Metropolitan Clement: “We should use every convenient opportunity to help another person”

Metropolitan Clement is a bishop in the Russian Orthodox Church. Since 1990 - Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk.

“You don’t have to wait for a special occasion, some extraordinary opportunity to show your talent in full force. Every convenient opportunity should be used to help another person and alleviate his hardships...”

This is a quote from the thoughts of Metropolitan Clement.

Metropolitan Clement - Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church

The future Metropolitan Clement was born in the village of Udelnaya, Ramensky district

In the world, Bishop Clement is German Mikhailovich Kapalin. He was born on August 7, 1949 in the Moscow region in the village of Udelnaya, Ramensky district. Herman was born into a working-class family.

His brother is Dmitry, born in 1952, currently Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Tyumen.

After graduating from school, German entered the Moscow Mechanical Engineering College. In 1970, he entered the second year of the Moscow Theological Seminary.

In the same year, he began urgent service in the Soviet army, until November 1972. But he continued his studies at the seminary. In 1974, German graduated from the Theological Seminary, and then entered the Moscow Theological Academy. Later he graduated with a candidate's degree in theology.

He was also left with her as an assistant inspector and a correspondence teacher. In 1977, he took part in the work of the World Orthodox Youth Organization, and in the Ecumenical Council of Youth in Europe.

In 1978, Herman became a monk and was given the name Clement, in honor of the Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome. He was tonsured by Archimandrite Alexander Timofeev.

Russian Orthodox Church

Born on August 7, 1949 in the village of Udelnaya, Ramensky district, Moscow region. in a working-class family. After graduating from high school, he entered the Moscow Mechanical Engineering College.

In 1970 he entered the 2nd grade of the Moscow Theological Seminary. From October 1970 to November 1972 he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. Then he continued his studies at the seminary.

In 1974 he graduated from the seminary and entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

Since 1977, he took part in the work of the World Orthodox Youth Organization “Syndesmos” and the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe (ESME).

In 1978 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate's degree in theology, and remained with it as an assistant inspector and teacher in the correspondence education sector.

On December 7, 1978, the inspector of the MDA, Archimandrite Alexander, tonsured him into monasticism with the name Clement in honor of the schemm. Clement, Bishop of Rome.

On December 24 of the same year, Archbishop Vladimir of Dmitrov ordained him a hierodeacon.

On April 7, 1979 he was ordained hieromonk. In the same year he was appointed teacher of General Church History at the MDS.

On October 14, 1981 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

In 1981-1982 Acted as senior assistant inspector of MDS. In 1981 he was elected a member of the ESME executive committee.

On July 18, 1982 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

On August 8, 1982, in the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk, he was consecrated Bishop of Serpukhov, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, and appointed administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and temporarily in the USA. The ordination was performed by: Metropolitan of Minsk and Belarus Philaret, Archbishop of Kharkov and Bogodukhov Nikodim, Bishop of Tula and Belevsky German, Bishop of Pinsk Athanasius.

On March 23, 1987, he was released from the management of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and appointed manager of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA.

By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of May 19, 1989, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Since July 20, 1990 - Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk and at the same time first deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations.

In 1993-1996 - Member of the Public Chamber under the President of the Russian Federation.

In 1997-2000 represented the Russian Orthodox Church in the inter-Orthodox commission for the preparation of the pan-Orthodox celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ; headed the secretariat for preparation and implementation.

On December 26, 2003, he was appointed manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

On February 25, 2004 he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

Since October 2005 - member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Since January 2006 - Chairman of the Commission for the Preservation of Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Chairman of the organizing committee of the International Educational Christmas Readings.

He headed the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the Church and public forum “Spiritual and moral foundations of the demographic development of Russia” (October 2004), the 1st festival of Orthodox media “Faith and Word” (November 2004), the celebration of the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo (May -November 2005).

By resolution of the Holy Synod of March 31, 2009 (magazine No. 18), he was relieved of his duties as manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and appointed chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Since March 22, 2011 - member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of May 29, 2013, he was appointed (journal No. 61) rector of the Kaluga Theological Seminary and confirmed (magazine No. 67) in the position of rector (hieroarchimandrite) of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Pafnutiev Borovsky Monastery in the city of Borovsk, Kaluga region. and the male Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kaluga Tikhon Hermitage p. Leo Tolstoy, Dzerzhinsky district, Kaluga region.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 2, 2013 (journal No. 109), he was appointed head of the newly formed Kaluga Metropolis.

From October 2013 to May 2014, he temporarily managed the Pesochensk diocese.

On September 16, 2014, at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, he defended his dissertation on the topic “The Russian Orthodox Church and the development of the Pacific North in the 18th-19th centuries. (based on materials from Alaska)" for the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences.

Clement - Pope of Rome, born in the first century after Christ

Why exactly the Bishop of Rome? Who was he? Clement - Pope of Rome, was born in the first century after the Nativity of Christ. The Orthodox Church honors his memory and considers him the most outstanding Christian saint.

Clement, Pope of Rome, was born in the first century after Christ. Believers honor his memory and consider him the most outstanding Christian saint

Clement was the third son in the family. Their relatives were the Roman kings. Clement's father and mother were pagans. The father's brother fell in love with his wife very much, and constantly persuaded her to cheat on her husband. But Matfidia, Clement’s mother, tried one trick, telling her husband that in her dreams God himself was dreaming and advising her to leave with the children for several years.

If she does not do this, she will die along with her children.

The husband believed his wife and did not want her to die, so he sent her with two children. And he kept Clement for himself. This story did not end very well; during the journey, a terrible storm began, the ship on which they were sailing crashed.

The mother was thrown ashore, where she began to live independently. And the children fell into the hands of robbers, who then sold them to a woman. The woman cared for these children as if they were her own. Later they converted to Christianity and became followers of the Apostle Peter.

Apostle Peter - met Clement's brothers, and then himself, who later accepted Christianity from him and became his followers

Matfidia's husband missed her and the children very much. He very often sent his slaves to find out at least something about his wife and children. But the slaves always returned, without any news.

Then he himself decided to go on a search, leaving Clement at home in the care of his relatives. When Clement grew up, he headed to Jerusalem, but ended up in the very place where the Apostle Peter preached.

Here Clement was baptized, and a little later he met his long-lost mother and brothers. One day, Clement’s father met and told Peter that he had lost his wife and two sons for 24 years. Then the apostle realized that this was their father. This is how the family met again, and together they returned to Rome.

After what happened, they began to profess a new religion. Clement became a disciple of the Apostle Peter. Before his death, Peter elevated Clement to the rank of Bishop of Rome.

But it was a very difficult time for Orthodoxy; the pagans took up arms against Christians quite strongly. King Trojan sent Bishop Clement into exile, where he worked in the quarries.

But he also supported the Christians who got there with him, and then began to baptize pagans into the Orthodox faith. When the king found out about this, he ordered the bishop to be drowned in the sea.

But one miracle happened with the death of Clement, perhaps that is why Metropolitan Clement chose this particular saint, accepting monasticism. People prayed to the Lord for a very long time, and then the water receded. The relics of Bishop Clement were found in one of the caves. Surprisingly, they were incorruptible.

This is what the relics of Bishop Clement look like, which were found in one of the caves in the sea

Slavic teachers Cyril and Methodius asked Bishop George to reveal the relics of the saint. During the religious procession, the sea lit up, and the remains of Bishop Clement’s body rose to the top. The relics were taken to Rome.

Metropolitan Clement: How is happiness found on earth? When there is love in the heart

Guests

Clement Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk

Dmitry Kirillov:

The year is ending. He was complex, disturbing, different. Against the backdrop of the ongoing pandemic, problems and worries have increased. Today, in addition to medical care, many people also need spiritual support. Therefore, a meeting with a real monk, a warrior of Christ, who devoted his entire life to serving God and people, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement, his life story will become consolation and support for millions of people who celebrate the New Year with hope and faith in the victory of life over death, the victory of good.

How to learn to love your neighbor, how to learn to love him as yourself? – this is the most difficult task. And as I understand it, a lot has to do with who teaches us love. If from childhood we see love in the family, the love of our parents, they are probably our very first teachers from early childhood. Do you remember being little? At what age do you first clearly remember yourself?

Metropolitan Clement:

Well, I distinctly remember when my younger brother... He was just born and was sleeping peacefully. I took the pacifier. I remember that, haha. I look - he is sleeping. Since he's sleeping, he doesn't need her. I took it a little, just for a minute, I thought: “At least I’ll remember my youth.” I was about 2 years and 8 months old. And he took it and cried. Mom didn’t hit or punish. She just explained it to me and said, let’s say: “Why did you take it? If they take something away from you, do you feel good? No. But he has nothing, just a pacifier.” Then, I will say, it was 1952, there were no special toys.

Dmitry Kirillov:

And the food probably wasn’t very sweet either. Bread, some simple products, apparently?

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes. That is, I am in the post-war and war period; my elder brother survived this. He was born in January 1942, and he remembered it. And my mother told me. I only remember from stories.

Dmitry Kirillov:

It was the parents who survived the war.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Where were they during the war?

Metropolitan Clement:

Mom was at home, and dad was at the front. I went through the whole war.

Do miracles happen or not? People doubt. And a miracle happened. My mother was raised by my grandmother, her mother, in the faith. But her grandmother died when she was 7 years old. Mom still has the image of a grandmother - to rely on God in everything. And she remembered her prayer book. Mom was the youngest daughter. There were 8 children there. Youngest daughter. Every time she went to church, she took her... And my mother said: “I remember, she always kneels in front of the icon in the church and cries.” What remains is a child’s image, a child’s impression: her mother always relies on God’s help.

She was orphaned. A year later, my grandfather got married, that is, he came already...

Dmitry Kirillov:

…stepmother.

Metropolitan Clement:

…stepmother. This is 1923, 1924, 1925, just “There is no God,” that’s all. Stepmother: “There is no God.” She says: “I went into the next room. I’ll pray, then sit down at the table. Mom taught me that." Why? There will be laughter at the table. And this stepsister will also laugh: “What are you, a little praying man?” - and so on. But this instilled in her constant hope in God.

When the war began, Saint Nicholas helped her. Dad is young, mom is young. 1941 Mom was only 25 years old. This is a young girl. Only they were having a wedding... And there was this situation: the young people decided to have an abortion. And Saint Nicholas appeared: “Don’t do it. One of these days the war will begin,” and indeed, a week later the war began. The fact that she was in a position saved her: she was not hired for any kind of labor work. Because when the Germans approached Moscow in 1941, the entire population was sent to work.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Dig trenches.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes. Digging trenches, etc., working as nurses. How it would have happened is unknown. Then my older brother was born. Well, where, where with the baby? Well, sit down and educate. And this seemed to save her. The ration was small, I even now remember when they say that if you fast, especially for a child, it will undermine his health and he will develop rickets. My older brother survived. What post? In general, there was hunger. There was nothing". The first 4 years he grew up, it was war, and in the post-war years there was also famine. Everything was rationed, limited, limited.

Dmitry Kirillov:

And mom is alone.

Metropolitan Clement:

And mom was alone.

Dmitry Kirillov:

There is only hope in God.

Metropolitan Clement:

And he grew taller than me.

Dmitry Kirillov:

All the children in the Kapalin family fasted. Nobody forced them - that’s what their hearts told them to do. Therefore, it was impossible to force the future Metropolitan Clement (and then, in the post-war 1950s, the kindergarten boy Gerka) to eat something meat on a fast day.

Metropolitan Clement:

And when Lent came, I: “Yeah, but here they give meat. We don't eat meat at home."

Dmitry Kirillov:

And there is meat in the garden.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes, but they give it in the garden. And this, take it, was 1954-1955, families were still malnourished, there were hungry children, and I started: yeah... I still didn’t understand the soup, but I’ll eat the broth, most importantly, I don’t eat meat. And when they give me the second course (pasta, rice, potatoes and cutlet) - “yeah, this cutlet is meat,” I give it to the cat. Cat…

Dmitry Kirillov:

...satisfied.

Metropolitan Clement:

...it was normal, but somehow it let me down: I ate half a cutlet, left half a cutlet. What if they found half a cutlet and started watching to see who was throwing the cutlets? These are the post-war years. And then they found me that I...

Dmitry Kirillov:

Scolded?

Metropolitan Clement:

I was scolded and my parents were called. Mom said: “Come on, there are 3-4 weeks left until Easter.” He says: let him sit at home, he doesn’t want to eat. And I: hurray, I can fast! Why? The older brothers fasted, but how can I not fast? My parents fasted, and I fasted since childhood, back in kindergarten.

Dmitry Kirillov:

But no one forced me. It was an inner desire to join the family, to the way the family lives.

Metropolitan Clement:

I saw an example of life, this is the right thing to do: you need to fast. Mom took communion every 3 weeks. We have already learned from childhood: we must take communion, that’s all. Morning and evening we prayed. Adults pray, brothers pray. The brothers read their own prayers. I couldn't read yet. So we need to pray. A lamp always glowed in front of the icon. I remember we were going to bed, our room was about 16 square meters, there were four of us living there plus dad and mom, six people... Who will blow out the lamp? At night, no matter what, then there was oil... Now this is such a higher quality oil, but then it was kerosene oil...

Dmitry Kirillov:

...dangerous.

Metropolitan Clement:

Dangerous, yes, so as not to catch fire. But this is in my memory: there is always a lamp glowing in the front corner. We always got up and prayed.

Dmitry Kirillov:

1956, German Kapalin is 7 years old. He clearly remembers that time: his mother fell ill (massive heart attack), there was no hope for salvation. The elder brother Nikolai decides to travel to the monasteries of Russia and Ukraine and asks the monks for prayerful help. On one of these trips to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Nikolai took his younger brother Herman with him.

Metropolitan Clement:

When I came to the Lavra for the first time, I saw so many priests. I ran around to all the monks and said: “Father, bless, pray for my mother, her name is Maria, she is sick Maria, she is sick.” Someone asked me: “What’s your name?” - “And I am a sinful Herman.” My name was Herman, sinful Herman, that’s it. And then my older brothers said to me: “Do you know this?” - "No". And I just ran: “Bless, father, pray.”

We went two or three times a month to pray and ask the monks to pray for my mother. We taught ourselves how to write down, all relatives to submit notes, and everyone submitted a note. We didn’t live well, but my mother gave everyone some money so that they could send at least a simple note and some prosphora. And we already: “Mom, can I have a note, a prosphora? Put it on a candle,” and he’ll give it for a candle.

And I also remembered. When we went to church, my mother would put coins in our pocket (this remained in my memory, and with her when I went, say, to church, even before the reform of 1961) coins - a penny, two kopecks - to give to the poor. And then bread cost 1 ruble 40 kopecks. I say: “Mom, what’s my penny to a beggar?”

Dmitry Kirillov:

Like he won't buy it.

Metropolitan Clement:

He won't buy bread. And she told me: “The main thing is that she will feel your participation in her fate, your participation.” And so we walked, they gave a penny, they gave, I, Vladyka Dimitri, his name was Alexey, that’s how we walked: yeah, we’ll definitely give it away. “Mom, I gave it away. There are so many pennies left, so many coins left.” But, again, this is education: we saw a person who has a need and needs help. We must pay attention to the person who is nearby.

Nowadays they sometimes say: “He’ll drink.” But talk to him, have a conversation. Yes, the hand cannot give money - well, give, for example, bread, some porridge, give a bag, here’s support for you so that you don’t go hungry. But the most important thing is our attention. When there is indifference, it is very difficult for a person to survive difficulties. But we don't know. Yes, indeed, maybe he has such a fate, the Lord gave him a test, he suffers, even if from alcoholism. Why, firstly, did the Lord allow this? - and so that we learn to love him. Not only to love those who are neat and smell like Chanel, but this poor guy, let him ask, but we must show love. Find help, how to help him - talk, support him. And the Lord teaches us: when you meet, help him.

After all, there is even such a parable that the Lord said to one woman: “I will come to you today,” - Christ. She began to get ready. A boy comes in the morning: “Go away, you’re bothering me. I’m waiting for a great guest.” The beggar knocks, the wanderer - she says: “Go away. I am busy. A guest will come to see me.” Then the woman with the child asks: “Let me go. It's bad weather outside." She says: “Wait, Christ promised me to come. You are not needed."

And then, when in the evening she sat down and the Lord did not come, she sat down, prayed in front of the icon and said: “Lord, why have you let me down? You told me you would come.” He says: “I came three times. Like a baby, you rejected. Like a wanderer, you drove away. Then I came with the Most Pure Mother of God - and you kicked me out.” And what did the Lord say in the Gospel? - “What you did to one of these little ones, you did to me.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

Seeing the image of God in every person is what Mary taught her children. She worked hard, kept the house in order, and by her example taught her sons to love their neighbors.

Metropolitan Clement:

I have to go to school in the morning. Shoes, if you need to clean them, trousers, a shirt, he will even wash them. And then there were no washing machines, she would wash it, dry it in the oven, iron it with a charcoal iron, so that in the morning we would all walk around so neat. We were praised at school.

And just like that, you wake up - it’s night, well, you have to run out to relieve yourself somewhere. We didn't have... Everything is on the street. She stands in the kitchen and prays. I even remembered her words. He sings “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight” - that means 12 o’clock at night. I no longer looked at the clock: at 12 o’clock at night my mother was singing “Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight.” Her example inspired us in all this.

And so I thought: why is she sick, living like this? And there was the first heart attack. We prayed and started going to the Lavra. About three years passed, I was 10–11 years old, she had her second myocardial infarction. And local doctors already said that “we can’t even take her to the hospital, she has three or four days to live.” She says: “Ask Father Tikhon to come before his death, offer unction and receive communion.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

Prepared...

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes, that's all. Father Tikhon could not come; another monk, the abbot, arrived. He comes in and gets baptized. And she had a cell, a little room, a lot of icons. He crossed himself three times. He also came earlier. And my mother lies there and says: “Father, I can’t even serve you tea, I have three or four days to live.” He crossed himself and said (and we were all standing there little): “God will not let you die for their sake.”

And Vladyka Dimitri - he was only 7-8 years old, just started school. He performed Holy Unction completely, without omitting anything, and gave Holy Communion. And when he later began to give the cross, she stretched, it began to dawn, she wanted to kiss her, she stretched, got to her feet, and walked. And not only did she prepare tea, but she also cooked borscht. Then this abbot said: “I have never eaten such borscht in my life as she cooked it then.”

And a few days later, on Saturday, she went to the Lavra. We closed the house, she went to the Lavra, we run away with her... How? Mom was just lying there, having a massive heart attack. We took a stool, there were no folding chairs then, just an ordinary stool. We took 50 steps - “Mom, sit down”, “Mom, sit down”. We got to Moscow, where we have to cross from the Kazansky station to the Yaroslavsky one, the transitions there are difficult. She says: “I don’t know whether I’ll get there or not.”

They took the porter. It was 1961, then they had just changed money, 30 kopecks, the porter: “I won’t carry you for 30 kopecks. Give me a ruble." - “We’ll give you a ruble.” And he was on a cart... They brought him there. Arrived from Zagorskaya station...

Dmitry Kirillov:

It's such a long way to go, yes.

Metropolitan Clement:

...to the Lavra without stopping.

Trinity Cathedral right away. We stood and prayed at the Akathist, stood at the all-night vigil, and spent the night in the church. Liturgy in the morning, after the early liturgy we returned home. The doctor comes: “Somehow you were closed. I came yesterday, I came this morning, I thought: “What happened?” And my mother says: “I went to the Lavra.” - “Which laurel?”

Dmitry Kirillov:

“I should have died already.”

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes: “That’s it, we’ll bury you soon.” Where is the truth? Here it is, the truth. God didn't let her die.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Maria Kapalina lived to be 103 years old. This amazing woman raised four sons, and all of them became priests, and two, Herman and Alexei, became metropolitans. Mary herself accepted monasticism and was tonsured into the schema, and people flocked to her for advice, for a kind word, for prayer.

Metropolitan Clement:

I’m thinking – why did she have such a hard life? I think it's for our sake, not hers. And all these heart attacks (and then there were more heart attacks) moved us to prayer. How she had a heart attack... I still remember the first heart attack: the elder brother gathered us all, we read an akathist every day - to St. Nicholas, the Great Martyr Panteleimon. We alternated so that, God help our mother. We went everywhere and asked to pray. The notes wrote about the sick Maria. The Lord raised. Then again, ours will weaken a little, well, everything is fine - again a signal, again we’ll hurry up to pray.

And since childhood, we have been the will of God in everything. The Lord even gives sorrow and trials for the good of man. Here are her illnesses... If she hadn’t been sick... Well, how would it be? They would study at school, be lazy and that’s it, and invite them somewhere. And we, after these words, what kind of pioneers are we? No. The Lord raised my mother. We were neither pioneers, nor Octoberists, nor Komsomol members.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Vladyka, in Khrushchev’s times, during times of persecution, you decided to become a monk. Do you remember that moment when your heart caught fire to become a monk, to leave secular life?

Metropolitan Clement:

The fact is that when Khrushchev said “they show the last priest on TV”... So we went to the Lavra, and we were very worried: “What if the monks run out? We must stand to protect the church. We will accept monasticism." We did not yet understand the very feat of monasticism, but we understood: the feat of standing in faith is very important for the church.

Dmitry Kirillov:

In 1970, German Kapalin, a student at the mechanical engineering college, made a fateful decision - to enter the theological seminary. And neither service in the Soviet army, nor the tempting offer of secular persons, nor the ridicule of his peers could change the path he had chosen, an amazing and difficult one, from a seminarian to a metropolitan, a life-long path.

Metropolitan Clement:

There was an incident at school. When I was in 2nd grade, a cross was discovered on me, and the teacher decided to educate me a little in front of the class. She called. I stood up, she said: “You know, Kapalin wears a cross and goes to church.” And then, not knowing what to say, she asked: “Do you go to church?” More than half the class began to raise their hands and shout from their seats: “I was in church,” “I was with my grandmother,” “I took communion.” But still they didn’t talk about faith. True, red eggs were brought for Easter. They will definitely bring...

Dmitry Kirillov:

At school, right?

Metropolitan Clement:

At school, yes. Red eggs, that means everyone painted eggs at home too.

Dmitry Kirillov:

We just remembered Easter of those Soviet atheistic times. How was Easter celebrated in Soviet times?

Metropolitan Clement:

We had a church in Udelnaya, and from 6 o’clock in the morning the priests blessed Easter cakes until late at night. Somewhere at once, maybe 200 people were setting up Easter cakes, and the priest was walking, consecrating, passing by - already a new row. True, there was always a communist subbotnik around Easter, on Holy Saturday: they declared a working day, everyone had to go to enterprises, so as not to go to church.

Dmitry Kirillov:

We fought. Or they’ll put on some fancy concert on TV at night so that...

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes Yes. Then what else? People were walking, the churches were full.

The second episode I want to remember. When I was already studying at the seminary, I remember, alone, well, for several years there they gave me a car on Holy Saturday, they gave me several sets of Easter cakes, Easter. They say: “Go to the station. Put it in a storage compartment, write down the compartment number and the number you saved,” about 4-5 sets. I told the authorities, and then they called the district authorities: “Take a gift.” They asked: “Don’t wear it in the district committee.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

“The driver at the storage room will pick you up.”

Metropolitan Clement:

The driver picked it up from the storage room, brought it home, and that’s it. Such a case, such things. That is, even the party members observed, they wanted something, to somehow celebrate Easter.

Dmitry Kirillov:

They also probably had grandparents who kept...

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes. But a later case was like this. When I was already in America, in New York, one of Troyanovsky’s deputy representatives of the USSR to the UN, he often came to see us. Before that, he was the head of the ideological department of the CPSU Central Committee, then he was sent there. When he came for the first time, well, it happened every time, but especially the first time, his wife asked him: “Can I put candles in the temple?” We have a temple nearby. Me: “Please.” And then she came in and lit the candles: “And if I write the names, will you remember?” I say: “Of course, let’s do it.” She began to write. And he comes up to her and says: “Don’t forget to write down mine,” ha-ha.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Was this in New York?

Metropolitan Clement:

This is in New York. Head of the ideological department of the CPSU Central Committee, don’t forget.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Which also published atheist magazines.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes. And then somehow in Moscow, 3-4 years later, such an acquaintance, he invited me to his place, this was a special house on Profsoyuznaya, where they lived, a large apartment. He leads into one room, opens the closet and shows the icon, saying: “This is left from my grandmother. I keep it." That means something happened.

Yes, there was an ideology during the time of Khrushchev, but most quickly that’s why he was removed, and he was removed for Intercession. The party’s decision was to remove Pokrov, and on October 14 they decided to remove him. Brezhnev has already gone a little softer. And in the year of his death, when the late Patriarch Pimen was at a reception in November in the Kremlin, Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev approached the patriarch and said: “Your Holiness, I remember my teacher of the law, Father Alexy, how he taught us prayer.” That is, in childhood, the seed sown was preserved, and in his old age he even remembered it.

Dmitry Kirillov:

You just mentioned the name of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Patriarch Pimen sent you, a young bishop, to serve in America. You carried out your obedience there and then returned. What memories do you have of Patriarch Pimen? What kind of person was this?

Metropolitan Clement:

He was a man of prayer. He was a man of strong spiritual life. He loved worship very much. He loved the canon of Andrei Kritsky, he always read it himself, because it is such a heartfelt, meaningful canon of Andrei Kritsky. When he had the strength, he always served.

And I will say that he was a strong man of prayer. He grew up, survived all the persecution and went through the front, fought, although he was already in the priesthood, but he went to repay his debt to the Motherland, he was called up - and that’s it, he did not shirk. And then he headed the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, was involved in the restoration of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, was the vicar there, and then headed our church for 20 years.

These are difficult times. They say: Brezhnev's time was calm. No, there was another method of putting pressure on the church. But there was this pressure. I will say: for example, in the Kaluga diocese the last church was closed in 1978.

Dmitry Kirillov:

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy asked you to return from America, and you returned to Russia and headed the Kaluga...

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes. And I still knew His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II (deceased) as a metropolitan. Then, when he was in New York, he came there and talked with him there. And when he became patriarch, it was Bishop Kirill’s initiative, he was the chairman of the department for external church relations, so that I would be his deputy. And I talked with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, I said: “But I wanted to be, first of all, a diocesan bishop,” and then they gave me the Kaluga diocese, and I was the deputy of the bishop, the current His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.

Dmitry Kirillov:

What memories do you have with Patriarch Alexy?

Metropolitan Clement:

The best ones. Patriarch Alexy went through a lot. In Soviet times, his position as a business manager, he was a business manager, he realized that everything had to be thought through and should not be done recklessly. He thought through everything so that there would be no negative effect that could be directed against the church. He tried to be careful. And he did a lot for the church. The church has changed. He spoke boldly and discussed with the authorities. He did not engage in public dialogue, he discussed things like this, and knew how to negotiate with the authorities what needed to be done.

After all, the events of the beginning of 1991, the beginning of the 1990s, when there were all these problems...

Dmitry Kirillov:

And putschs.

Metropolitan Clement:

And the putsch, yes, he had a great influence so that there would be no civil war, no bloodshed. He kept them from military action, and both sides were ready to go to the end. Then the country would really be plunged into a new civil war - what would happen? We do not know. He interacted well with all branches of government, with people of different groups and levels.

Dmitry Kirillov:

And they listened to him.

Metropolitan Clement:

They listened to him. He talked with the president, and received ministers, and received ordinary people, and received public figures. He didn't have such rights and lefts. And his position is that there are my children on both sides of the barricade. And at the same time, he was not afraid when Yugoslavia was bombed, he went there to support the Serbian people. And he served there and rode in an armored car.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Fearless.

Metropolitan Clement:

Fearless, yes. He did not spare himself. And if he said “I will come,” he came. He visited all the dioceses, this is the first patriarch who began to travel around the dioceses. There was also a restriction on movement within the dioceses; it was forbidden to travel; it was the ideology of the state, because even bishops were forbidden to travel to parishes.

And I found myself in this situation. When I arrived from America, I arrived at the diocese in Kaluga on August 2, and on the 3rd I decided to go. I went to America and didn’t report to anyone. I went to the parishes to get acquainted, to find out which parishes, how many parishes.

Dmitry Kirillov:

Emptiness.

Metropolitan Clement:

In Soviet times, there were 24 churches left there, when I arrived there were 32. I drove around and visited Maloyaroslavets, Borovsk, Zhukov, all these parishes. I arrive - a note from the commissioner: “Why did I go without permission?” They call me and I say: “I went to America and didn’t report to anyone, and here, in my own country, I’m not going to report to anyone.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

This is the same one who has been sitting since then.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes, yes, yes, “Are you against the Soviet regime?” I say: “Don’t counter me.” That's it, haha. “I study the affairs of the diocese. I was appointed here by the Synod and the Patriarch. I obey only them."

Dmitry Kirillov:

Vladyka, do you feel the prayerful support of so many saints? The small land of Kaluga, the region doesn’t seem to be very big, but you have the Optinsky elders there, and Shamordino, and Borovsk.

Metropolitan Clement:

They are the only ones who do everything. When people ask me, a lot has been restored, the city has changed, and this is all thanks to the Optina elders. And I will say that miracles are just like that. We must see them. I arrived - there were two churches in Kaluga and the third one had just been handed over. Now in Kaluga there are 38 operating churches as independent parishes and 22 affiliated ones, for a total of 60. The population is 300 thousand. This is not my merit, these are the Optina elders. And the people of Kaluga are pious and believers. I pray and thank the Optina elders and the Optina new martyrs and saints, and Paphnutius of Borovsky, and Tikhon of Kaluga, Lavrenty of Kaluga for their... It’s just a miracle that the Lord performs, and we must recognize it. Man is only a tool, as it were, but the Lord does everything.

In the provinces more people go to churches for the reason that in the provinces faith was deeper before. Such a living connection with one’s culture, with one’s faith, has been preserved more in the outback, which is why more people continue to visit churches there. That's one thing. Another thing is that in the outback the connection to the Internet is worse. In Moscow, the Internet now takes up a lot of time and, moreover, seduces people. And the Internet is a big problem for both adults and children, and it’s a big problem in education. Why? Because parents, they say, love their children. What is this love? The child cannot speak yet, does not walk yet, but sits in a cradle - they give him a smartphone, “here, go play.” They buy special children's electronic games, he sits, pokes, pokes, pokes. But this is not the kind of love a child needs. We need love so that dad and mom can sit and talk. And now the parents...

Dmitry Kirillov:

The tale was told, yes.

Metropolitan Clement:

Yes, they told him a fairy tale, put him to bed, and he fell asleep sweetly listening to this fairy tale. And they give him, “You have a new toy,” and that’s it. When such a child grows up, he has no reciprocal love. What we say later: “We must respect our parents.” - “Wait, I just received new smartphones from them.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

Master, perhaps these sorrows that are now being sent, such a test, perhaps the world, the satiated world, needs them in order to put down their tablets, in order to remember that we are all living here temporarily. After all, a terrible panic spread throughout the world. Maybe this will teach people something?

Metropolitan Clement:

I remember the words of St. Ambrose of Optina: “Why is man bad? - that he forgot that God is above him.” We must remember that God is above us and the meaning of our life is to move towards God. How is happiness found on earth, so that you can feel it on earth? - when there is love in the heart.

The future of Russia depends on us. Everything is in our hands, and the salvation of each person depends on himself. One day one comes to the elder and decides: “Are you a wise old man or not? I'll check it out." He caught a butterfly and said: “I’ll find out whether he’s insightful or not.” I'll ask him whether the butterfly is alive or not. He holds it in his hand like this, and he thinks: “If he says “alive,” I’ll do it!” - she will be dead. If she says “dead,” I’ll just open it and she’ll fly.” He asks the elder this question, and the elder says: “Everything is in your hands.”

Dmitry Kirillov:

Vladyka, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this meeting!

Metropolitan Clement:

I would also like to thank all the viewers. We must remember that only those who follow Christ achieve the main goal - salvation. God bless you all.

In 1978, Clement became a hierodeacon

But let us return to our story about Metropolitan Clement. On December 24, 1978, Clement was ordained a hierodeacon by the Archbishop of Dmitrov, Vladimir Sabodanov. A year later he was ordained a hieromonk.

Archbishop of Dmitrovsky - Vladimir Sabodan, ordained Clement as hierodeacon

In 1981 he was elevated to the rank of abbot. Kliment Kapalin served as assistant inspector at the Moscow Theological Seminary until 1982. Then in the same year, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was elected to be Bishop of Serpukhov. He was also appointed vicar of the Moscow diocese to manage the patriarchal parishes in Canada and temporarily in the United States of America.

On July 18, 1982, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Patriarch Pimen. In the same year, in Minsk, he was consecrated Bishop of Serpukhov, vicar of the Moscow diocese.

Patriarch Pimen - ordained Clement to the rank of archimandrite in 1982

On March 23, 1987, he ceased to be the manager of the patriarchal parishes, as he was relieved of this position. In 1989 he was awarded the rank of archbishop.

Biography

Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement (German Mikhailovich Kapalin) was born on August 7, 1949 in the village of Udelnaya, Ramensky district, Moscow region, into a working-class family. After graduating from high school, he entered the Moscow Mechanical Engineering College.

In 1970 he entered the 2nd grade of the Moscow Theological Seminary. From October of the same year to November 1972 he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army. Then he continued his studies at the seminary.

In 1974 he graduated from the seminary and entered the Moscow Theological Academy.

Since 1977, he took part in the work of the World Orthodox Youth Organization "Syndesmos" and the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe (ESME).

In 1978 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate's degree in theology, and remained with it as an assistant inspector and teacher in the correspondence education sector.

On December 7, 1978, the MDA inspector Archimandrite Alexander tonsured him into monasticism with the name Clement in honor of the Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Rome.

On December 24 of the same year, Archbishop Vladimir of Dmitrov ordained him a hierodeacon.

On April 7, 1979 he was ordained hieromonk. In the same year he was appointed teacher of general church history at the MDS.

On October 14, 1981, he was elevated to the rank of abbot. In 1981-1982 he acted as senior assistant inspector of the MDS. In 1981 he was elected a member of the ESME executive committee. On July 18, 1982, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

On August 8, 1982, in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Minsk, he was consecrated Bishop of Serpukhov, vicar of the Moscow diocese, and appointed manager of the patriarchal parishes in Canada and temporarily in the USA. The ordination was performed by: Metropolitan of Minsk and Belarus Philaret, Archbishop of Kharkov and Bogodukhov Nikodim, Bishop of Tula and Belevsky German, Bishop of Pinsk Athanasius.

On March 23, 1987, he was released from the management of the patriarchal parishes in Canada and appointed manager of the patriarchal parishes in the USA. By decree of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of May 19, 1989, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

Since July 20, 1990 - Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk and at the same time - First Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

During the management of Metropolitan Clement of the Kaluga diocese, the number of churches increased 6 times, 7 monasteries, a theological seminary and theological school, 2 charitable missions, a spiritual and educational one in Obninsk and an evening Theological school for the laity in Kaluga were opened. The diocese began to publish an Orthodox magazine, two newspapers, a theological and historical collection, and created a website. In 2003, edited by Archbishop Clement, the album “The Land of Kaluga is a Holy Land” was published, which was awarded the national prize of the Russian Biographical Institute in the category “Best Books and Publishing Houses of the Year” in the same year.

Metropolitan Clement pays special attention to working with young people. Many churches and monasteries have Sunday schools, the first of which appeared under his personal care. Earlier than throughout Russia, the traditions of opening Christmas compositions near churches and processions of Christoslavs were revived in Kaluga. With the blessing of Bishop Clement, the country’s first orphanage for girls from families suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism was created at the St. Nicholas Convent in Maloyaroslavets. Through his efforts, two Orthodox gymnasiums and an Orthodox youth school were formed and are successfully operating.

Through the efforts of Vladyka Clement, good Orthodox traditions were introduced into public life, national veneration and celebration of the memory of Kaluga saints and great church holidays were revived. Cooperation between the Church and secular institutions has been established, in particular, in organizing the celebration of the Nativity of Christ and Easter, anniversaries of monasteries and churches, holding festivals of children's creativity, annual Kireev and Educational readings, etc.

From 1993 to 1996 - member of the Public Chamber under the President of the Russian Federation.

Since 1996, he has been the rector of the Kaluga Theological Seminary and teaches Orthodox asceticism there.

From 1997 to 2000, he represented the Russian Orthodox Church in the inter-Orthodox commission for the preparation of the pan-Orthodox celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ; headed the secretariat for preparing and holding the celebration.

On December 26, 2003, he was appointed Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate and a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

On February 25, 2004 he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

Since October 2005 - member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Since January 2006 - Chairman of the Commission for the Preservation of Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation.

Metropolitan Clement is the Chairman of the organizing committee of the International Educational Christmas Readings.

He headed the organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the Church and public forum “Spiritual and moral foundations of the demographic development of Russia” (October 2004), the first festival of Orthodox media “Faith and Word” (November 2004), the celebration of the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo (May-November 2005) .

By resolution of the Holy Synod of March 31, 2009, he was relieved of his duties as Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate and appointed Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On January 21, 2010, by decision of the dissertation council of the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, the academic degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences was awarded based on the results of defending a dissertation on the topic “The activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska in 1741-1867.” (specialty “Domestic History”).

On January 29, 2010, he was elected chairman of the commission of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church on the organization of church social activities and charity.

On March 22, 2011, as the head of the publishing council, he became a member of the revived Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On September 16, 2014, he defended his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences on the topic “The Russian Orthodox Church and the development of the Pacific North in the 18th-19th centuries. (based on materials from Alaska).”

Member of the joint dissertation council D 999.073.04 in theology of the All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Orthodox St. Tikhon's Humanitarian University, Moscow State University and the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.

On February 1, 2022, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was included in the organizing committee created at the same time to implement the program of church-wide events for the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the era of persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On October 15, 2022, he was elected chairman of the commission of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church on issues of public life, culture, science and information.

Education:

1974 - Moscow Theological Seminary.

1978 - Moscow Theological Academy; candidate's dissertation on the topic “The spiritual appearance and behavior of a shepherd.”

Diocese:

Kaluga and Borovsk diocese - ruling bishop.

Place of work:

Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church - chairman.

Scientific works, publications:

Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement. In the land of holy memories. Publishing house of Kaluga Theological Seminary. 2004.

Speech at the naming of Bishop of Serpukhov // ZhMP. 1982. No. 10. P. 6; The Kireyevsky brothers - the path of Christian formation // Ivan and Peter Kireyevsky in Russian culture. Publishing house Grif. Kaluga. 2001. pp. 5-10.

Missionary service of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska // Theological and historical collection. Publishing house of Kaluga Theological Seminary. No. 1. 2003. P. 35-78.

Saint Innocent and the dawn of the Orthodox mission in Alaska // Theological and historical collection. Publishing house of Kaluga Theological Seminary. No. 2. 2004. P. 35-126.

The Orthodox family in the formation of the Russian state // Seventh educational Theotokos-Christmas readings. Collection of reports. Obninsk 2004. pp. 5-9.

Worldview and lifestyle of modern youth // Sixth educational Mother of God-Christmas readings. Collection of reports. Obninsk 2004. pp. 9-19.

Tasks of Orthodox media and the moral responsibility of a journalist // Materials of the First International Festival of Orthodox Media November 16-18, 2004. Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. Moscow. 2005. pp. 37-49.

The well-being of society lies in the firmness of faith, in spiritual and moral growth // Spiritual and moral foundations of the demographic development of Russia (materials of the church and public forum). October 18-19, 2004. Moscow. 2005. pp. 11-18.

"The Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska before 1917." 2009. Monograph.

The Russian Orthodox Church and the development of the Pacific North in the 18th–19th centuries. (based on materials from Alaska). // Doctoral dissertation, 2014.

Orthodoxy in Alaska: a retrospective of development in 1741-1917, 2014.

Eternal questions. Conversations about God, creation and man. Nikea, 2017.

Take action today. Publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2022.

Milestones of Lent. Siberian Blagozvonnitsa, 2022.

Numerous publications in the central and local press - both church and secular.

Awards:

Church:

· 2022 - medal “For hard work in the field of spiritual enlightenment”, 1st class. (Training Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church).

· 2022 - Patriarchal charter;

· 2022 - Order of the Holy Confessor Nicholas of Alma-Ata (Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan);

· 2022 - Order of St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow III century;

· 2022 - medal “25 years of the Kemerovo diocese”;

· 2022 - medal “For Sacrificial Labor” (Izhevsk Diocese);

· 2009 - Order of St. Alexis of Moscow, II degree;

· 2007 - Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, II degree;

· 2004 - Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, II degree;

· 2000 - Order of the Martyr Tryphon, II degree;

· 2000 - Order of the Holy Apostle Mark, I degree, of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church;

· 1999 - Order of St. Innocent of Moscow, II degree;

· 1998 - Order of St. Clement of Ohrid, 1st degree, of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church;

· 1997 - Order of the Holy Sepulcher Brotherhood, 1st degree, of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem;

· 1996 - Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, II degree;

· 1989 - Order of St. Herman of Alaska of the Orthodox Church in America;

· 1986 - Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, II degree.

Secular:

· 2022 - honorary badge of the governor of the Kaluga region “For personal contribution to the development of the Kaluga region.”

· 2022 - Order of the Russian Book Union;

· 2022 - honorary memorial sign “Order of the Star of Bethlehem” (IPPO);

· 2022 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III class;

· 2022 - Order named after. Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire V.K. Plehve;

· 2016 - medal “120 years since the birth of G.K. Zhukov";

· 2014 - national award “Best Books and Publishing Houses of the Year - 2013” ​​for the development of book publishing;

· 2009 - Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree.

· 2001, 2003 - national award of the Russian Biographical Institute in the category “Person of the Year”;

· 2000 - Order of Honor;

· 1988 - Order of Friendship of Peoples.

· 1997 - medal of the 850th anniversary of Moscow.

Since 1990, Clement becomes Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk

And on July 20, 1990, he became Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk, and also became the first deputy chairman of the department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. Since 1993, Kliment has been a member of the Public Chamber under the President of the Russian Federation.

Since 1996, he became the rector of the Kaluga Theological Seminary, where he teaches Orthodox asceticism.

Since 1997, Clement has represented the Russian Orthodox Church in the inter-Orthodox commission for preparing public celebrations for the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ. He also headed the secretariat for preparation and conduct.

Clement - Kaluga and Borovsky becomes the manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, and also begins to represent the Russian Orthodox Church in the commission for organizing various events

In 2003, he was appointed manager of the Moscow Patriarchate. He was also one of the likely successors of Patriarch Alexy I himself. In 2004, he was elevated to the rank of metropolitan.

Since 2005, Metropolitan Clement has become the chairman of the commission for international educational Christmas readings, and the main member of the commission for their preparation and conduct.

In 2006, with his active participation, educational readings began in the federal districts of Russia. From 2005 to 2010 he was a member of the Chamber of the Russian Federation.

He also more than once headed various organizing committees in celebrating events, such as the celebration of the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo.

On January 29, 2009, Metropolitan Clement was elected one of 3 candidates for the patriarchal throne in Moscow. He received 169 votes, losing this place to Metropolitan Kirill.

On March 31, he was relieved of his post as manager of the affairs of the patriarchate, and then appointed chairman of the publishing council of the same place. In 2010, Clement was awarded the academic degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences, after defending his dissertation.

In the same year, he was elected chairman of the commission of the inter-council presence of the church on issues of organizing social activities and charity.

Metropolitan Clement defended his dissertation in 2010, and after that he was awarded the academic degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences

Afterwards, Clement became a member of the highest church council as head. In 2014, he again defended his new dissertation for an academic degree. From February 1, 2022, he was included in the organizing committee for the implementation of the program of church-wide events.

And in 2022, Bishop Clement was elected to chair the commission of the inter-council presence of the Russian Orthodox Church on issues of life and culture.

Awards

Church:

• Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh II Art. (1986)
• Order of St. Herman of Alaska (1989, OCA)
• Order of St. blgv. book Daniel of Moscow II Art. (1996)
• Order of the Holy Sepulcher Brotherhood, 1st class. (1997, Jerusalem. PC)
• Order of St. Clement of Ohrid I Art. (1998, BOC)
• Order of St. Innocent of Moscow II Art. (1999)
• Order of Ap. Mark I Art. (2000, AlPC)
• Order of martyr Tryphon II Art. (2000)
• Order of St. equal to book Vladimir II Art. (2004)
• Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov II Art. (2007)
• Order of St. Alexy of Moscow II Art. (2009) [9]
• Order of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow, II Art. (2014) [10]

Secular:

• Order of Friendship of Peoples of the USSR (1988)
• national award of the Russian Biographical Institute in the category “Person of the Year” (2001, 2003)
• Order of Honor of the Russian Federation (2000)
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (for great contribution to the development of spiritual culture and strengthening friendship between peoples, 2009) [11]

Clement wrote several books that were intended for the laity

Metropolitan Clement wrote several books that were published for sale. One of these is a book written in 2012 called “Word and Faith.” This book contains the thoughts, reflections and advice of Metropolitan Clement, which have absorbed many years of experience in serving in the church.

The book of Metropolitan Clement is “Word and Faith.” The book contains the thoughts, reflections and advice of Metropolitan Clement, which have absorbed many years of experience in serving in the church.

The Bishop’s reflections raise various problems of the modern world and society, which instruct and strengthen people in their faith. This book will be of interest not only to people in church activities, but also to ordinary lay people who are interested in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Another of Metropolitan Clement’s most famous books is “Act Today.” This book is a collection of conversations about Christian life in our modern world. The starting point for all conversations is the Gospel parables, which Metropolitan Clement refers to in this book. It is presented to a wide range of readers of the Orthodox faith.

The book of Metropolitan Clement is “Act Today.” This book is a collection of conversations about Christian life in our modern world

In 2022, the Metropolitan wrote a new book, “Eternal Questions. Conversations about God, creation and man." The book tells about the creation of the world, the fall of the first people, heaven and hell. And also about the causes of human suffering and the way to save him from this suffering.

The book of Metropolitan Clement is “Eternal Questions.” The book tells about the creation of the world, the fall of the first people, heaven and hell, as well as the causes of human suffering.

Bishop Clement himself admitted that the reason for writing such a book was one incident when a boy came up to him and asked “Who created God?”

To answer this question, the Metropolitan first wrote a short article, and it was this that marked the beginning of a whole series of theological texts. All these articles were published in the newspaper, where Vladyka began to write a weekly column.

But now all these articles have been collected into one single book. The book is intended for both priests and ordinary lay people, as well as a book for those who have just begun to become interested in issues of the Orthodox faith.

In his Sunday sermon on Peter and Fevronia, Metropolitan Clement says that these saints should be taken as the basis for all family life. These saints are prayed to strengthen relationships with each other, because they first achieved their love for God. The Bishop also recalls the words from the Gospel read at the service:

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Original of this material © Moscow News, 10/14/2005

Clement of Kaluga and... Kremlin

The Kremlin points to a new successor to the patriarch

Alexander Soldatov

On September 30, President Vladimir Putin signed a Decree appointing one third of the members of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. The president's appointees include five religious leaders. But only one of them represents the largest denomination in the country, to which, according to estimates of this denomination itself, about 80% of Russians belong to varying degrees. To the surprise of many, the Russian Orthodox Church in the Public Chamber will be represented by Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Kliment (Kapalin), manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate - a highly non-public figure and little known to the secular public. Overall, a dark horse.

Redistribution of church power

Even people far from the Church are well aware of the name of “man number two” in the Moscow Patriarchate. This is Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev), who never leaves television screens and enters various serious offices, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations (DECR). Over the last 15 years, he so actively represented the Church in various government bodies, foundations, and the media, and so often accompanied the patriarch and even the president during important foreign visits that it became impossible to imagine the church leadership without him. Experts agreed: Metropolitan Kirill is the most likely candidate for patriarch after the departure of Alexy II.

But in the Kremlin offices, dissatisfaction with Kirill slowly and long simmered. The hierarch-oligarch adopted the principles of “wild capitalism” of the 90s: relying on serious capital (several billion dollars) and good connections in the world of politics and business, including outside Russia, he tried to speak with the Kremlin “on an equal footing”, offering to consider The Russian Orthodox Church as an “equal partner” of the Putin administration. Metropolitan Kirill made a sharp demarche at a meeting in the Kremlin at the end of August. He spoke out against the inclusion of clergy in the Public Chamber, which would “inevitably divide the religious community of Russia.” Kirill actually equated the created chamber to a government body, participation in the work of which will put the Church in a state dependent on the authorities, which means the conversation will end “on equal terms.” Metropolitan Kirill also publicly called on the leaders of other Russian faiths that are members of the Interreligious Council of Russia, which is under the care of the DECR, not to join the Public Chamber.

The calls were in vain. President Putin dealt a blow to the reputation of Metropolitan Kirill from which that reputation is unlikely to recover. Just a month after Kirill’s loud statements, Putin included religious figures (these are leaders of Russian Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Protestants) in the Public Chamber, including entrusting Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk to represent the Russian Orthodox Church in the new body. The latter readily commented on his new appointment to the press: working in the chamber, he intends to influence the coordination of newly adopted laws in the country with Orthodox values ​​and, accordingly, with the interests of the Russian Orthodox Church.

At the same time, Patriarch Alexy II publicly contrasted Clement with Kirill. On his trip to Azerbaijan on September 14-15, the patriarch took the Kaluga hierarch, while according to protocol, the chairman of the DECR should accompany the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. Putin also did not invite the church’s “Minister of Foreign Affairs” either to Holy Mount Athos or to a meeting with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus in New York. In such a concentrated form as in this “Black September,” Metropolitan Kirill has never been “humbled.”

Let us note that both the current Patriarch Alexy II and his predecessor, Patriarch Pimen, worked as administrators of the Moscow Patriarchate before their election to the patriarchal throne. This is truly a “springboard” position: all information about the life of the dioceses flows to the manager, local bishops are subordinate to him and get used to fearing him, in addition, the manager is the secretary of the Holy Synod, which means he prepares working materials for the highest body of church authority. At the same time, Metropolitan Clement remains the administrator of the Kaluga diocese, and is not transferred as a vicar to Moscow (according to the statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church, only a diocesan bishop can become a patriarch, and not a vicar (assistant bishop).

In addition to managing affairs, Metropolitan Clement oversees the press service of the Moscow Patriarchate (headed by priest Vladimir Vigilyansky), the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis, and the Education Committee. The Patriarchate constantly talks about the fact that Clement wants to appoint his younger brother, Archbishop Dimitri, who is “stuck” in the distant Tobolsk See, to the post of head of the Educational Committee.

"Socially responsible" hierarch

Metropolitan Clement is indeed not a public person, but an armchair one. If he speaks out openly, it is very carefully and always within the framework of the “general line.” In a democracy, leaders of this type have little chance, but in a corrupt and bureaucratic era, their finest hour comes. If we express Clement’s ideology in one phrase, it would be a quote from his speech at a recent meeting of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation: “Let me express my sincere gratitude to the President of our country, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, for his constant attention to the needs of believers.” It is enough to take any issue of the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” for the 1940s to the 1980s to be convinced that every more or less important speech of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Soviet period began with such words.

However, the position obliges Bishop Clement to come up with “original” initiatives. For example, at the First Orthodox Media Festival in Moscow, he called for the creation of “special public bodies that would protect society from the propaganda of violence and vice,” and at a church conference on demography in Nizhny Novgorod, he proposed banning abortion. Under the guidance of the Patriarchate's legal advisers, he worked hard to push through church amendments to the Tax and Land Codes. Now each temple can receive ownership of the land on which it stands, but taxes will still have to be paid for it. Metropolitan Kliment is credited with a sensational amendment to the current law on freedom of conscience, which was allegedly recently submitted to the Duma Committee on Public and Religious Organizations. The author of the amendment proposes to deprive local religious organizations (parishes) of the legal entity status in order to concentrate all property in the hands of the religious center (patriarchate and dioceses), that is, to carry out a kind of church deprivatization. For the manager of the affairs of the patriarchate, which chronically does not receive funds from dioceses and parishes, this is a completely logical move. “For social service you need real estate,” Bishop Clement likes to emphasize.

For the model of church-state relations that is now being nurtured in the presidential administration, Metropolitan Clement is certainly much better suited than Metropolitan Kirill. So in the office of presidential plenipotentiary Georgy Poltavchenko there used to be a photograph of Kirill, and now of Kliment. This model, which is quite consistent with the general idea of ​​the vertical, is that the Russian Orthodox Church should turn from an “equal partner” into a “socially responsible institution.” In other words, its functionaries must stop earning capital from various kinds of benefits, humanitarian aid and the “guilt complex” of the authorities towards believers, and must take upon themselves part of the state’s concerns for disadvantaged citizens, who, by the way, make up the bulk of the ROC flock. To exercise “social control” over such a “socially responsible institution,” a special body similar to the Soviet Council for Religious Affairs will be created. And the DECR as a symbol of the independent foreign policy of the Church may be completely abolished...

One priest of the Kaluga diocese, who often attended receptions with Metropolitan Clement, told me about the bishop’s characteristic reaction to “inconvenient” questions. Without answering anything, he goes to his computer, turns it on and looks at the monitor for a long time. If the answer still does not come to mind, the Metropolitan simply moves the conversation to another topic. The ability to remain silent is especially valued by the current government.

MN dossier

Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement (in the world German Mikhailovich Kapalin) was born on August 7, 1949 in the village of Ramenskoye, Moscow Region. After serving in the army and studying at a mechanical engineering college, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy, from which he graduated in 1978. He became a monk at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and became a senior assistant inspector, traveling abroad through international Christian organizations.

In 1982, he was appointed Bishop of Serpukhov, administrator of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada, and became the holder of a Soviet diplomatic passport. Having become an archbishop, in 1990 he was appointed administrator of the Kaluga diocese and deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, where he oversaw foreign institutions and pilgrimage trips. In 2004, he was appointed manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, a permanent member of the Holy Synod and elevated to the rank of metropolitan. He was a member of the Public Chamber under the President of the Russian Federation (1993 - 1996), a commission under the Government of the Russian Federation for improving tax legislation, and a member of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations under the President of the Russian Federation.

The list of bibliography of Metropolitan Clement's scientific works includes an essay for the degree of candidate of theology at the Moscow Theological Academy and a speech at his naming as Bishop of Serpukhov.

CLIMENT

(Kapalin German Mikhailovich; born 08/07/1949, Udelnaya village, Ramensky district, Moscow region), Metropolitan. Kaluzhsky and Borovsky. From a believing family. Father - Mikhail Gerasimovich Kapalin (1914-1965), worker, war participant; mother - Kapalina Maria Alekseevna (later schema. Maria, born in 1916, nun of the Maloyaroslavets Chernoostrovsky monastery in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker). Three of his brothers also became clergy: Rev. Nikolai Popov, rector of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” in Kuntsevo (Moscow), archimandrite. Vasily (Kapalin, 1946-2006), Metropolitan of Tobolsk and Tyumen. Dimitry (Kapalin). The family had close ties with the Trinity-Sergius Lavra; the Kapalins received Lavra monks, believers from Siberia, Ukraine and other places who sought spiritual support in the Lavra. In the house they often talked about faith, spiritual life, and how people defended their churches from closure. K. was influenced by the confessors of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, schema-archim. Seraphim (Romantsov), Archimandrites Theodorit (Vorobiev), Tikhon (Agrikov), Varnava (Kedrov; now Metropolitan of Cheboksary), Simon (Novikov; later Metropolitan).

After graduating from high school, he entered the Moscow Mechanical Engineering College. Since 1970 he studied at the Moscow DS (with a break for military service in 1970-1972). In 1974, after graduating from the seminary, he entered the MDA. In 1978 he graduated from the MDA with a candidate of theology degree for Op. “The spiritual appearance and behavior of a shepherd.” In 1978-1982. teacher of general church history and assistant inspector of the Moscow DS. In 1981-1982 And. O. senior assistant inspector.

Clement (Kapalin), Metropolitan. Kaluzhsky and Borovsky. Photo. 2014 Clement (Kapalin), Metropolitan. Kaluzhsky and Borovsky. Photo. 2014

7 Dec. 1978 took monastic vows with the name Clement in honor of St. Clement, bishop Rimsky. The tonsure was performed by the MDA inspector Archimandrite. Alexander (Timofeev; subsequently Archbishop of Saratov and Volsky). 24 Dec the same year, he was ordained by the rector of the MDA, Archbishop Dmitrovsky. Vladimir (Sabodan; subsequently Metropolitan of Kiev) to deacon, April 7. 1979 - became a priest. Oct 14 1981 elevated to the rank of abbot. In 1977-1982. took part in the work of the World Orthodox Youth Organization "Syndesmos" and the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe, since 1981 a member of the ESME Executive Committee.

On July 16, 1982, at a meeting of the Priest. The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church was elected by elevation to archimandrite to be Bishop of Serpukhov, vicar of the Moscow diocese, administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and temporarily in the USA. On July 18, 1982, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Patriarch Pimen at the Trinity Cathedral of TSL. Aug 8 In the same year, K.’s episcopal consecration took place in the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk, headed by Metropolitan of Minsk. Filaret (Vakhromeev). On March 23, 1987, K. was released from the management of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and was appointed manager of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA. On May 19, 1989 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

In the USA, K.'s activities were associated with the strengthening of inter-parish unity, the consolidation of the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA with the spiritual center in St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York. Repeatedly visited the Orthodox Church. religious educational institutions: St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, pc. New York, St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Kanan, pc. Pennsylvania, Greek Seminary of the Holy Cross in Brookline, PA. Massachusetts. In 1986, he toured the parishes of Alaska, where he venerated the relics of St. Herman of Alaska, studied history and modern times. state of church life. K. established a dialogue with representatives of the Orthodox Church in America and other local Churches, and held regular meetings with bishops, clergy and laity of the ROCOR. Participated in state and public events, met with US President R. Reagan, UN Secretary General J. Perez de Cuellar, with representatives of the US Government, state governors, senators, congressmen, public and religious. figures.

Participant of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on June 7-8, 1990, at which Patriarch Alexy II was elected head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On July 20, 1990, he was appointed Archbishop of Kaluga and Borovsk and at the same time deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. He headed the delegations of the Russian Orthodox Church at meetings of the inter-Orthodox Preparatory Commission of the Holy and Great Council on issues of Orthodoxy. diaspora (Chambesy, Switzerland, Nov. 1990), at the Conference of Canonists on Orthodoxy. diaspora (Chambesy, Apr. 1995), at a pan-Orthodox meeting to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ (Dec. 1995). On June 6, 1995, he became chairman of the award public commission established by the Priests. Synod of the Order and Medal of St. martyr Tryphon. From 11 Oct. 1996 member of the working group of the Priest. Synod to develop a draft concept reflecting a church-wide view on church-state issues. relations and problems of modern times. society as a whole. In 1996-2000 the working group prepared the “Fundamentals of the social concept of the Russian Orthodox Church”, approved by the Bishops' Jubilee Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on August 13-16. 2000 In 1997-2000 was a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Inter-Orthodox Commission for the preparation of the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ in the Holy Land (1997-2000).

26 Dec 2003 appointed manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and permanent member of the Holy. Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. 25 Feb 2004 elevated to the rank of metropolitan. From 2004 to 2009, Chairman of the International Educational Christmas Readings and the commission for their preparation and conduct. He headed the organizing committees for the preparation and holding of the church-public forum “Spiritual and moral foundations of the demographic development of Russia” (October 2004), the 1st (November 2004) and 2nd (October-November 2006) Orthodox festivals. Media "Faith and Word"; celebrations of the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo (May-September 2005) and the 90th anniversary of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church (October-November 2007). Initiator of the establishment of the award and chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church commission for holding the competition “For the moral deed of a teacher” (2006-2009).

In 1993-1996 K. was a member of the Public Chamber under the President of Russia. In 1994-2009 was a member of the Commission on Religious Issues. associations under the Government of the Russian Federation. From 2004 to 2009, member of the Council for Interaction with Religions. associations under the President of Russia. Since Oct. 2005 to Jan. Since 2010, he was a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, and was the chairman of the Public Chamber Commission for the Preservation of Spiritual and Cultural Heritage (since 2006).

Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 25 2009 elected one of 3 candidates for the Patriarchal throne (received 32 votes). 27 Jan at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009, according to the results of voting in the election of the patriarch, he took 2nd place (169 votes out of 702 voters). March 31, 2009 Priest. The Synod appointed him chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church and relieved him of his duties as manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate. Since 2010, Chairman of the Commission of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church on the organization of church social activities and charity. Since March 22, 2011, member of the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. Chairman of the open competition for publications “Enlightenment through books” (since 2009). Secretary of the Chamber of Trustees of the Patriarchal Lit. Prize named after St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius (since 2010).

As the ruling bishop of Kaluga, K. put a lot of effort into reviving church life in the diocese. By the time K. took over the administration of the diocese, there were only 34 church communities (some without prayer rooms). K con. In 1990, 11 new communities were organized, and in 1992 there were already 80 parishes operating and all had churches or prayer rooms. In most cases, the initiator of the opening of new churches was the bishop. In subsequent years, the process of returning temples and building churches continued. In Obninsk, with the personal participation of K., land was obtained and a temple was built in honor of the Nativity of Christ. At the same time, there was a revival of monastic life and the restoration of mon-rays, closed during the years of Soviet power. By the time K. arrived at the department, there were no diocesan monasteries in the region (there were only 2 stauropegial monasteries). In the first 2 years of K.’s stay at the Kaluga See, 4 monasteries were opened: Pafnutiev Borovsky in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy. Mother of God husband monastery, Tikhonova Kaluga in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy. Mother of God husband empty., Chernoostrovsky Nikolaevsky female. monastery in Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God of Women. mon-ry. The system of spiritual education and religions was re-created. education. In 1992, the Kaluga DU was opened, in 1997 it was transformed into a DS, in which K. was acting rector, and since May 29, 2013 - rector. Over the years, K. taught church history, patrolology and asceticism at the Kaluga DS. K. is also a professor at KSU. K. E. Tsiolkovsky.

Under K., active social work was carried out in the Kaluga diocese: for example, in 1993, the first shelter in Russia for girls “Otrada” was opened at the monastery in Maloyaroslavets. The spiritual needs of society led to the creation of spiritual and educational centers. The first one was opened in Obninsk in 1997, now there are 8 of them in the diocese. Since 1998, the diocese has held annual educational readings of the Nativity of the Mother of God. In 1998, on the basis of the former. pioneer camp "Koster", transferred to diocesan ownership, the PMC "Zlatoust" was formed. In 2013, the Kaluga diocese consisted of 156 parishes, 7 mon-ray and 6 monastic communities, DS, DU, 3 Orthodox. gymnasium. In Pafnutievo Borovsky husband. mon-re and Tikhonova Uspensky husband. empty K. is a holy archimandrite. Oct 2 2013 The Kaluga diocese was transformed into the Kaluga Metropolis, uniting the Kaluga, Kozelsk and Pesochensk dioceses, K. was appointed head of the newly formed Kaluga Metropolis.

From October 2013 to May 2014, he temporarily ruled the Pesochensk diocese.

He has more than 100 publications in theological and scientific journals, as well as in electronic media on church-historical, educational, spiritual-moral, and social topics. Conducts an author's column in gas. “Evening Moscow”, where articles on the topic of Sunday Gospel readings are published weekly. Author of a number of scientific works on the history of Orthodoxy in the North. America. In 2009, K.’s monograph “ROC in Alaska before 1917” was awarded the Metropolitan Prize. Macarius (Bulgakov). In 2010, K. was awarded the academic degree of Candidate of Historical Sciences for his dissertation on the topic of the monograph. He was awarded the national prize of the Russian Biographical Institute in the category “Person of the Year” in 2001, 2003, 2013. In 2014, he was awarded the National Prize “Best Books and Publishing Houses of the Year - 2013” ​​for the development of book publishing.

On September 16, 2014, at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, he defended his dissertation on the topic “The Russian Orthodox Church and the development of the Pacific North in the 18th-19th centuries. (based on materials from Alaska)" for the degree of Doctor of Historical Sciences.

Awarded the Order of the Russian Orthodox Church St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2nd degree (1986), blgv. book Daniel of Moscow 2nd degree (1996), St. Innokenty of Moscow, 2nd degree (1999), martyr. Tryphon 2nd degree (2000), St. book Vladimir, 2nd degree (2004), St. Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd degree (2007), St. Alexia, Metropolitan Moskovsky, 2nd degree (2009); Order of St. blgv. book Daniil of Moscow 3rd degree (2019); Order of the Holy Nikolai Alma-Ata (2019); Order of St. Herman of Alaska of the Orthodox Church in America (1989), the Order of the Holy Sepulcher Brotherhood of the 1st degree of the Jerusalem Patriarchate (1997), the Order of St. Clement of Ohrid, 1st degree of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (1998), Order of St. Stamp of the 1st class of the Patriarchate of Alexandria (2000); state orders of Friendship of Peoples (1988), Honor (2000) and “For Services to the Fatherland”, 4th degree (2009).

Works: The Kireyevsky brothers - the path of Christian formation // Ivan and Peter Kireyevsky in Russian. culture: Sat. Kaluga, 2001. P. 5-10; Mission of the Church today. Kaluga, 2003; Missionary service of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska // Theological-ist. Sat. Kaluga, 2003. Issue. 1. P. 35-78; In the land of holy memories. Kaluga, 2004; Worldview and lifestyle of modern times. youth // Mother of God-Christmas Thursdays, 6th. Obninsk, 2004. P. 9-19; Orthodox family in the formation of the Russian state // Ibid., 7th. 2004. P. 5-9; Tasks of the Orthodox Church Media and the moral responsibility of a journalist // Faith and Word: Materials of the 1st International. Orthodox festival Media, 16-18 Nov. 2004 M., 2005. P. 37-49; The well-being of society consists in the firmness of faith, in spiritual and moral growth // Spiritual and moral foundations of the demographic development of Russia: Materials of church-societies. forum, October 18-19. 2004 M., 2005. P. 11-18; St. Innocent and the rise of Orthodoxy. missions in Alaska (1824-1867) // Theological-ist. Sat. 2005. Vol. 2. P. 35-126; Eschatology in the book. prophet Isaiah // Eschatological teaching of the Church: Theological materials. conf. ROC. M., 2007. P. 110-115; On the prospects of studying Orthodoxy. culture and spiritual and moral education in Russia. school // ZhMP. 2008. No. 3. P. 40-44; Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska before 1917. M., 2009; Growing in faith. Kaluga, 2009; On the issue of the participation of clergy in the 2nd Kamchatka expedition // Vestn. Tambov University. Ser.: Humanite. Sciences. 2010. Issue. 2(82). pp. 219-224; Questions of the history of the Kodiak Vicariate and the synodal management of missionary activity in Alaska // Ibid. 2010. Issue. 3(83). pp. 307-316; Distribution of Russian spiritual culture among the Tlingit Indians during the period of Russian America // UZ Ros. state social university M., 2010. No. 2(78). pp. 6-10; Corpus Theophanicum: On the preparation of the 1st scientific-enlightenment. edition of the Complete collection. creations of St. Feofan the Recluse // ZhMP. 2012. No. 3. P. 80-82; At the review of Orthodox. literature there is no alternative // ​​Ibid. 2013. No. 2. P. 82-87; Coverage of the missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Siberia in secular periodicals of the 19th century. // Library Science. 2013. No. 6. P. 48-53; State protection interests and the spread of Orthodoxy in the Pacific North // Vestn. RAS. 2013. T. 83. No. 9. P. 839-843; Alaska: Successful mission // ZhMP. 2014. No. 1. P. 36-43; The sociocultural aspect of missionary service in Alaska by St. Innocent (Veniaminova) // Vestn. Tambov University. Ser.: Humanite. Sciences. 2014. Vol. 1(129). pp. 105-109.

Lit.: Naming and consecration of Archimandrite. Clement (Kapalina) in ep. Serpukhovsky // ZhMP. 1982. No. 10. P. 6-9; Definitions of the Holy Synod // Ibid. 1987. No. 5. P. 4; 1990. No. 10. P. 5; 1996. No. 4/5. P. 14; No. 11. P. 16; 1997. No. 3. P. 9; 1999. No. 8. P. 14; 2004. No. 1. P. 22, 25; No. 4. P. 17, 22; 2009. No. 2. P. 11-14; No. 5. P. 11; 2011. No. 5. P. 6-7; 2013. No. 7. P. 12-13; No. 11. P. 9; Patriarchal awards // Ibid. 1989. No. 9. P. 10; In St. Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church // Ibid. 1995. No. 6/8. S. 2; Kireev A., prot. Dioceses and bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1943-2002. M., 2002. S. 272-273; Church-society. forum “Spiritual and moral foundations of Russia’s demographic development” // ZhMP. 2004. No. 11. P. 56-58; Anniversary celebrations // Ibid. 2005. No. 11. P. 40-47; Kamchatka: the Orthodox mission continues // Ibid. pp. 48-50; Visit of the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan. Kaluga and Borovsk Clement to the Chelyabinsk diocese // Ibid. 2007. No. 2. P. 30-31; Definition of the Consecrated Council of Bishops “On Candidates for the Patriarchal Throne” // Ibid. 2009. No. 2. P. 17; Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church // Ibid. pp. 26-29; Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church // Ibid. pp. 30-43.

Achilles

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August 7 marked the 70th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement (Kapalin). The Evening Moscow publication publishes an interview with Metropolitan Clement on his anniversary.

In this interview, the metropolitan, who was once the manager of the affairs of the MP under Patriarch Alexy II, and also the main competitor to Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyaev) in the struggle for the patriarchate ten years ago, tells how everything became good in the Russian Orthodox Church, despite “some critics”:

“Not everything is as bad as some critics of church life make it out to be. In Soviet times, there were two churches in Kaluga, but now there are thirty-seven. On Sundays and holidays they are filled with believers. Pilgrims come to monasteries to venerate the relics of God's saints and receive spiritual support and worldly advice. Orthodox literature is published, Orthodox TV channels and radio stations operate. A lot has been done so that people can learn more about faith and live as Christians. And each person makes his own choice. God gave us freedom in this.”

The Metropolitan also recalled the “harassment” of the clergy that is currently underway:

“Today there is no open persecution of the Church, but an information war and persecution are being waged against the clergy. Therefore, the generation of young bishops is required to be collected, demanding of themselves, and educated. The bishop should not isolate himself from the clergy and laity, but live one life with his flock. Life is not easy for the common people now, and the bishop must understand this. In all things, he must treat others as he would like to be treated. This is the golden principle of attitude towards our neighbors, indicated to us by Christ Himself.”

Let us recall that in the Kaluga diocese there is the Nikolsky Chernoostrovsky convent headed by Abbess Nikolai, about which Maria Kikot’s “Confession of a Former Novice” was written. Metropolitan Clement did not react in any way to the accusations against the abbess.

A former cleric of the diocese, a famous missionary, and now a bishop of an alternative jurisdiction, Ignatius (Dushein) told our project about the order in male monasticism of the Kaluga diocese (see the stories “Ambrose” , “Pachomius” , “Auxentius” ). One quote from the last story, about the standard diocesan meeting in the Kaluga diocese:

“The Metropolitan begins his speech. First, the words will be heard that “everything with us is growing and multiplying.” Then about the fact that “we do not correspond to our high rank and ministry” (of course, this means not the Metropolitan, but his listeners, but out of “humility” he always says “we”). Perhaps today a pre-prepared “impromptu” will be heard - some example from life, such as a story about a priest talking on a mobile phone during a service, whose wickedness was noticed by the watchful eye of the archpastor (in fact, everyone in the hall knows WHO really is in the habit of talking on the phone in altar). And in the end, having experienced the catharsis of an exciting speech and, as it were, softened by the flow of harsh criticism addressed to his subordinates, the Metropolitan, as, indeed, always, will congratulate everyone on the holidays and thank them for their service.

Our good metropolitan. Vegetarian (in the sense of not a cannibal). He can, of course, lose his temper, but he is easy-going. The money is shaking - but not to death (who is smarter, underestimates the income by several times). Not “blue,” again, which fills the hearts of the clergy with pride. One might say that in modern times he is almost a righteous man.

The obligatory culmination of the Metropolitan’s speech is a mention of the insufficient work of priests with young people. “I have been coming to your parishes for decades,” the saint of the regional land excitedly broadcasts, “I saw before that you had some children in the altar, reading, serving censers. And where are they now? I arrive and see that they are not in the temple. You missed them! This is your pastoral failure! You will give an answer for their souls!” — a long and piercing gaze scans the ranks of the clergy, bashfully bowed down from the consciousness of their own exclusion. Usually after this ceremonial flogging there is a transition to calls to increase, strengthen, sharpen, aggravate, strengthen and raise ...

I've been sitting and listening to THIS for years now. And I think about Ambrose, Pachomius and Auxentius. And about many more who took monastic vows and holy orders at the hands of the eloquent Viti. Who paid with their lives, mental health or broken fate for their illusions, for faith in “spiritual” leaders, for the naive assumption that they don’t give a damn about them. They were still boys and did not know either themselves or the consequences that inevitably awaited them. But the one who threw them like kittens into a whirlpool - didn’t he know?

“The sexton boys don’t go to churches anymore.” Horror! Terrible thing! They don't go! Boys!

Is it okay that the monks you tonsured don’t go there either? Some don’t go to churches, some don’t go anywhere at all anymore, and some haven’t walked righteous paths for a long time. And all this is hidden and swept under the altar rug. They themselves, they say, are to blame for everything: they did not make spiritual efforts. Again, everything is due to their pride, laziness and negligence! And their only fault is that they foolishly believed you.”

In January of this year, the Metropolitan said that monks are much more important for the world than engineers and grain growers.

In one of his sermons, Metropolitan Clement said that learning foreign languages ​​can be more dangerous than drunkenness:

“Why would someone have to fight the passion of alcoholism and it would be a personal achievement for him to drink not six drinks, but five. And another person, from a family of polyglots, is learning a sixth foreign language at this time. What different fates! And the fate of the second, from the outside, is more attractive.

But if you look from the point of view of salvation, the Lord will not ask us how many foreign languages ​​we know and to what extent. Or whether we know how to solve integrals, extract roots of large numbers in our heads, and so on. These skills are needed exclusively for earthly life. Yes, it is better to learn a foreign language than to drink, take drugs or fornicate. But even here there is a spiritual danger, for example, falling into pride, deciding, like the Pharisee in the parish, that “I am not like other people.” Everyone drinks and wastes time, but I develop. It is unknown what is more dangerous for spiritual life.”

Several years ago, on March 26, 2016, the Soyuz TV channel showed a broadcast of the all-night vigil from the Church on the Blood of Yekaterinburg, where Metropolitan Clement, head of the Publishing Council, theologian and doctor of historical sciences, said that “The Bible is the very first, most ancient book. The tablets are the very first writings that God gave to humanity.”

Laureate of the Patriarchal Literary Prize Konstantin Kovalev-Sluchevsky on the anniversary of the head of the Publishing Council:

“Vladyka is our good literary shepherd. Being himself an excellent author of many wonderful books, he selflessly serves the cause of preserving and reviving Russian literary traditions and helping people of creative work. Without him, there would be no existing Orthodox community of writers, and the Patriarchal Literary Prize, too, in the form in which it exists today. He wisely knows how to see through the modern literary process, while having Eternity behind him. I consider myself a happy person who had the opportunity to be next to such an ascetic, clothed in archpastoral robes. Many and Good Years, Lord! New achievements and victories in the creative field and on the path of creating a literary world accessible both to the masses and to the thoughtful, discriminating reader, with whom our Russia is full!”

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From the history of the Yekaterinburg diocese: in memory of Bishop Clement

Today, May 14, 2022, Archbishop Kliment (Prestyuk) is commemorated. Bishop Kliment, who headed the Sverdlovsk and Kurgan Sees from 1966 to 1979, is buried in the crypt of the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in the city of Yekaterinburg. Today, on the 34th anniversary of his death, a memorial service was held for the blessed Bishop Clement.

In the year of the 135th anniversary of the Ekaterinburg diocese, we continue to publish materials about its history and people. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the biography of Archbishop Clement of Sverdlovsk and Kurgan based on an article by priest Valery Lavrinov, published in the Orthodox Newspaper on May 14, 1996.

“Vladyka Kliment (in the world Andrei Adamovich Perestyuk) was born on October 15, 1904 into a peasant family in the village of Astrakhanka, Primorsky Territory. He was the seventeenth and last born into a family of poor migrants from the Kyiv province to the Far East. In the first years of their married life, his pious parents often visited the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, grieving for their children who were dying early. There, in the ancient monastery, they made a promise to God that they would dedicate one of their children to His service. Of the seven surviving children, Andrei grew up the most frail and sickly, but the Lord extended his life to old age, destining him to be the bishop of his Church. Later he recalled his childhood like this: “With some special feeling of emotional tenderness I remember my young childhood years, when we, small children, every morning in a simple village hut stood in front of ancient images with bare feet on the earthen floor, with our arms folded on our chests.” , and in their weak childish voices repeated the words of prayer for their pious mother.”

Thanks to classes at the parochial school, Andrei, at the age of 10, was already fluent in reading the Psalter and akathists. After graduating from college in 1916, he decided to devote himself to the Lord and the following year he became a novice at the Ussuri Trinity-Nicholas Monastery. It is significant that this monastery is famous for its strict communal regulations according to the rank of the Valaam monastery. To the honor of his parents, we can add that two of his sisters subsequently served God - one Euphrosyne was a nun, the other Martha was a novice, and lived with the bishop until their death. His nine-year stay in the monastery as a novice only confirmed his desire to become a monk. After the godless authorities closed the monastery in the fall of 1925, Andrei became a psalm-reader for the village of Vozdvizhenskoye in the Vladivostok diocese, and from 1929 to 1931 he served as a subdeacon with Bishop Panteleimon (Maksunov) of Khabarovsk and as a psalm-reader for the cathedral in Khabarovsk.

On December 19, 1931, Bishop Nestor (Anisimov) of Kamchatka, later Metropolitan Andrei Perestyuk, was tonsured a monk with the name Clement, and on December 27 of the same year he was ordained as a hierodeacon and appointed sacristan of the Sorrowful Church of the Kamchatka Compound in Harbin. On May 25, 1933, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk and appointed dean of the church.

Since 1937, Hieromonk Clement has been numbered among the brethren of the Kazan-Bogoroditsky Monastery of the Harbin diocese. In 1934, the future bishop graduated with honors from theological courses, and then received higher education, graduating from the Theological Faculty of the Institute of St. book Vladimir in Harbin. From 1941 to 1945 he was a teacher at the Harbin Theological Seminary. The next 6 years were spent in the parish ministry of Abbot Clement. On March 4, 1951, Bishop Nikandr of Harbin was awarded a cross with decorations, and on October 26 of the same year, Archbishop Victor of Beijing appointed him rector of the Kazan Mother of God Monastery in Harbin and elevated him to the rank of archimandrite.

In September 1955, Archimandrite Clement returned to his homeland and was soon appointed keymaster of the cathedral in Irkutsk and the right hand of Bishop Palladius, then dean of the churches of the Primorsky district. Time flew quickly in church concerns. Subsequently, the bishop recalled: “I began to feel that the time of my earthly wandering was approaching sunset. With the infirmities of age, thoughts about retiring began to appear. Among such reflections, completely unexpectedly, like a bolt from the blue, a voice from the Patriarchate sounded for me: “By the resolution of His Holiness the Patriarch of the Holy Synod, you have been determined to be the Bishop of Sverdlovsk and Kurgan.”

The consecration of Archimandrite Clement as Bishop of Sverdlovsk and Kurgan took place on Sunday, October 23, 1966, during the Divine Liturgy in the Sergius Refectory Church of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. It is noteworthy that the consecration was performed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy (Simansky), Metropolitan of Krutitsky Pimen (Izvekov) future Patriarch, Archbishop of Tallinn Alexy (Roediger) future Patriarch.

The years of administration of the diocese by Bishop Clement coincided with the years of “stagnation.” The sharply negative attitude of the state towards the Church gave rise to many different problems that fell on the head of the ruling bishop. The Bishop was deprived of the opportunity to tour parishes, ordain and move clergy. All church issues were resolved after agreement with the commissioner of the Council for Religious Affairs. But even in these difficult conditions, the bishop showed himself to be a good organizer and God-wise shepherd.

In 1976, Bishop Clement was also appointed temporary administrator of the Chelyabinsk diocese. On October 23, 1976, the Sverdlovsk flock celebrated the 10th anniversary of episcopal service. The day before, Bishop Clement served the statutory evening service, and on the day of the anniversary, the Divine Liturgy. During the liturgy, he ordained the clergyman of the St. John the Baptist Cathedral in the city of Sverdlovsk, Deacon Vladislav Petkevich, to the presbyter, and subdeacon John Stolpovsky to the deacon. After the thanksgiving service, the statutory longevity was proclaimed. On behalf of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad and Novgorod, His Eminence Clement was warmly greeted by the cleric of the Leningrad diocese, Hegumen Proclus (Khazov). From the clergy of the Sverdlovsk St. John the Baptist Cathedral, the rector, Archpriest Konstantin Chichulin, cordially congratulated his archpastor, from the Chelyabinsk diocese - the secretary of the Diocesan Administration, Protodeacon Georgy Peshkov, from the clergy and laity of the parishes of the Sverdlovsk and Kurgan regions, the bishop was congratulated by his secretary, Protodeacon Anatoly Golovin. To commemorate the anniversary, the bishop was presented with the especially revered image of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.” After reading the welcoming address, Bishop Clement blessed the clergy and laity with the holy icon of the Mother of God.

In September 1977, Vladyka was elevated to the rank of archbishop. The endless worries about managing the clergy and flock of three large regions, and the constant teasing from the Commissioner for Religious Affairs affected the health of the archpastor. In 1979, he suffered a stroke and, as a result, paralysis. Vladyka was forced to retire that same year. The entire Ural flock empathized with their beloved father. Every parishioner knew about the quiet and meek disposition of his archpastor, about his long-suffering and complacency. And everyone hoped for his speedy recovery. But God's Providence determined the ruler to be immobilized for almost 8 years. During these years, the sick person was constantly visited by Sverdlovsk archpastors and clergy. A huge amount of care work was carried out by a simple Russian woman, Maria Ivanovna Bulatova, who had been nearby all these years.

On May 14, 1986, the 82-year-old elder peacefully departed to the Lord. His funeral service took place in the St. John the Baptist Cathedral with a large crowd of people. The service was led by Archbishop Melchizedek (Lebedev) of Sverdlovsk, co-served by the city clergy and clergy from other dioceses who arrived from different parts of the country. The burial took place at the Shirokorechenskoye cemetery.

For 9 years, believers came and went in an endless stream to venerate the remains of Archbishop Clement, until the current (at the time of publication of the material on May 14, 1996 - editor's note) ruling Bishop Nikon made the godly decision to rebury his remains in the crypt of St. John the Baptist cathedral, where they remain to this day.

And may each of us, having visited under the arches of this temple, offer his fervent prayer for the repose of the soul of the ever-remembered Archbishop Clement, and may each of us not lose hope that the Lord, through our prayers, will repose his soul.
Eternal memory to you, our good Archpastor.” Share:

Time for sharp thoughts

Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement. Photo: Anton Denisov/RIA Novosti

On August 7th, the Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, turns 70 years old.
On the eve of the anniversary, he answered questions from RG. Vladyka, your name is associated with the publishing activities of the Russian Orthodox Church.
How has the book world of Russian Orthodoxy changed in post-Soviet times? What Orthodox literature remains most popular among believers and non-believers alike? What predictions can you make? Metropolitan Clement: Over the course of several decades, the situation on the book market has changed significantly. This is especially true for Orthodox literature.

Think back to a regular bookstore in the 1980s. What was there? A significant part of the publications sold are reports and decisions of party congresses. Even collections of classical works were difficult to find. You could only get a good book by subscription, exchange it for tens of kilograms of waste paper, or buy it second-hand. Religious literature was not sold at all.

Today anyone can purchase a book about Orthodoxy, and this is very important. If you carefully read small passages from the Gospel and the books of the Holy Fathers every day, this will help you find the right attitude in life. This is how a person takes the first step towards salvation.

Orthodox literature is published in small editions, but its range is diverse. These are works on the history of the church, lives of saints, fiction, books about the new martyrs and others. They are published by church and secular publishing houses, writers themselves and individual entrepreneurs. Every year, the Publishing Council receives about two thousand books, which are reviewed by our experts.

Let me remind you that, according to the decision made by the Holy Synod, only books that have the stamp of the Publishing Council can be distributed through church shops at churches and monasteries. The presence of a stamp indicates that the book reflects a Christian view of the world, there are no theological errors in it, and the work is written in good literary language. This publication is recommended for distribution through the church book network.

Nowadays, collections of Christmas and Easter stories, books by Orthodox psychologists, and missionary short stories are in demand among readers. Among the clergy there are many writing priests. Three of them became laureates of the Patriarchal Literary Prize - Nikolai Agafonov, Nikolai Blokhin, Yaroslav Shipov.

Among the new publications, I can mention the book by the writer Vyacheslav Bondarenko about Father John Krestyankin, published in the series “The Life of Remarkable People.” Many biographies of Russian saints were also published there - Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, Blessed Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Joseph of Volotsky and others. This is an indicator that literature with biographical and historical content is in demand among readers.

In the modern era, it is not enough to publish a good book; it is important to maintain interest in reading. To achieve this, the Publishing Council holds creative meetings, exhibitions, round tables, publishes book reviews, and implements several major projects. One of the most significant is the Patriarchal Literary Prize, which has existed for nine years. The high award from the hands of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' was received by Yuri Bondarev, Viktor Nikolaev, Alexei Varlamov, Vladimir Krupin, Alexander Segen, Yuri Kublanovsky, Vladimir Kostrov, Mikhail Tarkovsky, Dmitry Volodikhin and other wonderful writers.

An important trend in Orthodox literature is the story of the confessors of Orthodoxy in the twentieth century. The New Library competition will be dedicated to this topic in 2022. The project was expanded - new nominations and awards for writers appeared.

We also think about literary change, we support young authors, for whom we hold the “Summer of the Lord” competition. In creative essays, children and teenagers talk about faith in God, saints, and the history of their small homeland.

Over the years of work on the Publishing Council, I met many writers, poets, and literary critics. I am used to reading and viewing dozens of new books every day. I don’t pretend to be a real literary critic, as priest Yaroslav Shipov calls me, but I try to be a thoughtful reader. I myself write books, the latest of which are “Act Today”, “Milestones of Lent”, “Eternal Questions. Conversations about God, creation and man." I'm interested in working with words, honing thoughts.

I am confident that Russian literature will continue to develop. Noticeably, it becomes a unifying link between different generations. Literature contains a system of images, based on which one can preach Christ to people with dissimilar interests and values.

You were the administrator of patriarchal parishes in Canada and the USA, defended your scientific work and wrote two books about Orthodoxy in Alaska. What can you say about the authority of Russian Orthodoxy on other continents, its contribution to the spiritual life of the modern world?

Metropolitan Clement: I led parishes in Canada and the United States in the eighties at the height of the Cold War. To fly then from the Soviet Union to America, from socialism to capitalism, meant finding yourself in a completely different reality.

The American stage of life has become valuable for understanding the depth of Russian Orthodox culture. As a young bishop, I met with Russian emigrants, entrepreneurs, and state governors. I was interested in understanding the peculiarities of the American mentality. What was striking was their conviction that the main thing was earthly success and material wealth. Pragmatism was manifested even in relation to faith, despite this, going to church on Sundays is mandatory for many Americans.

Living in America, I learned a lot about the feat of St. Herman of Alaska and St. Innocent (Veniaminov), educators of the peoples living in Alaska.
Russian missionaries preached about Christ and at the same time were very respectful of the traditions of the local population. What do you think is happening to universal Orthodoxy? the situation in Ukraine affect its unity ?
Metropolitan Clement: As has been correctly noted, the Church has a universal character. Even though it exists in the form of local churches, its unity is not diminished. Unfortunately, it happens that the church is equated with a public institution and wants to be used for political purposes, as is happening now in Ukraine, forgetting that it is a divine-human organism. This can lead to tragic consequences. Political issues should be discussed by diplomats and statesmen, and should not be mixed with church life. Each institution of society has its own goals. The church’s goal is the salvation of people, and it is sad that even among church leaders there are those who, blinded by pride, interfere in the affairs of another local church at the machination of politicians. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, the Pochaev Lavra and other spiritual centers are shrines of our entire church. I prayed before the relics of St. Job of Pochaev back in the difficult Khrushchev years, then we were all united in protecting our shrines. The current church situation in Ukraine is a test of our faith. We must pray for peace in Ukraine and church unity.

Vladyka, you are from a believing family. Your brother is a metropolitan, other brothers are priests, your mother is Schema-nun Maria, who died not so long ago, and many knew her. How important is family in the life of a modern person? What trends are noticeable in family life today, and how can we strengthen the family in Russia?

Metropolitan Clement: I thank God that I was born into a pious family, where the most important thing was the preservation of the Orthodox faith. My childhood is connected with the post-war period. People lived with the joy of victory and restored the country from ruins. My teenage years fell during a time of persecution - the Khrushchev era. My parents taught me and my brothers never to renounce God. When we grew up, all four of us chose the path of church service, although we could have suffered for our faith. Our parents' firmness in faith and their personal example of life served as an example to us.

Dad died when he was 50 years old, and mom lived to be 102 years old. In old age, she took monastic vows, prayed unceasingly, taught not to judge anyone and to see the good in every person. She often told us: “All people are good, but to see this, you have to be good yourself.” She endured many difficulties in her life, but she never condemned anyone and thanked God for everything. Her bright image is forever imprinted in my heart.

The current state of my family worries me. At the first difficulties, people easily get divorced. They do not see the main thing in marriage - the opportunity to learn true sacrificial love. Selfishness, desire for pleasure, irresponsibility - these qualities prevent you from building a happy large family.

A person does not want to fight his sinful habits. But if you live only for yourself, you may never know the true joy of life in marriage, the secret of unanimity, when two truly become one flesh (see Matthew 19:5-6).

It is very important to spend time with children. They are waiting for the manifestation of at least a little parental love and affection and are open to reciprocal feelings. But how should love be shown? Nowadays love is reduced to the gift of a new gadget. This is not love, but a ransom from love. True love is giving a child your time, a part of your life: reading together, praying together, going to church together, it’s not just the mother who takes the child to communion or to Sunday school, but the dad is there too.

The Christian ideal of family is based on love and fidelity. Of course, the life of spouses is a struggle with their own selfishness for the sake of loved ones, enduring illnesses and life’s troubles. To learn patience, to unite in trials, it is necessary to place faith in God and keeping the commandments as the foundation of family life and to love your neighbor as yourself. In marriage, it is not about seeking pleasure, but about being ready to bear the cross of another, and in order for the Lord to help in this, we must learn to turn to him, that is, to pray together. The property of prayer is this: it connects both vertically - with God, and creates unity horizontally - with one’s neighbor. If a family prays together, it becomes stronger.

*This is an expanded version of the text published in the issue of “RG”

Russian newspaper