Metropolitan Korniliy (Konstantin Ivanovich Titov, born August 1, 1947)
Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (since 2005) with the title - Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'.
The future Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Korniliy of Moscow and All Rus', was born in Orekhovo-Zuevo, near Moscow, into an Old Believer family with a name in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine the Great (name day June 3). Before the revolution, Orekhovo-Zuevo was one of the cities of Bogorodsky district and was located on the territory of the famous area of settlement of Old Believers, known as Guslitsy.
There were several churches and home chapels in the city that belonged to the Old Believers. The ancestors of the future metropolitan prayed in one of them. The Titov house, on Volodarsky Street, where Konstantin was born and grew up, was located next to the houses of the famous Old Believers Morozovs and Zimins. The Titovs were family friends with the Zimins. From early childhood, grandmother, Maria Nikolaevna, took her grandson to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which was located on Kuznetskaya Street. This temple was popularly known as the “black prayer room”, since its clergy at one time consisted of Old Believer monks. Unfortunately, this prayer house was burned down in 1973 when the city authorities began reconstruction of the city. Nevertheless, even in these harsh years, the residents of the city continued to preserve the faith of their ancestors. There were always icons and ancient church books in the Titovs' house, although during atheistic persecution it was unsafe to store them.
After graduating from the 8th grade of high school, due to financial difficulties, Konstantin immediately got a job. He became an apprentice turner at the Foundry and Mechanical Plant of the Orekhovo-Zuevsky Cotton Mill - an enterprise founded at one time by the famous Old Believer industrialists Morozovs. The future metropolitan worked at the Foundry and Mechanical Plant for 35 years , combining work with studies at evening school, technical school, and then at the Moscow Automechanical Institute, which he graduated in 1976. Konstantin Titov’s labor activity continued until 1997. In recent years, he worked as the head of the quality control department - the technical control department of the plant. The circumstances of the life of the future ruler were such that, while caring for his sick mother (he was the only son), he did not marry. And then, when she was gone, he turned all his aspirations to the Church of Christ. Here his knowledge and works were useful in practice for the revival of the Orekhovo-Zuevsky church on Kuznetskaya Street. Here he met the rector, Father Leonty Pimenov, who to this day has been caring for the Orekhovskaya community for almost 30 years. Acquaintance with Father Leonty helped Konstantin take the path of church service.
In 1991, Konstantin Ivanovich was elected chairman of the church council of the Orekhovo-Zuevskaya Old Believer community of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In May 1997, leaving secular work, he took a vow of celibacy and was ordained a deacon. The ordination was performed by Metropolitan Alimpiy (Gusev) . On March 7, 2004, in Moscow, in the Intercession Cathedral, Metropolitan Andrian (Chetvergov) ordained Deacon Constantine to the rank of priest. The place of his ministry was the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, where he served as the second priest.
On October 21, 2004, at the Consecrated Council, Priest Konstantin was elected a candidate for bishop for the Kazan-Vyatka See. March 14, 2005 Fr. Constantine took monastic vows and was given the name Cornelius . On May 7, 2005, in the Intercession Cathedral, Metropolitan Andrian, concelebrated by Bishops Siluyan of Novosibirsk, Evmeniy of Kishinev and German of the Far East, ordained Hieromonk Cornelius to the rank of Bishop of Kazan and Vyatka. On July 21, on the day of the celebration of the appearance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the rite of his ascension to the Kazan See was completed.
On October 18, 2005, the Consecrated Council, which met in Moscow to elect a new Primate of the Church in place of the deceased Metropolitan Andrian, elected Bishop Cornelius as Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'. Voting had to be done three times. Other candidates were Archbishop of Kostroma and Yaroslavl John (Vitushkin) and Bishop of Don and Caucasus Zosima. Only the third time, 58-year-old Bishop Cornelius received more than two-thirds of the votes required for election.
The Bishop positions himself as a supporter of continuing the course of his predecessor, Metropolitan Andrian (Chetvergov). Shortly after his election as metropolitan he stated:
The efforts of Metropolitan Andrian, aimed at overcoming the isolation of the Old Believers from the modern spiritual and cultural life of Russia, I will try to continue to the best of my ability. After all, this is the only way we can convey to our people the truth about the true Orthodox faith, which has not undergone reforms.
During the years of Bishop Cornelius' leadership, positive trends in the life of the Church were strengthened. It has become a tradition to regularly make archpastoral visits to all dioceses of the Church with the performance of episcopal services, and the elevation of bishops, priests, deacons, readers, and laymen to sacred ranks. Thus, the Metropolitan ordained Bishop Patermufiy (Artemikhin) to the Far Eastern diocese, Bishop Evfimy (Dubinov) to the Kazan-Vyatka diocese, and Bishop Gregory (Korobeinikov) to the newly formed Tomsk diocese. In 2016, the Metropolitan ordained Bishop Sava (Chalovsky) for the newly formed Kazakhstan diocese. Over the past years, since his ordination to the rank of metropolitan, Bishop Cornelius has elevated more than 50 priests, deacons, more than a hundred readers and clerics to sacred degrees.
One of the striking signs of this time was the significant number of newly consecrated churches.
Thus, on February 3, 2007, Metropolitan Korniliy led the consecration of a new church in the city of Yoshkar-Ola , built according to the design and blessing of Metropolitan Andrian. The throne of the temple was consecrated in the name of the image of the Mother of God “ Joy to All Who Sorrow .”
On May 4, 2007, Bishop Cornelius consecrated the established throne and temple in the name of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the city of Yegoryevsk.
On August 16, 2009, the consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr Catherine took place in the village of Glazovo, Serpukhov district, Moscow region.
On August 22, 2008, Metropolitan Korniliy led a festive service in the Vvedensky Church of the St. Nicholas-Uleiminsky Monastery. After the reading of the hours, the rite of consecration of the temple was performed, and then the Hierarchical Liturgy was served.
On December 27, 2009, on the Sunday of Saints, the forefather, Metropolitan Cornelius, consecrated a church in the village of Afanasyevo, Kirov region, in the name of the supreme holy apostles Peter and Paul.
On June 6, 2010, during the visit of the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' to the Ural diocese, the consecration of the temple in honor of the holy and glorious prophet Elijah the Tezbite took place in the village of Toikino, Bolshe-Sosnovsky district of the Ural diocese.
September 6, 2010 in the village. Selivanikha, Orekhovo-Zuevsky district, Moscow region, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated the temple in the name of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
On September 23, 2010, in the city of Uralsk (Kazakhstan), under the leadership of Metropolitan Cornelius, celebrations dedicated to the discovery of the relics of St. Arseny (Shvetsov), Bishop of Ural and Orenburg, opened. In the church of the Ural Old Believer community, a prayer service was served to St. Arseny with the rite of cathedral vestments and washing of the holy relics. On September 25, the consecration of the temple took place. The restored church, in which Saint Arseny served at the beginning of the century, was consecrated, as before the revolution, in the name of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.
On June 8, 2011, the rite of consecration of the temple in the village of Bezvodny was performed. As before the revolution, his throne was consecrated in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On August 16, 2011 in Lysva the consecration of the temple in the name of Sts. prpmch. Constantine and Arkady, Shamar miracle workers.
On August 23, 2012, in the village of Belivo, Moscow diocese, a temple in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was consecrated.
On June 6, 2013, on the feast of St. Simeon the Stylite, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' Korniliy consecrated a temple in the village of Yolkino, Voskresensky district, Moscow region.
On June 15, 2013, the solemn consecration of the temple in the name of the Holy Trinity of the Ligovsky community of St. Petersburg took place.
On June 27, 2013, in the village of Bor, Nizhny Novgorod region, a temple was consecrated in the name of St. Tikhon, the Amathusian Wonderworker.
On June 15, 2013, the Right Reverend Metropolitan consecrated the church of the Grachi farm of the Don and Caucasus diocese (Volgograd region).
On August 7, 2013, a temple in the name of the All-Merciful Savior was consecrated in the city of Lyskovo.
On August 4, 2013, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated the chapel and second altar of the Kazan Church in the name of St. Arseny of the Ural village of Bezvodnoye, Nizhny Novgorod and Vladimir diocese.
On September 29, 2013, in the city of Khmelnitsky (Ukraine), the consecration of a new temple of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church took place. Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' Korniliy and Archbishop of Kiev and All Ukraine Savatiy consecrated the newly built church in the name of the Holy Great Martyr George.
On October 24, 2014, in the village of Egorovka, Falesti district (Moldova), a new Old Believer church was consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
On November 17, 2014, the Old Believer Church in Voronezh was consecrated in the name of Archangel Michael.
On May 11, 2014, Metropolitan Cornelius of Moscow and All Rus' consecrated the throne and the Old Believer church in the city of Kovrov. This church, which was consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra-Lycia, and the transfer of his venerable relics, was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was recently transferred to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church.
On August 17, 2014, the consecration of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place in the city of Morshansk, Tambov region.
On June 26, 2015, the Bishop consecrated the newly erected temple in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ in the city of Tchaikovsky (Perm Territory).
On July 5, 2015, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated a church in the regional center of the Vladimir region, the city of Melenki. The new temple was consecrated in the name of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross of Christ.
On August 16, 2015, in Tolyatti, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated the temple in the name of the image of the Most Holy Theotokos “Joy to all who mourn.”
On December 13, 2015, the bishop consecrated the temple in Suzdal in the name of the holy wonderworkers and unmercenaries Kozma and Damian.
The main event of the archpastoral visit to Crimea was the consecration of the church in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Kurortny, which used to be called Russian Mother. This event took place on May 27, 2016.
On June 28, 2016, in the city of Malaya Vishera, Novgorod Region, Metropolitan Korniliy consecrated a new church in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On July 5, 2016, in the ancient Ural city of Nevyansk, a new church was consecrated in the name of the icon of the All-Merciful Savior.
The consecration of the temple in the name of the holy blessed princess Anna Kashinskaya in the village of Kuznetsy, Pavlovo Posad district, Moscow region, took place on October 30, 2016.
On April 2, 2022, the consecration of a new Old Believer church took place in the capital of Crimea, the city of Simferopol. The temple was consecrated in the name of the Entry of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Bishop Korniliy pays great attention to the veneration of holy places associated with the history of the Old Believers, leads traditional religious processions, serves prayers and litias. The bishop also visited the skete, where the famous hermit Agafya Lykova lives.
During his archpastoral trips, the Metropolitan meets with the heads of republics, regions, districts and municipalities. At these meetings, the most important issues in the life of the Old Believer Church are resolved: the provision of land for the construction of churches, the restoration of church architectural monuments, the return of church buildings to the use of the Church, as well as various social and educational projects that are carried out jointly by the state and Old Believer communities.
In the last decade, the Metropolitan paid much attention to the issue of reviving the spiritual and architectural ensemble “ Rogozhskaya Sloboda ”. With the assistance and financial assistance of the Moscow authorities, large-scale construction and restoration work was carried out in the Intercession and Nativity of Christ churches, the House of the Clergy and the bell tower of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On February 1, 2015, a significant event took place in the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church on Rogozhskoye: the consecration of the church-bell tower at the Rogozhskoye cemetery in Moscow. The temple was consecrated in the name of the Resurrection of Christ. Thus, it was returned to its original historical name. It should be noted that this is the only temple in the Old Believers, consecrated in the name of this greatest event in the history of mankind, and returning the temple to its historical name was the initiative of Metropolitan Cornelius himself.
During the years of Metropolitan Cornelius' leadership, the Moscow Old Believer Theological School prepared eleven graduates. Boys and girls who graduated from MSDU now work in the church and church-public fields.
Under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Cornelius, the Consecrated Councils and Councils of the Metropolis are convened annually, at which decisions on the most important issues of church life are discussed and made.
During the years of Metropolitan Cornelius' primacy, publishing activity was actively developing. Over the years, 50 issues of the magazine “ Bulletin of the Metropolis ” have been published. In addition to the “Vestnik” itself, supplements to it were repeatedly published in the form of booklets dedicated to special church and social events, such as, for example, the trip of the delegation of the Moscow Metropolis to Pustozersk, the visit of Metropolitan Cornelius to Agafya Lykova, the celebration at Rogozhsky of the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War War of 1812 and others. The museum, archive and library department of the metropolis, created during the primacy of Metropolitan Cornelius, conducts extensive scientific and publishing activities. Many volumes of works by such famous Old Believer authors as Archbishop John (Kartushin), Bishop. Areseniy (Shvetsov), bishop. Mikhail (Semyonov). One of the good traditions established during the primacy of Metropolitan Cornelius was the ceremony of awarding authors, publishers, and journalists for their contribution to journalistic, creative, informational and educational activities devoted to the topic of the Old Believers. Over the years, about 100 scientists, writers and film workers have been awarded.
In the last years of the primacy of Metropolitan Cornelius, relations with the Belokrinitsky Metropolis have been developing in the spirit of fraternal understanding and trust. Evidence of this was the visit by delegations of the Belokrinitsky Metropolis to the feast of St. myrrh-bearing women in Moscow, repeated meetings of metropolitans in Belaya Krinitsa and the visit of Metropolitan Leonty to Kazan in 2013 to participate in celebrations dedicated to the Kazan image of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Bishop Korniliy actively supports inter-Old Believer cooperation, advocates good neighborly relations and interaction with other Old Believer agreements. Thus, on June 23–24, 2016, the international conference “ Old Believers, State and Society in the Modern World ” was held at the Moscow House of Nationalities. The conference events were attended by official delegations of the main Old Believer communities - the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, the Russian Old Orthodox Church and the Old Orthodox Pomeranian Church, representatives of Old Believer social movements and the media.
The presidium of the conference was attended by the primates of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' Cornelius, and the Russian Old Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexander. The Old Orthodox Pomeranian Church was represented by the Chairman of the Central Council of the DOC of Latvia, Father Alexey Nikolaevich Zhilko .
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Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church
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The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Corniliy (Titov), visited Moldova
Metropolitan Cornelius immediately went to the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, where, in concelebration with Bishop Evmenia of Chisinau and All Moldova, he led the service to celebrate the Feast of the Entry. The bishop's service was attended by the rector of the church, Archpriest Mercury Sosin, who celebrated his 90th anniversary the day before, as well as Priest Andrei Kostromin (Bendery), and Priest Grigory Kizitsky (Cahul). link: https://www.portal-credo.ru/site/?act=news&id=88592
Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov): “The authorities are showing genuine interest in the Old Believers, which in today’s time of spiritual and moral crisis could share their experience of survival in difficult conditions.”
Answers of Metropolitan Cornelius to questions from the editor-in-chief of the Internet portal “Religion and Media” Alexander Vladimirovich Shchipkov.
– Vladyka, you have been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church for more than three years. How do you assess this period of your primacy? What has been achieved, and what are the primary tasks now facing the Old Believer Church in Russia? link: https://www.religare.ru/2_67553_1_156.html
Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Korniliy (Titov) distinguished himself again
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was congratulated by the heads and representatives of religious organizations: Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Metropolitan Korniliy of Moscow and All Rus', Chairman of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia Mufti Talgat Tadzhuddin, Chief Rabbi of Russia Adolf Shaevich, Apostolic Nuncio in the Russian Federation Archbishop Ivan Yurkovich, Ordinary of the Archdiocese of God Mothers in Moscow, Archbishop Paolo Pezzi and others. link: https://txt.drevle.com/mirrors A new primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church has been elected
Bishop of Kazan and Vyatka Korniliy (Titov) was elected the new primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. link: https://www.newsru.com/religy/
Old Believer Metropolitan Korniliy wished “God’s help in archpastoral labors” to a number of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church MP
Christmas greetings were sent on the eve of January 7, the feast of the Nativity of Christ, to a number of hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church MP by the Old Believer Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov), Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (ROC). As a correspondent for Portal-Credo.Ru reports, a facsimile of one of these congratulations was posted on January 7 on the official website of the Kazan Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church MP. link: https://www.staroobrad.ru/modules.php
Consecrated Council of the Russian Orthodox Church 2010 – first day
The conciliar sessions on October 19, 2010 were opened by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, M. Korniliy (Titov), with his report. link: https://www.staroobrad.ru/modules.php?
Head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Korniliy: The Church can contribute to the emergence of an attractive image of righteous poverty
The head of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (ROC), Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov), sees “particular acuteness” in the topic of wealth and poverty. According to him, in recent years, “the unprecedented social stratification between a small part of the super-rich people and the rest of the population is creating unhealthy tension and threatening a social explosion.” Reminding today’s wealthy people of the Gospel call to “grow rich in God,” Metropolitan Cornelius offered “a good example for today’s rich people” - this is “the generous charity and social activity of the Old Believer merchants and industrialists.” The speaker called on those with funds to invest them in homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages and churches. link: https://www.blagovest-info.ru/index.php?ss=2&s=3&id=12199
An Old Believer priest who does not remember Metropolitan Cornelius talks about Gundyaev and Pussy riot
Today “New Buryatia” offers an interview on this topic with Archpriest Elisey Eliseev, a representative of the administration of the Far Eastern Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (ROC) of Christians who do not remember Metropolitan Cornelius of Moscow and All Rus'. – Father Elisha, why, in your opinion, does the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, headed by Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov), not express its attitude towards this feminist action? link: https://kutalo.livejournal.com/13293.html
The new head of the Old Believers will maintain the same course of dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church
Bishop of Kazan and Vyatka Korniliy (Titov) was elected as the new primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. link: https://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/14865.htm
Reports and interviews
On October 6, the conference sessions opened at the Danube Museum in Izmail. The plenary session was attended by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov), and the Consul of the Russian Federation in Odessa, Yuri Didenko. link: https://www.portal-credo.ru/site/?act=press&type=list&press_id=1500
The famous taiga hermit Agafya Lykova joined the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (ROC), Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' Korniliy (Titov), spoke on November 15 at the opening of the plenary session of the XX International Conference of Old Believers Researchers in Moscow, reports the correspondent of “Portal-Credo.Ru”. He said that the famous Altai hermit Agafya Lykova, after a detailed study of the canonical dignity of the Belokrinitsky hierarchy, joined the Russian Orthodox Church. link: https://www.portal-credo.ru/site/?act=news&id=87800
Two laymen of the Russian Orthodox Church were excommunicated from the Church by decree of Metropolitan Cornelius for organizing protests against the consecration of the Bishop of Kostroma
Two laymen of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church (ROC) - Artemy Artemyev and Ivan Chekushin - who protested against the installation of the holy monk Vincent (Novozhilov) as bishops, were excommunicated from the Church by decree of Metropolitan Cornelius (Titov) of Moscow and All Rus', reports the correspondent of “Portal-Credo. Ru". Those excommunicated were notified of this decision by the Metropolitan himself on March 20 at the end of the Sunday service in the Intercession Cathedral at the Rogozhskoye cemetery in Moscow. link: https://www.staroobrad.ru/modules.php?name=News2&file=article&sid=599
On February 6-7, the Council of the Moscow Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Old Believers Church took place
The Council of the Moscow Metropolis, chaired by the head of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov), at its meeting last week “for the sake of church peace” agreed to use the historically established title “Archbishop of Belokrinitsky and all Old Orthodox Christians, Metropolitan” in official relations with brethren in Romania, but emphasized , that this “does not mean that the Moscow Metropolitanate recognizes the spiritual and administrative power over itself on the part of the Belokrinitsky Metropolis.” link: https://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/20843.htm
Metropolitan Cornelius and the state
Relations between the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church and the state are developing dynamically. Metropolitan Korniliy is a member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation . On February 22, 2013, in the Catherine Hall of the Kremlin, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin awarded Metropolitan Cornelius of Moscow and All Russia with a state award - the Order of Friendship . This high state award is presented to citizens of the Russian Federation, as well as citizens of foreign countries, for special services in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between peoples; fruitful activities to bring closer and mutually enrich the cultures of nations and nationalities; active work to preserve, enhance and popularize the cultural and historical heritage of Russia.
On February 26, 2013, at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin met with Metropolitan Cornelius of Moscow and All Rus'. At the beginning of the conversation, Bishop Cornelius thanked the President of Russia for the opportunity to meet personally and drew attention to its importance and historical uniqueness for the entire Old Believer world. During the meeting, Metropolitan Cornelius introduced V.V. Putin with the current situation of the Russian Orthodox Church and noted with gratitude that the Old Believer Church today has the opportunity for free development, and the state provides support in many issues.
On March 16, 2022, an official meeting between Metropolitan Cornelius and the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place. In his welcoming speech, Metropolitan Korniliy expressed gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation for his attention to the needs of the Church and his assistance in holding an international conference in Moscow in 2016, where representatives of the Old Believers from all over the world met for the first time.
During the meeting, Vladimir Putin and Metropolitan Korniliy discussed issues about the upcoming celebration of the 400th anniversary of the birth of the holy martyr Archpriest Avvakum and the reconstruction of architectural monuments in the main centers of the celebration - at the Rogozhskoye and Preobrazhenskoye cemeteries in Moscow. Also, within the framework of national policy, problems of interaction with compatriots abroad were raised. In addition, the issue of returning to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church the building of the Old Believer Church in the name of the Intercession and Dormition of the Mother of God in Moscow on Maly Gavrikov Lane was subject to bilateral discussion.
On May 31, 2022, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Bishop, the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Rogozhskaya Sloboda, was visited by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin . The purpose of this visit is to get acquainted with the Old Believer spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church, to inspect its churches and territory. During the meeting, the head of state visited the exhibition “ Fortitude and Loyalty to Tradition ,” which tells about the contribution of the Old Believers to the preservation of cultural heritage. The exhibition presents unique monuments of the 16th–20th centuries , stored in the metropolis of the Old Believer Church and the Intercession Cathedral.
Metropolitan Cornelius has been gradually building his relationship with government authorities for several years. At different levels, in small steps, the Metropolitan asserts his authority in society, and, accordingly, the authority of the entire Old Believers. This is especially important because before Metropolitan Cornelius there was a certain period in the Russian Orthodox Church when relations with the authorities and society were not a priority for the Old Believers. However, the ministry of Metropolitan Cornelius coincided with the readiness of the Old Believers to build new relations with the state and to express themselves in society in a new way. In addition, Metropolitan Cornelius turned out to be the only representative of the Old Believers who was able to communicate with the authorities.
Metropolitan Korniliy zealously fulfills his archpastoral duty and regularly performs hierarchal services at the Cathedral of the Intercession in Moscow. He often visits communities of the Moscow diocese, and also often visits all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. He is attentive to the problems of church life, responsibly prepares and ordains candidates for sacred degrees, and leads the consecration of many built churches. Being himself a talented preacher, the archpastor purposefully develops and supports preaching, educational and publishing activities, and spiritual education in the Church. The Bishop is very concerned that the result of these works be directed both inside the Church, to revive the spiritual life of Christians, and outside, into the world, to preach to all humanity the truths of the God-given right faith.
During the primacy of Bishop Cornelius, conciliarity was especially evident in the Church. This is expressed not only in the fact that regularly held Consecrated Councils have become the real governing body of the Church, but also in the fact that the Church openly and freely discusses issues of its internal life and each of its members has received the right to a conciliar vote. Vladika Cornelius is known for his openness and responsiveness. He is respectful and humble with his fellow bishops, and has a fatherly attitude towards the clergy subordinate to him - priests, deacons and readers. Ready to communicate with any Christian, attentive to people of different ranks and positions, nationalities and religions. Vladyka is educated and well-read, open to everything new. Despite enormous moral and physical stress, Bishop Cornelius leads a modest and strict monastic life, is energetic and cheerful, and unpretentious in everyday matters.
Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov): The Russian dream is in the revival of Holy Rus'
Exclusive interview with the Tsargrad TV channel with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Metropolitan Cornelius (Titov)
Metropolitan Korniliy is the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, the largest Old Believer consensus, a member of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of Russia. Today, the top leadership of the Russian State is paying increasing attention to the life of the Old Believers in our country and abroad, including their return to their homeland. In this regard, in recent years, Vladimir Putin has had several personal meetings with Metropolitan Cornelius.
The Old Believer First Hierarch spoke about this and much more, including the position of the Old Believers on the most pressing social and even political issues, to the Tsargrad TV channel. In an exclusive interview that Bishop Korniliy gave us in a unique place - Moscow Rogozhskaya Sloboda, one of the main historical centers of the Russian Old Believers.
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Tsargrad : Vladyka, two and a half years ago Vladimir Putin visited Rogozhskaya Sloboda, and in your last interview with Tsargrad you spoke in detail about this meeting. And just recently, at the end of November 2022, you met with Vladimir Vladimirovich again. What key issues were discussed with the head of state?
Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov) : First of all, I would like to thank the Tsargrad TV channel for your attention to our Church. For the interviews that we have already had, and for the very friendly relations we have developed. In general, the circle of sympathizers who know the Old Believers is expanding, including due to the fact that we meet and openly talk, discuss various issues that interest many people. So, meetings with our president have also already become a good tradition.
You remembered the significant historical meeting of 2022, when for the first time since the Schism of the 17th century (and this is already more than 350 years!), the head of state himself came to the Old Believers - to our spiritual, cultural and historical center in Moscow on Rogozhsky. His attention to our spiritual values, our history and culture, and to our pressing issues that we voiced then is very important to us. Unfortunately, today few people know the history of the Old Believers, but two and a half years ago I clearly felt that the attitude of the authorities and the people around me in general had changed greatly: there was a sincere, lively interest.
The recent meeting that you also mentioned took place on November 23 of this year, and this meeting was also very important for us. The key issue that we discussed with the president was the preparation of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Archpriest Avvakum, which will take place next year, 2022. The entire Old Believers, I would even say, the worldwide Old Believers, are preparing for this event. Over these centuries, we have the first opportunity to talk so widely about this brilliant Russian writer, philosopher and fighter for the faith, the opportunity to turn to the history of the tragic Schism, without which it is difficult to understand the history of our Russian State in recent centuries.
Archpriest Avvakum. Photo: pravoslavie.ru
To understand what were the reasons for the tragedy of the Church Schism, which affected our entire society, the entire Russian people, to understand what its consequences were, and most importantly, how to make sure that this does not happen again, it is very important to turn to the personality of Archpriest Avvakum. And Vladimir Vladimirovich and I discussed in detail the cultural events that we have planned in connection with this anniversary.
Of course, for us, Old Believers, the most important thing is our prayers to this great saint, whom we honor as a sufferer, a martyr for the faith, but this is our internal church business. And in addition to this, open cultural events are planned, such as exhibitions, a concert of spiritual chants, and historical conferences. In almost every region of our country where Old Believers live (and these are more than 50 regions). And the Russian leadership - the president, the government, the Ministry of Culture and local governors, with whom I often meet, support this quite actively.
We also talked with Vladimir Vladimirovich about the resettlement of the Old Believers, their return to their homeland. This resettlement is very necessary for the Far East, where we have sparsely populated areas, especially close to the Chinese border. And already 130 Old Believers families have resettled over the past two or three years, and now there is potential for the resettlement of even more Old Believers. I told the president that recently 30 children have already been born into displaced families, new families are being created, and 50 families are preparing for resettlement next year.
Recently I was in Kirov, in Vyatka, where I met with the local governor, and he told me: we would also like the Old Believers to come to us. In general, respect for the Old Believers as people of traditional culture, strong believers, having a reliable family, honest and hardworking people is obvious. Therefore, Old Believers are expected in many regions to raise and revive the Russian land.
Well, the last issue that we discussed with Vladimir Vladimirovich was the possibility of state assistance in the revival of our Old Believer institute, which before the revolution was here on Rogozhsky, but, unfortunately, was closed during the Soviet years, and the building was gradually destroyed. This very large, dilapidated building was returned to us, but there are not enough funds to restore it. Therefore, we turned to the president for support so that the Old Believers could revive the spiritual educational institution. Vladimir Vladimirovich supported us, and now we are working out how this will be implemented.
We discussed with Vladimir Vladimirovich the possibility of government assistance in the revival of our Old Believer institution. Photo: Kremlin Pool / Globallookpress
I am sure that these favorable relations and the positive cooperation that we have developed with the president, the government and regional authorities in recent years are very necessary for both us, the Old Believers, and the state. To raise and revive our spiritual and moral foundations after the destruction of the last century.
Ts.: You mentioned the “worldwide Old Believers”. It is known that in addition to the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church there is the Russian Old Orthodox Church, there are many bespopovtsy, chapels, Pomeranians, Fedoseevites... Is there any interaction with them?
Metropolitan Cornelius: Yes, you named various Old Believer agreements (and sometimes disagreements) that developed after the Schism. Unfortunately, the Old Believers were unable to communicate with each other for many years. Scattered in different parts of Russia and other countries, they simply could not convene a Council to discuss common dogmatic foundations, hence our disorder and disunity.
As you know, priests and non-priests are different doctrinal Old Believer platforms. But there are issues that unite us: these are our common cultural values, the way we defend the traditional family, talk about bookishness, about the pre-schism history we share. And, of course, about our common immediate tasks, including the 400th anniversary of Archpriest Avvakum.
World Old Believer Forum 2022. Photo: official website of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church
A year and a half ago, the World Old Believer Forum was held in Moscow. This is a real historical phenomenon, the first after the Schism. We could not get together either in Tsarist or Soviet Russia. And now the government has supported us, and we have invited Old Believers of different consents from all over the world to meet and discuss our common problems for two days. At the same time, we immediately decided that we would not touch upon doctrinal issues that divide us. And now we are preparing for a new Old Believers forum, scheduled for October 2022, which will be attended by hundreds of Old Believers from all over the world.
Ts.: Vladyka, relatively recently it became known that within the framework of the interaction of various Old Believer consensus, including co-religionists of the Russian Orthodox Church, two projects appeared. The World Union of Old Believers, which was headed by Leonid Sevastyanov, a Christian of your Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church. And the International Old Believer Union, which was also headed by your Christian Valery Korovin. Why did these two organizations arise at the same time, are there any contradictions between them or do they complement each other? Do you support their work?
Metropolitan Cornelius: This began at the forum, which, as I have already said, took place a year and a half ago in Moscow. And there it was proposed, I quote, “to create a public organization for mutual assistance in public affairs, protection of one’s civil rights, for joint dialogue with the authorities and cooperation at the international level in economic issues.” Preparations began, and the Valery Mikhailovich Korovin you mentioned undertook to develop the Charter of this organization. The final discussion will be at the next forum in the anniversary year 2022, and if the Charter being developed is approved, then this organization will be created, uniting Old Believers of different consents.
And Leonid Mikhailovich Sevastyanov found himself a little “ahead of the train” here. Hearing this idea, he wrote his own project and registered this union in his name. Of course, legally anyone can do this. But in our Old Believers, we believe that this should be conciliar, and I said that let the Old Believers hold their own councils, approve or disapprove of this idea at them, and then we will bring its discussion to the forum of all Old Believers.
So the “World Union of Old Believers” is exclusively his personal initiative. Leonid Mikhailovich promised economic and legal assistance to Old Believers of different consents, but this is his personal project. And that’s why Valery Korovin and I continue to work on creating the International Union of Old Believers. And if it is accepted by the Old Believers at the forum in October 2022, we will bring this idea of ours to life with God’s help.
Valery Korovin. Photo: Pravda Komsomolskaya / Globallookpress
Ts.: And here I cannot help but ask about the dialogue between your Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. It is known that back in the 2000s many questions were raised, commissions were created for this dialogue, but at what stage is it at today?
Metropolitan Cornelius: For almost 15 years of my metropolitan ministry, I would characterize our relations as good neighborly peaceful coexistence. Indeed, we created a commission that gave answers to questions from authoritative scientists of the Russian Orthodox Church about their doubts regarding our Belokrinitsky hierarchy (founded in 1846 by Metropolitan Ambrose of the Patriarchate of Constantinople - editor's note). This topic is not new for us at all, and, of course, we have no doubts on this issue.
We presented our answers to the commission of the Russian Orthodox Church, but it is still unknown to what extent we satisfied or did not satisfy the questioners. In general, I repeat, we have good-neighborly peaceful relations, we live in the same state, and we have a common attitude towards traditional, primarily family, values. As for the fight against abortion, drunkenness, debauchery, perversion, all this is our common field, where we can, by helping each other, revive our spiritual and moral foundation, as it was in Holy Rus'.
Of course, we remember 1971, when at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church our old rituals, which our ancestors sometimes defended at the cost of their lives, were recognized as true. We also remember the words of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), who spoke about the importance of preserving the ancient Byzantine monophonic Znamenny singing and thanked us, the Old Believers, for preserving it. Singing, which UNESCO recognized as a heritage of world culture.
Ts.: You said very important words about traditional family values. Today in our country a lot of fuss is being made around the bill on so-called “family and domestic violence”. Many representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church very harshly criticize it as a bill on the right to external interference in family life. What is your opinion on this issue?
Metropolitan Cornelius: A few days ago this question was asked to President Vladimir Putin during his meeting with the media. And he began his answer by saying that, of course, he condemns any violence. But the laws that already exist protect the family, including those who are beaten and offended in their families. And of course, we must, within the framework of these laws, protect our citizens, first of all, of course, women and children. That's roughly what he answered.
For my part, I would like to add that external interference in family life, when it is carried out without a court decision by some liberal law, is very close to juvenile justice, which is completely unacceptable for our country, our society, which the Western countries tried to impose on us several years ago. liberal organizations.
Yes, today we already have laws that should protect against violence. But in the new bill, as I understand it, there are not even clear criteria for what kind of violence this is. It says “moral violence”, but how to define it, what is it? He just “looked askance” or “the child didn’t get enough sleep” - everything can be the subject of “moral violence”. This means that it is necessary either to separate the family, or to remove the child from this family.
Today, of course, we absolutely need to protect the family. And this includes protecting the family from the interference of those liberal media that now come out via the Internet, which children watch from morning to evening, through television with its depravity, and so on... Families, and especially young people, must be protected from all this, and take some measures. then laws, to establish some kind of framework so that it does not destroy the family, the psyche.
We need to return to the Domostroy: the Domostroy of Holy Rus', which defined the family as a small church: the Orthodox faith, father, mother, submission, blessing. This is what should hold our family together. Therefore, of course, we do not need any liberal justice. And the Old Believers have always supported a return to our basics, to our spiritual moral origins, to creating a strong family and also try to carry this out in their everyday life.
Ts.: School education is of great importance for education, which, unfortunately, still bears the traces of both Soviet atheistic education and the no less terrible liberal education that the Soros Foundation and other Western foundations actively imposed on our country in the 1990s. country. Just recently you gave a major report on this topic at the Federation Council. Can you describe in a few words your opinion about the state of today's national education, and what can be done to return it to the mainstream of Russian tradition?
Metropolitan Korniliy: In the Federation Council, when the issue of education was discussed there, I spoke from the position of our Church and, in general, from the position of Orthodox Holy Russia. Education is the comprehension of the Image of God. Without this education we cannot save our souls and enter the Kingdom of God. And it is very important that this education does not turn into a “disgrace.” Because if there is no Image of God, then the result is “ugliness.”
Education, first of all, begins with the family. This is the church family way of life, traditions of honoring elders, blessings, constant prayer, going to church. Of course, much was lost during the godless Soviet era. We understand that the concept of sin now almost does not exist, what repentance is, what the fear of God is. This is what we need to return to, this is basic education. That is, not how to teach, different methods, Unified State Examination and so on, but what to teach so that the Image of God is ultimately imprinted in the soul of the child. And then everything will line up, including what sciences he will study, applied or humanities.
Unfortunately, today there are a lot of single-parent families where there is no father or the father is a drinker, and today’s school and its teachers were often formed under the communist regime. But of course, I would like to see spiritual education in all classes of the school. Now this is only a very small segment, in elementary school one hour a week (“Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture” as part of the course “Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics” - editor’s note).
It is clear that the problem comes down to who will teach, and whether or not to allow priests into schools. And if those teachers who are simply not prepared, who came from the godless Soviet times, teach dryly, as they say, “for show,” the child will understand this perfectly and will not perceive anything useful.
And, of course, it is very important for the state to understand how much the media influence the spiritual education of a modern person, especially a young person. Yes, now the media talk more about faith, about the Church, but it’s roughly in the following order: football - ballet - Church. The church is in last place in terms of importance and time. And you, child, choose. But we must understand that the Church is the main thing, it is not some hobby, not football, but the main business of a person’s life. To understand why you live, how to save your soul, what sin is, what repentance is. And how many people are dying spiritually today, being corrupted by today’s liberal media!
It is these very important questions that I raised in the Federation Council, although, of course, I do not have clear knowledge of how to solve them. We can only pray that the Lord will guide our authorities, those who control various television channels, and the media. And of course, it is very important to say that our salvation, the salvation of Russia, the Russian people, is that, as Dostoevsky said, “the whole purpose of Russia lies in Orthodoxy,” that when Russia prayed, it was saved. And if we return to this prayer, to communication with God, then yes, we will be saved, but if not, then our ending may be very sad.
Ts.: Vladyka, in the mentioned report, and in our conversation, you harshly and consistently criticize the same liberal media. I remember that about 10 years ago you even advocated reviving censorship to a certain extent in Russia. But it is clear that these media, which often serve the interests of our geopolitical opponents, do not remain in your debt. Recently, publications have begun to appear designed to discredit you.
On the one hand, you are charged with “too patriotic” support for Crimea and Donbass, on the other, it is said that after Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin visited the Old Believer Intercession Cathedral, the temple was allegedly re-consecrated. Finally, you are accused of almost being passionate about alternative medicine. I would like to hear your comments on this matter.
Metropolitan Cornelius: The very word “liberal” today carries a negative connotation. Because liberal freedom is “freedom” that ends, as I recently read, with a gay pride parade. We see perfectly well the entire path of the West:
- Give us freedom! -What do you need freedom for? – To be free from God, from His laws, from His framework.
And they are trying to impose this on us. Of course, these media are unpleasant when we try to return Russia to the framework of the Laws of God, to Holy Rus', and also to Domostroy. And the fact that they scold us, I have realized over the years, is good. If they didn’t scold me, then I would have to somehow strain myself. If the liberal media started praising me, it would become clear that I was doing something wrong.
We pray for Donbass that peace will be restored there. As for the reconsecration of our Intercession Cathedral after Vladimir Putin came there, then, of course, there was no consecration. After all, what is the consecration of a temple? This is a large liturgical rite that takes two days: with evening and morning services, special prayers, processions of the cross, and so on. But, since people from the Federal Protective Service with weapons, and of unknown faith, entered the temple, we, as is customary, sprinkled it with holy water. This is in the church statutes; such sprinkling is performed periodically in every church.
As for the reconsecration of our Intercession Cathedral after Vladimir Putin came there, then, of course, there was no consecration. Photo: Kremlin Pool / Globallookpress
Well, and a completely ridiculous accusation is that I am being treated by some “sorcerers”. I can say for sure: I have never been treated by them in my life. There are doctors, there are prayers, and this is the only thing we resort to as Orthodox Christians. Of course, we don’t have to be liked by everyone, but we peacefully pray for those who hate and offend us, so that the Lord will enlighten them and so that they will come to a true understanding of what is good and what is evil.
Ts.: But there are accusations from the other side, that the Old Believers are not only not patriots, but the true creators of the 1917 revolution. Some publicists like to accuse the Old Believers of taking a massive part in the revolutionary events of a hundred years ago. How would you respond to this?
Metropolitan Cornelius: A revolution is always blood, fear, devastation, sacrifices. And Orthodoxy, on which our Old Believers are based, is, of course, incompatible with violence. This is what Christ commanded us. And therefore, the true Old Believers, the guardians of these foundations, and these are millions of people, were against the revolution, in contrast to several people who went down in history as to some extent supporting this process.
Moreover, the Old Believers suffered more than others from this revolution: the Cossacks, the peasantry, and entrepreneurs. The color of the Old Believers. A hundred years have passed, and we see what suffering, blood, horrors there were, and God grant that this revolution never happens again. Conclusions need to be drawn today, because from behind the hill they are again calling almost to the barricades, that is, to step on this historical rake again.
But you cannot simply take 1917 out of the context of history. The starting point is 1551, the Council of the Hundred Heads, which established our Russian Orthodox spiritual foundations. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, speaking about the relationship between the Schism of the 17th century and the revolution of the 17th year, takes us back to the moment when these foundations began to collapse. It was during the schism that the elite separated from the people, reforms became a violent break in traditions, and Peter I drove a wedge into this.
It is also worth remembering that the godless destruction of the 20s and 30s of the last century was carried out by Russian people: they destroyed churches, threw down bells, chopped and burned icons and church books, imprisoned and killed priests. Not the French, not the Germans and not the Poles. And the Russian people were led to this by the previous two centuries of breaking our traditions. This, unfortunately, according to Solzhenitsyn, gave birth to 1917. And he continues the idea that in Old Believer Orthodox Rus' the revolution would never have won.
Old Believer Feast of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Rogozhskaya Sloboda. Photo: Andrey Lyubimov / AGN “Moscow”
So I repeat once again: God forbid that a bloody revolution should ever come again, because, as Pushkin said, “Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless” is a terrible thing. Let us pray that bloody violence will bypass Russia.
Ts.: In fact, you said very important words that we need a strategy for the country without shocks, without revolutions. Today, the World Russian People's Council, in whose work you have been participating for about 15 years, is developing two directions: a strategy for saving Russia until 2050 and the concept of the “Russian Dream”, what we want to see our country in the foreseeable future. How do you evaluate this work of the ARNS?
Metropolitan Cornelius: If we talk about the Russian historical dream and our movement forward, then as a turning point I remember the Millennium of the Baptism of Russia, 1988. Then a new path began - a return from communist slavery, which can be compared to the Egyptian slavery from which Moses led.
The Lord providentially leads us out, because true Christianity remains only in Orthodoxy. Archpriest Avvakum also said: “Rome fell long ago and lies without rising.” Today we see the processes that are taking place in the West, this is spiritual decay, and now many understanding Western people are turning specifically to Russia, to Orthodoxy.
It took Moses 40 years to lead him out of Egyptian captivity; we have passed 30 years since the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'. Let's live another 10 and see where the Lord has brought us. It seems to me that there is a prospect, with God’s help Russia is growing stronger, its voice is being heard more and more. Most importantly, our authorities now understand that without the Church it is impossible to build Russia and save the people. This was also said at our meeting with Vladimir Vladimirovich. And we see that this is a believer.
We are grateful to the World Russian People's Council that it raises these topics, how we can develop Russia, how to save the people, how to revive Orthodoxy in our country. We are grateful to the organizers, Konstantin Valerievich Malofeev, with whom several months ago we had a great interesting meeting and conversation about the path to the revival of Russia.
And at the end of our conversation, I would like to congratulate all believers, all Orthodox Christians on the highly solemn holiday - Merry Christmas! May God grant peace on Earth, peace in man and Love, which is the Lord Himself, and prosperity. Once again, happy holiday to everyone, good health and spiritual salvation!
CORNILIUS
(Popov Konstantin Konstantinovich; 08/7/1874, the village of Nikolaevskoye-Penevskoye (Nikolskoye, Gryazovets district, Vologda region) - 10/27/1966, Gorky (now N. Novgorod)), Metropolitan. Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. From the family of an official, his paternal grandfather was a priest in the village. Nikolaevskoe-Penevskoe, maternal grandfather - a deacon there. He graduated with the 1st category from the Vologda Secondary School and in 1888 was transferred without exams to the Vologda Secondary School. He completed his studies at the seminary with a first-class certificate, and on July 10, 1894 he was appointed psalm-reader to the Assumption Church. With. Cherevkov Solvychegodsky district. Vologda province. and a teacher at the local parochial school. After marriage, 20 Oct. 1896 ordained a deacon, the next day - a priest at the temple of the village. Putin Okhansky U. Perm province. In 1897 he was widowed. 20 Dec. 1899 appointed anti-schism missionary and observer of parochial schools in the Perm region. In 1902-1906. studied at KazDA, upon graduation he was awarded the degree of candidate of theology for op. “The works of Blessed Jerome in the fight against schism.” On July 10, 1906, he was appointed to the post of Yaroslavl diocesan missionary. 12 Sep. 1909 by Yaroslavl bishop. St. Tikhon (Bellavin; later Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia) tonsured a monk with the name Cornelius in honor of St. Cornelius of Komelsky. He was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 1913, the husband of Sergius was appointed rector of Varnitsky in the name of the Holy Trinity. mon-rya (now within the city of Rostov, Yaroslavl region) with the retention of a diocesan missionary in the post. In 1913-1914 listened to lectures at the Yaroslavl department of the Moscow Archaeological Institute. On July 5, 1915, he was consecrated Bishop of Rybinsk, appointed vicar of the Yaroslavl diocese and rector of Yaroslavl in the name of Saints Athanasius and Kirill husband. mon-rya. After the February Revolution of 1917, he condemned the tsarist government. 28 Feb. 1921 Patriarch St. Tikhon appointed K. Bishop of Sumy, vicar of the Kharkov diocese, and rector of the Kuryazh Starokharkov Transfiguration Monastery in the village. Kuryazh of Kharkovsky district and lips
Korniliy (Popov), Metropolitan. Gorkovsky and Arzamasky. Photo. OK. 1961 Korniliy (Popov), Metropolitan. Gorkovsky and Arzamasky. Photo. OK. 1961
According to some information, after the arrest in May 1922 of the Kharkov and Akhtyrsky archbishop. Nathanael (Trinity; later metropolitan) temporarily ruled the diocese. He veered into the Renovationist schism (see Renovationism). In Aug. In the same year, the renovationist Higher Church Administration (VCU) granted K.’s petition to remove his monastic vows, leaving him in his current rank, but transferring him to another diocese (Living Church. 1922. No. 8/9. P. 19). VCU invited K. to occupy the Kharkov Renovation Department, but he refused, “wanting to serve his native land,” and on September 19. was appointed ruling bishop to the Vologda Renovation Department, January 24. 1923 elevated to the rank of “archbishop”. In May of the same year, he participated in the work of the renovationist “Local Council”, signed a resolution on the deprivation of the clergy and the title of Patriarch of St. Tikhon. There is information that after the “Council” he was appointed to the Saratov Renovation Department (GARF. F. 6991. Op. 7. D. 69. L. 3 vol.).
23 Jan 1924, at the request of the Yaroslavl renovationists, he was appointed “archbishop” of Yaroslavl and Rostov. On May 23 of the same year, at the renovationist congress of clergy and laity of the Yekaterinburg diocese, he was elected Bishop of Yekaterinburg. K., who was not present at the congress, received notification of his election, and a petition was sent to the Renovation Synod for his approval. However, the synod on July 12, 1924 appointed “Archbishop” Aristarkh (Nikolaevsky) to the Yekaterinburg see, and K. was left at the Yaroslavl see. In the spring of 1925, at the request of the renovationist Saratov diocesan administration, the renovationist synod moved K. to the Saratov see. On July 12 of the same year, the renovationist “Ural Regional Church Council,” held in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), elected K. “Metropolitan” of Sverdlovsk and the Ural, governing the Ural Metropolis. K. also became chairman of the Ural Regional Metropolitan Church Administration (UralOMTSU). After the approval of these decisions by the Renovation Synod of K. September 1. 1925 arrived in Sverdlovsk.
In Oct. 1925 K. took part in the work of the 2nd renovation “Local Council”, at which, among other things, a resolution was adopted that the ruling bishops should be the rectors of cathedrals. K. tried to take the place of rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Sverdlovsk, but met resistance from the clergy and community of the cathedral, citing the fact that the “metropolitan” was constantly traveling around the diocese and therefore the entire diocese must support him. For this reason, K. was forced to become rector of the Sverdlovsk Catherine Cathedral. 14 Nov In 1925, the Sverdlovsk renovation diocesan administration appointed K. rector of the Epiphany Cathedral. 9 Feb. 1926 UralOMTSU decided to consider K. the honorary rector of the cathedral, and on February 26. K. decided to accept abbotship in both cathedrals. In connection with the formation of the Ural Renovationist Metropolis, local renovationists intended to ask the synod to raise the Catherine Cathedral to the level of a regional cathedral, since it was the main center of renovationism in the Urals.
In March 1926, the leader of the Gregorian schism, the Sverdlovsk Archbishop, arrived in Sverdlovsk. Grigory (Yatskovsky). The authority of the archbishop. Gregory in the Urals was high at that time, and certain renovationist parishes came under the jurisdiction of the Gregorian Provisional Supreme Church Council. The renovationist bishop and the head of the Gregorians exchanged letters. K. expressed the hope that Archbishop. Gregory recognizes the Renovation Synod as “the ruling body, as recognized by the Orthodox Eastern Patriarchs,” and invited him to come to him for negotiations on this matter. In a response letter, Archbishop. Gregory welcomed the “search for peace” on the part of K., but refused to appear for negotiations, saying: “Your Synod and all renovationism are mistaken... and it’s not us who will have to come to you, but you who will have to come to us” (Lavrinov. 2007. pp. 75-76 ).
29 Sep. In 1926, under the chairmanship of K., the 2nd renovationist Ural Church Council opened in Sverdlovsk. During the meeting, news of the appointment was received on September 22. K., according to the election of the renovationist Voronezh Regional Congress, “Metropolitan of Voronezh and the entire Central Black Earth Region.” Oct 5 K. left for Voronezh. He was a member of the presidium of the Renovation Synod. In Feb. 1927 took part in the renovationist 1st All-Union Missionary Congress to combat sectarianism (Moscow), at which he was elected a member of the central missionary council at the renovationist synod, April 1. In 1931, the Renovationists were awarded the right to present the cross during divine services.
In June 1935, after refusing to accept “bishop” Alexander Medvedev as vicar, and also to appoint Rev. Vasily Brenko, since, according to K., “due to special circumstances, neither one nor the other could be accepted in Voronezh” (GARF. F. 6991. Op. 7. D. 69. L. 3 vol.), renovationist “ First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in the USSR “Metropolitan” Vitaly (Vvedensky; subsequently Archbishop) issued a decree dismissing K. from the post of Metropolitan of Voronezh. On July 12 of the same year, K. was arrested, and Medvedev was appointed instead to the Voronezh Renovation Department. 5 Nov 1935 by resolution of the Special Board of the Voronezh Region. Court K. was sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of anti-Soviet agitation. He served a sentence in the Karaganda ITL (Karlag), worked as a sheep counter, and became infected with brucellosis. In 1940 he was released and arrived in Kostroma, where he underwent treatment for 2 years.
In the spring of 1942, by decree of the Renovationist “First Hierarch of the Orthodox Church in the USSR,” “Metropolitan” A. I. Vvedensky, K. was appointed “Metropolitan of Voronezh and Zadonsk.” The Voronezh Regional Executive Committee refused to register him, saying that they did not know the “First Hierarch” Vvedensky and could not register the persons sent by him. Because of him. offensive in the summer of the same year and the battles for Voronezh, K. left the department and ended. 1942 settled in the village. Kolegaev, Nekouz district, Yaroslavl region, where he served in the local church as a parish priest. Soon, by decree of Vvedensky, he was appointed “Metropolitan of Yaroslavl and Kostroma.” In the beginning. 1943 K. was among the renovationist figures who decided to “look for ways of rapprochement and, if possible, reunification” with the Russian Orthodox Church, however, when he was soon summoned to Ulyanovsk to see Vvedensky, who had been evacuated there, he remained in renovationism (“Renovationism” schism pp. 576-578). Nevertheless, in the fall of 1943, in connection with the election of Metropolitan. Sergius (Stragorodsky) Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' K. wrote to the renovationist “Bishop of Tashkent” Sergius (Larin; subsequent archbishop): “Personally, I am pessimistic about the state of the First Hierarch and renewal, with the appointment of the Patriarch, the affairs of the First Hierarch in renewal are far from brilliant” ( Ibid., p. 592).
4 Dec. 1943 in the meeting room of the Holy. Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in the presence of Patriarch Sergius with a host of hierarchs, K. brought repentance and was reunited with the Orthodox Church. Church in the rank of bishop. 8 Dec. the same year he was appointed to the Sumy and Akhtyrka departments. 28 Sep. 1944 K. sent to the patriarchal locum tenens Metropolitan. Alexy (Simansky; later Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy I) report on the closure of 30 churches in the diocese, citing facts of the rude attitude of “local rural government” towards believers when carrying out the closure of churches. In Feb. 1945 elevated to the rank of archbishop, in April. the same year he was appointed to the Vilna and Lithuanian departments and the holy archimandrite of Vilnius in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. mon-rya. From July 1945 to Aug. 1947 temporarily ruled the Riga diocese.
Soon after his appointment to the Vilna See, K. turned to Patriarch Alexy I with a proposal to open pastoral and theological courses in Vilnius and sent him a draft curriculum. On July 26, 1945, the Patriarch requested the opinion of the Chairman of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church G. G. Karpov on the establishment of courses and their program, noting that he considered their opening very desirable and the program satisfactory. Karpov imposed a resolution on the patriarch’s appeal, in which he proposed, having previously agreed with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, to raise before the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR the question of opening not courses, but a theological seminary. Aug 25 Karpov sent a corresponding memorandum to the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, and on August 28. followed by a resolution from V. M. Molotov: “You were in a hurry. We need to think about this matter - how it will affect the Catholic Church, etc.” However, in Aug. The Council of People's Commissars approved the proposal of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church to open pastoral and theological courses. Oct 24 In 1945, at a meeting of the Synod, K.’s report on this issue was heard. The Synod decided to use the funds received by the Patriarchate from the Riga Diocese to finance the courses. K.'s petition to open a theological seminary in Vilnius was satisfied by the commissioner of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church for the Lithuanian SSR. The opening of the Vilnius DS took place in October. 1946, the first academic year ended on June 10, 1947, and already in Aug. The commissioner, following the instructions of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, announced to K. that the activities of the DS should be suspended until the issue is finally resolved by the authorities of the Lithuanian SSR. The Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR decided to close the Vilnius DS. By this time, the number of 2nd year students was 20, there were 5 teachers, and over 50 applications had been received from those wishing to enroll in the 1st year. At the direction of Metropolitan. Krutitsky and Kolomensky Nikolai (Yarushevich) K. sent 2nd year students to continue their education in the Minsk diocese.
During the period of K.'s service at the Vilna See, the Orthodox translation into Lithuanian was carried out. liturgical texts. With funds coming from the Patriarchate, churches were repaired, including the Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery, which was damaged during the war by bombing. On July 26, 1946, at the request of K., the relics of the Vilna martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius, taken there in the summer of 1915, were returned to the Holy Spiritual Church from Moscow.
In 1946-1948. Orthodox parishes of the Vilna diocese passed the state. 44 communities received registration and rights of legal entities. Under K., services in the Holy Spirit Monastery were performed regularly and solemnly, attracting many Orthodox and even Catholics (at that time in Lithuania most of the churches and all Catholic monasteries were closed). In 1947, the 350th anniversary of the Holy Spirit Monastery and the 600th anniversary of the death of the Vilna martyrs were celebrated.
Despite the successes of the post-war restoration of church life in the Vilna diocese, K. expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of the Lithuanian SSR due to the closure of the Vilnius DS and the refusal to allocate building materials for the repair of church buildings, which took place, in particular, during the restoration of the Holy Spirit Monastery. In view of the planned move from the Kursk See, Archbishop. Alexia (Sergeeva), K. September 29 1947 addressed Patriarch Alexy I a request for transfer to the Kursk diocese, in which, among other things, he reported a shot fired by unknown persons at his window, and the difficulty of going around the diocese after him. litas activity. underground nationalist armed formations (GARF. F. 6991. Op. 7. L. 13-14).
18 Nov 1948 K. was appointed Archbishop of Gorky and Arzamas. At the same time, the Synod instructed K. to “ensure the existence and treatment of the sick” predecessor of K. at the Gorky See - bishop. Zinovy (Krasovsky; † July 4, 1954) monthly allowance. 25 Feb 1955 K. was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.
To the beginning 50s XX century In the Gorky diocese, 47 churches were registered (3 of them in Gorky), with a staff of 70 priests, 19 deacons, and 34 psalm-readers. Such a number of churches and clergy was insufficient to meet the needs of believers. Temples and houses of worship could not accommodate everyone who wanted to attend services; parishioners were forced to pray in the church fence in the open air. Authorities noted an increase in the population's religiosity and church attendance. In 1953, the deputy head of the inspection department of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, I. G. Sivko, came to Gorky to check the work of the commissioner and familiarize himself with the state of church affairs. He reported to the Chairman of the Council Karpov that “in no other region of the RSFSR is there such a high percentage of churches in which daily services would be held (12 churches) ... The number of petitions submitted in the region to open churches continues to remain relatively high and has not risen since 1950.” is decreasing” (Myakinin. 2010. p. 256). However, the only church opened in the diocese at this time was C. in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Vorsma, Pavlovsk district, where an unregistered prayer house operated for a long time. The appearance of a new temple instead of a secret chapel became possible after the adoption of February 17. 1955 resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On changing the procedure for opening prayer buildings.” In total, according to the authorized Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, in the Gorky region. in 1950, there were 60 unregistered houses of worship, and in 1956, “according to incomplete data,” there were already 242 unregistered houses of prayer. Divine services in them were performed by unregistered or unregistered priests and even laymen. Despite the opposition of local civil authorities, the diocese, with donations from an increasing number of parishioners, managed to carry out the restoration and improvement of the buildings of existing churches, build utility rooms, baptismal houses, housing for priests and a clergy. Employees of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church noted the high authority of the ruling bishop among the clergy and believers; The clergy spoke of K. as a strict shepherd, demanding of himself and his subordinates. Despite his advanced age, K. met weekly with the diocesan council to resolve current issues related to the movement of the clergy, consideration of complaints, approval of estimates for building repairs, etc. Every year K. held meetings of deans to discuss financial issues.
Due to the fact that the Soviet state inflated taxes for the clergy, in the spring of 1954 K. filed a statement, brought to the attention of the chairman of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, Karpov, in which he reported that local financial authorities were groundlessly doubling the amount of the bishop’s maintenance. As a result, K.’s income for January. and Feb. 1954, amounting to 35 thousand rubles, was subject to income tax in the amount of 72 thousand rubles. Based on this and other statements about re-taxation, Patriarch Alexy I petitioned the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church to change the taxation procedure so that taxes would be levied on the income of the clergy as on earnings from private practice. If it was impossible to make such a decision, the patriarch proposed to streamline the calculation of income and collection of taxes. However, the USSR Ministry of Finance considered the changes “inappropriate”, basically maintaining the previous order.
K. was awarded the medal “For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.” (1948).
Aug 14 1961 K. was released from administration of the diocese due to illness. He lived in retirement in Gorky, where he died. His funeral service was led by the Bishop of Gorky and Arzamas. Flavian (Dmitriyuk; later archbishop), 16 priests and 4 deacons served him. K. was buried, according to his will, in a stone chapel-burial vault in the graveyard of the Gorky Trinity Church, behind the altar.
Works: Speech delivered in the Znamenskaya Chapel before the prayer service to the Most Rev. Theotokos on Friday, March 3rd, upon receipt of news of internecine warfare in Petrograd // Yaroslavl EV. 1917. No. 9/10. P. 109; Speech before the prayer service after reading the manifesto on the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II from the throne, said in the Znamenskaya Chapel at 6 o’clock // Ibid. pp. 109-110; Bishop's appeal Cornelius upon joining the Vologda See to the flock and shepherds of the Vologda Church // Church Dawn: [Organ of the Vologda EU and Vol. Eparch. Committee of the group “Living Church”]. Vologda, 1922. No. 4. P. 1-5; To the clergy and parishioners of all parish churches of the Vologda diocese // Ibid. 1923. No. 5. P. 5-6 (in collaboration with Archpriest A. Sakharov, Archpriest T.N. Shalamov and others); Appeal of Cornelius, Met. Voronezh and Zadonsk, to the Voronezh flock // VSSPRTS. 1927. No. 3(16). pp. 20-24.
Arch.: GARF. F. 6991. Op. 7. D. 69.
Source: Highest commands // TsV. 1915. No. 23. P. 280; Resolutions of the VCU // Living Church. M., 1922. No. 10. P. 19; EU Resolutions // Church Dawn. 1922. No. 3. P. 13; Composition of the Holy Synod of Orthodoxy Russian Church // VSSPRTS. 1925. No. 1. P. 6; Movements and transfers in service // Ibid. No. 2. P. 4; Movements and destinations // Ibid. No. 4. P. 6; Movements and promotions from August 24 1926 // Ibid. 1926. No. 12/13. pp. 6-7; Minutes of the meetings of the All-Union Missionary Conference, February 2-4. 1927 // Ibid. 1927. No. 3(16). pp. 5-6; List of Orthodox bishops under the jurisdiction of the Holy. Synod of Orthodoxy churches in the USSR // Vestn. Priest Synod of Orthodoxy Churches in the USSR. 1931. No. 1-2 (50-51). pp. 11-12; Awards according to the Synod (from January 1, 1931) // Ibid. No. 3-4 (52-53). P. 15; Act of reunification of the Renovation bishop. Cornilia (Popova) // ZhMP. 1943. No. 4. P. 10-11; Awards for St. Easter 1946 // Ibid. 1946. No. 5. P. 13; Appointments and movements of bishops // Ibid. 1949. No. 3. P. 6; Acts of St. Tikhon. pp. 174, 906; Investigative case of Patr. Tikhona: Sat. Doc. M., 2000. S. 348, 879; Letters from Patriarch Alexy I to the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of People's Commissars - Council of Ministers of the USSR, 1945-1970. / Rep. comp.: Yu. G. Orlova. M., 2009. T. 1. P. 50, 52, 61, 62, 124, 210, 287-289, 417, 461, 501; 2010. T. 2. P. 50.
Lit.: For the arrival of Rev. Cornelia // Church dawn. 1922. No. 2. P. 11; Meeting of the Vologda clergy // Ibid. 1923. No. 1. P. 8; Brief information about Orthodox bishops. churches under the jurisdiction of the Holy. Synod // VSSPRTS. 1926. No. 12/13. pp. 7-13; Dzichkovsky I., prot. Farewell to the archpastor // ZhMP. 1949. No. 1. P. 78-80; Tsyganov V., prot. Memorial day 7 December 1948 // Ibid. No. 2. P. 47; The name of the archpastor // Ibid. 1959. No. 7. P. 14; Rev. Cornelius, Met. Gorkovsky and Arzamas // Ibid. 1961. No. 5. P. 39-40; Flavian (Dmitriyuk), bishop. Metropolitan Cornelius: [Obituary] // Ibid. 1967. No. 1. P. 36-38; Manuel. Russian hierarchs, 1893-1965. T. 4. P. 142-144; Levitin, Shavrov. Essays on the Troubles. pp. 133-134, 279-280, 293, 411-412, 522, 638; Tsypin. History of the RC. pp. 98, 319; Lavrinov V.V., prot. Ekaterinburg diocese: Events. People. Temples. Ekaterinburg, 2001. pp. 43-44, 48, 50, 145; aka. Essays on the history of the renovationist schism in the Urals (1922-1945). M., 2007. P. 28, 29, 60-63, 65, 68, 69, 75, 77, 84, 85, 87, 93, 168, 174, 231-232; "Renewal" split. pp. 52, 218, 219, 256, 309, 318, 350, 418, 420, 441, 550, 576-578, 585, 587, 592, 593, 805-808; Saints of the Nizhny Novgorod land / Author: abbot. Tikhon (Zatekin), O. V. Degteva. N. Novg., 2003. P. 265-272, 529; Feodosius (Protsyuk), Metropolitan. Separate movements in the Orthodox Church. Churches in Ukraine (1917-1943). M., 2004. P. 254; Kataev A. M. Theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1943-1949. // VCI. 2006. No. 1. P. 176-190; Myakinin A. E., prot. The position of the Church in the Gorky diocese in the 1950s. (before the start of Khrushchev’s persecutions) // VCI. 2010. No. 1/2(17/18). pp. 232-262; Shkarovsky M. V. Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century. M., 2010. S. 203, 205, 216.
Russian Orthodox Church
Born on December 22, 1976 in Kuibyshev (Samara), he was raised in a believing Orthodox family. From the age of three he attended the Peter and Paul Church, at the age of 14 he became a subdeacon with Archbishop Eusebius (Savvin) in the Intercession Cathedral in Kuibyshev. Soon he also began to perform the obediences of the altar boy and cell attendant of Bishop Eusebius. He continued to carry out these obediences until the end of high school.
With the blessing of Archbishop Sergius of Samara and Syzran, on July 3, 1993, in the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, Archbishop Eusebius tonsured him into the minor schema with the name Cornelius. Then he remained an altar boy and subdeacon of Archbishop Sergius of Samara for another year.
On July 6, 1994, he was ordained as a hierodeacon in the Church of St. John the Baptist in Samara.
On July 31, 1995, in the Intercession Cathedral, he was ordained hieromonk and appointed rector of the Archangel Michael Church in the village of Orekhovka, Alekseevsky district, Samara region.
In 1997, he was transferred to the clergy of the Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and Their Mother Sophia in Samara and received obedience to build the first Orthodox church at that time in the working-class neighborhoods of Bezymyanka. On June 22, 1999, he was appointed rector of the Church of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, which was under construction in Samara.
In 2000 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.
In 2003, with the blessing of the DECR chairman, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad (now His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'), he was appointed temporary member of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.
Since June 1, 2007, he served as dean of the Samara city Volga district of the Samara diocese, supervised the construction of several churches of the deanery, and completed the construction of a second church on the territory of his parish.
On September 15, 2009, he was appointed rector of the parish of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul in Samara. On March 3, 2010, he was appointed dean of the Samara city Central District of the Samara diocese.
On April 4, 2010 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
He graduated from the Samara Theological Seminary and the Kyiv Theological Academy. In 2009 he graduated from the Samara Humanitarian Academy.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 27, 2011 (magazine No. 70), he was elected Bishop of Volgodonsk and Salsky.
On September 9, 2011, in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal Chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, on September 11, during the Divine Liturgy in the Trinity Cathedral in Shchelkovo, he was consecrated Bishop of Volgodonsk and Salsky. The services were led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.
By the decision of the Holy Synod of August 30, 2022 (journal No. 99), he was appointed His Eminence of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory, head of the Arkhangelsk Metropolis.
On September 1, 2022, during the Divine Liturgy in the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill elevated him to the rank of metropolitan.
