Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov)

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) (1910-1990)

Sergey may be spelt Sergei, Serguei, Serge, Sergius, Sergios.

Pimen may be spelt Pœmen.

Early life of Sergey Mikhailovich Izvekov

On 23 July, 1910, Sergey Mikhailovich Izvekov was born to the pious Orthodox Christian family of Mikhail Karpovich and Pelagia Afanasievna Izvekov, in the village of Kobylino, in the Kaluga Governorate (now the Kaluga Oblast), of the Russian Empire. However, he was raised in the city of Bogorodsk (later called Noginsk). It is situated 34 km (21 mi) east of Moscow, by the Klyazma River.

Only their first daughter Maria Mikahilova and Sergey Mikhailovich lived past infancy. For this reason, when Sergey Mikhailovich was born, Pelagia Afanasievna decided to devote their son to God. She guided their son so that he came to love God, and also to have a love for Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra north of Moscow. It was in this way that Sergey Mikhailovich grew up in the Russian Orthodox Church, and that he was formed in the Orthodox Christian Faith.

While he was still in school, when there were free days, or vacation days from school, the boy Sergey Mikhailovich liked to visit the Temple in Bogodorsk, where he often read and sang in the choir. He also served as a subdeacon for Bishop Nikanor (Kudryavtsev) and Bishop Platon (Rudnev) of Bogorodsk (of the Russian Orthodox Church).

Photo of Pelagia Afanasievna her son Sergei, and her nephew Yuriy, 1917-1918

Formation ; choral direction ; rasophor tonsure, 1923

In 1923, Sergey, who had a beautiful voice, was invited into the episcopal choir of the Bogorodsk cathedral (the city was a newly-established vicariate). Singing in the choir was combined with serious theoretical knowledge. Having mastered the skills of vocal performance and of choir-directing, he began to try leading the choir of his peers during pilgrimages to the holy places of Central Russia.

In 1925, he graduated from the secondary school in Bogorodsk.

Student Sergey 4 May, 1925

Earlier that year, on 7 April, 1925, Holy Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) of Moscow had fallen asleep in the Lord. The forces of the "GPU" continued their attacks on the Canonical Russian Orthodox Church. One of their main weapons was the fomenting of division. These included the "Renovationist Schism" (which had begun in 1922) and the "Gregorian Schism" (which began in late 1925). One of the leaders of the Gregorian Schism was the Abbot of Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra, Bishop Boris (Rukin).

Sergey Mikhailovich had by this time begun to consider seriously embracing the monastic life. His first inclination had been to ask to enter the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Brotherhood. However, with this change in circumstances, he had to look elsewhere, since he did not wish to leave the Canonical Russian Orthodox Church.

Rasophor tonsure, 1925

Therefore, on 5 December, 1925, Sergey Mikhailovich moved to Moscow. Soon afterwards, he entered the "Sretensky" Monastery ("Meeting of the Vladimir Icon" Monastery), where he was tonsured to be a rasophor (an advanced form of novitiate, a first visible commitment to monastic life), and he was given the name Platon (or Plato).

Because of his musical abilities, Rasophor Platon (Izvekov) was able to lead various parish choirs in Moscow Temples.

Bishop Daniel (Troitsky), who was living in Moscow at that time (and being persecuted by the GPU), asked him to lead the singing in the Temple of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Pushkary (a district of cannon-makers and bell-casters), which was located near the Sretensky Monastery (not far from the Moscow Kremlin).

Temple of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Pushkari

In 1926, he directed the choir in the Saints Florus and Laurus Temple on Butchers' Street, near the Central Post Office, and then in the Temple of Saint Maximus the Confessor on Barbara Street.

Temple of Saints Florus and Laurus, Moscow

Later in 1926, at the invitation of the rector, Archpriest Nikolai (Pavlovich) Bazhanov, Rasophor Platon (Izvekov) became the leader ("regent") of the right choir of the Temple of Saint Poemen in Novi Vorotnikov Lane (in Suschev). The right choir totalled 60-70 people on the Day of the Holy Trinity (the Feast of Pentecost) in 1928. (He served there until 1932.)

Under the supervision of Father Nikolai Bazhanov, Rasophor Platon continued his service in this Temple. The young choir director gained recognition quickly, both from the parishioners and from Father Nikolai, in whose family he became a frequent and welcome guest (they lived nearby, in house number 7 on Chernyshevsky Lane). During long conversations in the home, various matters were raised, including the pending monastic tonsure. Father Nicholas advised the young monk to take the name of Saint Poemen the Great together with his Heavenly patronage.

Temple of Saint Poemen the Great, 1932, procession

Temple of Saint Poemen the Great, Novye Vorotniki (modern photo)

However, after his monastic tonsure in 1927, he also served the same obedience in the Holy Epiphany Sobor, Dorogomilov, in the Yamskaya Sloboda near the Moscow River.

Holy Epiphany Sobor in Dorogomilov, 1931

Monastic tonsure, 1927

On 21 September, 1927 (the Feast-day of Saint Dimitriy of Rostov), the 17-year-old Rasophor Platon (Izvekov) was tonsured to be a stavrophor monk, and he was given the name "Pimen" (with reference to the ancient Christian ascetic of the Egyptian desert, Saint Pœmen the Great (the name Pimen means “shepherd”). The Feast-day is 27 August. A stavrophor monk (male or female) is a person who has made a permanent life-commitment to follow Christ and to serve Him above all for life. The stavrophor is so called because he/she constantly wears a special Cross (underneath the outer clothing) as a perpetual reminder that he/she has taken up the Cross and is willingly following Christ (see Luke 9:23). During the prayers of the service of tonsure, there are 3 tests with public assurances that the commitment is willingly embraced. The candidate must pick up the scissors 3 times and give them to the officiant in testimony of the candidate's affirmation that this is a voluntary choice.

The monastic tonsure took place in the Holy Spirit (“Paraklete”) Desert (Pustyn/retreat) Community near Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra, in the Smena Village.

Holy Spirit-Paraklete Pustyn

Later, he commented about this pivotal moment in his life :

 In one of the most secluded monasteries of the Lavra, in the desert of the Holy Spirit-Paraklete, I was tonsured a monk, 
 and the first steps of my monastic life took place there.  I received all things worth knowing ; I acquired Christ there.  
 Saturated with the sweet food of conversations and instructions filled with deep wisdom, vast experience and spiritual 
 disposition, the ever-loving and gracious ever-memorable Namestnik of the Lavra, Archimandrite Kronid (Lyubimov), sowed 
 many good seeds into my soul.  

For the remainder of his life, Monk Pimen tried to be not simply a pastor, but the good shepherd, one who sacrifices himself for his sheep (see John 10:11). After the tonsure, and after he had passed the monastic probation period in the Lavra, Monk Pimen of the Paraklete (monks often become known by the monastery in which they were tonsured) continued to lead the choir in the Temple of Saint Pimen in Moscow.

Clergy and choir of the parish of Saint Pimen, 1928

Monk Pimen (Izvekov) 1 May, 1929

After the tonsure, the young monk and choir director continued to lead the choir in this Temple until September 1932, by which time (because of the extreme pressure of the atheists) the choir of the Temple was reduced to 13-15 people.

Diaconal ordination, 1930

On 16 July, 1930, Archbishop Philip (Gumilevsky) (†1934) of Zvenigorod (in the Moscow Oblast) ordained Monk Pimen (Izvekov) to the Holy Diaconate.

At that time, Archbishop Philip was in charge (ad interim) of the canonical Moscow Diocese.

Presbyteral ordination, 1931

On 25 January, 1931, Archbishop Philip (Gumilevsky) of Zvenigorod ordained Hierodeacon Pimen (Izvekov) to the Holy Priesthood.

Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov)

Pastoral service

For several years, Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov) fulfilled obediences of pastoral service in various parishes in Moscow. He also spent some years in various Russian monasteries and cathedrals in Murom, Odessa and Pskov.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, it is written that he often visited Metropolitan Sergiy (Stragorodsky), the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens, who was released from imprisonment. Father Pimen, along with other clergymen who did not have their own corner in Moscow, spent the night in his house on Bauman Lane 6.

There are inconsistent reports about the activities of the Hieromonk Pimen in parts of the 1930s and 1940s. This sort of phenomenon can indicate that he had been imprisoned. It must be taken into account that during these years there was an intense attack against the clergy and monastics, and the faithful lay-persons of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) by the communist atheist authorities. Such arrests and incarcerations were without doubt related to the fact that he was an Orthodox Christian Priest-monk. In fact, it was during the last part of the 1930s and early 1940s that many thousands of Christians and others were exterminated by the atheistic government. It was truly a slaughter of bishops, priests, deacons, monks, nuns, and others. Despite the inconsistencies, the following details are available.

In April, 1932, Hieromonk Pimen was arrested for the first time. He was included in the mass arrests of clergymen during the 1930s, carried out with the aim of eliminating so-called illegal monastic communities. It was possible that any local group might declare any community it chose as being illegal. When the canonical Orthodox Church was deprived of legal corporate status by the Soviets, every community became vulnerable, regardless of its age (whether founded recently or centuries before).

In his testimony during interrogation on 20 April, 1932, Hieromonk Pimen was not afraid to confess Christ to the persecutors of the Church :

 I am a deeply religious person.  From my very youngest years I was brought up in a spiritual manner.  I have a 
 correspondence connection with the exiled Hieromonk Barnabas, whom I sometimes help financially.  I have never 
 been involved in anti-Soviet agitation.  I am not a member of any anti-soviet group.  I never spread provocative 
 rumours that religion and clergy are being persecuted in the USSR.  I did not educate young people in an 
 anti-Soviet spirit. I was a director of the Church choir.  During the Divine Services, I had the choir before me, 
 and they sang ; but I did not lead any anti-soviet conversations.  

Military conscription, 1932

In 1932 he was called up for 2 years to serve in the Red Army in one of the units in Byelorus. According to G E Kolyvanov (a teacher of the Department of Biblical Studies of the Moscow Academy of Arts), until December, 1934, S M Izvekov served in the cavalry unit in the town of Lepel, in the Vitebsk Region (county) of Byelorus. He received training as a "feldsher" (paramedic), and he received a veterinary education.

After demobilisation, Hieromonk Pimen returned to Moscow and he continued his service in the Temple of the Holy Epiphany in Dorogomilov.

In 1935, Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov) was listed as "unassigned", which is frequently an indication that a person had been arrested (and perhaps also imprisoned). Information written about him during this period frequently uses only his civilian name, which is another indication that he was under the control of the civilian authorities.

In early 1937, when there were mass arrests of the clergy, he was again arrested. A "Special Meeting" at the board of the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD) sentenced him to forced labour on the construction of the Moscow-Volga Canal. He was sent to "Dmitlag", a forced labour camp in the Dmitrov Oblast, on the territory of the current city of Khimki, where he worked as a veterinarian.

During his imprisonment, he was convicted a second time for “loss, intentional damage [...] of cartridges and horses”.

In January, 1938, the Dmitrov camp was liquidated because of the completion of the canal. Some of the prisoners were sent to Uzbekistan (including Hieromonk Pimen’s father). In Uzbekistan, the exiled Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov) lived in Andijan.

Later in life, he did not like to speak about these years. When he was asked about it, his responses were brief :

 'It was hard.  Thank God that everything passed'. [...] Yes, yes [...] I had to dig canals'.  When asked how he knows the Uzbek language, 
 he replied : 'Yes [...] I had to. [...] I worked there ; I dug canals'.  

In early 1939, he worked as a sanitary inspector regarding the quality of catering. In early August, 1939, he was appointed head of the regional House of Health Education of the Health Department of the Ferghana Region in Andijan, where he worked until July, 1940. In August, 1939, he attended a conference of health educators in Moscow. Other clergymen who had served exile in Central Asia and received a prohibition to live in large cities also lived in Andijan. There was no Temple in the city ; however, later, during the war years, a prayer-house appeared there.

In the summer of 1940, Father Pimen entered the Literary Faculty of the Andijan Evening Paedagogical Institute (his student ID was preserved). On 25 October, 1940, he was appointed a teacher, and then head teacher of Andijan School No. 1. By the beginning of World War II, he had competed the first year of studies at the institute.

Lieutenant S Izvekov Lieutenant S Izvekov and his mother

Military service, 1941

Although it has been written that there is no concrete report available about Father Pimen's whereabouts during the Great Patriotic War (World War II) of 1941-1945, there are some available details which are included here. It is probable (especially with regard to subsequent events and the manner in which they are described) that Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov) was not known openly to be a monk and a priest.

The following details reflect the investigations of the writer Alexei Grigorenko, who found materials in the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defence.

On 10 August, 1941, Father Pimen was drafted into the ranks of the Red Army. He was sent to study at an infantry school, after which, in early 1942, he received the rank of junior commander of a joint platoon.

On 18 January, 1942, by order no. 0105, he was appointed commander of a machine-gun platoon, part of Rifle Division 462. However, like most of the junior officers who studied with him, he was not sent to the front. On 20 March, 1942, he was appointed assistant chief of staff on the rear 519 of the Rifle Regiment, which was in the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander.

In May, 1942, the regiment began to fight the Nazi Germans as part of the Southern Front. At this time, the Kharkov operation began. The right wing of the Southern Front took part in the battles, where Hieromonk Pimen fought. As a result of an unsuccessful operation, the troops were surrounded by the Nazi German Army and they were destroyed or captured. On 29 May, 1942, the Kharkov battle ended, and the encirclement ring finally closed.

The following story probably dates back to this time :

 During the war, the regiment in which the future Patriarch fought was surrounded ; in such a ring of fire, people were doomed. 
 They knew that there were hieromonks amongst the soldiers, and, fearing nothing but death, they fell down at their feet : 'Father,
 pray !  Where do we go ?' The hieromonk had a secretly hidden icon of the Mother of God.  Now, under fire, he prayed tearfully 
 before her.  The Most Pure One took pity on the dying army – everyone saw how the icon came to life and the Mother of God extended 
 her hand, indicating the path to the breakthrough.  The regiment was saved.   

Another story of the war years tells about it this way :

 The unit to which he belonged was surrounded.  Salvation came, according to the future patriarch, from the Mother of God herself.  
 He unexpectedly saw a woman weeping on the path.  He went to ask about the reason for the tears, and he heard : 'Go straight along 
 this path and you will be saved'.  The military commander, to whom Father Pimen conveyed what was said, heeded the advice, and the 
 soldiers went out from the encirclement.  

The 2 reports together likely provide the complete recounting.

Adrian Egorov retold the following other story he had heard from the Patriarch :

 Once Father Pimen was entrusted with delivering a command with a report packet.  He prayed, crossed himself and sat in the saddle. [...]
 As Patriarch Pimen later said, he lowered the reins and they set off.  The road lay through the forest.  He arrived safely at the unit, 
 and he handed over the package.  They asked him : 'Where did you come from ?'  He answered with his hand, and showed the direction. 
 'No', they said to him ; 'it is impossible to come from there.  Everything is mined there'.  

On 29 July, 1942, Father Pimen was shell-shocked. He was treated for almost 4 months in Military Hospital no. 292. On 26 November, 1942, he was appointed deputy company commander of the 702 Rifle Regiment, which was in reserve.

On 23 February, 1943, the regiment (as part of the 213th Infantry Division) left for the front. On 4 March, 1943, the Kharkov defensive operation began. On 13 March, 1943, the regiment of Senior Lieutenant Izvekov unloaded at the Valuyki railway station and it became part of the 7th Guards Army. Thus, as the deputy commander of the 6th company of the combat unit, he participated in the bloody battles of March-April, 1943, near Kharkov.

On 16 April, 1943, he was again shell-shocked. An air bomb exploded near the place where the company commanded by Senior Lieutenant Izvekov was hiding. He once mentioned when he was suffering from back-pain :

 My soldiers were feeble and small, and my back is wide, so I covered them with myself.  

Later in 1943, Senior Lieutenant Izvekov was appointed adjutant to Major General F I Shevchenko, the commander of division no. 7 of the Guards Army. Patriarch Pimen subsequently spoke about his commander :

 My commander was kind.  He didn’t send me under bullets.  However, once, I had to cross the river.  

This refers to the crossing of the Uda River (a tributary of the North Donets) under the shelling of the enemy, near the city of Merefa, near Kharkov.

On 28 August, 1943, the operation was completed. However, Senior Lieutenant Izvekov was not found amongst the survivors. In the staff record of the regiment officers, on 30 September, 1943, an entry was made :

 Senior Lieutenant Izvekov Sergey Mikhailovich went missing 26.8.43 at Merefa of the Kharkiv Raion in the Kharkiv Oblast.  

However, Father Pimen was alive, although his military command did not know about it. He had been sent to a hospital in Moscow, where he received treatment after being wounded. This information was eventually entered into the official record.

Release from military service, 1943

According to the record, Pimen (Izvekov) was decommissioned from the army in 1943.

He then lived in Moscow (on Suschevsky Val) with 2 nuns.

On 24 November, 1943, at a meeting with the bishops participating in the Holy Synod of Bishops which was held in Moscow, the head of the Council for the ROC Affairs, G G Karpov stated that "all clergymen serving in Church parishes are exempted from mobilisation, regardless of age".

Probably knowing about the warming of relations between the Church and the state, Father Pimen hoped to return to service in the priesthood, and he did not go to the military commissariat after treatment in the hospital. Correctly speaking, he could not be called a deserter, since he was subject to release from service as a clergyman.

However on 18 November, 1944, L P Beria sent a note to I V Stalin that hospital workers were issuing certificates of exemption from military service without sufficient grounds. Checks were initiated.

Arrest and imprisonment, 1944

On 29 November, 1944, Father Pimen was detained by the police in Moscow, and he was taken to the 9th police station to establish his identity. The detention was carried out for violation of the passport regime, since he did not have the necessary documents. He was charged with "hiding from responsibility under the guise of a minister of a religious cult". This episode remains unclear so far. The Archpriest Victor Shipovalnikov claimed that this was the work of "SMERSH" (a name coined by Mr. Stalin for "Military counter-intelligence overview", meaning "Death to Spies").

On 15 January, 1945, the military court of Mosgarnizon pronounced the verdict :

 Without perceiving the need to use the VMN [...] Izvekov Sergei Mikhailovich in the aggregate of the crimes committed by him on the 
 basis of Articles 193-7 p. 'D' of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR, to imprison ITL for a term of ten (10) years without losing rights 
 and confiscating property for the absence of such a convict, depriving him of the title of 'senior lieutenant'.  

On 4 March, 1945, he was delivered by stages to the Vorkuto-Pechora camp (Vorkutlag). The conditions of this camp were much more severe than in "Dmitlag". Severe frosts, lack of sanitary conditions and normal food doomed most of the prisoners to death. As he faced death yet again, yet again prayer and hope in God conquered the fear of death. His nursing experience came in handy now. In the camp, he worked as a medical instructor. The Archpriest Tikhon Streletsky, who was serving his term here, left his recollection of an encounter with Father Pimen :

 At the 102nd quarter in Komi, I was coming from a cemetery in one section. I looked, and there was smoke coming out of the chimney, 
 which meant, I thought, that there is someone inside.  I went to the stables.  On the bed was a foal, covered with a blanket, just 
 looking out.  I went over and stroked him.  I examined the cell, and I think that it’s not a simple person who lives here.  I warmed 
 myself by the stove.  After a while a young man of tall stature came in.  I told him : 'Why do you have a foal on the bed ?'  He 
 replied : 'This is an orphan.  His mother broke her leg in the removal of the forest, and she was slaughtered according to the camp 
 custom and then 10 grams of meat was passed out to the prisoners.  The foal was expecting the same fate.  I felt sorry for him and 
 I brought him up'. 'I see that you are not an ordinary person', I said him.  'Yes, I am a hieromonk.  I am for the second time in 
 the camps'.

Release from prison, 1945

On 18 September, 1945, on the basis of a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 7 June, 1945, Father Pimen was released under an amnesty for participants in the war. If not for liberation, it may be confidently stated that Father Pimen would have died in the camp. He experienced severe pain in the spine, and the lack of medical care determined the impossibility of establishing a diagnosis.

Immediately upon leaving the camp, he returned to Moscow and he was examined. It turned out that he had contracted spinal tuberculosis. According to Archimandrite Dionisy (Shishigin), from September, 1945, until February, 1946, he was hospitalised at the Moscow Regional Tuberculosis Institute.

Return to active pastoral service, 1946

Upon leaving the hospital, as a former prisoner, he did not receive a place to serve in Moscow. He was forced to look for a place of service elsewhere.

On the recommendation of Hieromonk Seraphim (Krutenei) (whom Father Pimen had met in 1925 at the Sretensky Monastery), on 20 March, 1946, Bishop Onesim (Festinatov) of Vladimir and Suzdal enrolled Hieromonk Pimen in the staff of the Annunciation Cathedral of the former Monastery of the Annunciation in the city ​​of Murom in the Vladimir Oblast. It was there, in 1812, that the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was temporarily moved for safety from Moscow during the Napoleonic invasion.

From Murom, he was transferred to the Diocese of Odessa in Ukraine, where he served as treasurer of the Odessa Elias Monastery, as assistant dean of the diocese, and in other diocesan obediences. While he was there, he was guided and supported by Bishop Sergiy (Larin).

Saint Elias Monastery, Odessa

In 1947, he was transferred to the Rostov-on-Don Diocese (where he went with Bishop Sergiy (Larin). Until 1949, he served in that diocese as secretary of the bishop, as a member of the diocesan council, and as the dean of the Nativity of the Mother of God Cathedral.

A sensitive pastor and a talented preacher, he attracted many more people who became parishioners of the cathedral. He had a beautiful voice ; he wrote poetry and sermons ; he painted and embroidered.

Nativity of the Theotokos Cathedral, Rostov-on-Don

At the beginning of 1947, for several months, at the request of Bishop Jerome (Zakharov) of Ryazan, Father Pimen served an obedience as the clerk of the Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Ryazan. However, because the local civilian authorities were dissatisfied with his activities, he was forced to leave.

On 2 December, 1947, by decree of Bishop Sergiy (Larin), Father Pimen was assigned to serve as Secretary of the Rostov diocesan administration.

On 24 December, 1947, the Hieromonk Pimen (Izvekov) was elevated to the dignity of igumen, with the blessing to wear a jewelled Cross. This was done in recognition of his tireless and substantial work.

Igumen Pimen (Izvekov)

On 9 March, 1948, Igumen Pimen (Izvekov) was assigned to serve as the Dean of the Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos.

Because of his superior ability to bring order and decorum to the life of the parish, the monastery, and the diocese, Igumen Pimen was soon called to a yet more responsible service.

By the decree of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) in late 1949, he was assigned to serve as the governor (“namestnik”, Deputy-Abbot) of the Pskov-Pechora Monastery.

Almost 6 months later, on the Feast of Pascha in 1950, the Igumen Pimen was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) of Leningrad.

Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov)

In 1954, Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov) was assigned to serve as the "Namestnik" of Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra. Just as he did at the Pskov-Pechora Monastery, he undertook the leadership of major restoration work in the catholicon and sobors, and he cared for the welfare of the Lavra. Under his direction, in the Refectory Temple, 2 new chapels were built in the names of Saint Joasaph of Belgorod and of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

Archimandrite Pimen’s long musical experience (continued during his service in Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra) prepared him for a significant future decision. Later, when he had become patriarch, he forbade singers to embellish liturgical singing with operatic flourishes. Such a decision and direction supported the use of the traditional chants and melodies of the Russian Orthodox Church in composition, rather than freely-composed settings that are unrelated in any way to the traditional melodies and mentality of the Church.

Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow and All Russia awarded Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov) with the right to wear 2 pectoral crosses with ornaments, and to serve with a pastoral staff.

Patriarch Alexei I and the Holy Synod took into account the great administrative experience and the outstanding spiritual qualities of Archimandrite Pimen. When Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra was landscaped and well-developed, Patriarch Alexei and the Holy Synod of Bishops called Archimandrite Pimen to episcopal service.

Episcopal ordination, 1957

On 17 November, 1957, in the Dormition Cathedral in Odessa, Ukraine, Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) ; Archbishop Boris (Vik) of Kherson ; Archbishop Nektariy (Grigoriev) of Kishinev and Moldova ; Bishop Innokentiy (Leoferov) of Kirovograd ; and Bishop Nestor (Tugay) of Pereyslav-Khmelnitsky.

Episcopal service

At the time of his ordination to the Holy Episcopate, Bishop Pimen (Izvekov) recalled with affection and appreciation the manner in which his mother had guided and formed him in childhood :

 It is a great consolation for me that I was called to the episcopal ministry from the Lavra of the 
 Venerable Abba Sergiy, dear to my heart, with whom my whole life has been closely connected.  When I 
 was 8 years old, I went with my mother to the Holy Lavra.  I made my confession there for the first time, 
 and I communed of the Holy Mysteries in the Zosimo-Savvatievsky Temple of the Lavra.  

Bishop of Balta, Odessa Diocese, 1957

Bishop Pimen (Izvekov) then was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Balta in the Odessa Oblast.

In the Cathedral of the Dormition in Odessa, there is found the Wonder-working Kaspersky Icon of the Theotokos. When Vladyka Pimen visited the cathedral many years later (when he was patriarch), he shared his memories of his 1957 ordination in the presence of this Wonder-working Icon :

 For a very long time, I have been one of the ardent venerators of the Kaspersky Icon of the Mother of God.  Ever since the unforgettable 
 times when the Lord brought me to serve in the Temples of Odessa as a humble clergyman of the Church, I had the constant and blessed
 opportunity to bow down before this icon of the Mother of God.  I bring my joy and sorrow to her, and I bring her my fervent prayers. 
 Under the blessed covering of the Kaspersky Icon of the Mother of God in this holy cathedral, my hierarchal ordination was performed, and 
 I am glad that it was from this wonderful icon that I received the first blessing on my archpastoral path.  It was completely unknown to me, 
 but this consolation came through the decision of our blessed Vladyka, High Priest and Father, Patriarch Alexei (Simansky) to ordain me to be 
 a bishop not elsewhere, but in Odessa, in this cathedral, where the venerable image of the Mother of God was constantly located before me.  

Bishop Pimen (Izvekov), formal sitting

Bishop Pimen (Izvekov) in his office

Bishop of Dmitrov, Moscow Diocese, 1957

On 26 December, 1957, Bishop Pimen was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Dmitrov in the Moscow Oblast, and Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese.

Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1960

In July, 1960, Bishop Pimen was assigned to serve as the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.

At this time, he served as the rector of the Patriarchal Epiphany Cathedral.

On 23 November, 1960, Bishop Pimen was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

In 1960, Archbishop Pimen (Izvekov) was incorporated into the Holy Synod as a permanent member.

Archbishop of Tula and Belyov, 1961

On 16 March, 1961, Archbishop Pimen was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Tula and Belyov. At this time, he was released from his responsibilities as the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate.

According to his report, on 18 July, 1961, the Holy Synod of Bishops made an amendment to the “Regulation on the Management of the Russian Orthodox Church”. This amendment completely eliminated both bishops, and the rectors of Temples, from performing secular economic/business activity (in fact, such activity contradicts the canons).

Metropolitan of Leningrad and Ladoga, 1961

On 14 November, 1961, Archbishop Pimen was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as the Metropolitan of Leningrad and Ladoga.

On 14 November, 1961, Archbishop Pimen (Izvekov) was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan.

Metropolitan Pimen

During the period from 1959 to 1962, Vladyka Pimen (in addition to his other responsibilities) was entrusted with the temporary administration of the Luhan, Smolensk, Kostroma and Tambov dioceses.

Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna, 1963

On 9 October, 1963, Vladyka Pimen was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna.

Various other responsibilities locally and abroad, such as the "World Peace Council"

From 1963, Metropolitan Pimen served as a member of the World Peace Council and the Soviet Peace Committee, a member of the Soviet Committee on Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad. In the same year, he participated in the Warsaw session of the World Peace Council as a representative from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Pimen was the closest assistant of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky). Throughout his life, he devoted his zealous service to the Church, and the Church recognised his outstanding service.

In 1964, at the head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he visited Denmark at the invitation of the Primate of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bishop Willy Westergaard Madsen.

In 1965, he led the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate at the ceremonies of the enthronement of Metropolitan Stefan (Rudyk) of Warsaw and All Poland.

He was also a member of the World Congress for General Disarmament and Peace in Helsinki, Finland.

From 14 May to 7 July, 1966, he served as the temporary administrator of the Gorky Diocese (now Nizhny-Novgorod).

In 1966, he participated in the session of the World Peace Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

From 15 March to 10 May, 1968, he served as the locum tenens of the Tambov Diocese.

In 1969, he attended the World Peace Assembly in Berlin, Germany

During the last years of the life of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky), the question had arisen about who might be his successor. In the conservative part of the Church, there were widespread fears that it could be Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), who was only 40 years of age. He had a reputation of being an extremely powerful person, and known for his ecumenical activities. According to several testimonies, Patriarch Alexei himself preferred that Vladyka Pimen be his successor. About Metropolitan Nikodim, in his conversations with V A Kuroedov (the Chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR), Patirarch Alexei said : "He is still young. Perhaps they will not understand. Pimen is better suited as patriarch. The patriarch does not need to be an active traveller to other countries. He may be aloof, as it were, and the patriarch should speak when it is needed".

Repose of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky), 1970

On 17 April, 1970, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) fell asleep in the Lord because of a myocardial infarction.

Locum-tenens of the Patriarchal See, 1970-1971

In accordance with the custom of the Russian Orthodox Church, after the blessed repose of Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) on 17 April, 1970, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) of Krutitsy and Kolomna was assigned by the Holy Synod of Bishops to serve as the Locum Tenens of the Moscow Patriarchal Throne (that is, of the Moscow Diocese, and the patriarchate). However, the communist authorities did not permit the holding of a Church Council in the same year in order to elect a new patriarch, since it was the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s birth.

Exercising this responsibility, he successfully oversaw the activities of the Holy Synod in the field of intra-Church life, inter-Orthodox relations, the ecumenical and peacekeeping activities of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Autocephaly for The Orthodox Church in America, 1970

In 1970, it was Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) who gave the Tomos of Autocephaly for The Orthodox Church in America into the hands of its representative, Bishop Theodosius (Lazor). This document had been signed by Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky) and the Holy Synod on 31 March, 1970. It was granted officially on 10 April, 1970.

It was in his capacity as Locum-tenens of the Patriarchal See that in May, 1970, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) presented the Tomos of Autocephaly publicly to the representative of Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish) and the Holy Synod of the Church in North America at the Patriarchal Holy Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow.

Giving the Tomos of of Autocephaly, May, 1970

Delegations after the presentation

During the same period of Metropolitan Pimen's responsibility, when cholera appeared in some cities in Russia, and it was pronounced to be an epidemic, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov), the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, issued a Decree according to which it was forbidden to venerate icons or for the Holy Mysteries to be received in the Temples. Only ill persons could be given Holy Communion at home for the duration of the decree. This epidemic was a part of the wide-spread cholera pandemic of 1961-1975.

In 1971, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) led the work of the Pre-Council Commission for the preparation and convening of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In March, 1971, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the funeral and interment of Patriarch Kyril (Konstantinov) of Bulgaria.

In the same year, he was a member of the Assembly of the World Peace Council in Budapest, Hungary.

Third Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, 1971

On 30 May, 1971, the Third Local Council (Sobor) of the Russian Orthodox Church was opened. This was the third such council in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the second one during the second patriarchal period (since 1917). As the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal See, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) presided over the council.

The most important act of the council was the abolition of the “anathema” on the Old Believers by the Great Moscow Council of 1667. This 1971 Local Council confirmed the granting of autocephaly to The Orthodox Church in America, and autonomy to the Japanese Orthodox Church on 31 March, 1970, by Patriarch Alexei I.

On 2 June, 1971, the final day of the council, Metropolitan Pimen (Izvekov) was elected unopposed to be the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Patriarch, 1971

On 3 June, 1971, at the Epiphany Cathedral, the Primatial Divine Liturgy with the enthronement of the elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Pimen (Izvekov), was served. All the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops served on this occasion.

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov)

Holy Epiphany Cathedral, Moscow

Patriarchal service

Metropolitan Aleksey I (Ridiger) of Tallin was of the opinion that in every period the Lord has sent the necessary and appropriate person that was needed at the time. Therefore, he believed that at this particular time, Patriarch Pimen was precisely the person who was needed. Indeed, he said that “His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, with his inherent caution, conservatism and even fear of any innovations, managed to preserve a lot in our Church".

Careful and firm balance in leadership under communist oppression

Patriarch Pimen's task was to lead the Orthodox Christian Church within a state ruled by an officially atheist communist party. In order to do so, it was necessary that he work co-operatively with the civil authorities. In this context, he participated in numerous “peace movement” conferences sponsored by the government. The soviet state tried to limit and control all religious activity, and Patriarch Pimen struggled to ensure the survival of the Russian Orthodox Church. This involved (as with his predecessors, even in the days of the empire) frequent humiliation by various persons in power in the organs of the state.

Patriarch Pimen’s constant concern was the large Orthodox Christian flock which had been entrusted to him. This concern included the rational sheep themselves, the theological schools, and the Church publications. Under his blessing, Temples and monasteries were re-opened. As the First Hierarch of the Church of Christ in Russia, it was his responsibility to extend his protection to the flock, and to foster the ancient traditions of monastic life. In addition, he continued his predecessor’s work of expanding the influence of Orthodox Christian culture both in Russia and in the world.

Patriarch Pimen and Holy Synod members

The 2 periods of primatial service

From the point of view of the policy of the state in relation to religion and the Church, the period of Patriarch Pimen's service can be divided into 2 unequal periods : before the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' (1988) and the last 2 years.

In the first period, the state pursued a policy of strict control over the activities of the Church. The number of open churches decreased, and all non-Temple activities of the clergy were persecuted. In particular, Patriarch Pimen was deprived of the opportunity to make his hierarchical visits to the parishes of his diocese. In addition to Odessa, where he regularly went on vacation to the Dormition Monastery, he was allowed to visit Kiev only once, and Leningrad several times. Under those conditions, the patriarch, in order not to exacerbate relations with the authorities further, pursued a loyal policy in the sphere of public life of the country. For example, he did not respond to Alexander Solzhenitsyn's "Lenten Letter" which called on him openly to oppose the state policy of atheism. Often, in the sphere directly related to Church life, he indicated his position firmly : for example, he supported Bishop Theodosius (Dikun), who addressed President Leonid Brezhnev with a letter about the blatant lack of rights of the Church, and he elevated him demonstratively to the dignity of archbishop in 1978.

Development of external Church relations

From his first days of patriarchal service, Patriarch Pimen did what was possible to strengthen relations between the ROC and the various Orthodox Churches in other countries. Numerous visits between Patriarch Pimen and the Primates of the sister-Churches of the Russian Orthodox Church, both abroad and at home, as well as leaders of other Christian communities, and also prominent statesmen and public figures of various countries served the cause of Holy Orthodoxy in general and of Russia in particular.

In carrying out the high mission in the sphere of inter-Orthodox relations, Patriarch Pimen noted : “We have sought, and in our opinion, not without success, to serve the development of fraternal relations with the other Local Churches. Witnessing to unity and serving the great Orthodox universal family is the sacred task to which we devote ourselves”.

Patriarch Pimen, Patriarch Ilya II, Metropolitan Aleksey

Fraternal visits to other autocephalous Churches

In association with his accession to the Moscow Patriarchal throne, from 28 April, 1971, to 25 May, 1972, Patriarch Pimen made the customary fraternal visits to the Orthodox Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Bulgaria, and Jerusalem. He also made a visit to Mount Athos. He was the first Patriarch of Moscow to visit there.

In October, 1972, he visited the Serbian, Greek, and Romanian Orthodox Churches.

From 8-10 November, 1972, he made an official trip to Georgia and to Armenia, and he had meetings with the Heads of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Continuing the fraternal visits, from 31 January to 5 February, 1973, at the invitation of Metropolitan Dorotheus (Filip) of Prague and all of Czechoslovakia, he visited the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church.

Other visits and activities

From 16-19 September, 1973, he attended meetings of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland.

From 17-23 January, 1974, at the invitation of Emperor Haile Selassi I of Ethiopia, and Abuna Theofilos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church, Patriarch Pimen made a visit to this ancient Church.

This increasing exposure of the reviving Russian Orthodox Church to the rest of the Orthodox world and to the Christian world as well, served to help others understand the difficult situation of the ROC. At the same time, this allowed for mutual aid on many levels. In particular, the difficult participation in the World Council of Churches facilitated greatly world-wide inter-Orthodox communication ; and it helped greatly to raise the awareness of the Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Faith amongst Protestants and also Roman Catholics.

Early signs of positive change for the life of the Orthodox Church

During the years of Patriarch Pimen's First Hierarchal (primatial) service, Russia experienced a period of decisive historical changes. The Russian Orthodox Church could not be aloof from the fate of the Russian people. In their pre-festal message about the 1,000th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of Bishops together said :

 As the children of the Church, each of us is now called upon, to the best of our ability in our civic and 
 religious duty, to participate in the development of our society.  We are encouraged by the strengthening of 
 the spiritual and moral foundations of personal, family and social life of our people, and our country’s 
 desire to strengthen the universal moral norms in international relations. 

As a member of the World Peace Council, he took part in its next session, which was held from 15-19 February, 1974, in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria.

On 2-10 May, 1974, at the invitation of the Primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church, Archbishop Paul (Olmari) of Karelia and all Finland, Patriarch Pimen made a fraternal and friendly visit to the Republic of Finland and to the Church of Finland.

From 21-27 November, 1974, he led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, which took part in the jubilee celebrations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the Sofia Patriarchal Cathedral Church Monument to Prince Alexander Nevsky in Bulgaria.

From 1-3 November, 1975, Patriarch Pimen led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Patriarchate and the 90th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church, held in Bucharest, Romania.

In September, 1976 , Patriarch Pimen made a trip to Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Vasharshapat, Armenia. There, he participated in celebrations to mark the re-sanctification of the land and Temple and the 20th anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement of the High Patriarch Catholicos Vazgen I of Armenia.

Patriarch Pimen, 1976

From 23 January to 3 February, 1977, Patriarch Pimen made an official visit to India at the invitation of the Primate of the Orthodox Syrian Church of the East, Patriarch Catholicos Vasily Mar Thomas Matthew I.

During the days of the XXII Olympiad in Moscow, on 29 July, 1980, Patriarch Pimen visited the Olympic Stadium ; on 1 August, he visited the Olympic Village and the chapel in it ; on 4 August, he attended the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

First modern Church-goods factory blessed, 1980

On 15 September, 1980, it became possible for Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) to found and to bless the Orthodox Church factory “Sofrino” in the village of Sofrino, 46 km (29 mi) north of Moscow. The Sofrino factory, built on the territory allocated by the Government of the USSR in 1972 at the request of Patriarch Pimen, began to make all sorts of Church goods. Over the years from this beginning sprang many more producers.

Preparations for the 1988 celebration of the Baptism of Rus' in 988

Furthermore, on 23 December, 1980, the Holy Synod decided “to begin preparations for the celebration by the Russian Orthodox Church of the upcoming great anniversary”, for which it formed an anniversary commission chaired by the Patriarch. Initially, it was assumed that the celebration of the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus would be strictly an internal Church celebration.

In June, 1982, Patriarch Pimen made a speech at the United Nations, at the Second Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Disarmament in New York City in the USA.

After 12 November, 1982, when Yuriy Vladimirovich Andropov came to power as the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, the persecution of religious dissidents intensified.

Even in this context, on 17 May, 1983, the official transfer from the Soviet government to the Russian Orthodox Church of the complex of buildings of the former Moscow Danilov Monastery took place. This transfer created on its territory the "Spiritual and Administrative Centre" of the Moscow Patriarchate. This decision was perceived not only by the Orthodox in Moscow, but also by the entire USSR, as an event of extreme importance, as the first sign, perhaps, of the changing attitude of the country's leadership towards the needs of the Church. The restoration of the first monastic community since 1930 in the capital of the communist state became widely known in society, and this attracted interest both in the impending anniversary and in Orthodoxy in general.

In 1984, an attempt was made to prevent the creation of a monastic community in the Danilov Monastery. However, after the death of the General Secretary of the Communist Party Konstantin Chernenko (10 March 1985), objections from the authorities fell away. Some fears in the ruling circles of the Moscow Patriarchate were caused by the appointment in November, 1984, of Konstantin Kharchev as chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs (he replaced Vladimir A Kuroyedov. Nevertheless, the revision of state policy regarding religion and the rights of believers, which began in 1986, dispelled those fears. Materials began to appear in the media about repressions in the USSR, about the Russian Church as the keeper of folk culture and spirituality, about the Optina Monastery near Kaluga, about the destruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, and about other destroyed shrines.

In 1985, Mikhail (Michael) Sergeievich Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR.

In 1985, the health of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) began to weaken noticeably. During World War II, he had contracted tuberculosis of the spine, for which he had been treated, but which left him suffering from pain. Then, he was diagnosed as suffering from intestinal cancer, but he declined the offer that he undergo surgery.

Millennium of the Baptism of Rus', 1988

Near the end of his difficult term as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod organised the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ in Russia in 1988. This event in effect became the historic moment that marked the end of persecution of Orthodox Christianity in the Soviet Union.

The Bishops' Pre-Council Meeting was held on 28-31 March, 1988, in the former Novodevichy Convent in Moscow. The communiqué that followed noted, amongst other things  :

 The participants in the Bishops' Pre-Council Meeting consider it necessary with gratitude to note the positive attitude of the
 Soviet government to the matters put forward by the hierarchy of our Church.  

On 29 April, 1988, the Patriarch and permanent members of the Synod met with General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev "in connection with the 1,000th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in Russia". This meeting served as an indication for the Communist Party and Soviet authorities, that coverage of the anniversary celebration as a nationwide event would be permitted.

The second portion of Patriarch Pimen's primatial service

Thus began the second (shorter) period of the patriarch's service. This second period of 1988-1990 was during the height of perestroika, the time when the Soviet leadership, headed by Michael Sergeievich Gorbachev, abandoned the policy of state atheism. New parishes began to open en masse ; the monastic life of some previously closed monasteries was resumed ; new spiritual educational institutions were created. This period of time coincided with the extremely difficult state of health of the patriarch, when he was not able actively to deal with urgent matters. Nevertheless, he found the strength to meet with Mr. Gorbachev, which was an extremely significant event for that time.

Patriarch Pimen with M Gorbachev

In 1986, the Russian Orthodox Church had 6,794 parishes. From 1981 to 1986, their number decreased by 213 ; but in 1987, for the first time since the mid-1950s, their number began to increase ; and in 1988 more than 1,000 parishes were opened.

From 28 to 31 March, 1988, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was convened. This council established a new Constitution of the Russian Orthodox Church, and it revoked the Charter of 1945 (which was now obsolete, since that charter dealt with the re-organisation of the Church’s life at a perilous time). This constitution restored correct and normal Church structure and life.

ON 29 April, 1988, the President of the Soviet Union, M S Gorbachev (who much later in life openly admitted that he was a Christian) received Patriarch Pimen. He promised more tolerance towards the Church. Very many new parishes were permitted to open that year. Sunday schools, groups performing charitable works, new seminaries and monasteries of men and of women, and other concessions to Church needs followed.

The process of opening and re-opening parishes continued ; and by the end of 1989, the number of functioning Orthodox parishes approached 10,000.

On 3 June, 1988, by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR :

 For active peacekeeping activities and in connection with the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov), 
 Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko) of Kiev, Metropolitan Aleksey (Ridiger) of Leningrad, Archbishop Nikolai (Kutepov) of Gorky, and
 Archbishop Alexander (Timofeev) of Dmitrov  (rector of the Moscow Theological Academy) were awarded the 'Order of the Red Banner of Labour'.  
 Several other hierarchs were awarded the 'Order of Friendship of Peoples'.  

In June and July, 1988, Patriarch Pimen led the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’.

Local Council (Sobor) of the Church of Russia, June, 1988

In the midst of the millennial celebrations, on 6 June, 1988, the fourth Local Council (Sobor) of the Church of Russia began its meetings in Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra in Zagorsk (Sergeiev Posad). Arriving at the Council were 272 representatives from 67 domestic and 9 foreign dioceses, 22 monasteries, 2 theological academies and 3 seminaries, foreign institutions from the Russian Church and the Japanese Autonomous Church.

Glorification of saints

On first day of the Council, Metropolitan Juvenaly (Poyarkov) of Krutitsy read the report "The Canonisation of Saints in the Russian Orthodox Church". For the glorification amongst the saints, there had been proposed : Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy of Moscow (1350-1389) ; Monk-Iconographer Andrei (Rublev) (1360-first half of the 15th century) ; Maxim the Greek (1470-1556) ; Metropolitan Makariy of Moscow (1482-1563) ; Archimandrite Paisiy (Velichkovsky) (1722-1794) ; the blessed Xenia of Saint Petersburg (1732-beginning of the 19th century) ; Bishop Ignatiy (Brianchaninov) (1807-1867) ; Archimandrite Ambrosiy of Optina (1812-1891) ; and Bishop Theophan (Govrov) the Recluse (1815-1894). The members of the Council resolved to perform the rite of glorification for them all.

Presentation of reports

On the second day of the Council, Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) of Rostov and Novocherkassk presented an overview of the major events in the life of the Church since the previous All-Russian Council in 1971. Metropolitan Philaret (Vakhromeyev) of Minsk and Byelorus (Belarus) (Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations) spoke about "The External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church", which included many references to the various dialogues and encounters both with Orthodox Churches and with various non-Orthodox entities. Metropolitan Aleksey (Ridiger) of Leningrad and Novgorod gave a report on the peacekeeping activities of the Russian Orthodox Church during the 1970s and 1980s. Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechayev) of Volokolamsk and Yuriev (Chairman of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate) made a presentation about the publishing of the Russian Orthodox Church. He emphasised the leading role of the Church in Russia in the spread of literary culture. He explained further that the primary task of the Church Publishing Department is the publication of the Holy Scriptures and prayer-books, as well as the release of academic and theological works.

Further reports

On the third day, reporting continued. Metropolitan Filaret (Denysenko) of Kiev and Galich (Kyiv and Halych) made a report about the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR and the transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Archbishop Alexander (Timofeev) of Dmitrov (Chairman of the Education Committee, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary) spoke about "The Spiritual Formation of the Russian Orthodox Church". The report covered the history of spiritual enlightenment and educational affairs in Russia. Special attention was paid to spiritual enlightenment in the synodal period, and this led to a report on the activities of religious schools in the period following the Local Church Council in 1971. Special attention was paid to the problems of the spiritual school at that time. Metropolitan Mefodiy (Nemtsov) of Voronezh and Lipetsk (Chairman of the Economic Board) made a report about the "Economic Activities of the Russian Orthodox Church from Antiquity to the Present Day (988-1988)". Because the metropolitan was ill, the report was read by the secretary of the board, the Archpriest Leonid Kuz'minov.

New Constitution of the Russian Orthodox Church, 1988

The main event of the evening session of 8 June was the discussion and adoption of the new "Constitution of the Russian Orthodox Church", developed and presented to the Council by Archbishop Kirill (Gundyaev) of Smolensk and Viazma. This proposed constitution had been discussed at the Bishops' Pre-Council Conference on 28-31 March, 1988. During the discussion that followed at the Local Council, the text of the constitution was reviewed and amended, with some wording being clarified. When developing the new constitution (charter), Archbishop Kirill (Gundyaev) used the achievements of the All-Russian Council of 1917-1918, which had been rejected by the implementation of the constitution of 1945.

This rejection is explained by the fact that the statute of 1945 was prepared urgently during World War II, and many things were not identified. That constitution would now be considered as obsolete. It was explained that the position of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was adopted at the Local Council in 1945, was out of date. Changes made to it in 1961, motivated by the difficult situation of the Church in the 1950s and 1960s, had led to the understanding that, in fact, the clergy were estranged from the leadership of the parishes. This was the first constitution in the history of the Russian Church. During the era of the governance of the Russian Orthodox Church by the Synodal system, Church life was organised on the basis of the "Spiritual Regulation". Many of these spiritual regulations were replaced by some definitions of the Local Council of 1917-1918 (which had not the time or resources to complete its work). From 1945 to 1988, there was in effect a brief "Regulation of the Russian Orthodox Church".

This constitution introduced a periodicity of Local and Bishops' Councils of at least once every 2 years. The structure of the Holy Synod was expanded : the number of its permanent members increased to 5. Diocesan structure and assembly were restored. The ruling bishop, with the assistance of the diocesan assembly (of an equal number of clergy and laity) would direct the life of the Church in the diocese. The diocesan council of a diocesan bishop would be composed of at least 4 people : one-half of which would be appointed by the bishop, and the other half elected by the diocesan assembly for one year. The most important change was the abolition of the Bishops' Council decision in 1961 to dismiss a priest from financial and economic activity. The highest authority in the management of the parish became the general parish meeting of clergy and lay people (members of the parish), and the chairman of the meeting was to be elected at the meeting in the Temple. The executive body of the parish was called to implement its decisions and to be accountable to the general parish assembly. The parish council would consist of 3 members : the chairman, his deputy and the treasurer.

Concluding the Local Council

The meetings concluded on 9 June. The members of the Local Council discussed and adopted several new documents : "Definitions of the Local Council" («Определения Поместного Собора») ; "Message to all Christians of the World" («Обращение ко всем христианам мира») ; and "Statement on the Vital Issues of our Time" («Заявление по насущным проблемам современности»). At the final meeting of the Council, Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh gave the report of the Credentials Committee. The closing remarks at the Council were presented by Patriarch Pimen.

At this Local Council, in contrast to the Councils of 1945 and 1971, the discussion of some topics had acquired a sharp, perhaps polemical character. This is to say that by this time it had become possible to voice differing opinions more openly.

Fragility of Patriarch Pimen

Patriarch Pimen, already seriously ill, was unable to take an active part in the discussions, although he opened the Council, and he delivered the closing remarks.

At the All-Russia Council

Anniversary Divine Liturgy at Danilovsky Monastery, 12 June, 1988

On 12 June, 1988, the Week of All Saints who shone in the Land of Russia, on the square within the Danilov Monastery (now restored from a dilapidated condition), the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Patriarch Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch ; Patriarch Diodorus I (Karivalis) of Jerusalem ; Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow (present and vested, but seated in a chair) ; Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili) ; Patriarch Teoctist (Arapasu) of Romania ; Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria ; Archbishop Chrysostomos I (Aristodimou) of Cyprus ; and many other bishops and clergy. An icon of the newly-glorified saints was in a prominent place for veneration. An estimated 15,000 were present for this service, which was conducted in the open air on the grounds of the monastery.

Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) did not arrive due to some protocol differences. Because of the seniority of Constantinople, the Patriarch of Constantinople would normally be required to take first place in a celebration. It had therefore had been agreed that in order that the Church of Russia could preside over her own anniversary, Patriarch Demetrius would not be present. Therefore, the celebrations in the Patriarchate of Constantinople had been organised to take place earlier. At that time, a delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by Archbishop Kirill (Gundyeav) of Smolensk and Vyazma, arrived in Istanbul in order to participate in this event. They were timed to coincide with the Week of Orthodoxy, 28 February, 1988.

400th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchate of Russia, 1989

On 9 October, 1989, the glorification of Patriarch Job and Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin) took place at the Bishops' Council. This was timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the patriarchate in the Moscow Church, which took place on 9-11 October, 1989, in the Danilov Monastery. This marked the beginning of the subsequent glorification of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Patriarch Pimen was present at the Council, but for health reasons could not take an active part in the work.

In the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, a moleben (prayer-service) was served to the newly-glorified holy patriarchs. Paatriarch Pimen presided at this public prayer for the new Orthodox saints : Patriarch Job of Moscow, and Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin). After the moleben, Patriarch Pimen congratulated everyone on the great triumph, and he venerated the reliquary with the Holy Relics of Metropolitan Peter (Polyansky). For some time, the patriarch prayed at the Altar in front of the throne.

Then the subdeacons carried him in an armchair along the interior walls of the cathedral, and they stopped at the icons of the saints of Moscow. On the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin, the patriarch gave a blessing to the pilgrims.

Now, after a long break of 71 years, Orthodox Christian believers could pray openly in the main cathedral of the Russian Church, and venerate the Holy Relics of saints. After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Holy Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin became inaccessible to the Church, and therefore to the Faithful. There were no liturgical services in the cathedral during this period (it had become a museum).

Election to the Congress of People's Deputies, 1989

In 1989, along with Metropolitan Aleksey (Ridiger) of Leningrad, and Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev) of Volokolamsk, Patriarch Pimen was elected to represent the Russian Orthodox Church in the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union, which was soon replaced by the new Congress of People’s Deputies of Russia. This election was reported thus :

 On 29 April, 1988, the historic meeting of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Mikhail Gorbachev with the 
 Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Pimen and members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church took place in the Kremlin. 
 In the conversation, Mikhail Gorbachev noted that under the conditions of 'perestroika', a more active participation of religious 
 figures in the life of society became possible.  Therefore, it is no coincidence that in 1989 Patriarch Pimen was elected a 
 People's Deputy of the USSR.  

Not long afterwards, the congress was reconstituted as the Federal Assembly.

The patriarch no longer had the physical opportunity to participate in the actual work of the Congress of People's Deputies, but he did consider it his duty to visit the Kremlin.

At the end of the year, Patriarch Pimen addressed the people on radio and television with New Year and Christmas greetings. In view of the interethnic clashes of 1988-1989, in his address to the people, he appealed for the preservation of peace in the multinational Fatherland.

Because of the patriarch's failing strength (due to the pain remaining from tuberculosis, and to the present activity of cancer), he had already for some time given most of the work of the daily administration of the patriarchate to others. As often happens, there seemed to develop a competition amongst several bishops regarding competence for these responsibilities. The last bishop to serve in this responsibility (1988-1990) was Bishop Alexei (Kutepov) of Zaraisk, a Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese. Some thought that he was the patriarch's favourite.

Statute of the Exarchates

The Holy Synod Meeting held on 30-31 January, 1990, adopted the "Statute on the Exarchates", which granted those in the USSR (Ukraine and Belarus) greater rights in self-government. Foreign exarchates of the Russian Orthodox Church were abolished. The dioceses of the Russian Church, formed earlier within the framework of the exarchates, acquired independence. The Synod meeting was opened with a short speech by the patriarch, in which he addressed a new stress:

 With all acuteness we are facing the question of the relationship between the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics of the Eastern rite 
 in Western Ukraine.  With pain we perceive the schism perpetrated by the supporters of the so-called Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. 
 These sad events demand urgent discussion at this meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.  At the session, we 
 propose to discuss also some issues of further Church building.  

After 17 March, the patriarch's health was seen to deteriorate even more.

At the end of April, 1990, it became apparent that Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) was nearing the end of his life on earth.

On 3 May, the Holy Synod met without his participation.

Repose, 1990

On 3 May, 1990, in the 80th year of his life, Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) received the Holy Mysteries, and then at 3:00 p.m., he reposed peacefully in Christ. His cell-attendant Archimandrite Sergiy (Sokolov) was present with him at that time, at the working-residence in Chistiy Lane, Moscow.

On 6 May, 1990, in Holy Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were served for Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov). The service was led Metropolitan Aleksey (Ridiger), Locum-Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, with Patriarch Ilya II (Ghudushauri-Shiolashvili) of Georgia, the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church of Russia, and many others.

After the funeral services, the body of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) was transferred to Sergiev Posad, where it was entombed in the crypt of the Sobor of the Dormition (Assumption) of Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra, near the crypt of his predecessor, Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky).

Entombment

Dignitaries who were present included Cardinal Johannes Willebrands of the Netherlands, representing the Roman Catholic Church, and General-Secretary Emilio Castro of the World Council of Churches.

— Bishop of Balta 1957. Preceded by : Bishop Gerasim (Stroganov). Succeeded by : Bishop Donat (Shchegolev).

— Vicar-Bishop of the Kherson/Odessa Diocese

— Bishop of Dmitrov 1957-1960. Preceded by : Archbishop Vitaliy (Vvedensky).

— Vicar-Bishop of the Moscow Diocese

— Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate 1960-1961.

— Archbishop of Dimitrov 1960. Succeeded by : Archbishop Cyprian (Zernov).

— Archbishop of Tula and Belyov 1961. Preceded by : Archbsishop Anthony (Krotevich). Succeeded by : Archbishop Alexy (Konoplev).

— Metropolitan of Leningrad and Ladoga 1961-1963. Preceded by : Metropolitan Gury (Yegorov). Suceeded by : Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).

— Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna 1963-1971. Preceded by : Metropolitan Pitirim (Sviridov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Seraphim (Nikitin).

— Patriarch of Moscow 1971-1990. Preceded by : Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky). Succeeded by : Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger).

Reflections

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov), when he was yet a monk, was included amongst the hierarchs, clergy and monks of the Russian Orthodox Church in the famous painting “Requiem” by the artist Pavel Korin.

The widow of the artist, Praskovya Korin, confirmed that in one of the sketches for his painting “Requiem” is the face of a young monk, and that this monk was Father Pimen (Izvekov). The painting is also called “Departing Russia”, or “Farewell to Rus’”. The study was written in the early 1930s. According to her testimony, Mr. Korin’s drawing for this work, “Young Monk – Regent – Church of Holy Confessor Maxim the Wonder-worker at Varvarka – Vespers”, was signed on 23 November, 1926.

“Requiem” by Pavel Korin

In this painting, next to the 3 patriarchs (Tikhon, Sergiy and Alexei) is the 25-year-old Hieromonk Pimen, who, many years after the painting was created, became the next Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus.

Some critics suggest that because while he was a hieromonk, Vladyka Pimen did intelligence work in the army, this left him perhaps susceptible to “control” by the communist civil authorities later in his life as a bishop. The implication is that he was corrupted by the communists because he had to work in intelligence. Perhaps the critics do not pay attention to the fact that he had been incarcerated when it was learnt that he was a priest and a monk. Furthermore, they seem to forget that such a period of incarceration would always involve various forms of beating and torture, as well as starvation. Some sources recount his heroism during military activities in protecting his men from danger by using his own body.

It was, in fact, impossible for any cleric to serve in the Church without some degree of co-operation with the Soviet authorities, small as it may have been. It followed the choices made by Saint Tikhon (Belavin), who himself followed the directions of the Apostle Paul, who also had lived in an anti-Christian society. If there were absolute resistance to the government, the Church would have had to be completely invisible in society, and it could therefore have been obliterated by the communists. Instead, the faithful leaders did their best to keep the Church visible and approachable for all who might come, no matter what might be the opinion of others against them. In their faithfulness to Christ, these leaders were also required to live their lives in a constant state of repentance.

Assessments and opinions about Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) are mixed. Some deprecated him because he was perceived to be withdrawn, passive, and increasingly infirm. On the other hand, he was a gifted poet and musician ; he radiated the love of God, and he was said to have defended the integrity of the Church against corrupting modernism and reckless innovation.

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov) has been criticised by some, because he had received almost no formal theological education. However, because he lived constantly in the worshipping and serving environment of the Church, he learnt what was necessary in the manner similar to apprenticeship. At that time, there were few other possibilities. He learnt by experience, through paying attention to the example of those with experience, and by listening to the words of those with experience. He was respected as a pious and sincere man.

Patriarch Pimen’s “moment” came when Communist General Secretary Mikhail S Gorbachev decided to mark the millennium of Russia’s conversion to Christianity by improving relations between the government and the Church. The President of the Soviet Union, M S Gorbachov (who much later in life openly admitted that he was a Christian and had been baptised as a child) received Patriarch Pimen on 29 April, 1988. He promised more tolerance towards the Church. More than 800 new parishes were permitted to open that year. Sunday schools, groups performing charitable works, new seminaries and monasteries of men and of women, and other concessions to Church needs followed. Nevertheless, it is debated by some whether these tangible benefits justified Patriarch Pimen’s political collaboration with the Soviet government.

In June, 1988, at the close of the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', Patriarch Pimen had commented in his closing remarks of the celebrations about the positive all-round effect of the changes taking place. Then, in 1989, Patriarch Pimen was elected to be a people's deputy in the Federal Assembly. There was some controversy abroad about his participation in a civil legislative assembly (together with other clergy). However, this participation was considered to be necessary only at the beginning of the reforms, and before long the clergy stopped participation in civil administration.

Under his fatherly care were the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary (MDA), the distance learning sector at the MDA and the Graduate School, Leningrad Theological Schools, and Odessa Theological Seminary. Over the years of his priesthood, admission to theological schools increased. Patriarch Pimen visited the educational institutions repeatedly. During the visits, he met with the leadership, the teaching staff and students of the theological schools, and he attended lectures. In his talks, Patriarch Pimen drew attention to all aspects of the life of theological schools and the educational process ; he revealed the essence of pastoral service ; he taught them to be faithful sons of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Pimen paid special attention to the publishing activities of the Moscow Patriarchate, fruitfully carried out throughout the entire period of the presidency of the Holy Bishop. With his blessing, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, the Priest’s Handbook and other publications reflecting the multifaceted life of the Russian Orthodox Church, were Reprinted repeatedly.

He was the keeper and spokesman of the patristic theological tradition in modern theology of the Russian Orthodox Church. “Since childhood, I was fond of the writings of the 'Russian Chrysostom' Archbishop Innocent (Borisov) of Kherson. I always liked the depth of his thoughts. The more I read his sermons and other works, the more I admired his theology. As for the form of presentation and the beauty of the words, I was quite sure of the insurpassability of this saint". Brought up on the writings of this saint, Vladyka Pimen was, himself, a high example in the sincere, beautiful and understandable pastoral words of his ecclesiastical and social activities.

As guardian of the Faith and Christian morality, Patriarch Pimen taught the people of God entrusted to him to follow high Gospel ideals, to be honest with work, worthy of fulfilling civic and patriotic duty, and love for the motherland. The Christmas and Easter messages of Patriarch Pimen are imbued with a high patriotic sentiment. The theme of patriotism was especially loud in his Message on the Occasion of the 600th Anniversary of the Kulikov Victory, and the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War.

Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov)

Interview of Olga Yurievna about Patriarch Pimen, 2010

On 9 September, 2010 (the 100th anniversary of his birth and 20 years of his repose), Alexandra Sopova of Pravoslavie.ru interviewed Olga Yurievna Vasilyeva, Doctor of Historical Sciences, a specialist in the history of the Church of the 20th century, about the “blank spots” in the biography of Patriarch Pimen, and his place in Church history and in human memory. The following is a translation of the interview :

 Alexandra Sopova : Olga Yurievna, in the election of Patriarch Pimen in 1971, do you see the fulfilment of the Church's wishes, or was 
 it predetermined by the Soviet authorities ?
  
 Olga Yurievna : To such a directly posed question, I will answer this way.  Patriarch Alexy did not leave a successor - this is a 
 well-known historical fact. 
 
 But the information that he shared with the bishops is described, amongst other things, in my article about the Local Council of 1971 
 in the magazine 'Alpha and Omega'.  The Patriarch himself spoke about this ; eyewitnesses recalled this.  For example, he spoke during 
 a meeting with the Chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR V A Kuroyedov in July, 1966, 
 when Patriarch Alexei was still alive.  When asked who he could see on the patriarchal throne, he replied that Metropolitan Pimen, although 
 some believe that he does not have enough theological education, is a suitable candidate.  This conversation was recorded by Kuroyedov's 
 deputy Furov, and this document is well-known.  
 
 In addition, the political situation had developed similarly ; it just coincided.  Amongst the candidates that were being discussed by 
 the Faithful of the Church were both Metropolitan Joseph (Chernov) of Alma-Ata and Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).  But it was clear, 
 although not to everyone, that these candidates were impossible from the point of view of the authorities.  The intelligentsia was 
 considering only Metropolitan Nikodim ; in support of the possible election of Metropolitan Joseph of Alma-Ata to the patriarchal 
 throne, a huge number of letters came.  
 
 When the pre-council commission invited all the bishops to name the candidate for the future Patriarch within a few months, the 
 majority wrote the name of Patriarch Pimen.  The ratings can be very different.  But Patriarch Alexei also supported this candidacy, 
 and most of the bishops saw Pimen as Patriarch.  The authorities, apparently, also believed that this was the most successful 
 political candidate for this time.  
 
 Alexandra Sopova : You have already mentioned Metropolitan Nikodim.  The common focus of the work of secular historians is the 
 opposition between Metropolitan and then Patriarch Pimen and Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov).  What about their personal relationship ? 
 Was it a confrontation ? 
 
 Olga Vasilieva : There was no confrontation between Patriarch Pimen and Metropolitan Nikodim.  They were two worthy people, 
 and each was doing his own thing.  Metropolitan Nikodim was the Church's 'foreign minister' and at the same time an amazing pastor ; 
 and Patriarch Pimen is known as the prayerful patriarch, as the archpastor.  They had no disagreement precisely because each was 
 minding his own business.  
 
 As a historian, I have never met, reading the letters of both, any dissatisfied words addressed to each other.  Moreover, one was 
 still young ; the other was already a respectable old man with grey hair.  I have not seen any signs of conflict between them.  
 Moreover, Patriarch Pimen once said in the Council for Religious Affairs that Metropolitan Nikodim does a lot for the Church and 
 for the country. He travels a lot around the world ; and he hopes, since Metropolitan Nikodim is still young, that his 
 activities may eventually be directed in a different direction.  He said this, celebrating his services as a diplomat and as an 
 archpastor.  A note regarding this is also known.  
 
 Alexandra Sopova : There are obvious gaps in the biography of Patriarch Pimen, as we know it.  We know two segments : from 
 his youth to his tonsure to be a hieromonk, and then we see him at the end of the war in Murom and then in Odessa, Rostov, 
 Pskov Pechory, and so on.  About the time of the war and the  pre-war years, when there is a gap in the information, there 
 are various legends : both heroic (military exploits), and positive (being a confessor in the camps), and negative (co-operation 
 with the authorities).  Has anything become known about this period now ?
 
 Olga Vasilieva : Last year a very good collection was published, which was prepared by Russia, Ukraine and Belarus : 'The 
 Church in the Great Patriotic War'.  The publication of the collection was blessed by the ever-memorable Patriarch Aleksey II.  
 Many archives, including military ones, and the archives of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation were used 
 there.  There are many questions related to the real biography of Sergei Mikhailovich Izvekov - His Holiness Patriarch Pimen.  
 I want to say right away that Patriarch Aleksey made a very wise decision : it is hardly worth publishing his entire military 
 biography – not because it is bad ; it is very good.  Sergei Mikhailovich fought in the 213rd Infantry Division, in the 7th Army of the 
 Second Ukrainian Fleet ; he fought excellently ; he was awarded military awards ; he was a scout. 
 
 Patriarch Pimen is an amazing person, and his biography is amazing.  When a turn took place in 1943, the state determined a 
 'new course' and it began to release those who were close to the Church from the camps and to recall them from the fronts.  
 Amongst them was Pimen's father, Sergei Mikhailovich Izvekov.  His guarantor, as you know, was General Vatutin, one of the 
 most respected military generals, Hero of the Soviet Union.  But for some strange reason, not yet fully known to us, 
 Sergei Izvekov was arrested in Moscow as having left the unit without permission.  It is clear that he was not a deserter.  
 He was released according to the list prepared by Patriarch Sergiy.  Without documents, he simply could not have gotten 
 from Ukraine to Moscow in wartime.  Of course, this situation was resolved, and Patriarch Sergiy took part in this.  
 
 This situation needs a long and detailed explanation, step by step.  We know that Sergei Izvekov was convicted in 1937, and 
 that he served time in Central Asia (Andijan) ; that he was released ahead of schedule, drafted into the army in 1941, 
 served excellently in the 213rd Infantry Division, commanded a battalion, was engaged in reconnaissance, then was the 
 adjutant of the division commander.  
 
 Alexandra Sopova : From your point of view as a historian, was the Pimen patriarchate rather a blessing or a brake 
 on the development of Church life, especially in the era of the beginning of changes, in preparation for the celebration 
 of the millennium of the Baptism of Rus ?
 
 Olga Vasilieva : That's really something ; but he was never a brake.  He always avoided communicating with the 
 authorities, and for all the years I know only one letter that he addressed to the authorities - a very bitter one.  
 He wrote that the Church collects large sums of money for the Peace Fund, and yet the voice of the Church is not heard.  
 This is the only thing that he allowed himself to say - a cry from the heart.  From other things, he withdrew and he went 
 about his pastoral work, and he did it well, which everyone admits.  
 
 In the 70s and 80s, the years of internal and spiritual stagnation in the country, he was just the best Patriarch for his 
 time.  Everyone always remembers him as a man of prayer, and no one ever understands him as a statesman.  There are no such 
 assessments at all.  His combat past is truly mysterious, but he commands great respect.  
 
 Alexandra Sopova : What do we know today about Patriarch Pimen as a person ?
 
 Olga Vasilieva : If we had the opportunity to write his full detailed biography, he would appear to be an even brighter 
 person than we know him now.  He is a talented person - he had a musical and singing gift ; he was known throughout Moscow as 
 a talented choir director.  He had golden hands.  During his exile in Central Asia, he performed the role of an engineer, and 
 performed well.  
 
 He was a very talented person.  In recent years, when he was already seriously ill and he could not walk or do anything, 
 people who came to see him saw that he quickly hid something.  This was seen several times, and then it turned out 
 that he was embroidering icons on a hoop.  
 
 Until recently, it was possible to talk with those who knew him personally, and from none of them have I heard a bad word 
 about him.  There is one detail : he never spoke about his Asian period ; but sometimes he could say a few words in Asian 
 languages.  He, apparently, spoke Uzbek and other languages, because the people who remembered this could not translate it.  
 But when he was asked : 'Your Holiness, what is this word ? How do you know it ?'  He answered : 'I accidentally said it, 
 I don’t know, myself.  It was inspired from somewhere'.   
 
 He was an eminently worthy man.  All the documents that I have read claim that everyone respected and loved him.  He was 
 a talented person, a good military officer, a patriarch of prayer.  

Awards and honours :

Church :

• Pectoral Cross with decoration (December 1947).

• The right to wear 2 pectoral Crosses with ornaments and ministry with a staff (from Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky) (in the 1950s).

• The right to wear 2 Panagias (April 12, 1970).

• Order of the Russian Orthodox Church Equal-to-the-Apostles, Prince Vladimir, and Saint Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree.

• Order of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria

• Order of the Most Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.

• Order of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.

• Order of Saint Nino, Equal-to-the-Apostles, of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

• Order of Saint John Rylsky of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, 1st degree (during his stay in Sofia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, November 1974).

• Order of Saint Catherine of the Sinai Orthodox Church.

• Grand Order of the Holy Lamb with a Commander Star of the Finnish Orthodox Church.

On 3 May, 2010, Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev) marked the 20th Anniversary of the repose of Patriarch of Pimen.

Secular :

• Order of the Red Banner of Labor of the USSR on 3 occasions (by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR) (Including 1961, 1988). This was one of the higher awards of the time.

• Member of the World Peace Council (1963 onwards).

• Soviet Peace Fund Medal (1969, 1971).

• Honourary and personalised Medal of the Soviet Peace Fund (1970).

• Gold Medal “Fighter for Peace” by the Soviet Committee for the Defence of Peace (1970).

• Order of Friendship of Czechoslovakia

• Finnish Order of the White Rose (from the President of Finland, Urho Kalev Kekkonen)

• Lebanese Order of the Cedar, 1st degree (from the President of Lebanon).

• He was an honourary member of the Moscow and the Leningrad Theological Academies.

• He was an honourary Doctor of Theology of the Moscow Theological Academy ; of the Evangelical Theological Faculty in Bratislava ; of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Slovakia ; of the Orthodox Theological Faculty in the city of Prešov of the Orthodox Church in Czechoslovakia ; and of the Sofia Theological Academy named after Saint Clement of the Ohrid, Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

Writings

• ‘Speech at a Reception arranged in his Honour by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius of America and Canada on 23 June, 1982’ in “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” (JMP), no. 12 (1982), p. 18.

• ‘A response Speech at a Reception at the National Council of Christ Churches in the USA on 25 June, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 19.

• ‘Speech of Response at a Reception hosted in his Honour in Passaic, New Jersey, 26 June, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 21.

• ‘Words given after the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York on Sunday, 27 June, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 22.

• ‘Message at the Celebration of Moscow Theological Schools, 4 October, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 47.

• ‘Words on Apostolic Work (Rev. 26 November, 1979)’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 78.

• ‘“Pure Heart”’, speech given on 6 December, 1981 in the Church in Honour of the Deposition of the Robe of the Lord’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 79.

• ‘Deliver us from all evil’, speech given on 22 December, 1981 in the Church of the Prophet Elijah in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 80.

• ‘Speech at a Reception in Honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 13 September, 1982’ in “JMP”, (1982), no. 12 (1982), p. 97.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Delegation of the Christian Council of Zambia on 17 September, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 116.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Delegation of the Church of Norway, led by the Bishop of Oslo, Dr. Andreas Orflot on 1 October, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 117.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Ecumenical Delegation of the WCC in Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 8 October, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1982), p. 118.

• ‘Christmas Greetings to Heads of Churches and Religious Associations’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1983), p. 2.

• ‘Greetings to the Participants in the 15th Congress of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1983), p. 7.

• ‘Words for the New Year pronounced at the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on 31 December, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1983), p. 34.

• ‘Words on Forgiveness Sunday pronounced in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on Sunday evening, 28 February, 1982’ in “JMP’ (1983), no. 1, p. 35.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of Mr. Nikkyo Nivano and President Rissho Kosei-Kai of Japan in Moscow on 23 September, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1983), p. 46.

• ‘Speech of Welcome to the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Mar Ignatius Zakke Ivas, of the Syrian Orthodox Church’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1983), p. 63.

• ‘Words on the Day of the Celebration of his 25th Anniversary of his Episcopal Ordination in Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on 4 December 4, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1983), p. 14.

• ‘Speech at the Reception on 4 December 4, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1983), p. 15.

• ‘Words before the Holy Shroud, given on 16 April, 1982 in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1983), p. 54.

• ‘Speech during a Visit to His Holiness by the Delegation of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States on 7 December, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1983), p. 72.

• ‘Words during a Prayer Service in the Antiochian Courtyard in Moscow on the Occasion of the Name-day of Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch on 20 December, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1983), p. 47.

• ‘Easter Message to Archpastors, Pastors and all the Children of the Russian Orthodox Church’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1983), p. 2.

• ‘Words upon the Presentation of the Bishop's Staff to Bishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow on 30 January, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1983), p. 8.

• ‘Words at an academic Evening on 14 December, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1983), p. 17.

• ‘Speech at the Presentation of the Order of The Great Golden Star of Friendship of Peoples on 9 March, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1983), p. 2.

• ‘Speech at a Reception at the Embassy of the GDR, 9 March, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1983), p. 4.

• ‘Words after Easter Vespers in 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1983), p. 31.

• ‘Conversation of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen with the Participants in the Round Table’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1983), p. 39.

• ‘Words at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the Round Table in “JMP”, no. 5 (1983), p. 59.

• ‘Open Message to US President R Reagan’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1983), p. 2.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Delegation of the KMK Regional Association in Czechoslovakia on 21 April, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1983), p. 53.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the 5th Conference of the Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Churches and "Pax Christi International" on 4 April, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1983), p. 54.

• ‘Words following the Divine Liturgy in the Epiphany Cathedral on 15 May, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1983), p. 27.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the WCC Secretary General, Dr. Philip Potter, on 16 May, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1983), p. 45.

• ‘Greetings at a Meeting with the Moderator of the Central Committee of the WCC, Archbishop Dr. Edward Scott on 25 April, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1983), p. 46.

• ‘Greetings to Mr. Herald Goetting, Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 10.

• ‘Words on the Day of the 12th Anniversary of his patriarchal Enthronement’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 17.

• ‘Greetings at the Graduation Ceremony of the Moscow Theological Schools on 19 June, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 19.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the World Christian Conference “Life and Peace” on 18 April, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 47.

• ‘Speech at a Meeting with Dr. Ionikström, Archbishop of Turku and Finland on 7 June, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 61.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the Conference about the Testimony and Ministry of Christian Women of the socialist Countries of Europe in the Ecumenical Movement and their Activities for the Benefit of Peace, Justice and Life on 20 April, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1983), p. 68.

• ‘Words after Reading the Holy Akathist to Saint Alexis in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on 13 June, 1971’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 27.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the meeting of the Heads and Representatives of Churches and religious Associations in the USSR in Moscow on 19 July, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 41.

• ‘Address to the Participants in the 6th WCC Assembly in Moscow on 21 July, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 50.

• ‘Greetings to the Participants in the 6th theological Conference of Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in Moscow, 2 June, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 59.

• ‘Message of Welcome to the Participants in the Consultation of the Conference of European Churches’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 65.

• ‘Greetings to the Chairman in the Conference of Church Leaders of the Union of Evangelical Churches in the GDR, Bishop Dr. Johannes Hempel’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1983), p. 69.

• ‘Greetings from the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima, 19 August, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1983), p. 31.

• ‘Greetings to Participants in the 4th Orthodox Reformed Theological Conference (Debrecen IV)’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1983), p. 59.

• ‘Words of Response on the Day of their Namesake on 9 September, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1983), p. 8.

• ‘Word on the Day of the Celebration in Honour of the Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” on 9 November, 1982’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1983), p. 31.

• ‘Christmas Message to Archpastors, Pastors and all faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Churches’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1983), p. 2.

• ‘Christmas Greetings to Heads of Churches and Religious Associations’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Message in Connection with the Consecration of the Church in the Name of Saint Innocent of Irkutsk in the City of Detroit, USA on 4 March, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1984), p. 8.

• ‘Greetings to the Participants in the Meeting dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the KMK on 10 October, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1984), p. 46.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the Meeting of the KMK Working Committee on 20 October, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1984), p. 58.

• ‘Greetings to His Beatitude Dorotheus, Metropolitan of Prague and all Czechoslovakia on 10 October, 1983’ in “JMP”,, no. 1 (1984), p. 63.

• ‘Greetings to the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Dr. Janis Matulis’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1984), p. 67.

• ‘Words in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral before the New Year's Prayer on 31 December, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1984), p. 7.

• ‘Words “Now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, O Master” on 14 February, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1984), p. 33.

• ‘Speech before the Requiem in Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow on 12 February, 1984’ about the death of Y V Andropov in “JMP”, no. 3 (1984), p. 3.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the Meeting of the Working Presidium of the World Conference “Religious Figures for saving the sacred Gift of Life from a nuclear Catastrophe” in Moscow, 3 January, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1984), p. 45.

• ‘Message of Welcome to the Participants in the youth Seminar “Our Ministry for the Life of the World” on 19 September, 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1984), p. 57.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the Meeting of the United Anglo-Orthodox Commission on doctrinal Issues’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1984), p. 66.

• ‘Easter Message to Archpastors, Pastors and all faithful Children of Russian Orthodox Churches’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Message to Bishop Valentine of Zvenigorod, Representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow under the Patriarch of Antioch in Connection with the 25th Anniversary of the Representation of the Patriarch of Moscow in Damascus’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1984), p. 9.

• ‘Message to the Abbot, Clergy, church Council and Parishioners of St. Nicholas Church-Compound in Sofia in Connection with the 30th Anniversary of the Church on 18 November 1983’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1984), p. 10.

• ‘1984 Easter Greetings to the Heads of Churches and religious Associations’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Words about the Forgiveness of Neighbours pronounced in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on Forgiveness Sunday, 4 March, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1984), p. 38.

• ‘Speech at the Plenum of the Soviet Peace Committee on 20 March, 1984 in Moscow’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1984), p. 45.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the Round Table “Space without weapons” on 3 April, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 6 (1984), p. 46.

• ‘Speech at the Reception on the Occasion of the King of Spain's Visit to Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 11 May, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Speech at the Reception on the Occasion of the Anniversary of his patriarchal Enthronement on 3 June, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 9.

• ‘Greetings to the 4th Congress of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 15.

• ‘Words on the Day of Graduation of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on 14 June, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 20.

• ‘Words on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on 18 August, 1983, pronounced in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 38.

• ‘Speech at the Reception of a Group of Seminar Participants on Peace, Human Rights, and Trust on 2 July, 1984 in Moscow’ in “JMP”, (no. 8 (1984), p. 47.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Delegation of the religious Community of the United States on 19 June, 1984 in Moscow’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 58.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the Seminar of the Churches of the USSR - Members of the CEC on 10 May, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1984), p. 60.

• ‘Words at a Reception on the Occasion of his 74th Birthday on 23 July, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1984), p. 8.

• ‘Words on the Feast-day in Honour of the Bogolyubsky Icon of the Mother of God on 30 June, 1984 in the Epiphany Patriarchate Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1984), p. 41.

• ‘Message to the Secretary General of the WCC, Dr. Philip Potter’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Address to the Participants in the UN regional Conference in Leningrad, 11-16 June, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1984), p. 31.

• ‘Address to the Participants in the Assembly of Religions of Romania for Peace and Disarmament in Bucharest, 21-23 June, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1984), p. 32.

• ‘Address to the Participants in the Conference of the Christian Public Association in Poland in Moscow on 25 June, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1984), p. 34.

• ‘Speech at the Reception on the Occasion of his Name-day on 9 September, 1984, in “JMP”, no. 11 (1984), p. 13.

• ‘Christmas Message to Archpastors, Pastors and all faithful Children of Russian Orthodox Churches’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 2.

• ‘Words of Response in the Departments : the Archangel Michael Orthodox Cathedral in Belgrade on 30 September, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 6.

• ‘Speech at the Gala Dinner in the Serbian Patriarchate on 30 September, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 9.

• ‘Words in the Holy Trinity Compound Church in Belgrade on 2 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984). p. 10.

• ‘Words in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Pec, 4 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 11.

• ‘Words after the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 8 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 16.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 8 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 16.

• ‘Words on the annual Act of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on 14 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 28.

• ‘Speech at the Reception of a Delegation of Women from Latin America and the Caribbean on 28 September, 1984, in Moscow’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 51.

• ‘Speech at the Presentation of the Peace Medal of the Christian Social Association in Poland on 18 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 52.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of Dr. Billy Graham on 21 September, 1984 in Moscow’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1984), p. 59.

• ‘Word before the New Year's Prayer on 31 December, 1984 in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1985), p. 2.

• ‘Christmas Greetings to the Heads of Churches and Religious Associations (RH 1984/85)’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1985), p. 3.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Delegation of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA on 23 October, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1985), p. 53.

• ‘Greetings to the Participants in the 10th Theological Conference "Arnoldshain-X" in Kiev on 25-29 September, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1985), p. 56.

• ‘Words on the Eve of the Feast-day in Honour of the Icon of the Theotokos : The Companion of Sinners on 19 March, 1984 in Saint Nicholas in Khamovniki Church in Moscow’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1985), p. 36.

• ‘Words after the Removal of the Holy Shroud on 20 April, 1984’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1985), p. 26.

• ‘Word on Forgiveness Sunday on 24 February, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1985), p. 27.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the Round Table on 13 February, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1985), p. 35.

• ‘Greetings to Participants in a theological Conference’ in “JMP”, (1985), no. 4, p. 62.

• ‘Easter Message to Archpastors, Pastors and all faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Churches (R H 1985)’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1985), p. 2.

• ‘Word before a Panikhida in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on 12 March, 1985 (according to K U Chernenko)’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1985), p. 5.

• ‘Easter Greetings to the Heads of Churches and religious Associations’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1985), p. 2.

• ‘Epistle to the Archpastors, God-loving Shepherds, honest Monastics and the whole beloved Flock of the Orthodox Church on the 40th Anniversary of the glorious Victory of the Soviet People in the War of 1941-1945’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1985), p. 4.

• ‘Speech at the Delivery of the Order of Saint Prince Vladimir, 1st degree, to the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1985), p. 13.

• ‘Speech at the Opening of the ceremonial Meeting of the Heads and Representatives of Churches and religious Associations of the USSR at Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 18 April, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 5, (1985), p. 40.

• ‘Closing Remarks at the ceremonial Meeting of the Heads and Representatives of Churches and religious Associations in the USSR’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1985), p. 50.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the 40th Anniversary of the Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War at Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 18 April, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1985), p. 51.

• ‘Words in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral for Worship in Connection with the 40th Anniversary of the Great Victory’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1985), p. 5.

• ‘A Word on the Occasion of the 1100th Anniversary of the blessed Death of Saint Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Enlightener of the Slavs on 23 June, 1985 in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral)’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1985), p. 12.

• ‘A Word at the graduation Ceremony at the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on 6 June, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1985), p. 16.

• ‘Speech at the Reception in Honour of the Participants in the 6th Pan-Christian Peace Congress on 30 June, 1985’ in “JMP’, no. 9 (1985), p. 51.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the 6th Pan-Christian Peace Congress’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1985), p. 53.

• ‘Speech at a Reception at the USSR Embassy in Prague on 21 May, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1985), p. 5.

• ‘Words at the Presentation of the Bishop's Staff to Bishop Nikolai of Zvenigorod in Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on 21 July, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1985), p. 7.

• ‘A Word in Response to the Greeting of the Metropolitan of Switzerland Damascene on 7 June, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1985), p. 58.

• ‘Speech during the Reception of the Archbishop Dr. Ion Wickstrom on 12 June, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 10 (1985), p. 60.

• ‘Closing Remarks at the solemn Act at the MDA on 23 July, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1985), p. 4.

• ‘A Word of Response at the festive Meal at Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 23 July, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1985), p. 7.

• ‘Speech upon Delivery of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour on 30 August, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1985), p. 34.

• ‘The Word at the Reception on his Name-day 9 September, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1985), p. 40.

• ‘Greetings to Dr. Emilio Castro, Secretary General of the WCC, in Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral after the Divine Liturgy on 15 September, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1985), p. 51.

• ‘Speech at the Presentation of the Order of Friendship of Czechoslovakia to Patriarch Pimen on 30 October, 1985 in Prague’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1986), p. 6.

• ‘Greetings to the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Vazgen I in Moscow on 20 September, 1985’ in ”JMP”, no. 1 (1986), p. 4.

• ‘Speech at the Reception of the Delegation of the Church of Greece on 19 July, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 1 (1986), p. 47.

• ‘Words in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral before the New Year's Prayer on 31 December, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 2 (1986), p. 12.

• ‘Message of Welcome to Metropolitan Sergius of Odessa and Kherson in Moscow, 6 December, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1986), p. 19.

• ‘Message to the Participants on the 6th Conference of Representatives of the Russian Churches and Pax Christi Internationals in Odessa on 15-18 November, 1985 and in Moscow on 14 November, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 3 (1986), p. 40.

• ‘Easter Message’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1986), pp. 2-8.

• ‘Message to His Holiness Demetrius I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople-New Rome’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1986), p. 3-5.

• ‘Speech of Welcome at the solemn Act in Honour of the 300th Anniversary of the Moscow Theological Academy on 29 December, 1985’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1986), pp. 10-11.

• ‘A Word before the Holy Shroud on 12 April, 1985 in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 4 (1986), p. 40.

• ‘Easter Greetings to the Heads of Churches and religious Associations and to His Holiness, Demetrius I, Patriarch of Constantinople’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1986), p. 2.

• ‘Word on Forgiveness Sunday on 16 March, 1986 in Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral’ in “JMP”, no. 5 (1986), p. 27.

• ‘Message to the Participants in the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Lviv Church Cathedral in 1946 in Moscow, 12 May, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1986), pp. 2-3.

• ‘Open Letter to the President of the United States of America, Mr. Ronald Reagan in Moscow, 10 June, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1986), pp. 7-9.

• ‘A Word on the solemn Act dedicated to the 40th Anniversary of the Department of the All-Russian Central Council in Moscow, 28 March, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 7 (1986), pp. 19-20.

• ‘A Word to the Graduates of the MDA and MDS on 15 June, 1986’ in “JMP”, (1986), no. 8, p. 26.

• ‘Greetings to the Participants in the Seminar Pyuhtitsy-3 in Pyuhtitsy, 14-17 June, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 8 (1986), p. 56-57.

• ‘A Word at the festive Meal at Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on 18 July, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. ? (1986), pp. 9, 12.

• ‘Address to the Participants in the 4th Round Table Conference in Moscow, 20 May, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1986), pp. 41-42.

• ‘Address to the Delegation of the German Episcopal Conference in Moscow, 20 May, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 9 (1986), p. 61.

• ‘Christmas Message’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1986), pp. 2-3.

• ‘Message to Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPSU in Moscow, 28 October, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 12 (1986), pp. 3-4.

• ‘A Word to the Participants in the Prayer for Peace in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral in Moscow on 26 October, 1986’ in “JMP”, no. 11 (1986), p. 7.

Writings about the patriarch by various authors :

• 'Epistle of Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomensky to the Patriarch and to the Clergy and Representatives of the Church Councils of the Moscow Diocese in Moscow, 16 September, 1986' in "JMP", no. 12 (1986), p. 52.

• 'His Holiness Vazgen I, Supreme Patriarch Catholicos of All Armenians on the Occasion of the Patriarch's 75th Birthday Anniversary' in "JMP", no. 12 (1983), p. 57.

• 'Holy Epistle of Patriarch Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi' in "JMP", no. 10 (1983), p. 40.

• “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” (JMP), no. 5 (1954), p. 7.

• “JMP” : 1957 – no. 12, pp. 6-8, 17-20.

• “JMP” : 1958 – no. 1, p. 24 ; no. 2, pp. 16-17 ; no. 4, p. 12 ; no. 5, p. 25 ; no. 6, p. 11 ; no. 8, pp. 8-10 ; no. 9, pp. 7-8 ; no. 10, p. 23 ; no. 11, pp. 10, 19 ; no. 12, p. 9.

• “JMP” : 1959 – no. 1, pp. 12-14 ; no. 5, p. 18 ; no. 6, p. 39 ; no. 7, p. 18 ; no. 8, pp. 16, 18, 25 ; no. 9, pp. 13, 17, 20, 43, 50 ; no. 10, pp. 18, 26, 28 ; no. 11, pp. 8, 9, 10, 11; no. 12, pp. 13, 15.

• “JMP” : 1960 – no. 2, pp. 39, 53 ; no. 3, pp. 9, 10 ; no. 4, pp. 26, 28 ; no. 5, pp. 30, 33 ; no. 6, pp. 27-29, 35 ; no. 7, pp. 8, 9 ; no. 8, pp. 7, 8, 15, 17, 21 ; no. 9, pp. 5, 11, 17, 20 ; no. 11, pp. 4, 7, 8, 16 ; no. 12, pp. 4-9, 17.

• “JMP” : 1961 – no. 1, pp. 5-7, 11-15, 18, 20 ; no. 2, pp. 13, 27-31, 33 ; no. 3, pp. 8, 12, 63 ; no. 4, pp. 5, 7 ; no. 5, pp. 9, 31 ; no. 6, p. 37 ; no. 7, pp. 6, 7, 28 ; no. 8, pp. 9, 12, 13 ; no. 10, pp. 4, 23 ; no. 12, p. 3.

• “JMP” : 1962 – no. 1, pp. 23, 24.

• “JMP” : 1963 – no. 1, pp. 5, 20-23, 27-29 ; no. 2, pp. 14-20, 34, 35 ; no. 5, p. 13 ; no. 6, pp. 9, 10 ; no. 7, pp. 9, 14, 23 ; no. 8, p. 13 ; no. 9, pp. 24, 25 ; no. 10, pp. 23, 26, 27 ; no. 11, pp. 3-7, 11, 15 .

• “JMP” : 1964 – no. 1, pp. 4, 12, 14 ; no. 2, pp. 48-52 ; no. 4, p. 1.

• “JMP” : 1965 – no. 1, p. 5.

• “JMP” : 1966 – no. 1, pp. 27-28 ; no. 5, p. 4 ; no. 6, pp. 1, 34 ; no. 7, p. 30 ; no. 8, p. 1 ; no. 9, p. 21 ; no. 10, p. 16.

• “JMP” : 1967 – no. 2, p. 31 ; no. 7, p. 25 ; no. 9, pp. 12, 29.

• “JMP” : 1968 – no. 2, pp. 15, 27 ; no. 6, p. 32 ; no. 9, p. 12 ; no. 11, p. 11 ; no. 7, p. 27 ; no. 12, p. 17.

• “JMP” : 1969 – no. 1, p. 29 ; no. 6, p. 16 ; no. 8, p. 1 ; no. 9, p. 5.

• “JMP” : 1970 – no. 2, p. 43 ; no. 11, pp. 4, 5 ; no. 5, p. 6 ; no. 6, pp. 1, 11-54, 64-66 ; no. 7, p. 11 ; no. 10, pp. 6, 44.

• “JMP” : 1971 – no. 2, pp. 6-11, 12 ; no. 4, pp. 5, 25 ; no. 6, p. 21-23 ; no. 7, p. 75-76 ; no. 9, p. 35 .

• “JMP” : 1972-1985 – nos. 1 to 12 inclusive.

• “Meeting Log of the Holy Synod” (1957), no. 13 of 26 December.

• “Meeting Log of the Holy Synod” (1959), no. 2 of 5 May.

• “Meeting Log of the Holy Synod” (1961), no. 23 of 14 November.

• 'Message from the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on the Day of the academic Holiday of the Protection of the Holy Virgin on 14 October, 1983' in "JMP", no. 1 (1984), p. 29.

• 'Message from the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on the occasion of the annual Act on 14 October, 1985' in "JMP", no. 1 (1986), p. 22.

References

Pospielovsky, Dimitry, “The Russian Church Under the Soviet Regime 1917-1982 ”, 2 vols. (Crestwood, New York : Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1984).

Patriarchia.ru official biography

Patriarchia.ru official biography (in Russian)

Wikipedia biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Drevo biography

Encyclopedia.com biography

Encylopaedia Britannica biography

Additional information :

Pospielovsky, Dmitry Vladimirovich, “Russian Orthodox Church in the XX Century” (Moscow : Republika Publishing House, 1996). ISBN : 5-250-02501-3. [available on-line in Russian and in English]

Safanov, Priest Dimiti, “Hieromonk Pimen (Iznekov)’s 20-Year confessional Path”

Sazonov, D I, 'His Holiness Patriarch Pimen during the management of the Kostroma diocese in 1959-1961' in "Science, Society, Defence" (vol. 8, no. 1, 2020).

Tsypin, Archpriest Vladislav, ‘Russian Orthodox Church under the Most Holy Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky) (1944-1970)’ in “History of the Russian Orthodox Church (1917-1997)” [Found in the Russian Wikipedia biography, in “Literature)”. See Chapter 9 about Patriarch Pimen.] [The textbook has been published as 9th book (application) of the history of the Church by Metropolitan Macarius (Bulgakov) (Moscow : Valaam Monastery, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery Publishing House, 1997), 831 pp.]

New York Times obituary 1990

20th anniversary memorial

“In Memory of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia : On the 105th Anniversary of his Birth” (2015)

Monument to Patriarch Pimen, founder of the Orthodox Church factory of Sofrino

Video : 50th Anniversary of the Restauration of the Patriarchate in 1918 (1968) (in Russian)

Video of 1945 Sobor

Video of 1971 Sobor

Video of 1971 Sobor

Video of 1971 Sobor

Video : enthronement of Patriarch Pimen (Izvekov), 1971

Netfilm Video : The Russian Orthodox Church in the USSR (1978)

Youtube Video : The Russian Orthodox Church in the USSR, Part 1

Youtube Video : The Russian Orthodox Church in the USSR, Part 2

Article and video about the Primatial Divine Liturgy at the Danilovsky Monastery, Moscow (12 June, 1988)

Funeral videos (1990)

Video of the funeral of Patriarch Pimen of Moscow (1990)

Video “Patriarch Pimen : Pastor. Portraits”

Video of Patriarch Pimen’s enthronement : archive film

Netfilm Video : Under the Blessed Blanket : Baptism of Rus'

Video by Seraphim Badikov about Patriarch Pimen

Video Documentary about Patriarch Pimen

UPI article about the Divine Liturgy at the Danilovsky Monastery, Moscow, for the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus' (1988)

UNESCO document : "The Christianisation of ancient Russia ; a millennium: 988-1988"

Ukrainian Weekly article about the 1988 Millennial celebrations

Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania pilgrimage to Russia in August, 1988

Research paper by David Wishard : "Towards an Historiography of the Millennium of Orthodoxy in Russia"

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church

Wikipedia article about the Orthodox Church of Russia

Russian Wikipedia article about "Perestroika"

Persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union

AP News Believers Mourn at Funeral of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Pimen

Saint Tikhon (Belavin)

Patriarch Sergiy (Stragorodsky)

Patriarch Alexei I (Simansky)

Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger)

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev)

Metropolitan Peter (Polyansky)

Metropolitan Boris (Vik)

Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov)

Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov)

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan)

Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom)

Archbishop Nektariy (Gregoriev)

Archbishop Paul (Olmari)

Archbishop Philip (Gumilevsky)

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

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