Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'

Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'
kremlin.ru / Игорь Палкин · CC BY 4.0 · source
Title	Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'
Border	religious
Caption	Kirill, the 16th Patriarch (2009–present)
Incumbent	Kirill
Incumbentsince	1 February 2009
Style	His Holiness
Residence	Danilov Monastery, Moscow
Appointer	Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church
Termlength	Life tenure
Formation	1589 (first patriarchate), 1917 (restoration)
First	Job
Website	[https://patriarchia.ru/ patriarchia.ru]

Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' is the title of the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches. The patriarch serves as the spiritual leader for millions of Orthodox Christians, overseeing the church's vast administrative structure, which includes numerous dioceses, monasteries, and seminaries across Russia and beyond. The position holds significant religious authority and, historically, has played a crucial role in the cultural and political life of the Russian state.

History

The patriarchate was first established in 1589 during the reign of Tsar Feodor I through negotiations with Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremiah II of Constantinople, elevating the Metropolitan of Moscow to patriarchal status. The first patriarch was Job, whose tenure coincided with the Time of Troubles. The office was abolished in 1721 by Peter the Great, who replaced it with the Most Holy Synod as part of his westernizing reforms, subordinating the church to the imperial state. The patriarchate was restored by the All-Russian Church Council of 1917–1918 amidst the turmoil of the Russian Revolution, electing Saint Tikhon to lead the church through the early persecutions under the Bolsheviks and the subsequent Soviet regime. The position persisted through periods of severe repression, including the rule of Joseph Stalin, and experienced a significant revival following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Election and enthronement

The election of a patriarch is governed by the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church. Following the death or retirement of a patriarch, the Holy Synod appoints a Locum Tenens to administer the church. An Local Council (Pomestny Sobor) is then convened, comprising bishops, clergy, monks, and laity. The council elects the new patriarch from among the members of the Holy Synod, who are confirmed by a subsequent Bishops' Council. The canonical enthronement ceremony, known as the intronization, is a solemn liturgy typically held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, officiated by senior metropolitans and attended by dignitaries from other autocephalous Orthodox churches.

Role and responsibilities

As the presiding bishop of the Moscow eparchy, the patriarch leads the divine services at major cathedrals like the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. He chairs the Holy Synod and the Bishops' Council, the highest legislative and judicial bodies of the church, and oversees the Moscow Patriarchate's extensive administrative apparatus, including the Department for External Church Relations. The patriarch is responsible for safeguarding Orthodox doctrine, consecrating holy chrism, and issuing important pastoral messages and encyclicals. He also represents the church in dialogues with other Christian confessions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, and in high-level meetings with state authorities, including the President of Russia.

List of Patriarchs

The historical list is divided into two periods. The first patriarchate (1589–1700) includes figures like Hermogenes, a national hero during the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618), and Philaret, father of Tsar Michael Romanov. The modern, restored patriarchate (since 1917) began with Tikhon. His successors include Sergius I, who led the church during World War II, Alexy I, and Pimen I, who served throughout the late Soviet era. Alexy II presided over the post-Soviet religious revival, and the current patriarch is Kirill, elected in 2009.

Relationship with other Orthodox churches

The patriarch is a central figure in Eastern Orthodox ecclesiology, maintaining communion with other autocephalous churches like the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Romanian Orthodox Church. However, the relationship with Constantinople has been strained since 2018 due to the 2018 Moscow–Constantinople schism over the ecclesiastical status of Ukraine. The patriarchate also has close ties with other Slavic churches, including the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and engages in theological dialogues through bodies like the World Council of Churches.