Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov)

Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) (1901-1971)

Konstantin may be spelt Constantine.

Kyril may be spelt Kyrill, Kyrillos, Kirill, Cyril.

Early life of Konstantin Markov Konstantinov

On 3 January, 1901, Konstantin Markov Konstantinov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Marko Konstantinov Pachu and Polyksena Naumov Konstantinov (born Glava), a poor family apparently of Albanian origin (it is difficult to prove because of lost and destroyed documents).

Konstantin’s father, Marco Konstantinov Pachu, was born in 1846 in the village of Granova, Korcinska, Albania (near the present-day city of Permeti, Albania). He was a son of Konstantin Pachu and of Kirana Konstantinova. During that time, the local population consisted of a mix of Albanians, Wallachians and Greeks. In 1886, Marko relocated to Sofia, where he worked as a chef and a merchant.

The mother of Konstantin, Polyksena Naumov Kostov was born in 1871 in the village of Vasospole, Albania. She was the daughter of Naum Kostov.

According to some information, one great-grandfather of Konstantin Konstantinov was a priest, and his grandfather Michael was the Metropolitan of Gora, one of the Albanian Orthodox dioceses. It seems that in this family, the priesthood was to some extent hereditary. Konstantin Markov Konstantinov was therefore raised in the bosom of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Bulgaria again a kingdom, 1908

When Konstantin was aged 7 years old, Bulgaria declared its independence, and it became once again a kingdom under King Ferdinand.

Konstantin received his primary and secondary education in Sofia at the Hristo Botev Public School (at that time known as the Third Sofia Pro-Grammar School), from which he graduated in 1914.

In 1914, he received certificate no. 23 for lower secondary education with overall good marks.

Higher education

In the autumn of 1914, with the consent of his parents, he entered the first class of the Sofia Theological Seminary , from which he graduated in 1920.

On 20 July, 1920, he received diploma no. 244 with a total rating of "very good".

Sofia Theological Seminary

It is well known that Konstantin was engaged in anarcho-communism in his younger years. Therefore, in the summer of that year he, together with his brother Georgi, participated in anti-government actions. After the failure of the actions, Konstantin had to leave Bulgaria for a time, and he went to Serbia.

Studies in Belgrade, Serbia, 1920

In the autumn of 1920, Konstantin enrolled the Faculty of Theology of the Belgrade University in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, where he studied for 6 semesters.

According to Professor I Panchovski, during this period, he also pursued studies in philosophy at the Zagreb Faculty of Philosophy, and he managed to master the literary Serbian language.

He graduated from the Theological Faculty of the Belgrade University in 1923.

Belgrade University

Return to Bulgaria, 1923

Konstantin returned to Bulgaria in the autumn of 1923, after the defeat of the September Uprising.

By then, he was determined to become a monk.

Monastic tonsure, 1923

On 29 December, 1923, shortly before his 23rd birthday, Konstantin Markov Konstantinov was tonsured to be a monk by Metropolitan Stephen (Shokov) of Sofia in the Saint Nedelya Sobor (“Saint Kyriaki” Sobor) in Sofia. He was given the name Kyril.

He was the spiritual protégé of Archimandrite Boris (Simov) who at that time served in the Sofia Metropolis. (Archimandrite Boris, later became the Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Nevrokop.)

Diaconal ordination, 1923

On Sunday, 31 December, 1923, the Monk Kyril (Konstantinov) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Stephen (Shokov) in the Saint Nedelya Sobor.

This ordination was attended by all the students of the Sofia Theological Seminary, who were especially brought by the Rector, Archimandrite Michael (who later became the Metropolitan of Dorostol and Cherven).

Saint Nedelya (Saint Kyriaki) Sobor, Sofia

Diaconal service

From 1 January, 1924, Hierodeacon Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned to serve temporarily as a teacher-tutor in the Sofia Theological Seminary, where his diligence was observed and assessed by the faculty.

Further education, 1924

His thirst for knowledge led him to enrol in the autumn of 1924 with a scholarship in the Theological Faculty of Chernivtsi University in Bucovina, Romania. There, he learned the German and Romanian languages in a relatively short time. He graduated in 1926 and he returned to his homeland. By this time, he had achieved fluency in the German, French, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Romanian languages, which was to be of invaluable assistance in his subsequent research activities and international contacts.

Secretary of the Rila Monastery, 1926

In early 1926, by decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Hierodeacon Kyril (Konstantinov) began to serve in the Rila Monastery as secretary. Bishop Varlaam (Konstantinov) of Levky, the Bishop of the Rila monastery, highly appreciated his secretary. While he was in the Rila Monastery, Hierodeacon Kyril had the opportunity to use the rich monastic library for his studies and writings.

In 1927, he had completed the course requirements in Chernivtsi, including the writing of a thesis, and he received the Doctor of Theology Degree.

Studies in Western Europe, 1928-1930

From 1928 to 1930, Hierodeacon Kyril was sent to study philosophy at the University of Berlin, Germany. He also attended lectures at the University of Vienna, Austria. In Austria he met the distinguished scholar Adolf von Harnak, under whose influence his interest in the history of the Church was intensified. Subsequently, he devoted himself to historical studies which produced insightful results in writing.

Presbyteral ordination, 1930

By the decision of the Holy Synod, on 23 June, 1930, Metropolitan Paul (Popckonstantinov) of Stara Zagora ordained Hierodeacon Kyril (Konstantinov) to the Holy Priesthood in the domestic Temple of Saint John of Rila at the Sofia Theological Seminary.

Hieromonk Kyril (Konstantinov)

Pastoral service

Hieromonk Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned to serve at the Sofia Theological Seminary. On 5 December, 1931, Hieromonk Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned to serve as Protosinkell (chancellor) of the Metropolis of Sofia.

In association with this responsibility, on 9 January, 1932, Hieromonk Kyril (Konstantinov) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

Cultural and Educational Department, 1932

In September, 1932, the Holy Synod assigned Archimandrite Kyril (Konstantinov) to serve as the head of the Cultural and Educational Department at the Synod Office in Sofia.

Bereavement, 1933

On 11 December, 1933, Marko K Pachu, father of Archimandrite Kyril, fell asleep in the Lord in Sofia.

Further responsibilities

In September, 1934, Archimandrite Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned to serve as the chief secretary of the Holy Synod. He continued to serve in this position until March, 1938.

In 1936, the Holy Synod elected him to become a bishop.

Episcopal ordination, 1936

On 12 July, 1936, Archimandrite Kyril (Konstantinov) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in Sofia in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) serving in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Episcopal service

Bishop Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Stobi. Stobi is a titular see, a historical and ancient city in the area of “Northern Macedonia”.

Bishops of Bulgaria in 1937

Metropolitan of Plovdiv, 1938

After the repose of Metropolitan Maxim (Pelov) of Plovdiv, on 15 May, 1938, Bishop Kyril (Konstantinov) was elected to become the Metropolitan of Plovdiv. This election was canonically approved, and on 29 May, 1938, Bishop Kyril was enthroned to be the Metropolitan of Plovdiv.

In 1938, Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) wrote a pamphlet condemning anti-Jewish sentiments and activities. He later issued his own personal condemnation of the government leaders who supported A Hitler’s specific policies against the Jewish people.

Attempts to protect Jewish people from persecution and death

On 15 November, 1940, the Holy Synod of the Church of Bulgaria petitioned the government of Bulgaria to treat Bulgarian citizens of Jewish origin who had converted, or were willing to do so, in the same manner as any Christian Bulgarian. The petition was signed by all the metropolitan bishops including Metropolitan Kyril. This act was one attempt to protect the Jewish people from persecution.

World War II 1939-1945

At the beginning of World War II, Bulgaria was officially a neutral country. However, in March, 1941, the government of Bulgaria entered into an alliance with the Axis Powers led by the Nazi German government. This alliance persisted until 1944. It was also up to this year that the Government of Bulgaria was an absolute monarchy (1935-1944). Until 1943, the king was King Boris III. Then, until 1946, it was King Simeon II (who became a constitutional monarch in 1944).

During World War II, in the spring of 1941, the Bulgarian Exarchate restored its Diocese of Maron in the parts of Aegean Macedonia annexed by Bulgaria and in Western Thrace. Thus, from 1941 to 1944, Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) was assigned temporarily to administer the Maron Diocese. After the war, the diocese was re-claimed by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and administered by the Church of Greece.

During this period, Metropolitan Kyril strongly opposed the extradition of Jews (who were citizens of Bulgaria) to Nazi Germany. Moreover, he took under his protection Jews who were being deported from Bulgaria to Germany (even though they were born as Bulgarian citizens). He declared that if they were to be sent from Plovdiv by train, then he would lie down on the tracks in front of the train. He was central in the co-ordinated actions of the Church of Bulgaria to help the oppressed Jewish people.

As a consequence of his protests, thousands of Bulgarian Jews escaped death.

Under Communism (1944-1989), Bulgaria's rulers seemed to work to control rather than to destroy the Church. Nevertheless, the overall effects were in sum very corrosive. The early postwar years were unsettling to the Church’s hierarchs. During 1944-1947, the Church was deprived of jurisdiction in marriage, divorce, issuance of birth and death certificates, and other “rites of passage” that previously had been both sacramental acts as well as state events.

The communists removed the study of the catechism and of Church history from school curricula. They generated anti-religious propaganda and persecuted some priests. The years 1947-1949 were a time of the greatest intensity of the campaign of intimidation against the Church. The communists soon replaced all the clergy who refused to endorse the regime's policies. They banished Exarch Stefan (Shokov), who had co-authored a book in 1948 that was considered to be anti-Communist.

Coup d’état, 1944

On 9 September, 1944, there was a coup d’état in Bulgaria, as the Red Army of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) arrived. This commenced the final period of the war, in which Bulgaria joined the Allied Forces. However, it was also the beginning of strong communist influence in the country.

In order to satisfy a desire to punish those who were perceived to be responsible for Bulgaria’s participation in the war, “people’s courts” were established in 1944-1945 in order to prosecute the political leaders of that war-time period. Many were executed, and many more perished without a trial. There were many similarities to the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia.

Imprisonment by the Nazis, 1944

On 9 September, 1944, Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) was arrested by the Nazi forces (along with many others), and on 14 October, he was sentenced to prison. His time in confinement would have been anything but pleasant. Witnesses said that the hair of his head and his beard were violently removed. This was not the first time he had been incarcerated.

Later, in March, 1945, he was released.

Fall of the monarchy ; rise of the communist republic, 1946

In September, 1946, the monarchy was abolished. Tsar Simeon II and the Queen Mother Giovanna were sent into exile. At the same time, the opposition leader Nikola Petkov was arrested, charged with treason, and he was executed. Then also began the rapid socialisation of Bulgaria, in conformity with the expressed desires of Mr. J Stalin.

Igumen Kyrill (Yonchev)

It was just at this time that Igumen Kyrill (Yonchev) (Abbot of the Dormition Bachkovo Monastery) fled from the communists, first to Western Europe, and then to North America. There, he eventually was ordained to the Holy Episcopate, and he led a Bulgarian Diocese.

Exarch Metropolitan Stefan (Shokov)

Metropolitan Stefan (Shokov), the Primate of the Church of Bulgaria, attempted to adapt to the new circumstances, but he resisted the Communist Party’s attempts to control the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In 1948, he resigned under unexplained circumstances, and he retired to a monastery.

Exarch Metropolitan Michael (Chavdarov)

His successor, Metropolitan Michael (Chavdarov) (1948-1949) then offered no resistance to the legislation by the Communist government regarding control of the Orthodox Church.

Exarch Paisy (Ankov)

He was succeeded by Metropolitan Paisy (Ankov) (1949-1951).

The schism

Historical precursors of the schism

The Patriarchate of Bulgaria had been established canonically in 927. The first archbishop had begun to serve in Bulgaria in 870 (during the First Bulgarian Empire, shortly after Christianity became accepted under Tsar Boris I). This patriarchate existed until 1018 (after the conquest of Bulgaria by the East Roman Empire) when it was reduced to the "Autocephalous" (or, more factually, "Autonomous") Archbishopric of Ochrid, and dependent upon the Patriarchate of Constantinople. It had also been entitled the "Archbishopric of Justiniana Prima and all Bulgaria". For a time, all the primates of the Archbishopric of Ochrid chosen by Constantinople were not Bulgarians, but Greco-Romans from Constantinople. This situation lasted until 1235 (under Tsar Ivan Asen II), when a distinct patriarchate was again recognised. This patriarchal status continued until 1394 (after the arrival of the Ottomans).

There was a period when the Archbishopric of Ochrid came under the "umbrella" of the Serbian Empire ; but when the Ottoman Empire overcame the Balkans in the 14th and 15th centuries, the archbishopric was able to achieve legal status within that empire. Under the new political situation, the archbishopric passed through periods of expansion and shrinkage. However, in 1767, by decree of Sultan Mustafa III, the archbishopric was subjected again to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. After that time, Greek (both spoken and ecclesiastical forms) became the dominant language in the archbishopric, in place of Church Slavonic. Then came resistance to the domination of Greek-speaking hierarchs and the use of Greek in the Church. Since Sultan Abdulaziz recognised the distinction between the Greco-Romans and the Bulgar-Slavs, he was prepared to permit the re-establishment of the Archdiocese of Ochrid as an autonomous Bulgarian Archdiocese.

The Bulgarian Exarchate, 1872

The establishment of the Bulgarian Exarchate occurred in 1872.

Background of the Exarchate

When Sultan Abdulaziz established the Bulgarian Millet in stages from 1847, he recognised the Bulgarian Orthodox Christians in 1870. The Bulgarian Exarchate was declared unilaterally (without the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch), and promulgated on 23 May [O.S. 11 May], 1872, in the Saint Stephen Bulgarian Temple in Constantinople (Istanbul) in pursuance of the 12 March [O.S. 28 February], 1870, firman of Sultan Abdülaziz of the Ottoman Empire.

The foundation of the Exarchate was the direct result of the struggle of the Bulgarian Orthodox against the domination of the Greek Patriarchate of Constantinople in the 1850s and 1860s. In 1872, the Patriarchate of Constantinople accused the Exarchate of having introduced ethno-national characteristics (that is, the phyletistic/tribalistic heresy) into the religious organisation of the Orthodox Church, and the secession from the Patriarchate was officially condemned by the Council in Constantinople in September, 1872, as being a schismatic act. Nevertheless, Bulgarian Orthodox leadership continued to extend the borders of the Exarchate in the Ottoman Empire by means of conducting plebiscites in areas contested by both Churches.

Also during that period, in 1878, the Principality of Bulgaria had been established within the Ottoman Empire. In 1908, it became officially the Kingdom of Bulgaria. All the while, the territory generally called “Macedonia” was a region of hot contention amongst the Greeks, Serbs and Bulgarians (based on various historical claims). The political activities had their influence on the life of the Church.

The schism of the Exarchate from the Phanar lasted for 73 years. The Bulgarians and the Constantinopolitan-Romans had always had a difficult relationship, in part because some of the influential Greek-speakers perceived the Bulgarians to be an obstacle to the realisation of their “Great Dream” of a restoration of “Greater Greece” (which itself might be considered to be tribalistic).

The Bulgars, discontent with Hellenisation, created an independent Church governed by an Exarch. However, the Exarch did not reside in Sofia. Rather, he resided on the European bank of the Bosphorus. This quite provocative arrangement had come about with the connivance of the Sublime Porte's government. The Exarch resided in Orta-Keuy, and a basilica (built of cast iron that had been floated down the Danube River) was erected almost opposite the Ecumenical Patriarch's residence in the Phanar, where it stands to this day.

Healing of the schism, 1945

In 1945, the schism was finally healed, and the Patriarch of Constantinople recognised the autocephaly of the Bulgarian Church. However, although the 2 Orthodox Churches had restored Eucharistic communion between them (after its having been severed for many decades), the Church of Bulgaria was still called the “Bulgarian Exarchate”.

New Constitution of the Church of Bulgaria, 1950

In 1950, the Holy Synod adopted a new constitution for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This new constitution was encouraged by the communist government, which pressed for recognition as a patriarchate. In fact, the establishment of the new constitution did prepare the way for the restoration of the Patriarchate.

Chairman of the Holy Synod, 1951

On 3 January, 1951, the Holy Synod elected Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) to be its Vicar-President (Deputy-Chairman). This title was equivalent to Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church ; however, the long-standing schism between the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Constantinople had not yet ended.

Under his expert guidance, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church consolidated itself canonically, and raised its authority throughout the Orthodox and Christian world.

In this responsibility, Metropolitan Kyril became, effectively, the Primate of the Church of Bulgaria. At that time, the Church of Bulgaria was being governed by a committee of bishops (comparable to the Most Holy Synod of the Romanov period of the Russian Empire). As such, he replaced his predecessor, Metropolitan Paisiy (Ankov).

Proclamation of the renewal of the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, 1953

On 8 May, 1953, the Third Church-People's Council was convened in Sofia. It approved officially the new statute of the Church, and it proclaimed the Bulgarian Church to be a Patriarchate. The meetings were held in a solemn atmosphere in the big salon of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, because the President of the Council was Metropolitan Kyril of Plovdiv.

On 10 May, 1953, the Patriarchal Electoral Council, gathered in the Sacred Hall of the Holy Synod. With enthusiasm and unanimity (104 out of 107 votes), the Council chose Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) to be the Patriarch of Bulgaria.

Patriarch of Bulgaria, 1953

On 10 May, 1953, one hour after the election, Metropolitan Kyril (Konstantinov) was enthroned by the bishops of the Holy Synod on that day to be Patriarch of Bulgaria.

The enthronement took place in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, itself a symbol of Bulgarian freedom and of Bulgarian Orthodoxy.

Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov)

Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Patriarchal service

Immediately, Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) took up his primatial responsibilities in every way. However, the matter of the official status of the Church of Bulgaria remained the principal focus of his attention for the first 10 years.

Soon after his enthronement, Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) visited Plovdiv, along with the Patriarch of Romania and other bishops.

The new patriarch in Plovdiv

Initial resistance from Constantinople

When he had been informed about the developments in Bulgaria, Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou) made the usual dignified protest. However, as with the other Balkan Orthodox Churches, the fait-accompli had to be accepted eventually.

From 1953, Patriarch Kyril then engaged in a very long process of negotiation with the Patriarchate of Constantinople with regard to the status of the Church of Bulgaria and the restoration of the patriarchal dignity to that Church.

The culminating focus of this negotiation occurred between 31 March and 1 August, 1961. Patriarch Kyril and the Church of Bulgaria were insistent that when the status would be granted officially, the terminology would not imply that the patriarchal status was something unprecedented and new in Bulgaria.

Mediation assistance from the Patriarch of Antioch about the schism

Meanwhile, during a visit in 1961 to the Patriarch of Constantinople, Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou), asked Patriarch Theodosius (Abourjaily) of Antioch to be a mediator between the Churches of Constantinople and Bulgaria in order to find an understanding between the 2 Churches. After further negotiations amongst the Churches of Constantinople, Russia and Bulgaria, the desired understanding was achieved. This understanding had been awaited eagerly by the heads of the other Orthodox Churches.

Bereavement, 1963

On 28 February, 1963, Polyksenia Kostov, the mother of the patriarch, reposed in Christ in Sofia.

Official recognition of the restoration of the patriarchal dignity, 1963

On 10 May, 1963, the final resolution of the matter came with the official recognition by the Patriarchate of Constantinople that the Church of Bulgaria had been restored to its former status as a Patriarchate.

Other patriarchal service

Under the leadership of Patriarch Kyril, there was a greater centralisation of the administration of the Church ; the finances of the Church were strengthened ; the salaries of priests and Church officials rose, and especially those of various Church personnel. There was a rise in the level and quality of education, of spirituality, and of discipline. Patriarch Kyril took special care of the 2 theological schools of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church : the Theological Seminary at the Cherepish Monastery, and the Theological Academy “Saint Kliment Ohridski” in Sofia. Under his direct supervision and wise leadership, they accomplished their purpose successfully. Patriarch Kyril guided the whole cultural, educational, national-social, patriotic, and theological publishing activity of the Bulgarian Church.

Patriarch Kyrill developed many contacts and relationships with the rest of the Orthodox Churches through his visits to them. Thus, they entered a deeper, prayerful communion with one another, both at the level of the bishops, and at the level of the Faithful in general.

At the same time, he was deeply concerned about the many divisions that had developed amongst Christians in the world, and he encouraged dialogue with them with the hope of helping those estranged from the Church to return to visible unity with Her. The path to this unity cannot be through pride, but rather through humility and service.

Regarding the aggressively-imposed atheism in socialist Bulgaria, and the relationship between believers and unbelievers, he wrote :

 In a family, there may be believers and unbelievers, but they love one another because they are 
 connected by blood.  This is so with our homeland family.  There are both unbelievers and believers 
 in it, but all work together for the well-being of our country.  This is called a creative dialogue 
 which is very different from a mere verbal one.

Patriarch Kyril fulfilled his enormous duties as a hierarch, a public figure, an inspired preacher, and an expert writer. However, he was also involved in historical research. One can say that he was the most competent and most productive Church historian in Bulgaria of his era. His historical works exceed 6,000 printed pages. Examples of his works are: “The Church and the Synagogue in the First Three Centuries” (1934) ; “Faith and Revival” (1938) ; “Paisii, Metropolitan of Plovdiv in the Church-People’s Struggle” (1948) ; “Panteret, Metropolitan of Plovdiv” (1950) ; “Nathanel, Metropolitan of Ohrid and Plovdiv” (1952) ; “The Resistance against the Berlin Treaty : The Kresna Uprising” (1955) ; “Exarch Antim” (1956) ; “Count N P Ignatiev and the Bulgarian Church Question : Research and Documents” (1958) ; “Bulgarian-Mohamedan Settlements in the Southern Rhodopes” (1960) ; “Contribution to the Bulgarian Church question : Documents from the Austrian Consulate in Thessaloniki” (1961) ; “The Catholic Propaganda amongst the Bulgarians in the Second Half of the 19th Century” (1962) ; “Contribution to Unity in Macedonia after the Liberation War (1879-1895) : Reports of the French Consuls in Thessalonica” (1968) ; “The Bulgarian Exarchate in Adrianople and Macedonia after the Liberation War, 1877-1878” (1969) (1970).

He was elected as a regular member of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, and he was proclaimed an Honourary Doctor of the Saint Kliment Ohridski Theological Academy, and of the Moscow and Leningrad Theological Academies. He was a recipient of the Orders “Saints Cyril and Methodius” of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, 1st degree, and those of the Antiochian and Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchates. He served as deputy chairman of the Bulgarian National Committee for the Protection of Peace, and as a permanent member of the World Peace Council. At the insistence of grateful Bulgarian Jews saved through the help of the Bulgarian Church, the State of Israel proclaimed him and Exarch Stefan I as “Righteous Ones of the World”.

Calendar change, 1968

On 18 July, 1968, the Holy Synod, chaired by Patriarch Kyril, took the decision to switch from the (Old Style) Julian calendar to the (New Style) Revised Julian calendar.

However, as a consequence of this change, there was a division in the Church, and a small portion separated in order to maintain the Julian Calendar (Old-Style calendar).

On 17 January, 1971, in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, Patriarch Kyril and the Church of Bulgaria marked his 70th birthday.

Repose, 1971

On 7 March, 1971, Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) fell asleep in the Lord in Sofia. The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were served in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral by the bishops of the Church of Bulgaria.

Although church attendance was not tolerated in general during the years of the communist government, tens of thousands of Bulgarians flocked to worship at the Nevsky Cathedral. Present and participating also were senior clergy from the Orthodox Churches around the world.

After the conclusion of the funeral obsequies (in accordance with his will), his body was interred in the main Temple of the Bachkovo Dormition Monastery (89 km from Sofia). Also interred there is Patriarch (Saint) Evtimiy of Trnovo.

Dormition Catholicon of the Dormition Bachkovo Monastery

– Bishop of Stobi 1936-1938 Preceded by : Bishop Boris (Razumov). Succeeded by : Bishop Nikodim (Gaidar)

– Metropolitan of Plovdiv 1938-1953. Preceded by : Metropolitan Maxim (Pelov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Varlaam (Peshev).

– Metropolitan of Sofia, Patriarch of All Bulgaria 1953-1971. Preceded by : (Patriarch (Saint) Evtimiyi of Trnovo) Patriarchate restored. Succeeded by : Patriarch Maxim (Minkov).

Reflections

Of particular significance is the manner in which Patriarch Kyril managed (because of the Grace of God) to overcome the numerous and corrosive obstacles provided by the atheistic communist government of Bulgaria. While the government attempted to destroy the Faith and practice of the Orthodox Christian Church, Patriarch Kyril nurtured this very Faith in the flock of rational sheep under his archpastoral omophor. He prepared well for the future revival and renewal of the Church and of the Faithful when communism met its end.

As reported by Professor K E Skurat in his “History of the Orthodox Local Churches” (Chapter IV : The Bulgarian Orthodox Church),

The presidium of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences gave a high assessment of the works of Patriarch
Kyril. In the telegram sent by the presidium on the occasion of the death of the Patriarch, we
read :
'A significant part of his works are based on completely new documentary data discovered by him in
various foreign archives. With his original academic works, he made a major contribution to
Bulgarian historical science'.

For numerous scholarly works, Patriarch Kirill was awarded the degree of doctor of theology
'honoris causa' of the Sofia, Moscow and Leningrad Theological Academies. In July, 1970, he was
elected a full member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the Department of Historical and
Paedagogical Sciences.

Patriarch Kirill is also known for his work in defence of peace. He was the Deputy Chairman of the
Bulgarian National Peace Committee, and a permanent member of the World Peace Council. He
participated repeatedly in international peace congresses (Vienna, 1952 ; Stockholm, 1958 ;
Moscow, 1963 ; Helsinki, 1965).

For his outstanding Church-patriotic, scientific-historical and peacekeeping activities, Patriarch
Kyril was awarded the state orders 'Cyril and Methodius', 1st degree ; 'People's Republic of
Bulgaria', 1st degree. He also received orders of individual Local Churches and various
organisations.

In December, 1969, Patriarch Kyril received solemnly the second Order of the 'People's Republic
of Bulgaria', 1st degree ; and at the same time he was awarded the title of People's Worker of Culture.

In connexion with the 'ecumenical movement', Patriarch Kyril said : 'The unity of the Church is a
task in unity, in faith, in truth, in love, and, finally, in prayer, in liturgical communion. The
prerequisites for this unity are sincerity, freedom, and refraining from proselytism in all. In
general, ecumenism in no way means unity through compromises at the expense of our fidelity to
the Truth'.

Patriarch Kyril's intention was addressed to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church at the time when he was enthroned. To the Church of Bulgaria, he determined to keep the precious possession of the Orthodox Faith, always preaching and sharing it in the spirit of centuries-old folk traditions, and never separating himself from the people. He intended to enhance the patriarchal dignity that shines through the ages with unimaginable glory.

He became well-known in Bulgaria not only as a religious leader, but also as a historian. He specialised in the study of Bulgarian cultural, national, and Church history. He paid close attention to the struggle of the Bulgarian people for independence and national identity. His academic works were created on the basis of enormous documentary material (including sources contained in foreign archives). In the course of his research, he was engaged in academic work in the archives and libraries of Moscow, Leningrad, Belgrade, Berlin, Budapest, Vienna, Paris, Prague. The results are a significant contribution to the study of the history of the Bulgarian Church and of Bulgaria's national struggle. His first significant Church history work was a trilogy dedicated to his predecessors in the Plovdiv Diocese. Then he wrote another series of monographs, the last of which was a capital study of the history of the Bulgarian Exarchate in Adrianople and Macedonia that he did not have time to complete while he lived.

In addition, he was the author of theological works ; he was an exegete ; he was a preacher.

Patriarch Kyril's historical role in the Bulgarian popular resistance to the Holocaust is recounted in the oratorio "A Melancholy Beauty", composed by Georgi Andreev with libretto by Scott Cairns and Finklestein. It was first performed in June, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The text describes "Metropolitan Kyril" in 1943, when he was confronting the captors of Bulgarian Jews slated to be deported. First, he pledges to go with the deportees in solidarity, and then he tells the guards he will block the train with his own body. The guards reply that they have just received new orders to release the Jews.

Awards and honours

• Order "People's Republic of Bulgaria", 1st degree

• Order of Cyril and Methodius, 1st degree

• Patriarch Kyril was awarded the degree Doctor of Theology 'honoris causa' of the Sofia, Moscow, and Leningrad Theological Academies

• Academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the Department of Historical and Paedagogical Sciences (July, 1970).

• Order of People's Worker of Culture

Bust of Patriarch Kyril in Plovdiv

Writings

• Selected articles, speeches and homilies from his collected works in 33 volumes, plus a personal diary published in several volumes in 2012 and kept in the Patriarchal Museum.

• “Church and Synagogue in the first two Centuries” (Sofia, 1934).

• “Vyara and the Enemies” (Sofia, 1938).

• “With a Twist” (Plovdiv, 1943).

• Metropolitan Paisius of Plovdiv in the Church-People's Struggle (Plovdiv, 1948).

• “Guests of the Russian Church” (Plovdiv, 1949).

• “War and Peace’ in “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” (JMP), no. 5 (1950), pp. 30-31.

• “Exarch Antim I [Chalakov, of Bulgaria] (1950).

• ‘Unforgettable Hospitality’ in “JMP”, no. 8, (1951), pp. 25-26.

• ‘Instructive Communication’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1954), pp. 11-13.

• “Words on the Stomach” (Sofia, 1953).

• Resistance against the Berlin Treaty : The Kresna Uprising (Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia, 1955).

• ‘The Brilliant Radiance of Shipka's Epic : (The Word spoken on the Feast of the "Nativity of Christ" in Shipka on 12 September, 1957)’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1957), pp. 70-71.

• “At the Spring”, 3 vols. (Plovdiv, 1943-1946).

• “The Way of the Lord”, 6 vols. (Sunday and Holy Day Homilies and Speeches) (Sofia, 1957-1969).

• “Count N P Ignatiev and the Bulgarian Church Question” (Sofia, 1958).

• ‘Feedback from Participants in Church Celebrations in Honour of the 40th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1958), pp. 69-71.

• “Bulgarian Islamic Settlements in the Southern Rhodopes (Ksantiysko and Gyumyurdzhinsko) : Toponymic, ethnographic and historical Research” (Sofia, 1960).

• “Contribution to the Bulgarian Church Question : from Documents of the Austrian Consulate in Thessalonica” (Sofia, 1961).

• “Catholic Propaganda among Bulgarians in the second Half of the 19th Century” (Sofia, 1962).

• ‘A Codex (list) for the Alexandria patriarchal Library’ in “DK”, year 43, book 7/8 (1963), pp. 1-6.

• “Metropolitan Auxenty Velishki (Cheshmedzhiev) [of Veles] : On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of his Death in 1865” (Sofia, 1965).

• ‘Some ecumenical Questions’ in “DK”, year 45, book 11 (1965), pp. 1-12.

• “Ecumenism in the Christian Church’ “DK”, year 45, book 11 (1965), pp. 1-4.

• “Introduction of Uniatism to Macedonia after the War of Liberation (1879-1895) (Sofia, 1968).

• ‘About the Sower and the Seed’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1969), pp. 39-40.

• ‘1100 Anniversary of the Death of Saint Cyril’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1969), pp. 38-48.

• ‘The Funeral of Patriarch Alexei I’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1970), pp. 50-51.

• “The Bulgarian Exarchate in Edirne and Macedonia after the Liberation War (1877-1878)”, vol. 1 & 2 (Sofia, 1969 & 1970).

A selection of writings about Patriarch Kyril by various authors

• Todorov, T, ‘Bulgarian Patriarch Kiril (Konstantinov) was a Scientist, Writer and Preacher’ in “DK”, year 33, book 5/7 (1953), pp. 30-43.

• Statov, P, ‘Visit of His Holiness Bulgarian Patriarch Cyril to Syria from 23-29 March, 1962’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1962), pp. 54-55.

• Klisarov, G, ed., “10 years of the Bulgarian Patriarchy : 10 May, 1953 to 10 May, 1963” (Sofia, 1963)

• Cholakov, L, ‘Bulgarian Patriarch Kiril as a Spiritual Speaker’ in “DK”, year 44, book 5 (1964), pp. 14-16.

• Ignatiev, A, ‘Death and Burial of Patriarch Cyril of Bulgaria’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1971) pp. 36-46.

• Curly, Priest V, ‘In Memory of Bulgarian Patriarch Cyril’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1971), pp. 10.

• Pantschovski, Ivan, “Patriarch Kyrill” (Berlin, 1971).

• Poptodorov, T Vyzstanovyavane, ‘The Patriarchal Institute in the New Age’ in “Bulgarian Church Gazette”, Sofia, 1980, pp. 31-44.

• Dimov, Yanko, “Patriarch Cyril of Bulgaria” (Plovdiv, 1990).

• Shivachev, Stefan, ed., “Collection in Honour of Patriarch Cyril of Bulgaria on the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of his Birth and the 30th Anniversary of his Death’ (Plovdiv, 2001).

• Kovachev, Mikhail, ‘His Holiness Patriarch Kiril : A Review of his literary Work’ in “GDA”, vol. 44, no. 3 (1964), pp. 31-33.

• Stambolov, A, “Relations between the Bulgarian Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1945-1963)’ in “DK”, year 86, book 5/12 (2006), pp. 95-118.

References

Bulgarian Wikipedia biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography

Drevo Encyclopaedia biography

Additional information :

Broun, Janice, ‘The Schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’ in “Religion, State and Society”, vol. 21, no. 2 (1993).

……, ‘Schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Part 3 : Under the Second Union of Democratic Forces Government, 1997-2001’ in “Religion, State & Society”, vol. 30, no. 4 (Carafax Publishing, 2002).

Dimitrov, Ivan Z, ‘Bulgarian Christianity’ in “The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Orthodoxy”, ed. Parry, Ken (Oxford : John Wiley & Sons, 2007). ISBN 10 : 0631234233 ; ISBN 13 : 9780631234234.

Gospodinova, Mulvina, “Restoration of the Bulgarian Patriarchate 10 May, 1953”

(Popgueorguiev), Stoyan (Metropolitan Stefan), Markov, ‘Konstantin (Metropolitan Kiril)’ in “The Righteous Amongst The Nations”

Raikin, Spas T, ‘Schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’ in “Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe”, vol. 13, issue 1, article 3 (George Fox University, 1993).

……, “Schism in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, 1992-1997” (Routledge, 1998).

Skurat, Prof. K E, ‘Chapter IV : The Bulgarian Orthodox Church’ in “History of the Orthodox Local Churches”, vol. 1 (Moscow, 1994). (in Russian) (in English)

Tsatsov, Boris, “Archbishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church” (Sofia : Princeps, 2003) ISBN : 954-8067-75-7.

Uzunova, T V and Mlechkova, Miroslav, “Bibliographic Reference for the Works of Patriarch Kiril of Bulgaria” (2011)

List of Patriarchs of Bulgaria

Orthodox Church of Bulgaria web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Wikipedia article about the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Saint Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral

Orthodox Church of Constantinople

“Patriarch Cyril : the Man who saved 48,000 Jews from Death” (28 April, 2019)

“A Bishop who stood in the Way” by Jim Forest (Intercommunion, 23 June, 2009)

Patriarch Kyril and Metropolitan Boris of Nevrokop (18 March, 2021)

Encyclopaedia Britannica History of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria