Department for External Church Relations
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DECR Chairman Archbishop Hilarion's book "Patriarch Kirill. His Life and World Outlook" presented at the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations
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On 11 November 2009, a presentation of the book written by the DECR Chairman Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, entitled Patriarch Kirill. His Life and World Outlook and published by the Eksmo Publishing House, was held at the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations. Taking part in the presentation were the author, the editor of "Religion" section of the Eksmo Publishing House A. Bogoslovsky, church and secular journalists and publishers, and staff members of the DECR.
Archbishop Hilarion told the audience that the book was written in the form of a dialogue between the author and the main character. There are two parts in the book, the first being His Holiness Patriarch Kirill" biography, and the second – his theological and ethical outlook.
The book contains the speeches of His Holiness, including those of the time of his being Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, his stories about his life, his relatives, and Metropolitan Nikodim of the blessed memory.
The sources were systematized. Archbishop Hilarion used the material published in "The Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate" beginning from the 1960s, of "The Church and the Time" Journal, and other editions; the books and articles by Metropolitan Kirill; audio- and video, including his presentations at "The Name of Russia" TV programme. There are many photos in the book, among them those from His Holiness's private archive.
Archbishop Hilarion said further that an idea of the book crossed his mind long ago. The book was prepared during two months – the period from the election of Metropolitan Kirill to the Patriarchal Throne and the appointment of Bishop Hilarion Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations. The book is for all who are interested in the personality of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Translation into English is planned.
'This is a vivid and dramatic story about His Holiness, his participation in the crucial events in the present-day Russia and the world. It is not an official biography, but an easily understood narrative of the Patriarch's personality," A. Bogoslovsky added.
At the request of the participants Archbishop Hilarion shared his impression of his work with the Patriarch and told them about specific features of the DECR chairman's duties. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was the DECR chairman for nearly twenty years.
Answering the question about the most prominent features of His Holiness, Archbishop Hilarion said, "This man is deeply rooted in the church tradition as he was growing up in the priest's family. Young or mature, he has always been an open person capable of a dialogue with very different people, including those far from the Church. I believe this ability of His Holiness to be unique."
Patriarch
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