Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was named the ‘Enlightener of the Year’

METROPOLITAN KIRILL OF SMOLENSK AND KALININGRAD WAS NAMED THE ‘ENLIGHTENER OF THE YEAR’

The presentation of the ‘Persons of the Year’ award established by the ‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’ newspaper was held in the State Kremlin Palace on 21 December 2001. The award in the nomination ‘The Enlightener of the Year’ was presented to Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relatons of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Speaking at the ceremony Metropolitan Kirill said: ‘I would like to cordially thank the ‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’ for making the ‘Enlightener of the Year’ nomination, as the word ‘enlightener’ is derived from the word ‘light’. It is clear that we are speaking not of physical, but of inner light – the light of the heart and mind. ‘Light’ for us means first of all spiritual joy, purity and love of peace. May God grant that thanks to the ‘Komsolomolskaya Pravda’ there will be even more light in the hearts of all our fellow countrymen.

See also:

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

Official website of the ‘Komsomolskaya Pravda’ newspaper