), “Orthodoxy on Athos" (2014), "Orthodoxy in Serbian lands" (2014).
They represent a real base for those who want to learn how to behave in the church, what icons are, how to understand holy works, films, the author of which was 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 places of pilgrimage and how Christianity is preached in other places alien to Orthodox people.
