Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuriev passed away in the Lord

METROPOLITAN PITIRIM OF VOLOKOLAMSK AND YURIEV PASSED AWAY IN THE LORD

Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuriev passed away in the Lord on November 4, 2003, at the age of 78.

Metropolitan Pitirim (his secular name is Konstantin Vladimirovich Nechayev) was born on January 8, 1926, at the town of Kozlov (now Michurinsk) to the family of a priest. After finishing school, he entered the Moscow State Institute of Communications.

In 1945, he became a senior sub-deacon to His Holiness Patriarch Alexis I. In 1947, he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary, and in 1951 from the Theological Academy with the degree of Candidate of Theology.

He was ordained deacon in 1952 and four years later became priest. In 1959 he took monastic vows with the name of Pitirim in honour of St. Pitirim of Tambov. The same year he was appointed inspector of the Moscow Theological Schools.

He taught the History of Western Confessions at the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy for nearly 30 years and since 1957 he also taught the New Testament.

In 1963, he was consecrated Bishop of Volokolamsk, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese. In 1971 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop and in 1986 he was made Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuriev.

From 1963 to 1994, His Eminence Pitirim directed the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate and edited the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. For several years he also acted as chairman of the editorial board of Bogoslovskiye Trudy (Theological Works). As head of the publishing center of the Russian Orthodox Church, he managed to form a highly professional editorial and journalistic team, raising the church publishing work to a new level. Metropolitan Pitirim is the author of several books and over 70 theological articles. Under his leadership, several documentaries were shot about the life of the Russian Orthodox Church and Orthodox art.

A hierarch who gave much attention to the revival and development of church singing traditions, Metropolitan Pitirim was the initiator of several choirs who not only sang in churches but also gave recitals of Orthodox music at concert halls both in and outside Russia.

Metropolitan Pitirim was a person of many gifts and profound church culture. He was well versed in old church life and concerned about the preservation of its traditions, liturgical, pastoral, theological, literary, and the continuity of church practice.

The deceased archpastor exerted great efforts for education of new generations of pastors and church workers. In the hard years of prosecution and restriction, His Eminence Pitirim guided many church intellectuals, including young people, who worked at the Publishing department, studied at Theological Schools, practised monasticism or served as priests.

Metropolitan Pitirim was actively involved in the external work of the Russian Orthodox Church. He led and participated in many delegations which attended inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian and church-public events abroad. Through his efforts, exhibitions and other cultural and educational actions were arranged to introduce the public in other countries to the life and heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church. He also took an active part in organizing church-public events and programs in Russia. His Eminence was always closely connected with scholarly, cultural and public circles and artistic intelligentsia and was held in high respect and esteem among them.

Metropolitan Pitirim was Doctor of Theology, professor, member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, head of the Department of Theology at the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineering, Doctor honoris causa of the Department of Theology of Prague University, professor at the UNESCO Chair of Russia’s Golden Heritage.

Metropolitan Pitirim was awarded high church and state decorations for his work. Among them the church Orders of St. Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles, St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, the state Order of Friendship of Nations and the Champion of Peace golden medal. For his comprehensive educational and missionary work and on the occasion of his 75th birthday in 2001, he was decorated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia with the Order of St. Innocent of Moscow.

Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuriev died in Moscow after a prolonged and serious disease.

May the Lord give rest to the soul of the departed Metropolitan Pitirim in the dwellings of the righteous! Eternal memory be to him!