RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS

Russia Religion News Current News Items

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Kiev evangelical preacher implicated in investment scheme?

OUR HISTORICAL FRIENDSHIP REMAINS IN PLACE
Russian Baptist visits Western Ukraine
Department for External Church Relations,
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists,
23 January 2009
 
"Our historical friendship remains in place, even if our political authorities tend to dislike each other." That was the conclusion of Rev. Vitaly Vlasenko, the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists' (RUECB) Department Director for External Relations, following a private visit to the extreme west of Ukraine from 2 to 11 January. . . .

For the Baptist Director of External Relations, disenchantment regarding Ukraine's Orange Revolution of 2004-2005 is one indication more that Christians should not place their trust in fellow humans: "The Bible is true - we must place our trust in God." The matter of trusting humans also involves Sunday Adelaja, the embattled Nigerian charismatic and pastor of Kiev's 20,000-member "Embassy of God" congregation. He is regarded as co-responsible for the failure of the "King's Capital" investment company. In a letter of 29 December, Ukrainian Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders officially distanced themselves from him, accusing him in part of the love of money. Vitaly Vlasenko added: "Sunday Adelaja has mixed material gain with the Christian faith. I am deeply grieved when such developments damage the good name of the Christian church. I hope very much that the men and women in his congregation will remain strong in their devotion to Jesus Christ. I pray that Sunday will repent and that soon conditions in his congregation might return to normal."  (posted 23 January 2009)

ADELAJA MAY BE IMPLICATED IN "KING'S CAPITAL" AFFAIR
Novosti Ukrainy, 2 December 2008

Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Yury Lutsenko has basis for asserting that Pastor Sunday Adelaja of the "Embassy of God" is implicated in the financial scheme of the "King's Capital" group. The head of MVD said this in an interview with the "Delo" newspaper published on 2 December 2008. "From the materials of the investigation there is basis for affirming that Pastor Sunday Adelaja is himself implicated in this scheme. I hope that in an open judicial process the public will be able to be persuaded of this. I think that Citizen Bandurchenko and three other citizens, who are released on a promise not to depart, are only the agents in this affair. For us the main thing is to establish the intermediaries, organizers, and recipients of the millions that were invested," Lutsenko said and he also reported that the "King's Capital" account had been sequestered.

"In addition, they had gone through a long procedure of discovery of banking secrecy. And now we are working on the accounts," he said. The minister reported that the property of this organization also has been attached and a prohibition has been placed on its alienation. We recall that the capital police arrested the director of the "King's Capital" financial company on a charge of fraud with respect to citizens' assets.

 The head of the Chief Directorate of MVD of Ukraine in the city of Kiev, Vitaly Yarema, stated that the bases for initiating a criminal case on part 4 of article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud) were statement from around 60 citizens who were unable to get the promised percentage of interest or their invested capital on the basis of agreements concluded with "King's Capital." He reported that the police possess information that the assets citizens invested "have been taken in cash outside the borders of Ukraine. . . . The total of assets received from citizens exceeds 100 million dollars." (tr. by PDS, posted 23 January 2009)

SUNDAY ADELAJA DENIES CONNECTION WITH MAJOR FINANCE AFFAIR
Novosti Ukrainy, 11 November 2008


Adelaja said this today in an interview:  "I do not have any kind of relationship with this institution. Some parishioners of the church have suffered from the stoppage of payments, but this is not from this company alone but because of the chief cause, the economic crisis in the country, which some people have even lost their jobs, some have not been able to collect their deposits, although this is the way it is throughout the country," Adelaja noted.

To the question whether it is true that he advised people to invest money in this financial institution, Adelaja answered "Not, I did not give such advice."

In addition, he denied that the director of King's Capital, Alexander Safonov, is one of the pastors of the "Embassy of God" church.

Earlier it was reported that a major financial affair had been uncovered in Kiev. Thus, investors stormed the King's Capital company in the hope of withdrawing their money. As an informed source in the law enforcement agencies reported, around 70 percent of the investors in King's Capital are parishioners of the "Embassy of God" public organization. According to police information, around 6,000 contracts of King's Capital with investors have been discovered. The minimum deposit was 2,500 grivnas and the largest was 555,000 grivnas. In the contracts that "Delo" had access to, the amounts ranged from 30,000 to 70,000 grivnas.  (tr. by PDS, posted 23 January 2009)


BISHOPS OF UKRAINE CONDEMN SUNDAY FOR SIN OF LOVE OF MONEY

The bishops of Ukraine have decisively distanced themselves from Sunday Adelaja and his activity, and they have called ministers not to have fellowship with Sunday and for the church council of the "Embassy of God" religious society to remove Sunday Adelaja from fulfilling his responsibilities and for Sunday himself to completely cease his ministry, the press service of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Christians of Evangelical FaithÑPentecostals reports exclusively for the Christian megaportal "invictory.org." They made an official statement with the following text.

DECLARATION OF SENIOR MINISTERS OF CHRISTIANS OF EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF UKRAINE REGARDING THE ACTIVITY OF SUNDAY ADELAJA, WHICH HAS BROUGHT ABOUT NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR CHRISTIANS OF UKRAINE.

"You have tested those who call themselves apostles and they are not such, and you have found that they are false" (Rev. 2.2)

On 16 December 2008 a meeting was held of senior ministers of Christians of evangelical churches of Ukraine with the senior pastor of the "Embassy of God" (Kiev) religious society Sunday Adelaja, the goal of which was to voice claims and clarify questions that are roiling the churches and public of Ukraine and also to point out the actions and statements of Adelaja that do not correspond to sacred scripture. In the course of this meeting Adelaja acknowledged many mistakes, asked for forgiveness, and promised to repent publicly of the admitted mistakes and to submit himself to the evangelical position expressed in the meeting with leaders of evangelical churches of Ukraine. On our part we, as ministers of evangelical churches, expected from Pastor Sunday Adelaja specific steps for fulfilling the promised corrections.

To our profound regret, from the moment of that meeting, Adelaja has not taken actions which could by considered as "production of fruit worthy of repentance." On the contrary, on the official site of the "Embassy of God" there appeared informational reports ("Sunday Adelaja thanks leaders of evangelical churches for support," "Sunday Adelaja: 'It is unjust to gave a one-sided account,'" "Appeal of Pastor Sunday Adelaja to all protestant believers") which clearly show that Sunday Adelaja has taken recourse to manipulation of information, falsehood, and self-justification.

We took into account appeals for help and advice of many people from among the parishioners of the "Embassy of God" religious society, who suffered loss in connection with the activity of the "King's Capital" financial company. The testimonies of these people and an analysis of the instances of reaction to the claims of the bishops of the evangelical churches of Ukraine of 16 December 2008 indicate that Pastor Sunday Adelaja is the inspirer and spiritual custodian of the financial structures that in the final analysis led to the sad spiritual and material status of many people and also to the threat of loss of their own residences. This activity served as the basis for some news media to identify Sunday Adelaja with all Christian evangelical churches.

We call the church council of the "Embassy of God" religious society to remove Sunday Adelaja from fulfilling his responsibilities and for Sunday Adelaja to completely cease his ministry for the spiritual healing of the church.

The ministers of Christian evangelical churches of Ukraine earlier admonished and warned Sunday Adelaja frequently, but they were ignored.

WE DECLARE

We decisively distance ourselves from Sunday Adelaja and his activity.

We condemn

Attempts to create a cult of personality;

Methods and activity based on self-promotion, exaggeration of one's achievements, and falsehood;

False teaching about wealth and the sin of love of money;

Practice of slandering ministers who disagree with his opinion.

We conclude

That Sunday Adelaja is the inspiration and spiritual custodian of parachurch financial structures (King's Capital" and others)'

That Sunday Adelaja has apostasized from the purity of evangelical teaching and is in a state of spiritual deception and delusion.

We call

All ministers to refrain from fraternal fellowship with Sunday Adelaja;

To pray for the spiritual healing of parishioners of "Embassy of God;"

The church council of the "Embassy of God" religious society to remove Sunday Adelaja from fulfillment of his responsibilities and for Sunday Adelaja himself to cease completely his ministry for the spiritual healing of the church.

We suggest that Sunday Adelaja sincerely repent of his words and actions and we believe that only profound repentance will give cleansing and forgiveness for all sins and illusions.

Appeal signed by

Mikhail Panochko, Bishop of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Christians of Evangelical FaithÑPentecostals;
Leonid Padun, Senior bishop of the Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church;
Anatoly Glukhovsky, Assistant of the Senior Bishop of the Union of Free Churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine;
Filipp Savochka, Bishop of the "Salvation" Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith;
Valery Reshetinsky, Bishop of the Association of Churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith "Ukrainian missionary Church;"
Anatoly Gavriliuk, President of the Association of Independent Charismatic Christian Churches of Ukraine (Full Gospel)'
Anatoly Kaliuzhny, Bishop of the Council of Independent Evangelical Churches of Ukraine;
Boris Grisenko, pastor of Kiev Messianic Community;
Petr Kovalenko, Senior pastor of Kharkov Christian Church.

Kiev, 29 December 2008
(tr. by PDS, posted 23 January 2009)
Russian original posted on invictory.org site, 29 December 2008

PERSECTUION OF SUNDAY ADELAJA IS POLITICAL JOB
"Kings' Capital" is a serious financial group.
Kriptorium, 16 January 2009

A scandal has erupted in Ukraine, connected with the investigation of the activity of the "King's Capital" financial group. The investigation was begun after an appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country by Ukrainian people's deputy from the Yulia Timoshenko block, Nikolai Tomenko. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine insists that the senior pastor of the "Embassy of God" church, Sunday Adelaja, is implicated in the "King's Capital" financial scheme. According to some information, about 70 percent of the investors in this financial group are parishioners of the "Embassy of God" church. A correspondent of the California newspaper "Diaspora," Yury Korotkov, turned to one of the leaders of the "Embassy of God" church for comment; he is the senior pastor of a daughter church in Sacramento, California, and he also is responsible for all the "Embassy of God" churches in America, Vasily Biletsky, who has just returned from Kiev.

--As is known, on 2 January Ukrainian MVD officers, armed with machine guns, surrounded an athletic arena in Kiev where services of the "Embassy of God" church were being conducted, and they made a search. A search also was conducted in the apartment and home of Sunday Adelaja, and he himself was interrogated in the investigative division of the Chief Directorate of MVD of Ukraine in Kiev. Tell us, please, what, in your view, provoked these actions?

--This is a political job. Who benefits from it? Tomenko, Lutsenko, Timoshenko. Who is this Nikolai Tomenko? He is from the Timoshenko block, that's the block of Yulia Timoshenko who wants to take over Kiev, and then the Supreme Soviet, and then become president of Ukraine.

But God has ordained that Kievan Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky is a member of our church. Back last year they tried to oust him and they forced the holding of reelections, which was a violation of the constitution. But the elections were held and Chernovetsky collected yet more votes. But the politicians need Kiev. They need to get control somehow in order to prove that Chernovetsky is a bad city chief. So if they smear Sunday Adelaja, then they also smear Chernovetsky.

This is connected also to Vitaly Klichko, who promised to take away from the "Embassy of God" the athletic arena in the Beresniaki district and to turn it over for children's games. And you know, almost 90 percent of the land and immovable property in Kiev has been sold. Even the land around our athletic arena has been sold. They get money for everything. Klichko gets money for lobbying for this or that law.

You know, in order to become a member of the city council from the party of the Timoshenko block one must pay a fee of 100,000 dollars. In order to be a deputy in the Supreme Soviet, one must pay a million dollars. This is well known. Our deputies are also there.

--News media reported that a GS Microfinance Bank LTD was created in Nigeria and Sunday Adelaja was named its director and that he transferred a large amount of money from "King's Capital" to this bank.  Is this true?

--Indeed, there is such a bank in Nigeria. But Pastor Sunday is not its director nor an administrator of this bank. He was invited to join the council of trustees as an authoritative person. Such a thing is done throughout the world. And there is nothing extraordinary about this. At the same time, it is not a bank but a charitable organization which gives people small loans of 40 to 50 dollars each. Its initial capital was 20,000 dollars in all. That Sunday Adelaja transferred money from "King's Capital" to a Nigerian bank is a lie. This was confirmed by the directors of the bank themselves in an interview on the "invictory" Internet portal.

--Did Pastor Sunday call his parishioners to financial prosperity, to enrichment, so that they would invest their assets in "King's Capital"?

--You know, he warned the parishioners about the danger. He did not make any advertisement for "King's Capital." When he talked about "Leone Bank" he warned: "Be careful; this is a trick; do not invest money there; it is incorrect." And two years ago we sent an auditor's investigation to "King's Capital" and we found that it is a serious financial group. Now, by some accounts, it has 40 million dollars in immoveable property. It is not a pyramid, where they invest their last dollars and hope to get dividends at the expense of others. "King's Capital" is a serious financial structure. But unfortunately, because of the world financial crisis, it also has suffered.

Incidentally, in Ukraine hundreds and thousands of financial organizations have ceased paying out money to their investors. In many cases this is done by decision of the National Bank of Ukraine. But they don't go after anybody. But they do go after "King's Capital"! And I think that this is a political struggle.

And Pastor Sunday, seeing how the people of Ukraine are living in poverty and need, has called for them to be active, to take initiative, to engage in business. Sometimes he has invited to the church the director of some company and said: "Look at how they came out. This is an example for you. Work; develop; succeed; otherwise you will be slaves."

According to the law, every Ukrainian is allotted 1500 square meters of land. But many do not know about this. And those who know either refuse the land or give it to someone else. But Pastor Sunday called people to take advantage of this opportunity. "Take the land; work it with your whole family; work; prosper," he said. I also think that God has given us talents not so that we hide them in the ground. God wants us to engage in business and in society and in politics and education. And for this even our brothers criticize us.

--Yes, as is known, the bishops of Ukraine condemned Sunday for the sin of love of money. On 29 December 2008 Bishops Mikhail Panochko, Leonid Padun, Anatoly Glukhovsky, Filipp Savochka, Valery Reshetinsky, as well as Pastors Anatoly Gavriliuk, Boris Grisenko, and Petr Kovalenko sent to Sunday Aldelaja an appeal in which they called him to abandon his ministry completely and repent of his words and deeds, and they called all ministers to abstain from fraternal fellowship with Sunday Adelaja. What do you say about this?

--The day before this appeal Pastor Sunday was at a meeting with the bishops. He knelt before them and asked their forgiveness. But the next day false information was published on the invictory site saying that Pastor Sunday had repented. This is incorrect.

Here all norms have been violatedÑbiblical, human, judicial, moral. First, not one of these writers phoned Pastor Sunday, or turned to his senior minister, Apostle Ulissis Toff. Second, the "Embassy of God" sent two people to the meeting with the bishops, Bishop Anatoly Belonozhko and me. But Panochko barred me from this meeting at the door. The Bible says to accept accusations before two witnesses. Then after the conversation with Sunday they did not say anything to our church, although the Bible calls for this. They immediately put out everything to the news media.

They suggested that we remove Bishop Sunday from the ministry. And who are they? They do not have such a right, like against the pope or the pope against them. The "Embassy of God" is a denomination like they have. What they are doing is inflaming interchurch strife, and this is a criminally punishable action. . . .

--Tell us, please, what is happening in Ukraine now, after the searches in the office, home, and apartment of Sunday Adelaja?

--Now there is great pressure being exerted on parishioners of the "Embassy of God" church in order to force them to give evidence against Sunday Adelaja. For this purpose they are even recruiting former criminals, threatening them that if they refuse to give evidence against Sunday Adelaja they will face a new criminal case. All of this is clearly illegal.

So Sunday Adelaja's attorneys have made the decision that they will appear at interrogations only if videotapes of the questioning are made, to avoid subsequent accusations and distortions of the facts. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 January 2009)


LUTSENKO SAYS ADELAJA PROMISED NOT TO DEPART UKRAINE
UNIAN, 17 January 2009

The pastor of the "Embassy of God" church, Sunday Adelaja, gave a guarantee to the police not to exit the borders of Ukraine until the investigation of the case on the financial machination company "King's Capital" is completed.

As a UNIAN correspondent transmitted, Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Yury Lutsenko reported this today at a press conference in Ivano-Frankovsk.

"I am able to tell you that Sunday Adelaja was questioned. Several face to face confrontations with other pastors (of the "Embassy of God"ÑUNIAN) and also with persons who have filed complaints with respect to this case have occurred," Yu. Lutsenko said, and he noted that Adelaja "practically the next day" appeared at the police station for questioning.

At the same time the minister suggested that the "King's Capital" case will not likely be completed in the near future. "A careful investigation process is going on. This is a detailed process. Considering the political and financial capacities of Mr. Sunday, this will be a difficult process. Nevertheless, we have gotten evidence so as to take from him a guarantee not to depart Ukraine. And on the basis of the conclusion of the face to face confrontations and also other investigative actions we are establishing his procedural status: whether he will be a witness, as of this moment, a suspect, or a defendant," Lutsenko said.

According to the minister, the problem of the investigation consists in the following: the director of the "King's Capital" company, Alexander Bandurchenko, is under arrest, but "we have declared a state search for Mr. Golovanov and Mr. Kolesnikov, who were financiers of S. Adelaja and simultaneously intermediaries between the director of "King's Capital" and some other person who has not been identified by the investigation. I think that everyone understands who this person might turn out to be at the end of the investigative actions."

At the same time Lutsenko expressed a suggestion that, probably, this is understood by those "who are protecting this church and using it as a financial and political instrument."

The minister noted that the police "have not simply conducted a search at Mr. Sunday's home and not simply questioned him, but we have conducted expert analysis of hundreds of tapes which were confiscated at the time of the search, mainly of a theological nature, and we have conducted interviews with hundreds of victims and we have had face to face meetings with dozens of people who have testified that Sunday personally urged them to invest in 'King's Capital' or in similar structures affiliated with it."

At the same time he gave assurance that at the present moment "a careful, dispassionate investigation is being conducted." "I want to assure you; it is a matter of indifference to me from which country Mr. Sunday came to Ukraine and got permission for permanent residence. It does not matter to me what he preaches in his religious meetings. God had mercy on me. I wasn't there. It does not matter to me which language he speaks or the victims who have filed complaints in this case. It does not matter to me that Ukrainians have been robbed of tens of millions on a pretense of the piety of an organization with unique names." Lutsenko said.

As UNIAN has reported, on 12 November 2008 the directors of the "King's Capital" company announced the decision to halt temporarily payments to clients. On 24 November the capital police arrested the director of "King's Capital," A. Bandurchenko on a charge of fraud with citizens' money.

The commander of the Chief Directorate of MVD of Ukraine in the city of Kiev, Vitaly Yarema, declared that the bases for opening a criminal case in accordance with part 4, article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud) were complaints from about 60 citizens, who were not able to get either the promised returns or their invested money, in accordance with agreements concluded with "King's Capital."

On 2 January, within the framework of the investigation of the criminal case relative to the activity of "King's Capital," Kievan police began a search at places of work and residence of the pastor of "Embassy of God" S. Adelaja. The Kievan police also noted that this was connected with the fact that according to statements of victims of the activity of "King's Capital," it was S. Adelaja who, during his sermons, called parishioners to invest money in this financial institution.  (tr. by PDS, posted 23 January 2009)


Russia Religion News Current News Items

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Kirill favored for patriarch

RUSSIANS SEE METROPOLITAN KIRILL AS MOST LIKELY PATRIARCH
RIA Novosti, 22 January 2009

Russians identify Metropolitan Kirill, the interim leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, as the most likely candidate to become the next patriarch, the Russian VTsIOM pollster said on Thursday.

Patriarch Alexy II, who led the revival of Orthodoxy in the country after the demise of communism, died of heart failure at the age of 79 in December 2008. Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, was chosen by the Holy Synod as interim patriarch until a larger ruling body gathers on January 27-29 to elect Alexy II's successor.

According to the VTsIOM survey, 28% of Russians expect Kirill, 62, to be chosen as the new patriarch. However, 71% of those surveyed failed to make any prediction, including 69% of the respondents who could not name any member of the Russian Orthodox Church hierarchy.

Half the respondents said they would like the next patriarch to be a spiritual leader and a mentor to the Russian nation. The opinion was most often voiced by elderly respondents (52%) and Orthodox believers (57%).

Another 8% of those surveyed view a patriarch as a prominent statesman, and a member of the country's top authorities.

The pollster said 14% of the respondents would favor an intelligent and educated patriarch, and another 12% said they would like the candidate to be kind and sympathetic.

The VTsIOM conducted the poll on January 10-11 among 1,600 people in 140 towns across 42 Russian regions.

PRECONCILIAR TENSION:  METROPOLITAN KIRILL OF SMOLENSK AND KALININGRAD IS SEEN AS THE MOST LIKELY SUCCESSOR TO ALEXY II
by Andrei Zolotov, Jr.
Russia Profile, 21 January 2009

The Council of Bishops and the Local Council Ð the two top bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church -- will convene in less than a week. The councils will elect the new Patriarch of Moscow, and the pre-council tension has reached the apogee. This will be the first time for the Russian Church to elect its new primate in an informational society, and thus, whether the church acknowledges this or not, in the circumstances of a public Òelection campaign.Ó

It is not yet clear how this campaign will affect the results of the election, because the main electors are bishops, and it is doubtful that they will make their decision based on Internet forums or newspaper articles. They are the ones who will have to follow the results of the BishopsÕ Council sessions on January 25-26 by proposing official candidates for the patriarch throne. And it is doubtful that the elected representatives of the clergy and the laity, who are to take part in the Local Council on January 27-29, will vote differently from their bishop. The effect of this campaign is all the more hazy if you consider the fact that according to the faith of the Church, the Holy Spirit participates in the councils, and thus the role of the people who participate in them is very limited.

Nevertheless, both the candidates to the patriarch throne that emerged during the preconciliar period and the topics discussed in the churchÕs Òinformational yardÓ signify important tendencies in the modern life of the church.

Certainly, the first, leading, and most probable patriarch candidate is the current Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyayev) of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. Metropolitan Kirill, who had headed the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate for 20 years, was always considered the Òsecond manÓ in the Church, and never really tried to conceal his desire to become the next patriarch. His age is ideal for the job (62 years), and he is the brightest modern Russian church teacher, a social thinker and a politician. However, this is the aspect that might play against him, because his political enthusiasm is beyond the scope of whatÕs customary for the Church, and the combination of initiative and zeal might turn many bishops against him--they will not want to lose their patrimonial independence and usual course of life.

What speaks in support of Kirill is the general awareness of the fact that the issues of mission, education and enlightenment come to the foreground during this stage of church building. He is also supported by the fact that he is seen as an adequate partner in the dialogue with the state, capable of building a normal relationship while maintaining the ChurchÕs autonomy. Against him is the fact that he is associated with the ecumenical movement, heterodoxy, and, in a wider sense, with the outside world, in the conditions of a powerful fundamentalist and thus isolationist current in the Church. Another thing that is starting to play against him is the excessively zealous propaganda campaign for him and against his rivals, which has been unleashed on the Internet by some of his supporters (Deacon Andrey Kurayev, Kirill Frolov, and others).

In any case, Metropolitan Kirill would have been considered one of the leading candidates for the patriarch throne, but by becoming also the locum tenens--that is, the leader of the Church during the interregnum--he has taken control of the preparations for the Council (and thus has the power to influence its outcome) on the one hand, but on the other hand he has exposed himself to the special fire of criticism by his ill-wishers. Although, it should be mentioned to the credit of the Orthodox community that the ideological issues--the correlation between missionary pathos and prayerfulness, the concept of the boundaries of the Church--are given much more space in this discussion than the notorious accusations that the metropolitan was involved in cigarette trade and other corruption scandals of the 1990s. It is hard to say how many members of the Council will vote for Metropolitan Kirill Òby heart.Ó But many will probably vote for him Òby reason.Ó

In the recent years the figure of Metropolitan Kirill was so powerful in the Church that the election of the next patriarch was always seen as a choice between him and someone else, and the place of this Òsomeone elseÓ had been taken consecutively by a few different church hierarchs over the course of the last decade.

The most recent of such Ònon-KirillsÓ is the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kliment (Kapalin) of Kaluga and Borovsk. At this time it should be mentioned that the office of the Chancellor--that is, the person responsible, among other things, for the communication between the Patriarch and the local bishops and for the coordination of their activity--is, by definition, a ÒcounterweightÓ to the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, within the structure of the church machinery. This is the office that was occupied by the deceased Patriarch Alexy for many years in the past, as well as by his closest Òrunner-upÓ in the 1990 elections, the current Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) of Kiev and All Ukraine.

There is no doubt that Metropolitan Kliment enjoyed the special confidence of Patriarch Alexy, although he never proved himself to be an outstanding church figure. He has his own support group among the bishops. It is quite likely that some of Metropolitan KirillÕs opponents among the traditionalists will place their stakes on him. However, there are some things that have objectively worked against Metropolitan Kliment. On the one hand, it is his lack of success in promoting the course on ÒThe Foundations of Orthodox CultureÓ in public schools; this was his main public project. And during the pre-council period, it was the evidence, made widely and publicly known by his opponents, that the assembly of heads of ecclesiastical seminaries was manipulated by his brother, Archbishop Dimitry (Kapalin) of Tobolsk and Tyumen and by his ally, Archbishop of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz Feofan (Ashurkov). Actually, the Òmonster threatÓ--the fact that if Metropolitan Kliment is elected, the church will be ruled by the two Kapalin brothers, one of whom has a rather poor reputation in the church circles--is one of the main propaganda weapons against Metropolitan Kliment.

The second possible alternative to Metropolitan Kirill is a candidate from Ukraine. Ukraine will be represented by 192 members of the Council, with the total number being 720--that is, by more than one quarter. It is also capable of mobilizing the ethnic Ukrainians among RussiaÕs bishops. Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) of Kiev and All Ukraine, whom a council of Ukrainian bishops asked to run for the patriarch office, has already refused the honor. During a meeting of the Ukrainian council delegation in Kiev, he declared that he wishes to Òcome before God as the 121st Metropolitan of Kiev,Ó not as the 16th Patriarch of Moscow.

With not much time left before the Council, the church circles also discussed the candidacy of Metropolitan Onufry (Berezovsky) of Chernovtsy and Bukovina--a man who has spiritual influence and authority not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia and in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). He holds a centrist position on the issue of the status of the Ukrainian Church, adhering to a moderate pro-Moscow orientation, and is basically considered as one of the leading candidates to the Kiev see in the future. Another fact that stands objectively in his favor is that he has not participated in the Russian public life, and thus has not had a chance to make enemies here. However, it is unlikely that the Russian council members will want to see a Ukrainian as their leader.

Nevertheless, we should acknowledge the fact that the Ukrainian delegation will hold if not a Òcontrolling,Ó then certainly a ÒblockingÓ packet of votes during the Council, and its strategy and line of behavior will in many ways predetermine the future status of the Ukrainian Church--whether it will remain a part of the Moscow Patriarchate or turn into an autocephalous church.

Despite the fact that the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and primarily the Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of New York and East America and Archbishop Mark (Arndt) of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain have a lot of influence in Russia today and represent a successful combination of traditionalism and popular anti-ecumenism with the ability of establishing relations with Òoutsiders,Ó if only by virtue of their foreign experience, it is doubtful that they will nominate themselves for this election. They are fully aware of their lack of experience in managing the Russian reality.

If Patriarch Alexy had lived for at least another five years, it is quite possible that a candidate from among the Òforty-year-oldÓ hierarchs would have been nominated. These are the bishops that were ordained during the post-Soviet era, and they make up the overwhelming majority of bishops today. However, right now this would be premature.

Thus, today there are two candidates that are the most realistic alternative to Metropolitan Kirill. Curiously enough, they are his senior Synod colleagues and disciples, just like he is, of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) of Leningrad (died in 1978)--Metropolitan Yuvenaly (Poyarkov) of Krutitskoe and Kolomna and Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeyev) of Minsk and Slutsk, the Exarch of All Belarus. Both are 73 years of age, which is a factor against them if we are talking about a long-term choice, but it can be in their favor if it suddenly comes to electing a compromise figure. Along with their age, their Soviet experience is a plus for some people and a minus for others. Both are subtle church politicians and good public speakers; they are viewed as Òlesser modernistsÓ than Metropolitan Kirill, although their theological, social and ethical views are rather more liberal than his. This is a question of style, though, rather than that of essence.

Such an election, naturally, will not please the radical fundamentalists; they will dislike all the real candidates, although Metropolitan Kirill is the worst of them. They use the pre-council discussion to repeat their monarchist, anti-globalist and anti-hierarchal slogans. For the more moderate traditionalists, however, one of SynodÕs elders might be a more acceptable choice.

Perhaps one of the main topics of heated discussion during this preconciliar period is the procedure for electing the patriarch. The Synod proposes, following the election model used in 1990, voting by secret ballot for one of three candidates introduced by the BishopsÕ Council. An idea that is popular in the church circles, however, and especially among the traditionalists, is using the 1917 model of electing the patriarch Ð when the Council first votes to elect three candidates, and then a patriarch is chosen from their number by casting a lot. This is the way they see as reaching the maximum balance between the will of man and the will of God. And in a more earthly sense, this is their only chance of ÒsnatchingÓ the patriarchy from the hands of Metropolitan Kirill (in 1917, the elected patriarch was the man who had won the least number of votes among the three leading candidates, St. Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin), and the candidate with the most votes, Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky), later became the founder of ROCOR). This is exactly why the supporters of Metropolitan Kirill today actively campaign against the election by lot and do all they can to make sure that this idea does not surface during the Council.

In the meantime, the locum tenens, who has already venerated the holy shrines of his native St. Petersburg, is delivering services every day in different churches and monasteries of Moscow and is doing a lot of preaching. On Sunday, on the eve of Epiphany, he delivered a service before the famous icon of Our Lady of Vladimir I in the St. Nicholas Church attached to the Tretyakov Gallery. After the service, according to the press service of the Patriarchate, he went to the exhibition halls of the Gallery and aspersed holy water on the famous painting by Alexander Ivanov, ÒThe Appearance of Christ to the People,Ó which is recognized as an icon of Russian spiritually-oriented art, but not as an icon in the narrow ecclesiastical sense. This kind of going outside the narrowly-understood ecclesiastical boundaries is probably what is meant when people talk about the main candidateÕs missionary pathos.

METROPOLITAN KIRILL COMMENTS ON CHURCH'S ROLE, PATRIARCHAL ELECTION
Interview with Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad by Yuliya Tutina; date and place not given:
Argumenty i Fakty, 21 January 2009

The Bishops' Council begins work on 25 January; it is to put forward candidates for the post of the new patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. Immediately after, the Local Council (Pomestnyy Sobor) will open, at which the election of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will take place.

On the eve of these events Argumenty i Fakty 's correspondent talked with Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, custodian of the Patriarchal Throne (acting patriarch).

The Church Is Not Looking for Easy Ways

(Tutina) Your Eminence, in the past 20 years the number of churches and parishes in Russia has increased tens of times over. A huge number of Russian citizens have begun to attend churches. Naturally the role of the church in the country's life has increased many times over. Not only ordinary people but also state institutions heed the opinion of the clergy. So the church's responsibility for the path that the country follows has also increased sharply. Can it bear this burden?

(Kirill) Our church has never looked for easy ways or sought to create for itself a social niche in which it would be comfortable and warm. We Orthodox Christians are well aware that right now, when the struggle for people's hearts and minds is under way, we must show concern for everyone who is near us, for all the people. We must enlighten those who are far from the faith and strengthen those who have already adopted it. The church cannot but be aware of its responsibility to living and future generations. After all, the future of the church itself depends on the way society is.

(Tutina) In recent months Russia has repeatedly found itself in difficult conflict situations. Be it the war with Georgia, the increased tension in relations with the United States, or the financial crisis. At such moments, should the church's position be active?

(Kirill) The church's position should always be active, not only in difficult times. After all, we remember the words of the Gospel: "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). And since troubles and conflicts are always the consequence of sin, a Christian is called upon to oppose it. Some people might assert, for instance, that the financial and economic crisis is nothing to do with the church. But is it not the church's duty to testify that the thirst for profit, selfishness, and insatiable consumption are bound to lead to disaster, and moreover not only in the lives of individuals but in the life of the whole world? That is to make millions of people unhappy, people who will later ask: Why did the church not warn us?

Of course the church's activeness should not turn it into an instrument for the political struggle or for achieving any short-term objectives. The church is respected precisely because every step it takes in society is taken not out of self-seeking motives but for people's good. And if the church betrays that calling, people will stop respecting it.

"Be at Peace with All Men"

(Tutina) One of the most important events in the history of Orthodoxy was the unification of the Russian Orthodox Church with the (Russian Orthodox) Church Outside Russia. What are the prospects for relations with the rest of the Christian world, and in particular with the Vatican?

(Kirill) In our relations with other faiths all sides understand the fundamental differences that exist, and the fact that there are contacts does not in itself mean that we are striving to become a single whole. Just as, for instance, Russia, while maintaining relations with the United States, certainly is not striving to become one of the American states. Unfortunately the differences in doctrine and religious practice between Orthodoxy and other faiths are only increasing at present. For instance, with some of the Protestant communities-- the Swedish Lutheran Church and the US Episcopal Church -- matters have reached the point of a complete rupture because of their official approval of homosexuality.

The position of the Roman Catholic Church is closer to the Orthodox viewpoint on many issues relating to society's life. However, we remember a whole string of differences in the doctrine and practice of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and there can be no compromises in this sphere. The Orthodox Church is the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church through which God opens up to man the road to eternal life. That is why, for us, it is so important to preserve the faith that was given to us by Christ Himself, His apostles, and the early Christian community. We testify of this faith to people both near and far. However, this does not prevent us from being open or from bearing goodwill toward people with different views with whom we live in the same society. After all, the Christian must remember the words of the Apostle Paul: "If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men" (Romans12:18).

(Tutina) Our country's history has developed in such a way that a significant proportion of its citizens were raised outside the faith. But at the same time many of these people try to live according to their conscience, basically observing the biblical commandments. What can you say to them? To what extent is it necessary to be believers?

(Kirill) As early as the first century, the Apostle Paul wrote: "Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law" (Romans 2:14). Every person, even if he has never heard of Christ, bears within himself the image of God -- that is how the Creator made us. One manifestation of the image of God is the conscience. If a person heeds its voice, this benefits both himself and those around him. But the voice of conscience may be stifled. Then a person loses his moral guidelines and becomes a danger to society and to himself.

Yes, a person may live by his conscience, but without God's help you cannot really deal with the evil that is present not only in the world around us, but in the very heart of man. That is why we are united in the church founded by God. It is the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:27), and whoever becomes a member of it becomes a communicant with Christ. "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26), which means, He can cleanse us from evil if we ourselves wish it and ask for His help.

Victory Not Through Power But Through Love

(Tutina) We are well aware that your activities occupy almost all your time. But if you have a free moment, what do you do with it: Do you read books, newspapers, listen to music, watch movies, go to the theater? What do you particularly remember from these?

(Kirill) I try to keep abreast of events, although, as you rightly noted, there is a disastrous shortage of time. I saw the movie "The Island" ("Ostrov"; 2006 Russian movie set in an Orthodox monastery) -- I liked it very much. The movie "12" (2007 Russian movie, a loose remake of "12 Angry Men" in which 12 jurors debate the fate of a Chechen teenager accused of killing his Russian stepfather) is also truly Christian, although it does not say a word about Christ as such. I go to concerts only when they invite me very heartily and I simply cannot refuse these invitations. But I will note that there is now more and more serious, inspirational music by modern composers in Russia.

(Tutina) Next week the Local Council at which the new patriarch will be elected is to take place in Russia. What are you expecting and what should all of us expect from the Council?

(Kirill) First and foremost, the strengthening of the unity of the church. And good words, words of peace and love, addressed to all the world. Since my childhood I have had real experience of God's guidance and I know that the Lord Himself leads His church. If that was not the case it would have disappeared long ago, because after all, in history it was opposed by very terrible forces, in the face of which, according to everyday logic, it was powerless and insignificant. But many mighty leaders and systems have disappeared into the past, sometimes ignominiously, while the church still stands. It is victorious not through power and not through strength. It is victorious through love. And through faith -- as long as it is true faith. I am convinced that this will always be so, and the new patriarch whom the Lord will give to the Russian church will lead it along Christ's path with no less zeal than the never to be forgotten Most Holy Patriarch Aleksiy II. (interview ends)

Fact File

Metropolitan Kirill (Gundyayev) was born in 1946 in the family of a priest. In 1969 he graduated with distinction from the Leningrad Spiritual Academy. He was then tonsured as a monk. In 1971 he was appointed representative of the Moscow Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches in Geneva. In 1974 he became rector of the Leningrad Spiritual Academy and Seminary. In 1989 he became chairman of the Department of External Church Relations and a permanent member of the Synod. In 1991 he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. After the death of Aleksiy II he was elected custodian of the Patriarchal Throne.

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