Cyril Pavlov
Encyclopedia
Cyril Pavlov, elder Cyril, Kirill Pavlov, elder Kyrill (in Russian: Кирилл Павлов), in life: Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov (born 1919, Kasimov
, Ryazanskaya oblast, Russia
) living Russian Orthodox Christian mystic
, elder
, wonder-worker
and Archimandrite
, confessor
to Patriarch Alexy II. He was also confessor to the previous patriarchs Alexy I and Pimen
. He is held in such reverence among Russian Christians that many await seeing him for months and even years.
, Ryazan Oblast
of Russia
. After finishing the polytechnical college worked as technician at the metallurgic plant. Cyril Pavlov fought altogether 6 years, starting yet in Soviet-Finnish War
, went through Stalingrad battle. He was awarded a medal "For defence of Stalingrad".
In one of the most bloody days lieutenant Pavlov found among the ruins the Gospel
, opened, started reading and took it as a sign from above. He collected all the pages of the Gospel and never abandoned them. So began his way to God. In one of the interviews he recollected "When I started reading the Gospel - my eyes got opened upon everything surrounding me, upon all the events...I walked with the Gospel and was not afraid. Never. Such was the inspiration! Simply God was next to me and I was not afraid of anything...". As soldier, Pavlov reached Austria
, participated in the battles at the lake Balaton
. In 1946 he was demobilised from Hungary
and came to Moscow
. At the Yelokhov cathedral he asked if there is any theological institute and was sent to the newly opened theological seminary at Novodyevichiy monastery. Pavlov arrived there in the military outfit and was gladly met by pro-rector father Sergius. This way in 1946 yesterday's sergeant became the seminarist. Having finished the seminary, he studied at Moscow Theological Academy and in 1953 took postrig becoming a monk, refusing the glory and awards. He completed the academy in 1954 already not as Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov but hieromonk (priest-monk) Cyril. Father Cyril lived at Trinity-Sergius lavra and became brotherly spiritual guide to the monks.
Many regarded him to be the same hero of Stalingrad as the sergeant Yakov Pavlov
, after whom the house was named. However father Cyril rejected such statements. Today father Cyril, prefers not to speak about his military past. To those who approach him with this type of question he answers, "That had remained in the other life". It is said, that once archimandrite was called into the Military Commission of Sergiev Posad and asked what to say to Moscow chiefs about the defender of Stalingrad, Pavlov. The elder Cyril answered, "Tell, that I died...".
Today father Cyril lives in Peredelkino
, in the residence of the Holy Patriarch
of all Russia
Aleksiy II, to whom he has been the spiritual father for many years already. Today he is over 80, he is not in a good health. Every morning since early dawn dozens of people come to Peredelkino
. These piligrims stand patiently next to iron doors and wait for his appearance with question or request, for council and blessing
. At the little piece of paper it is accustomed to write one's most important question or request. It is said, that the elder Cyril does not even read them - just takes pieces of paper in hands and sees immediately: this persona needs him and the other one is not yet ready to communication. Some keep sending him notes for weeks. Usually, he receives the clergy, monks and his spiritual followers and afterwards the preference is given to the needy from faraway cities. Some people wait meeting with elder for months and even years. However for those lucky who have seen him the tiresome awaiting happens to be not vain. It is witnessed that those who come out after seeing him, are as if are shining inside.
Elder Cyril, prior to moving to patriarch's residence in Peredelkino
did not travel or leave the premises of the monastery of blessed Sergius
.
coming. Here is the goal and sense of life according to elder Cyril. In one of the interviews he named sorrow to be one of seven mortal sins and calls upon fighting sorrow
, claiming that sorrow might be also caused by demonic temptation. To free oneself from this spirit of despondency and sorrow - he refers to Holy Fathers who appeal to patience and tells that it is needed to get armoured with patience engaging at the same time in prayer, reading of God's Word.
In answering the question how to overcome the passion of idle talk, he calls upon putting a lock on the mouth and considers fear of God to be essential to overcome idle talk, so is the memory of what Lord said: "That for every idle word people will answer on the Judgement Day." According to elder Cyril, this should frighten and everyone should remember that at the God's judgement all this will be put in accusation. One needs to be watchful and guard his mouth.
Elder Cyril claims that soul
has simple spiritual indestructible being and can not get decomposed into separable parts as does the body, and can not die. The body itself witnesses about its mortality since it is destroyable and divisible. He calls that the truth of immortality of human soul should be admitted by a sound human sense. Cyril tells to look attentively at the human: "What does his heart seek, to what does it aspire to? Why does his soul does not get satiated with anything nor satisfied in this world?" Pavlov claims that each human has a calling from God.
In one of his preachings he spoke about the fate of deceased sinners and said that while there is on earth the Military Church, the fate of deceased sinners can be yet changed to the better. For that he provides the example described by 3rd-century martyr Perpetua about her deceased sinful brother Dinocrates and how her prayers changed his state to the better in the other world. This story had also been explained by blessed Augustine
to whom the elder refers as well.
On January 10, 2002, elder Cyril delivered a sermon about our times that has been tape-recorded and published consequently online (*in Russian, see link below). There he said that approaching and breath of antichrist
is being felt and this should not be concealed. One should not panic with this at no case. The signals are coming which set us to be closer to God
and to each other, leaving behind one's negligence
and becoming more serious as to question of one's salvation and one's correction. Here he continues that nowadays consciousness is being subtly manipulated, gradually the consciousness will be regenerated, that devil
fights God
, referring to devil repeatedly as godfighters and speaks about the new age and the new laws stating that this age will be the age of totalitarianism
.
According to elder Cyril the most important in these circumstances is to preserve love avoiding enmity
and schisms. The thoughts leading to enmity and schism
are from the enemy who is afraid of peace. Cyril recalls as an example when at the times of the revolution there emerged the renovators from the Russian church milieu, the bishops-renovators. Elder Cyril was convinced that the Christians are coming to face tests and that with faithful faith in Lord God Christ
and mutual love even if one is faced with some trials they will be easily overcome in such case. He wishes the brotherhood to be unanimous, forgiving each other referring to Saint Paul's passage about love.
On August 28, 2002, on the occasion of celebration of Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, elder Cyril delivered another sermon at the Trinity - Sergius lavra (Troitse - Sergiyeva Lavra) which also had been tape-recorded, decoded and published online (* in Russian, see link below). In this sermon he repeatedly calls everyone to pay attention to internal spiritual life, to one's internal behaviour, internal state since only those who will reach the purity of heart will manage freely to pass from this life to the next alike to the passage from this life of Mother of God, her dormition. He appeals to people to spend this life as pleasing to God, as worthy of God, bringing good fruits in every good work and fulfilling the will of God which had been announced by the Holy Gospel
and holy apostles.
Translated by Roman Zakharii from Russian sources
Kasimov
Kasimov is a town in Ryazan Oblast, Russia, which serves as the administrative center of Kasimovsky District . The town is situated on the left bank of the Oka River...
, Ryazanskaya oblast, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) living Russian Orthodox Christian mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
, wonder-worker
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
and Archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
, confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
to Patriarch Alexy II. He was also confessor to the previous patriarchs Alexy I and Pimen
Patriarch Pimen I
Patriarch Pimen , was the 14th Patriarch of Moscow and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1971 to 1990. He was born in the town of Bogorodsk near Moscow....
. He is held in such reverence among Russian Christians that many await seeing him for months and even years.
Biography
Cyril Pavlov was born in the peasant family in KasimovKasimov
Kasimov is a town in Ryazan Oblast, Russia, which serves as the administrative center of Kasimovsky District . The town is situated on the left bank of the Oka River...
, Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast
Ryazan Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Ryazan, which is the oblast's largest city. Population: -Geography:...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. After finishing the polytechnical college worked as technician at the metallurgic plant. Cyril Pavlov fought altogether 6 years, starting yet in Soviet-Finnish War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
, went through Stalingrad battle. He was awarded a medal "For defence of Stalingrad".
In one of the most bloody days lieutenant Pavlov found among the ruins the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, opened, started reading and took it as a sign from above. He collected all the pages of the Gospel and never abandoned them. So began his way to God. In one of the interviews he recollected "When I started reading the Gospel - my eyes got opened upon everything surrounding me, upon all the events...I walked with the Gospel and was not afraid. Never. Such was the inspiration! Simply God was next to me and I was not afraid of anything...". As soldier, Pavlov reached Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, participated in the battles at the lake Balaton
Balaton
Balaton may refer to:* Lake Balaton in Hungary, the largest lake in central Europe* Balaton Principality , a Slavic state* Balaton , a Hungarian microcar* Balaton, Minnesota, a city in the United States* 2242 Balaton, a main-belt asteroid...
. In 1946 he was demobilised from Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and came to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. At the Yelokhov cathedral he asked if there is any theological institute and was sent to the newly opened theological seminary at Novodyevichiy monastery. Pavlov arrived there in the military outfit and was gladly met by pro-rector father Sergius. This way in 1946 yesterday's sergeant became the seminarist. Having finished the seminary, he studied at Moscow Theological Academy and in 1953 took postrig becoming a monk, refusing the glory and awards. He completed the academy in 1954 already not as Ivan Dmitrievich Pavlov but hieromonk (priest-monk) Cyril. Father Cyril lived at Trinity-Sergius lavra and became brotherly spiritual guide to the monks.
Many regarded him to be the same hero of Stalingrad as the sergeant Yakov Pavlov
Yakov Pavlov
Yakov Fedotovich Pavlov was a Soviet Red Army soldier awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his role in defending "Pavlov's House" during the Battle of Stalingrad.-Biography:...
, after whom the house was named. However father Cyril rejected such statements. Today father Cyril, prefers not to speak about his military past. To those who approach him with this type of question he answers, "That had remained in the other life". It is said, that once archimandrite was called into the Military Commission of Sergiev Posad and asked what to say to Moscow chiefs about the defender of Stalingrad, Pavlov. The elder Cyril answered, "Tell, that I died...".
Miracles
Orthodox tradition prohibts to speak about the miracles of a living elder. But fame of miracle worker after father Cyril got already wide spread. The nuns of Trinity Sergius lavra claim, that they themselves saw as during prayer father Cyril ascends over the ground. Many sick people just after having seen father Cyril become healthy. Father Pavlov is endowed with gift of consoling people. He amazingly feels a person. After speaking to him, depressed and saddened people loose any feeling of sadness.Today father Cyril lives in Peredelkino
Peredelkino
Peredelkino is a dacha complex situated just to the southwest of Moscow, Russia.-History:The settlement originated as the estate of Peredeltsy, owned by the Leontievs , then by Princes Dolgorukov and by the Samarins. After a railway passed through the village in the 19th century, it was renamed...
, in the residence of the Holy Patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
of all Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Aleksiy II, to whom he has been the spiritual father for many years already. Today he is over 80, he is not in a good health. Every morning since early dawn dozens of people come to Peredelkino
Peredelkino
Peredelkino is a dacha complex situated just to the southwest of Moscow, Russia.-History:The settlement originated as the estate of Peredeltsy, owned by the Leontievs , then by Princes Dolgorukov and by the Samarins. After a railway passed through the village in the 19th century, it was renamed...
. These piligrims stand patiently next to iron doors and wait for his appearance with question or request, for council and blessing
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
. At the little piece of paper it is accustomed to write one's most important question or request. It is said, that the elder Cyril does not even read them - just takes pieces of paper in hands and sees immediately: this persona needs him and the other one is not yet ready to communication. Some keep sending him notes for weeks. Usually, he receives the clergy, monks and his spiritual followers and afterwards the preference is given to the needy from faraway cities. Some people wait meeting with elder for months and even years. However for those lucky who have seen him the tiresome awaiting happens to be not vain. It is witnessed that those who come out after seeing him, are as if are shining inside.
Elder Cyril, prior to moving to patriarch's residence in Peredelkino
Peredelkino
Peredelkino is a dacha complex situated just to the southwest of Moscow, Russia.-History:The settlement originated as the estate of Peredeltsy, owned by the Leontievs , then by Princes Dolgorukov and by the Samarins. After a railway passed through the village in the 19th century, it was renamed...
did not travel or leave the premises of the monastery of blessed Sergius
Sergius
Sergius was a name of a Roman Patrician Gens originally from Alba Longa and can refer to:- Roman Catholic Popes :*Pope Sergius I , Sicilian-born pope*Pope Sergius II , Italian-born pope...
.
Elder's teaching
The elder encourages people to work on perfecting themselves, studying, working on themselves as long as Lord gives time one needs to fight with one's own sinful inclinations, one's own vices, removing from one's soul all what is evil, bad, viceful as no one knows neither day or time of ChristChrist
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
coming. Here is the goal and sense of life according to elder Cyril. In one of the interviews he named sorrow to be one of seven mortal sins and calls upon fighting sorrow
Sorrow
Sorrow may refer to:* Sorrow * Sorrow , an EP by The 3rd and the Mortal* "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" * "Sorrow" , also covered by The Merseys and David Bowie...
, claiming that sorrow might be also caused by demonic temptation. To free oneself from this spirit of despondency and sorrow - he refers to Holy Fathers who appeal to patience and tells that it is needed to get armoured with patience engaging at the same time in prayer, reading of God's Word.
In answering the question how to overcome the passion of idle talk, he calls upon putting a lock on the mouth and considers fear of God to be essential to overcome idle talk, so is the memory of what Lord said: "That for every idle word people will answer on the Judgement Day." According to elder Cyril, this should frighten and everyone should remember that at the God's judgement all this will be put in accusation. One needs to be watchful and guard his mouth.
Elder Cyril claims that soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
has simple spiritual indestructible being and can not get decomposed into separable parts as does the body, and can not die. The body itself witnesses about its mortality since it is destroyable and divisible. He calls that the truth of immortality of human soul should be admitted by a sound human sense. Cyril tells to look attentively at the human: "What does his heart seek, to what does it aspire to? Why does his soul does not get satiated with anything nor satisfied in this world?" Pavlov claims that each human has a calling from God.
In one of his preachings he spoke about the fate of deceased sinners and said that while there is on earth the Military Church, the fate of deceased sinners can be yet changed to the better. For that he provides the example described by 3rd-century martyr Perpetua about her deceased sinful brother Dinocrates and how her prayers changed his state to the better in the other world. This story had also been explained by blessed Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
to whom the elder refers as well.
On January 10, 2002, elder Cyril delivered a sermon about our times that has been tape-recorded and published consequently online (*in Russian, see link below). There he said that approaching and breath of antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
is being felt and this should not be concealed. One should not panic with this at no case. The signals are coming which set us to be closer to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and to each other, leaving behind one's negligence
Negligence
Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. The area of tort law known as negligence involves harm caused by carelessness, not intentional harm.According to Jay M...
and becoming more serious as to question of one's salvation and one's correction. Here he continues that nowadays consciousness is being subtly manipulated, gradually the consciousness will be regenerated, that devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
fights God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, referring to devil repeatedly as godfighters and speaks about the new age and the new laws stating that this age will be the age of totalitarianism
Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible...
.
According to elder Cyril the most important in these circumstances is to preserve love avoiding enmity
Enmity
Enmity is a Avant-Garde Metal band from Cape Town, South Africa and has been active since 2007. Their debut full-length album, is a concept album exploring the lives of different serial killers from around the world.- History :...
and schisms. The thoughts leading to enmity and schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
are from the enemy who is afraid of peace. Cyril recalls as an example when at the times of the revolution there emerged the renovators from the Russian church milieu, the bishops-renovators. Elder Cyril was convinced that the Christians are coming to face tests and that with faithful faith in Lord God Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
and mutual love even if one is faced with some trials they will be easily overcome in such case. He wishes the brotherhood to be unanimous, forgiving each other referring to Saint Paul's passage about love.
On August 28, 2002, on the occasion of celebration of Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, elder Cyril delivered another sermon at the Trinity - Sergius lavra (Troitse - Sergiyeva Lavra) which also had been tape-recorded, decoded and published online (* in Russian, see link below). In this sermon he repeatedly calls everyone to pay attention to internal spiritual life, to one's internal behaviour, internal state since only those who will reach the purity of heart will manage freely to pass from this life to the next alike to the passage from this life of Mother of God, her dormition. He appeals to people to spend this life as pleasing to God, as worthy of God, bringing good fruits in every good work and fulfilling the will of God which had been announced by the Holy Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
and holy apostles.
External links
- Komsomolskaya Pravda about elder Cyril (in Russian)
- The Elder Cyril (Pavlov) About Our Times. Said January 10, 2001 (decoding of tape recording) - in Russian
- Elder Cyril's Easter Homily (in Russian)
- Audio recordings of Cyril's homilies (in Russian)
- Elder Cyril's photo
Translated by Roman Zakharii from Russian sources