Why does Patriarch Kirill, in the liturgies, call himself "the Most Holy Father and the Great Master"?
How can the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church put himself above (be more holy) the Orthodox saints, Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, who were the most modest people during their lifetime? When an Orthodox person calls out "Lord" in prayer, he does not turn to the Creator of the universe, but to the one who has placed himself above him, the Great Lord Patriarch?
That's his official title. The East is characterized by pomp.
At the Patriarch of Constantinople: His Divine All-Holiness Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.
Of Alexandria: His Divine Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, all Egypt and all Africa, Father of Fathers, Shepherd of Pastors, Bishop of Bishops, Thirteenth Apostle and Judge of the Universe.
Antioch: His Divine Beatitude, Patriarch of the Great City of God of Antioch, Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Iberia, Mesopotamia and all the East.
And so on. Almost all the primates of the Orthodox Churches are Divine beatitudes, Their Holiness the Most Holy.
TitleThe Pope of Rome is not so magnificent (this is generally less typical of the West), he is more practical: Bishop of Rome, vicar of Christ, successor to the Prince of the apostles, supreme high priest of the Universal Church, Grand Pontiff, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, sovereign of the Vatican city state, slave of the servants of God.
This is an absolutely normal practice based on the Holy Scriptures and the established historical and cultural practice. A gentleman was called (and is still called) a respected person in order to pay his respects to him. For example, in Scripture, a Samaritan woman refers to Christ in this way:
Father was a person who had political and spiritual power. In the Bible for example the Apostle Paul addresses the Jewish high priest and members of the church's court in Jerusalem in this way:
Patriarch Kirill, as one of the bishops (apostolic successors), fully meets the criteria to hold both titles.
! Please note that he doesn't use this title anywhere.
At divine services, the Patriarch of Moscow is commemorated asOur Great Lord and Father Kirill, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
Where he can call himself that, if I understand the question correctly, I do not know. Perhaps the author of the question should clarify what he means.
Orthodox people in their prayers always turn to God, the Mother of God or saints of God, glorified by the church. So the author's comment on the question is also puzzling.
This is not what Kirill calls himself, it's just the name of the position he holds. Before the revolution, the position of head of state was called “tsar”, now”president”. The position of the Patriarch of Constantinople is even steeper: “His Divine All-Holiness.” Naturally, neither one nor the other position has anything to do with the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Igor, you sent the question to me.
But I do not deal with human affairs, and therefore I do not want to answer such a question, because people do not think about God's things, but about human things, forgetting that Jesus Himself was a Servant of God.
My answer is this.
I emphasize that no modern religion has anything to do directly with God.
God is concerned only with the truth that the Lord Jesus created on earth by His special death, commanding His followers to know it.
Religion cannot know the truth, because it is, firstly, not a person, and secondly, it has other tasks (and if not, then religion would fulfill the Lord's commandment to know the truth, after all, two thousand years have passed; but can something change further?), but a person can and should, and otherwise, i.e., without knowing the truth, it is impossible to be saved. Jesus called salvation (identified it) freedom.
But freedom must also be understood correctly, which can only be done (understood) by listening to the Speaker from heaven.
Jesus spoke of freedom from this world, which must be conquered… but not about freedom from God, which man is in contrast to the truth, for the servant of God and the son of God are one.
However, people do not listen to the Lord Teacher.
Why this is the case is an obvious question, and if it is not obvious to someone, then this is what Jesus said through the Gospels.
However, this can not continue indefinitely – there will be a punishment and a harsh punishment, because time was spent, and we should have been students…
I think enough has been said about people and the current spiritual state of humanity… but still, I will say directly – it simply does not exist.
Moreover, there is a fall of humanity, for the loins are not girded, the lamps are not lit.
Desire for power and glory.They are jealous of the popes of Rome .There are many similar things that do not fit in with the gospel teaching.And everything is slyly justified,which only makes it more disgusting.But Kirill, the legitimate patriarch, we have legal methods to remove the patriarch,but who will depose him, when the majority of bishops have made a fool of themselves, and the faithful are trying to show their humility (only not in the right place), under the pretext of not condemning them,they are silent, that is, they condone it. “God is betrayed by silence” – Basil the Great.Therefore,because of our sins,first of all those who were in the church, the Lord allowed us such power.Everything depends on the people,first the people turn around once, then the most unfit representatives of them get into power, and everything turns around even faster, then the Lord, through mass disasters, heals the people, then healthier leaders appear in a healthier people, and then again in a circle.This is the story.I wish you all the strength of faith,and not to share the untruths of bishops and priests,but to take pictures for yourself.
Well, what can I say?.. People are sinful and imperfect, and the human part of the Church has never been sinless and perfect. This is also reflected in the desire to magnify oneself in an earthly way. I have no theological justification for this.
This is the name of the title, i.e. it was not invented by him, but it lasts from the moment when the first patriarch appeared in the Russian Church. His Holiness means that he is more holy in his way of life than all other metropolitans and bishops. But a title doesn't save you if your life doesn't live up to that title. On the contrary, to whom much is given, the Lord will exact more from him. Patriarch Kirill has been given a lot, but alas, his life is completely contrary to the Commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, the apostle Jude was also one of the chosen 12, but so what?! So is the Great Master, i.e., the Great Master. you need to match this, and not just wear a name.