Bishop Hilarion Alfeev. Alfeev Ilarion

Heretical errors of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), one of the masters of the head of the Renovationist sect Association of Orthodox Experts Kirill Frolov.

On some theoretical concepts of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev)
Andrey Rogozyansky, Russian People's Line
Problems of church life / 11/13/2010

From the editor: The activities of the youngest metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Bishop Hilarion (Alfeev), attracts close attention not only from the Orthodox community, but also from people outside the Church. But Metropolitan Hilarion is not only one of the most active representatives of our Hierarchy, he actively speaks in the field of theology and substantiation of the directions of modern church policy. However, in Lately There are very few detailed publications devoted to the analysis of the theological and church-political ideas of Bishop Hilarion. Therefore, we think that the article by the famous Orthodox publicist Andrei Rogozyansky will fill this gap and arouse the interest of readers.
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A little background. The current head of the DECR, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), a man of diverse abilities, was known to the Church initially as a theologian, translator, teacher and author of books. These pages of activity in the 1990s and early 2000s, before his episcopal consecration, provide the necessary scope for a vision of his contemporary position and views.

The stamp of extraordinaryness marks the milestones in the biography of Fr. Hilarion. At the age of twenty-six, having just mastered the correspondence program of the Moscow Theological Academy, he wrote his own version of lectures on Orthodox dogmatic theology (included in the book “The Sacrament of Faith”). From Oxford comes a promising breakthrough in a number of theological areas, unknown to science and discovered by Professor Sebastian Brock, a book of the works of Isaac the Syrian. He quickly gains a reputation as a venerable syrologist and translation master. Unofficially challenges the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils and semi-officially calls to stop considering some Nestorian churches of the East to be heretical.

Subsequently, the newly discovered texts turn out to be a Nestorian pseudepigrapha, a false Isaac. Delight is a stretch and a consequence of the enthusiasm of the most learned Oxford departments for the theology of ecumenism and forgiveness. The claimed author's translation from Syriac into Russian bears the hallmarks of a double translation: Old Syriac - English (S. Brok), English - Russian (Fr. Hilarion). Nevertheless, the foundations have been laid. “Two years at Oxford were a very important time for me... all the time when I did not sleep, did not eat or pray, I spent either in the library, or at the computer, or in communication with interesting people- such, for example, as my scientific supervisor, Bishop Callistus (Ware, now metropolitan, member of the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople - A.R.) or professor of Syriac Sebastian Brock. I think that two years at Oxford gave me more scientifically than all my previous studies, because there I received not just some amount of knowledge: I mastered, to the extent available to me, the scientific method, the method of independent research. It seems to me that in our theological schools they do not explain to students what the scientific method is...”

In Russia, the theological community views the ambitions of its young brother with doubt. When ideas about. Hilarion are compiled into the book “The Sacrament of Faith. Introduction to Orthodox Dogmatic Theology" (1996), a storm arises. The book causes categorical rejection among such theologians as Rev. Valentin Asmus, priest. Peter Andrievsky and priest. Daniil Sysoev, prof. A. Sidorov, Y. Maksimov. On the one hand, there are academic interests, on the other, the desire for free generalizations and stretching of facts. Stylistics, intermediate between science and popularization, accurate statement and personal expression. “In Oxford, as in other Western universities... the doctoral student is required... on the basis of the collected material to come to some conclusions, prove something, and make a contribution to the development of science.”

Circumstances for Fr. Hilarion's situation is unfavorable. But he is already working in the DECR, moving from science to a career, to organizational and practical activities, and is quickly gaining weight: he travels abroad, gives lecture courses in different places, teaches at the Smolensk Seminary, and is responsible for inter-Christian relations. In the reissue of the controversial book “The Sacrament of Faith. Introduction to Orthodox Dogmatic Theology”, technical corrections are made, and although its intentions change little, the controversy subsides. Moscow professors are gradually losing the habit of seeing the Ig. Hilarion of his own, a rival in the corporation. His Doctor of Divinity degree, Fr. Hilarion received in Paris, at the St. Sergius Institute, and to this day has not received scientific degrees, an honorary doctorate or a professorship from Russian theological schools; heads an alternative structure called the DECR All-Church Postgraduate School. Recently, significant efforts and resources have been devoted to it in order to prove the superiority of the method learned at Oxford. This will not be difficult to do, given the current high position of the Bishop of the Rector of the OA and the cramped situation usual for seminaries and academies.

Line o. Hilarion on the rediscovery of Orthodox dogma continues. In 1998, three monographs on St. Gregory the Theologian, Simeon the New Theologian and Isaac the Syrian, and in them the ideas of Origen, condemned by the Ecumenical Councils as heretical, shine with the same bright reflections; the exciting discoveries of Professor Brock are promoted. At the same time, pseudo-Isaac himself is published, under the title “2nd volume of the works of St. Isaac the Syrian. About divine secrets and spiritual life", in the original translation from Syriac. Reprints of all books do not stop. Criticism of Fr. Hilarion as a translator can be found, for example, here, here, here and here. A creative biography that is rare in its richness.

Since 2002, in the rank of Bishop of Kerch, Podolsk, Vienna and Austria, vl. Hilarion is more visible in the managerial and diplomatic fields. His first independent steps as a vicar in England reveal new extraordinary leadership abilities and cause a new storm. What gave rise to conflicts in the theological environment is somehow also involved here. The text of an open letter from the ruling bishop, Metropolitan, appears. Antonia (Blooma), to owner. Hilarion, having the nature of a general will. In the unofficial broadcast, many details circulate, even anecdotal ones.

Bishop Hilarion was forced to leave dear England, and since then his ascent through the steps of the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church has not been overshadowed by unpleasant incidents. As head of the Representative Office of the Russian Orthodox Church at European international organizations in Brussels, Vl. Hilarion outgrows the scale of a diocesan eminence and, as a result, about five years ago he becomes what he is now known as - a political figure and a complete clever man. The bishop's statements on a wide range of issues are broadcast by church bodies and acquire the status of the official voice of the Church. This privilege becomes even stronger with the appointment of Vl. Hilarion as the head of the DECR and his elevation to the rank of metropolitan. Apart from the generalized negative reaction regarding the ecumenical activities of the DECR, there are no examples of analysis and criticism of the theoretical positions belonging to the author at this time.

The situation in the intellectual field of the Church is changing. The rigor of dogmatic approaches gives way to a polyphony of opinions on current issues. Behind the multitude of assessments, varied in nature and sometimes expressed by clergy journalistically quite sharply, the nuances of the statements of the future metropolitan become not so noticeable. The foundations on which the theological community built its professional and confessional position are leveled, de facto, without announcement. At the moment, no one will be surprised by the work of the former critic Vl. Hilarion, professor of St. Tikhon's Theological University, Archpriest. Valentin Asmus is a leading DECR expert in the commission for dialogue with the Vatican. Conservative review, in theory, helps improve the quality of such work. Another thing is that polemics against “nervous humanism,” which has spread in church thinking much wider than before, are unlikely to be included in the content of his speeches. Likewise, it remains not entirely clear: so what about “Volume 2”? It is accepted by the conciliar consciousness as the creation of St. Isaac, rejected, patiently tolerated, or questions of this kind are not raised at all in modern theological consciousness.

Let me remind you that the initial assessments are extremely serious: “The ecumenical theologian Hieromonk Hilarion (Alfeev) ... opposes the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils. But the defender of heresy should not forget that the anathemas of the Holy Fathers of the III and V Ecumenical Councils, which they pronounced on Nestorius, Theodore of Mopsuet and other fathers of Nestorianism, also remain on Father Hilarion himself... All ancient heresiarchs are and will be in this eternal fire , and about. Hilarion is not only unable to save them from the fire with his false writings, but he himself can follow them to the place where his teachers are located” (Priest Peter Andrievsky).

“Many passages in it (the book) sound as if Fr. Hilarion in no way wants to offend Western Christians, he wants to say something nice to them, even sacrificing the truth.” “Another thing to note in the book is Fr. Hilarion, that the author, in the spirit of ecumenical ideology, calls for abandoning the attitude towards heretics that the entire Orthodox Church tradition requires of us. Let's say the Holy Fathers prohibit praying with heretics, but for us, they say, this is not a decree. And in general, according to Fr. Hilarion, one cannot equate the heretics of antiquity with heterodox ones.” “This opinion is easily explained by modern “nervous humanism,” but it corresponds neither to the teaching of Holy Scripture nor to patristic Tradition.” “In his lectures (Fr. Hilarion at different times read and now gives lectures in different educational institutions) Fr. Hilarion speaks out more frankly. He says that in general the V Ecumenical Council is a dubious Council, because it took place under strong pressure from the imperial power... oh. Hilarion is simply unpleasant about the teaching of the Fifth Ecumenical Council, which, by the way, was confirmed by the subsequent Ecumenical Councils - the Sixth and Seventh.” “In general, the method of Fr. Hilarion has flaws, and this occurs quite often in the book - a lack of clarity: first a certain thesis is given, but then such reservations are made that this thesis is completely crossed out, although this thesis is not formally removed. (Protege Valentin Asmus).

“Straight up about. Hilarion did not respond to the critical analysis, however, the fact that in subsequent apologies for the authenticity of his translation (of Isaac the Syrian) he stopped resorting to this argument can be regarded as an involuntary admission of its poor quality.” “The conciliar condemnation of this or that theological opinion as a heresy is a watershed, after which any conscious reproduction of this opinion as one’s own means falling under anathema - separation from the Church” (Yuri Maksimov).

Amazingly, doubts and contrasting contradictions disappear. And it does not seem that truth was preferred to Plato. There is no longer any need to specifically point out the “fuzziness of the method”, the abundance of reservations, and mutually exclusive statements; they are ubiquitous. “At first a certain thesis is given, but then reservations are made that completely cross out this thesis, although formally this thesis is not withdrawn” - isn’t it, a familiar picture from many current speeches? A difficult question: what kind of reaction would a book like The Sacrament of Faith produce today? Even extreme attacks of “nervousness,” as Fr. V. Asmus, humanism or, according to Yu. Maksimov, “optimistic theology”, among official representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church inclusive, such as this or this one, ceased to evoke competent criticism. “Collective Fomenko,” the prospect of whose coming in the 1990s was pointed out with some irony by opponents of Fr. Hilarion, he came and has been here for a long time. Theological experimentation with personal contribution according to the Oxford method has grown into what is perhaps a typical phenomenon. “Contextual reading” of the holy fathers, for which Vl. Hilarion naturally comes to the conclusion that the Holy Fathers find themselves “out of context.” Consensus patrum kisses with peace of mind and goes on the shelf. If the anathemas of the Ecumenical Councils concern anything and anyone known, then so much the worse for the Ecumenical Councils. It is enough to take a short virtual walk, for example, through the files of the Radonezh newspaper, for the reader to see for himself how interests and key intellectual discourses have changed in just over a decade.

On this basis, what can be called administrative theology matures. In free improvisations Fr. G. Kochetkova or Fr. G. Chistyakov’s views on the topics of the Parisian school did not have the same perspectives that open up when theologically speaking from an official position. Administrative theology is another undoubted conquest of Vl. Hilarion (Alfeev), who at the turn of 1997-1998, in a series of speeches in Nezavisimaya, presented the rationale for the “new ecumenism”. Ecumenical Councils- oh, miracle! - nothing was decided either about Catholics or about Protestants, and therefore we are conceptually in an open framework and can start writing from scratch; critics of the DECR are just immoral individuals who want to seize power in the Russian Orthodox Church and overthrow the Patriarch and the Synod. At the peak of the scandal over the backstage Balamand Agreement, Hieromonk Hilarion’s theses did not look too convincing. But time passes, everything changes!.. Today Met. Hilarion already says with a light heart: “Let theologians do theology, let the bishops do their business, and let the monks lead a monastic life,” and these words sound like modern veni, vidi, vici, an announcement of the entry into the era of post-theology. Because belonging to an organization is absolutely important, and disagreeing with it is marginal and dangerous, so there are, in fact, no questions beyond this. Moralistic speculation on how well and correctly to obey officials consistently removes the basis for theological self-awareness. The sanctity of dogma and Tradition gives way to the idea of ​​the sanctity of the organization, the “imperativeness” of administrative subordination. A chorus of inspired support, a copy of G. Pavlovsky’s “jubilant gopota,” warms up the crowd. Promises of a breakthrough and quick success justify lowering the general criteria. The further, the more “administrative theology” creates obstacles to comprehension and creates an atmosphere of triumphalism and intolerance. Any of the comments is regarded as a sign of opposition to the hierarchy and personal confrontation.

We have no intention of fighting with the DECR leader and member of the Holy Synod, and even if we wanted to, we could not do it personally. Let's try to turn to the intellectual side of the author's work. In continuation of this article, Vl. Hilarion (Alfeev) will appear before us in the role of a theorist-ideologist of church politics.

Let me make a reservation right away, the creativity of Vl. Hilarion (Alfeev) can hardly be considered particularly interesting and valuable in an intellectual sense. The majority of the bibliographic list consists of good, passable texts, disciplined in a corporate sense and, as befits a diplomat, without any special content or strong movements. In the synodal bodies and among the speakers of the Russian Orthodox Church there will be people with a more meaningful philosophical and general cultural perception.

Most of the nominees in recent years are a mixed type, combining the ability to behave in public with getting into the situation. In the case of the DECR chairman, Metropolitan. Hilarion (Alfeev) adds an ideological component to this. Remaining generally within the boundaries of the agenda set by the patriarchal speeches, he, perhaps, more subtly discerns the lines of tension in the surrounding environment and allows himself to speak out more definitely, act proactively, experiment, showing moderate initiative and placing emphasis at his own discretion.

Little by little he emerges from the shadow of the Patriarch, continuing to be considered his man, but by no means his alter ego. Over time, the situation is increasingly clear when public discussions are localized not just anywhere, but around the theses of the DECR chairman. His own preferences remain behind the scenes. External evenness, dispassion, closeness, control over emotions are, of course, the key to rapid hierarchical elevation from the environment of the same name. Such dispassion occurs if a person attacks a trail of interest and rushes sharply forward along it. The essence of the hardware method, the smell of power, was precisely captured in his time by Hieromonk Hilarion. But this also makes it unlikely that Metropolitan will grow up in the future. Hilarion into a public leader, because here what is always required is more openness, spontaneity, and personal inspiration for the ideas preached.

It is not clear whether Met. is correct or not. Outside observers place Hilarion in the camp of political liberals and Westerners. Sympathy for the Lithuanian nationalist Sąjūdis in the early 1990s is a unique example of a political choice. It is unlikely that we can talk about direct support for the liberal opposition, the remnants of which are now trying to rally on Triumfalnaya. The owner is unlikely to be delighted. Hilarion and from the theses of extreme social reformers, like Jurgens, Chubais, etc. It is more logical to point to the anti-authoritarian, freedom-loving pathos and general earthiness, situational thinking with a natural orientation to realpolitik for such cases. For realpolitik, it does not matter what is better and more correct, if in any case there is no other path for Russia other than the Western one.

Another thing is realpolitik on church grounds, where, it seems, there are no insurmountable obstacles and strong opponents. Reforms in the Russian Orthodox Church are an almost ideal succession for a young ambitious figure without complexes of romanticism or truth-seeking, without his own strong personal attachments to anything. The adventurous streak that emerged at the stage of scientific activity and translations will, apparently, make itself felt in a new capacity. Virtually unlimited hardware capabilities warm young blood. The tough hand of the DECR chairman has already been revealed in the work of the Inter-Council Presence, and one can only guess how far his conceptual reform plans extend. At each stage, progress is announced only to the nearest point on the road map, after which the next and the next are subsequently discovered. An approach that is absolutely reasonable from the point of view of organization and management, and if we reformed some one-dimensional structure in a similar way - the railway workers' union or the society for the protection of nature - the result would be excellent. In other cases, a more complex dialectic comes into play and other approaches are required. If pragmatics is rejected and causes irreconcilable conflict and degradation in such areas as education and the army, then even more so within the Church.

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Five days ago, I accidentally (??) came across a brightly colorful, high-quality photograph of a high-ranking, and at the same time very odious character (see below), which, upon closer examination, literally SHOCKED me.

I couldn’t calm down for two days, the same thought was spinning in my head: “Well, how can this be? !!” To say that I was amazed literally before my eyes by the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Holy Fathers means to say nothing...

And this, by the way, includes my personal attitude towards the past “Historical Meeting” TM Pope with the Patriarch of Moscow at Havana airport.

combatant

No, I already knew a lot about this mega-promoted (and promoted!) character in our Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate until now. So for the first time, this low-quality black-and-white photograph in the newspaper “The Spirit of a Christian,” which I was then subscribing to, made me think very seriously about the role of this hierarch in our Mother Church:

At that time, I didn’t really know “your Internet”, and I had no idea how-where-what-(and why) to look for on the Internet at all.

Little by little, understanding the internet, three years later another information bomb exploded loudly, the consequences of which have now been intensively cleaned up on the Internet ever since. It turned out that Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) was born of a Jewish father and at birth bore his last name - Dashevsky. I also wrote about this.

My persistent search brought another intermediate result - I found a color photograph of the picture I saw from eight years ago:

At the dawn of his fast-paced career

By the way, judging by this photo, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, who was kicked overboard, could well have revealed to the public the twilight milestones of the biography of the vice-president of the Russian Orthodox Church CJSC, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev), instead of an angry and pathetic denunciation of banknote holders in Panama offshores. But something tells me that Mr. Chaplin, now frantically trying to join the camp of Russian national patriots - who do not accept and therefore criticize both the course of Mr. Gundyaev and Mr. Putin - Mr. Chaplin will not do this under penalty of death. Because the stakes in the Great Game for the decomposition of Russian Orthodoxy are very high, and agent Dashevsky’s “legend” must be supported at all costs.

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) at a reception with the Pope. 09.29.2011

But I will continue.

This, in every sense, eloquently denounces the deeply legendary Vatican influence agent(this is at a minimum), a Uniate crypto-Catholic archbishop introduced into the ROC MP and vigorously promoted to the top by powerful anti-Russian and anti-Orthodox forces - a photograph in which Hilarion (Alfeev) was photographed in a vestment that betrays him, was discovered by me here:

Meet! Hilarion Alfeev - Honorary Prelate and Secret Uniate Cardinal-Archbishop for Crypto-Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in Russia

Honorary Prelate of His Holiness ( lat. Praelatus Honorarius Sanctitatis Suae) - Monsignor Hilarion Alfeev, in person!

Apostolic Protonary de numero

(Higher Prelates of the Roman Curia and Protonotary Apostolic de numero)

"Sutana (fr. soutane, Italian sottana- skirt, cassock), long outer clothing of the Catholic clergy, worn outside of worship. The color of the cassock depends on the hierarchical position of the clergyman: for the priest it is black, for bishop - purple, y cardinal - purple, at dad's - white", (Catholic Encyclopedia)

feraiolo (cloak)

“...the highest of the three honorary titles possible for diocesan clergy is the title Freelance Apostolic Prothonotary, (…) next highest title Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. Both of these titles are given to their holders the right to be called "monsignors" and use special vestments - purple cassock with a purple belt and leather jacket and a black biretta with a black pompom - for religious services, a black cassock with red trim and a purple belt - at other times. Freelance Apostolic Protonotaries (but not Honorary Prelates) may also choose to use purple ferraiolo(cloak)". ()

The color purple for Catholics

Meeting of the 68th Assembly of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI)

For those who still think that this is a skillful photoshop, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the original image of maximum quality:

And yes, yes. If the photo was taken in October 2012, and the current Pope Francis I was elected on March 13, 2013, therefore, Metropolitan Cardinal (albeit freelance) Hilarion could well have participated in the election of the current head of the Vatican, Francis I:

Pope Francis I kisses the hands(!!!) of the Jews

And yes. Regarding the proofs of the diligently cleared biography of the grandson of Grigory Markovich Dashevsky - in the past a talented Jewish boy violinist, and now an equally talented SECRET CARDINAL Hilarion (Alfeev-Dashevsky).

I repeat, confirming links (prufflinks) disappear from the Internet and simply disappear “at once.” Now it’s already “castrated” (without graduation year), but still a link. And a screenshot from it:

Characteristic Jewish NAME - F.I.O. according to the request on Wikipedia “Grushevsky”:

Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion with previous Pope Benedict XVI

Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion with the current Pope Francis I

« Brotherly" hugs with a "holy" kiss...

How many Catholic cardinals are in the photo?

Pope Francis I and the Jews

Pope Francis I with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with menorah

Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion (Alfeev) with Rabbi Arthur Schneier - chairman of the organization« Religious Zionists of America« , Chairman of the American Section of the World Jewish Congress

See “The secret of the golden apple given to Patriarch Kirill by Rabbi Arthur Schneier has been revealed”

Metropolitan Kirill with rabbis. In the center is Rabbi Arthur Schneier

Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion, Rabbi Arthur Schneier and another cardinal

Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion (Alfeev) with US Vice President Joseph Biden (far right)

Who do the nun sisters take the blessing from - the metropolitan or the cardinal?..

Old Believer Metropolitan Korniliy, Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion, Patriarch Kirill

With the Ecumenist Patriarch of Constantinople and Freemason Bartholomew

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I remember that Metropolitan Cardinal Hilarion (Alfeev) made angry accusations of provoking a “schism” against Bishop Diomede of Chukotka and Anadyr, who had previously publicly stated that the current Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill is a secret Catholic cardinal, and then, in fact, became one of the ardent initiators of the persecution of him. Is the thief's hat on fire?

http://ruskline.ru/news_rl/2008/06/18/episkop_ilarion_prizyvaet_arhierejskij_sobor_dat_ocenku

Bishop Hilarion (Alfeev) calls on the Council of Bishops to evaluate the statements of Bishop Diomede (Dzyuban)

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Orthodox view:

So WHO IS HE, the unnamed and secretly appointed Catholic cardinal in the Vatican. Isn’t it Alfeev???

http://lightsbeam.narod.ru/history/harare.html

Eighth General Assembly of the WCC in Harare

On December 3-14, 1998, the 8th General Assembly of the WCC took place in Harare (Zimbabwe), which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the formation of the main body of the ecumenical movement (1948-1998). Ecumenists from Orthodoxy claim that they participate in such events for testimonies about Orthodoxy.

15.01.2014

12 questions to the composer, theologian, and several times “honorary” Metropolitan Hilarion

https://www.sedmitza.ru/text/324239.html

Who was appointed "secret cardinal" by John Paul II?

http://www.3rm.info/index.php?newsid=61549

THE Apostate “PATRIARCH” KIRILL CONCLUDED A UNION WITH SATAN. Appeal of Afonites. (VIDEO, PHOTO), Moscow - Third Rome

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In defense of Metropolitan-Cardinal Hilarion (Alfeev) from “slander and attacks”:

Additionally:

Bishop Hilarion (in the world - Grigory Valerievich Alfeev; b. July 24, 1966 Moscow) - Bishop of Vienna and Austria, representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at European international organizations in Brussels, theologian, patrolologist, church historian, composer.

Author of monographs on the life and teaching of the Church Fathers, translations from Greek and Syriac, works on dogmatic theology, and numerous publications in periodicals. Author of musical works of chamber and oratorio genres.

Books (14)

What Orthodox Christians Believe

This collection of catechetical conversations is an abbreviated and simplified version of the book “The Sacrament of Faith. Introduction to Orthodox Dogmatic Theology,” which was published in 1996 and has since been published several times in Russian and other languages.

The collection is addressed to a wide range of readers, primarily those who are embarking on the path of Christian life.

You are the light of the world

The author addresses his book primarily to those who have recently come to the Church or are just preparing for baptism and would like to learn more about Orthodoxy from a reliable, authoritative source, and not from dubious brochures full of superstitions, dubious recommendations and pseudo-Orthodox statements. Bishop of Vienna and Austria Hilarion (Alfeev) considers all components of life Orthodox man and gives practical recommendations about how a Christian can live in the 21st century.

He exhaustively and clearly explains, in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of the Holy Fathers, what faith, fasting, Christian marriage, salvation of the soul are, afterlife, monasticism, spiritual life in the Orthodox understanding, why the Church and clergy are needed, how to pray correctly, and so on.

The spiritual world of St. Isaac the Syrian

The book of the Orthodox theologian and patrolologist, Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, Doctor of Theology of the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, Bishop Hilarion (Alfeev), is the first monograph in modern theological science dedicated to the great Father of the Church of the 7th century.

Based on the material of the well-known “Words of the Ascetic”, as well as the recently discovered Conversations “On the Divine Mysteries and the Spiritual Life” of Isaac the Syrian, the author reconstructs the theological system of the Syrian writer-hermit and analyzes his ascetic and mystical teaching. The book is about God's love for man and man's love for God, about temptations and abandonment by God, about humility and tears of repentance, about prayer and mystical insights, about life after death and about the last times.

Life and teaching of St. Gregory the Theologian

The book is the first monograph in Russian science dedicated to the great Father of the Church of the 4th century, whose works over the course of ten centuries of Byzantine history were second only to the Bible in popularity.

The book is written on the basis of the author's doctoral dissertation, defended at the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris. Despite its scientific nature, the book is addressed to a general reader. In simple and accessible language, the author speaks about the main aspects of the moral, theological and mystical teaching of St. Gregory.

Based on the works of the saint, such topics as philosophy and theology, marriage and monasticism, priesthood and episcopacy are revealed. God and man, the Trinity, Christ, contemplation of the Divine light, prayer and vision of God.

About prayer

This small book contains a recording of a series of television programs aired in the spring of 1999 with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch ALEXIY II of Moscow and All Rus' under the general title “Peace to your home.” The cycle consists of 32 programs and is dedicated to the topic of prayer.

What is prayer? Why do you need to pray? How to learn prayer? Prayer is like a conversation with God. Prayer as overcoming the distance between God and man. The Lord's Prayer. Jesus Prayer Prayers to the Mother of God and the saints. Prayer for the living and the dead. These are the main themes revealed by the author.

Using simple and accessible language, Abbot Hilarion addresses first of all those who have just embarked on the path to God and to the temple and who are taking their first steps on this path.

Sacred mystery of the church

The monograph of the famous Russian theologian and patrolologist is the first systematic study in Russian science of the debate about the veneration of the name of God, which arose at the beginning of the 20th century on Mount Athos and spread to Russia, where prominent church and public figures, theologians and philosophers became involved in them.

Restoring in detail the historical outline of the controversy on the basis of previously unknown archival data, the author focuses on the theological understanding of the problems of the disputes. Separate chapters are devoted to the teaching about the name of God in the Old and New Testaments, in Byzantine and Syriac patristics, in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, in the Russian theological tradition. Particular attention is paid to the theory and practice of the Jesus Prayer in Byzantine and Russian monasticism. Consistently analyzing the main works of supporters and opponents of imyaslaviya, the author critically evaluates the positions of both sides in the light of Church Tradition.

Christ is the conqueror of hell

Christ is the conqueror of hell. The theme of the descent into hell in the Eastern Christian tradition.

The book by the famous Russian theologian and patrolologist is the first systematic study in Russian science of the topic of Christ’s descent into hell based on numerous monuments of Byzantine, Syriac, Coptic and Latin literature.

Many of the texts included in the book have never been translated into Russian before. Particular attention is paid to liturgical texts, which the author considers as a rich source of dogmatic Tradition.

How to come to Church

In this book I would like to talk about Holy Baptism as the beginning of spiritual life, to acquaint the reader with the history of this Sacrament and the modern practice of its celebration in the Church based on the works of the Fathers of the Church, the research of modern theologians and my own many years of experience in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Separately, it will be said about Confirmation - a Sacrament that in the Orthodox Church is performed, as a rule, simultaneously with Baptism. Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev).

The End of Times: Orthodox Teaching

The book contains summary Orthodox teaching about life after death, about the end of human history, about the general resurrection, the Last Judgment and posthumous retribution based on the Holy Scriptures and the works of the Holy Fathers of the Church. The book is recommended by the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Orthodox theology at the turn of the century

This book is a collection of articles and reports written in 1997-99 and dedicated to one general theme- Orthodox theology at the turn of the century. “Will there be a revival of Russian theological science?” This question, posed in the title of one of the articles, is the leitmotif of the entire book.

The first part of the collection is devoted to the problems of theological education in the Russian Orthodox Church. The second part of the book contains materials dedicated to outstanding theologians of the outgoing 20th century - Archimandrite Cyprian (Kern), Protopresbyter John Meyendorff, Bishop Callistus of Diokleia, Archimandrite Sophronius (Sakharov) and Metropolitan Anthony Surozhsky. Finally, the third part, which gives the title to the entire collection, represents an attempt to holistically comprehend the complex of tasks facing Russian Orthodox theology on the eve of the 21st century, sums up the author’s many years of reflection on this topic.

Venerable Simeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition

The teachings of the great theologian, poet and mystic of the 11th century. is considered in the context of the entire diversity of the Tradition of the Eastern Church.

The author explores the attitude of St. Simeon to the Holy Scriptures and Orthodox worship, to the studio monastic tradition, to hagiographic, theological, ascetic and mystical literature, reveals the main themes of his theology: tears and repentance, vision of God, divine light, ecstasy, dispassion, deification. The personality and teaching of St. Petersburg are examined separately. Simeon the Studite, spiritual father of St. Simeon the New Theologian.

The relationship between the personal spiritual experience of a Christian and the Tradition of the Church is the main theme of the book.

The collection now published contains sixty-two sermons, including twenty-two previously published. Almost all of the sermons currently published were delivered by Father Hilarion in the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine in Vspolye, where he carries out his pastoral ministry.

Hegumen Hilarion is the author of more than ten books, including monographs dedicated to the Fathers of the Church, translations of patristic texts from Greek and Syriac. Father Hilarion's books enjoy well-deserved recognition from readers. They are highly appreciated by the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Hilarion (Grigory Alfeev) - hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, head of the DECR MP, member of the Holy Synod, historian, Orthodox composer, translator of works on dogmatic theology from Syriac and Greek.

The future hierarch was born on July 24, 1966 in Moscow into the family of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Valery Grigorievich Dashevsky and writer Valeria Anatolyevna Alfeeva, from whose pen the collections “Colorful Dreams”, “Jvari”, “Called, Chosen, Faithful”, “ Wanderers", "Pilgrimage to Sinai", "Non-Evening Light", "Sacred Sinai".

His paternal grandfather Grigory Markovich Dashevsky became famous thanks to his historical works on the topic of the Spanish Civil War. The boy was named Gregory at birth. The parents' marriage did not last long - soon the father left the family.

When the boy was 12 years old, Valery Grigorievich died in an accident. Valeria Anatolyevna took full responsibility for raising her son. At an early age, Gregory began studying at the music school at the Gnessin School. The boy’s first and favorite violin teacher was Vladimir Nikolaevich Litvinov.

In 1977, Gregory underwent the sacrament of baptism. Heavenly patron Hilarion the New became a youth, whose day is celebrated on June 6 according to the old style. Story Orthodox Church knows two more great righteous people - the Old Russian Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv and Hilarion, Abbot of Pelicitsky. The saints became famous for their exploits of monastic immaculate life.

In 1981, the young man began church service as a reader at the Church of the Resurrection in the Assumption Vrazhek area. Two years later he began to serve as a subdeacon with Metropolitan Pitirim of the Volokolamsk and Yuryev diocese, and also to work part-time at the publishing house of the Russian Orthodox Church MP.

Metropolitan Hilarion in the army

Having entered the Moscow Conservatory in 1984 with a degree in composition, the young man immediately went into the army for two years. Alfeev was assigned to the company of the army band of the border troops. Returning to Moscow in 1986, Grigory returned to university and studied for a year in the class of Professor Alexei Nikolaev.

Service

In 1987, Alfeev decided to leave worldly life and took monastic vows at the Vilna Holy Spirit Monastery. Archbishop Victorin of Vilna and Lithuania ordained the new monk as a hierodeacon. On the Feast of the Transfiguration, Hilarion accepted the rank of hieromonk, and for 2 years the young priest was appointed rector of churches in the villages of Kolainiai and Tituvenai of the Vilna and Lithuanian diocese. During these same years, Alfeev graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary, the Moscow Theological Academy and received a candidate's degree in theology.

Hilarion does not stop there and becomes a graduate student at the Moscow Academy of Sciences, and then a student at Oxford. In Great Britain, Alfeev studies Greek and Syriac under the guidance of Sebastian Broca, defends his doctoral dissertation “Reverend Simeon New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition". In parallel with scientific activity Hilarion does not leave ministry in the church. A young priest cares for the parishioners of the churches of the Sourozh diocese.

Since 1995, the Doctor of Philosophy and Theology has become an employee of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, and a teacher of patrolology in seminaries in Kaluga and Smolensk. Hilarion lectures on dogmatic theology in different parts of the world: in Orthodox seminaries in Alaska, New York, and Cambridge. On Easter 2000, Hilarion was elevated to the rank of abbot, and a year later Alfeev accepted the bishopric in the Kerch diocese, which is located in Great Britain. He also becomes vicar of Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom).

Bishopric

In 2002, on the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord, Hilarion accepted the bishopric and served for a year in the Podolsk diocese. The Patriarchate instructed the young bishop to participate in international meetings of the European Union, where issues of religious tolerance were resolved.

In 2003, Hilarion was appointed Bishop of Vienna and Austria. Under Alfeev, restoration work is being carried out on two large temples diocese - Vienna cathedral St. Nicholas and the Church of Lazarus the Fourth Day. In addition to his main ministry, the bishop continues to work in the representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Brussels.

Since 2005, Alfeev has been a private assistant professor of theology at the University of Friborg. In 2009, he assumed the post of Chairman of the DECR of the Moscow Patriarchate, was ordained to the archbishopric rank, and appointed vicar of Patriarch Kirill. A year later he becomes metropolitan.

Social activity

In the late 90s, Hilarion began public activities, becoming the host of the program “Peace to Your Home,” which aired on the TVC channel. Alfeev openly enters into dialogue with unchurched people, explaining the features of the Orthodox faith. Hilarion manages to explain complex theological concepts and terms in simple and accessible language, thereby making Orthodoxy closer to people who want to understand its essence. In the early 2000s, the bishop’s fundamental work, “The Sacred Secret of the Church. Introduction to the history and problems of the Imiaslav disputes.”

Metropolitan Hilarion is on the editorial boards of Orthodox publications “Theological Works”, “Church and Time”, “Bulletin of the Russian Christian Movement”, “Studia Monastica”, “Byzantine Library”. The Doctor of Theology has five hundred articles on the problems of dogmatics, patristics, and the history of the Orthodox Church. Alfeev creates books “. Life and Teaching", "Catechism", "Orthodox Witness in modern world", "The main sacrament of the Church", "Jesus Christ: God and Man" and others.

Hilarion manages to competently conduct dialogue with people of other faiths as a member of the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches. Alfeev is on the commission for negotiations with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany.

In 2009, he participated in the preparation of the year of Russian culture in Italy and Italian culture in Russia; a year later, Hilarion was appointed a member of the Patriarchal Council for Culture and the Board of Trustees of the Russkiy Mir Foundation. In 2011, he headed the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission.

Music

Music occupies an important place in the biography of Metropolitan Hilarion. Since 2006, Alfeev has returned to composing, creating a number of works on Orthodox themes. This is first of all " Divine Liturgy" and "All Night Vigil", "Matthew Passion" and "Christmas Oratorio". The theologian's works were warmly recognized by the creative community of performers, the music was successfully performed by symphony and choral groups under the direction of conductors Vladimir Fedoseev, Valery Gergiev, Pavel Kogan, Dmitry Kitayenko and others. Concerts take place not only in Russia, but also in Greece, Hungary, Australia, Canada, Serbia, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and the USA.

Since 2011, Alfeev and Vladimir Spivakov have been organizing the Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music. A year later, the Volga Festival of Sacred Music starts, the director of which, along with Metropolitan Hilarion, is violinist Dmitry Kogan.

Personal life

Metropolitan Hilarion has served faithfully in the church since his youth; he was tonsured a monk at the age of 20, so there is no need to talk about Alfeev’s personal life. His only beloved and dear person in the world remains his mother Valeria Anatolyevna. Metropolitan Hilarion’s entire life is subordinated to the service of the church.

The theologian works a lot on dogmatic works, participates in divine services, and in organizing international and intra-church projects and commissions. Alfeev maintains active correspondence with Orthodox hierarchs, with people of other faiths, and diplomatic representatives of foreign states.

Hilarion Alfeev is an outstanding church minister who dedicated his life to serving God, but at the same time actively takes part in many spheres of society.

In addition to active work in church and social-political life, Father Hilarion does not forget about creativity, writes books, music and creates films.

Biography

Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion - according to his passport, Grigory Valerievich Alfeev, was born in Moscow on July 24, 1966. Dad - Dashevsky Valery Grigorievich, mother Valery Alfeev, was a writer. Dad left them early, so Gregory was raised by his mother.

From an early age he was closely connected with creativity and the church, he was baptized at the age of 11, and already at 15 he became a reader in a church in Moscow.

His education began in 1973 at the Moscow Music School, after which he continued his education at the Conservatory.

Father Hilarion’s youth was not complete without serving in the army, although even there he was not separated from music, as he was a musician in the brass band of the border troops. After the army, I decided to devote myself entirely to worship, so I left the music university and became a student in a monastery. Here, six months later, he was ordained a monk. He served as rector in many churches and was completely immersed in his work.

He was educated at a church school, graduating in 1989. After 2 years, he received a candidate’s degree in theology at the Theological Academy, and completed his postgraduate studies there.

For some time I read church disciplines at the Theological Institute and Orthodox University. In 1993, he went on an internship to Oxford University, where he created his dissertation and learned the Syriac language under the supervision of great mentors. In 1995 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy after successfully defending his doctoral dissertation.

Returning to his homeland, he continued to share his knowledge in church schools.

Movies and books

Metropolitan Hilarion wrote many works dedicated to the church; he has more than 800 publications, all of which reveal the history and features of church life, including translations of his colleagues from foreign languages. His most significant work is the six-volume “Jesus Christ. Life and teaching."

This is truly a great contribution not only to religion and Christianity, but to history and culture in general.

More than 40 books by Father Hilarion have been published and are now popular; all his works are imbued with love for the church and God.

In his films, Metropolitan Hilarion talks about the peculiarities of serving the church, the human soul, and Orthodoxy in various parts of the world, where it has its own characteristics and features.

They are not like boring lectures; each film has its own special character and leaves an unforgettable impression.

After watching, you are left with a bright and joyful feeling that makes you think about a lot.

Sermons

Metropolitan Hilarion, as a church minister, has in his arsenal many sermons for every occasion and every Orthodox holiday.

Many believers would like to listen to Father Hilarion’s sermon at least once in their lives, because he is a worthy example of a worshiper and has extensive life experience. Not a single one big religious holiday

you can’t do without his sermon, and every time you listen to it with bated breath, with what love and devotion Father Hilarion reads it and believes in every word he says.

Personal pages on VKontakte and Facebook

Metropolitan Hilarion has his own accounts on social networks, VKontakte on his unofficial page (more precisely, this is a group maintained on his behalf by its administrators), you can find a lot of information about his works.

On the pages you can see photographs of Metropolitan Hilarion in various churches at work.

In addition to photographs, you can see many publications, each of which has a deep and complete thought.