"PUTIN'S SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR" CONSECRATED BISHOP OF YEGOREVSK
Portal-credo.ru, 24 October 2015
On 24 October, the day of the Synaxis of the Optino Elders, RPTsMP Patriarch Kirill performed in the Saint Ambrose-Kazan stavropegial convent in Shamordino (Kaluga province) the consecration of Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), the vicar abbot of the Presentation stavropegial monastery on Lubianka Street (Moscow), as bishop of Yegorevsk, Patriarkhiia.ru reports. Tikhon became a bishop on just the third day after the respective decision was made on 22 October by the synod of the RPTsMP, which is an extremely unusual occurrence.
In addition to the patriarch, participants in the consecration included Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Ilarion, Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovskii Kliment, Metropolitan of Saratov and Volsk Longin, Archbishop of Pesochen and Yukhnov Maksimilian, Archbishop of Sergiev Posad Feognost, Bishop of Solnechnogorsk Sergius, and Bishop of Kozelsk and Liudinovo Nikita. The liturgy was attended by the governor of Kaluga province, A.D. Artamonov; the chairman of the legislative assembly of Kaluga province, N.V. Liubimov, and the head of the administration of the municipal district of Kozelsk, E.V. Slabova.
A patriarchal order was announced, according to which in the main church consecrated to the Kazan icon of the Mother of God of the Saint Ambrose-Kazan stavropegial convent the performance of the Divine Liturgy with royal doors opened at the "Our Father" is blessed. The first time Patriarch Kirill granted such a privilege, which is untraditional for the Russian church, was in September for the Great Cathedral of the Don monastery in Moscow. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 October 2015)
FAMOUS RPTs ARCHIMANDRITE TIKHON BECOMES BISHOP
On Thursday, the Holy Synod adopted a decision to consecrate Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, the vicar abbot of Moscow's Presentation monastery and executive secretary of the patriarchal Council on Culture, bishop of Yegorevsk, the chairman of the synod's Information Department, Vladimir Legoida, told journalists.
"The Holy Synod resolved to consecrate Archimandrite Tikhon bishop of Yegorevsk. The ordination will be performed by Patriarch Kirill on Saturday in Shamordino, at the Saint Ambrose-Kazan stavropegial women's hermitage," Legoida said.
Archimandrite Tikhon is the vicar abbot of Moscow's Presentation monastery, the rector of the Presentation Ecclesiastical Seminary, executive secretary of the patriarchal Council on Culture, chief editor of the Internet portal Pravoslavie.ru, and author of the Orthodox best seller Unholy Saints and several documentary television films devoted to the history of Orthodoxy. In 2008, his film "Collapse of Empire—Byzantine Lesson" received the Golden Eagle prize. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 October 2015)
SYNOD ELECTS ARCHIMANDRITE TIKHON AND HEGUMEN PARAMON VICAR BISHOPS OF MOSCOW DIOCESE OF RPTsMP
Portal-credo.ru, 22 October 2015
On Patriarch Kirill's initiative, the synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow patriarchate (RPTsMP), in session in Moscow's Saint Daniel's monastery, on 22 October elected two new vicar bishops of the Moscow diocese. This was reported in journal entry No. 63, published on the official website of the Moscow patriarchate.
Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, vicar abbot of the Presentation stavropegial monastery on Lubianka Street in Moscow becomes the bishop of Yegorevsk. In the early 2000s, Father Tikhon had the reputation of the spiritual director (dukhovnik) of Russian President Putin and at the present time he heads the patriarchal Council on Culture.
Hegumen Paramon Golubka, vicar abbot of the Don stavropegial monastery in the city of Moscow, was elected yet another vicar bishop of the Moscow diocese with the title of bishop of Bronnitsy. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 October 2015)
IS THE KREMLIN PREPARING A SUCCESSOR FOR PATRIARCH KIRILL?
Has "Operation Successor" in RPTs started?
by Nikolai Podosokorsky
Blog "Philologist," 23 October 2015
Putin's spiritual director, Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, became a bishop yesterday, the official website of the Moscow patriarchate reports. That is, now, according to the charter of the RPTs, Shevkinov can legally claim the title patriarch when it becomes vacant.
Rumors that it is Shevkunov that the Kremlin would like to see as head of the Russian Orthodox Church have been going around for a long time, but theoretically until now he was not able to occupy this office since he was not a bishop.
I remind you that according to the current charter of the RPTs, "a candidate for patriarch must satisfy the following requirements: a) be a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church; b) have advanced theological education and sufficient experience in diocesan administration, and be distinguished by adherence to canonical jurisprudence; c) enjoy a good reputation and the trust of bishops, clergy, and the people; d) "have a good testimony from outsiders" (1 Tim. 3.7); e) be at least 40 years of age."
After the Holy Synod resolved yesterday to elect the vicar abbot of the Presentation stavropegial monastery of the city of Moscow, Archimandrite Tikhon, as a vicar bishop of the Moscow diocese with the title of bishop of Yegorevsk, he no longer has impediments to the cherished goal, except for one: the current incumbent Patriarch Kirill, who is only 68 years old and does not have serious health problems and was elected patriarch for life. . . .
The main thing is that Father Tikhon has the
reputation of
being a person who is very close to the Kremlin and the spiritual
director of Vladimir
Putin himself, who was introduced to the latter by retired KGB
General
Lieutenant N.S. Leonov. Shevkunov has frequently accompanied Putin
on various
trips and is an extremely influential church functionary. Now his
legal status
has begun to be brought into correspondence with his actual
status. (tr. by PDS,
posted 25 October 2015)
Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru, 23 October 2015
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