Eminence Methodios, who now heads the department of Perm and Solikamsk in the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church - one of the most controversial hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.In the recent past, he claimed the patriarchal throne, in competition with Metropolitan Kirill of Kaliningrad.The life and ministry of this man will be discussed in this article.
Formation of the person of Metropolitan Methodius
Birthplace of Metropolitan Methodius (the Germans), whose photos can be seen below, February 16, 1949 in Ukraine, on the territory of modern Lugansk region.After the school received a secular education in a technical school of railway transport, and then entered the Odessa Theological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1972.It was not a typical choice, which made the future Metropolitan Methodius (the Germans).His family was from the employees, but something influenced the young man who linked his life to the service of the church.After seminary, he entered the Leningrad Theological Academy, and then in graduate school at the Moscow Theological Academy.At this time in the youth delegation of theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church traveled abroad, visiting Greece, Bulgaria and Finland.
adoption priesthood
In 1974, the future Metropolitan Methodius takes monastic vows at the hands of His Eminence Nikodim, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod.At this time he takes the name in honor of St. Methodius Equal to the Apostles of the Slavs educator.Civil name given to him in baptism - Nicholas.Two days after the tonsure monk Methodius takes holy deacon, and in a few months become a priest.
ministry in the Russian Orthodox Church as a priest
In the first years after his ordination, Metropolitan Methodius served in Moscow, the Novodevichy Convent.At the same time he started his ecclesiastical career in the Department of External Church Relations, just a few months, having risen from the ordinary assistant to the deputy chairman of the department.It's quite dark page in the biography of Bishop Methodius.After the collapse of the USSR was opened many facts cooperation of priests with the KGB.Among other things, it became clear that the DECR was an emissary of special services in the center of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the dizzyingly rapid career Metropolitan Methodius made there not only as a supply management security.Later, these same forces have influenced his election to the episcopate.Of course, after the restructuring of the fact that the Metropolitan Methodius was recruited by the KGB and had this structure officer rank was jammed.The same policy of silence was held in respect of all the other recruits priests, which was a lot.Often, such a step bishops resolved because it was the only opportunity to receive holy orders or keep it for yourself.
Later Metropolitan Methodius (Nemtsov) is the rank of Archimandrite in various churches in Moscow, while in 1980 not to build in the bishop's orders.
episcopal ministry
chosen and ordained a bishop Archimandrite Methodius, was held at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.The place of service of the new bishop was the Irkutsk Department, also under a uniting congregations in Chita and other cities.In addition, together with the Irkutsk diocese he was assigned to temporary control the Khabarovsk church structures.
But served in Siberia Metropolitan Methodius long - two years later he was transferred to Voronezh.In 1985-1989, parallel to the episcopal ministry, acting as the financial and economic steward Patriarchate.
In 1985, Bishop Methodius became archbishop.In 1988 - the Metropolitan, as a reward for their efforts in preparing and holding the celebrations of the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of Rus.
In 1997 Metropolitan Methodius is appointed by His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, as a member of the Commission on the preparation and celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christianity.At the same time, he also took the chair of historical and legal commission of the Russian Orthodox Church.
in the various commissions Metropolitan Methodius actively engaged in dialogue with various religious organizations.It consists in a list of members of Trustees of the "Orthodox Encyclopedia" and editorial board "World Religions", published annually by the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as the quarterly "Historical Bulletin".
In 2003, His Eminence Methodius became the head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan, carrying the service there until 2010, when the decree of the Holy Synod, he was transferred to the Perm metropolitan.A position he holds to this day.
