Philaret (Vakhromeyev)

Metropolitan Filaret (White Russian Мітрапаліт Філарэт Вахрамееў, Russian Митрополит Кирилл Вахромеев ), born Kirill Warfolomejewitsch Wachromejew (White Russian Кірыл Варфаламеевіч Вахрамееў, Russian Кирилл Варфоломеевич Вахромеев ) ( born March 21, 1935 in Moscow), the Russian Orthodox is Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan of Minsk and Sluzk ( to 25 December 2013).

Life and work

Filaret grew up in the family of an employee. He attended middle school and in parallel, a music school. After he graduated in 1957 his study of Orthodox theology at the Moscow Theological Seminary and in 1961 received his doctorate at the Moscow Theological Academy as a doctor of theology. In 1959, he was - while still studying - was added to the monk's state. As a teacher at the Moscow Theological Academy, he was ordained priest on 14 December 1961. In 1961 he was assistant to the academy inspector and 1962 even inspector. After transport to the " Igumen " and " Archimandrite " he became the ( titular ) bishop consecrated in 1965 of Tikhvin. At the same time he was auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Leningrad. During this period from 1961 to 1965 he was also the Commission for Christian Unity secretary. He was a member of the Christian Peace Conference, where perennial member of the Working Committee and Chairman of the Committee to continue the work.

In 1966 he was appointed ( titular ) Bishop of Dmitrov in the Diocese of Moscow when he also was the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy. In the following years he was active in scientific publishing and the Foreign Office. In 1970, he became Archbishop and then temporarily entrusted with the administration of the diocese of Kaliningrad, then Bishop of Berlin ( West and East ) and Central Europe and Patriarchal Exarch of Central Europe. In 1975, the title of the Metropolitan it was awarded. In 1978 he became Metropolitan of Minsk and Belarus, a short time after Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe. From 1981 to 1989 he was appointed head of the Church's Foreign Office was transferred, and in 1985 the pastoral care of the Orthodox parish districts in Finland. So he gave up the office of Exarch of Western Europe. October 1, 1989, he is the Metropolitan of Minsk and Grodno and Exarch of Belarus. Filaret directs the Theological Commission of the Holy Synod. On November 15, 1983 Filaret was made an honorary Doctor of Theology Faculty of the Martin -Luther- University Halle- Wittenberg.

From 1990 to 1995 he was a deputy in the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, while a member of the Commission for Education, Culture and preservation of historical heritage. He is also currently a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

The Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Sluzk has withdrawn his candidacy for the Patriarch office in January 2009 at the National Church Assembly of the Russian Orthodox Church. Filaret called on his supporters to cast their votes for the governor of the patriarchal chair, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, leave.

In recent times, is Metropolitan Filaret his hope for a constructive dialogue between the cultures of the Old and New Testaments. He said before the opening of the international research conference " Christian- Jewish Dialogue: Religious values ​​as the basis of mutual respect in civil society during the global economic crisis."

"This dialogue is very timely because we are always striving for life in harmony and love and there is no confrontation in our relations ," said Metropolitan Filaret. He added that it was not about full equality attitude about matters of faith. An equal dialogue between Christians and Jews could be an example of how you can learn from their own mistakes in order to prevent future disasters to historical. Judaism Christianity and Islam belong next to the oldest Abrahamic religion. The opening of the conference was held on November 9, the anniversary of the so-called Kristallnacht of 1938.

" European civilization has finally developed after numerous tragedies of the 20th century, an awareness when people of different faiths seek a peaceful coexistence and co- or try to maintain friendly or at least neutrality, Filaret said. But this balance remains very fragile in today's world. We need tolerance and togetherness learn, encourage dialogue, while maintaining their own cultural, national and spiritual identity, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus "

Publications

In: " The Narrow Path" ( published quarterly font collection with materials to Orthodox Christianity, edited by John Alfred Wolf)

• March / April 2006 Metropolitan Filaret: Triumph of Orthodoxy

• June 2003 Prayer of St.. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow

• March / April 2003 St. Philaret of Moscow sermon to cross worship