Hilarion Alfeyev

Church activity

In January 1987 he entered the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, where he was tonsured as a monk on 19 June, ordained a deacon on 21 June and ordained priest on 19 August in the same year.^[1] Until 1991 he served as a parish priest in Lithuania, including two years as dean of Annunciation Cathedral in Kaunas.

On 27 December 2001 he was nominated bishop. On 14 January 2002 he was consecrated by Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, and 10 other hierarchs.

Appointed Assistant (Vicar) Bishop in the Diocese of Sourozh in the UK, but as a result of an acute conflict situation around him and at Metropolitan Anthony's request,^[3] the Holy Synod decided, only a few months later, on 17 July 2002, that he was to be transferred and nominated as Head of the Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions in Brussels.

On 7 May 2003 appointed Bishop of Vienna and Austria, administrator of the Diocese of Budapest and Hungary.

On 31 March 2009, appointed the Bishop of Volokolamsk, the Vicar to the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, the chairman of the Department of the External Church Relations (the position previously held by the current Patriarch Kirill), and a permanent member of the Holy Synod, ex officio.

On Easter Monday, 2009 was raised to an archbishop by Patriarch Kirill during the Divine Liturgy in The Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. On 1 February 2010, at a liturgy to celebrate the first anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, he was raised to the rank of metropolitan.^[4]

In late 2018, Alfeyev visited North Korea, meeting with officials and leading a service at the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Pyongyang.^[5]

Scholarly work

Alfeyev is the author of more than a thousand publications,^[6] including fourteen monographs in English: St Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition (Oxford University Press, 2000),^[7] welcomed by the press,^[8] The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian (Cistercian Publications, Kalamazoo, MI, 2000),^[9] The Mystery of Faith. An Introduction to the Teaching and Spirituality of the Orthodox Church (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2002),^[10] Orthodox Witness Today (WCC Publications, 2006),^[11] Christ the Conqueror of Hell. The Descent into Hell in Orthodox Tradition (St Vladimir's Press, 2009),^[12] Orthodox Christianity, vol. 1-5 (St Vladimir's Press, 2011–19),^[13] Prayer: Encounter with the Living God (St Vladimir's Press, 2015),^[14] Jesus Christ, His Life and Teaching, vols. I-IV (St Vladimir's Press, 2019–21).^[15] His books have also been widely translated.

Musical activity

Alfeyev is author of numerous musical compositions. His St Matthew Passion, grand oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra, received a standing ovation at its performances at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory (27 March 2007),^[16] at the Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome (29 March 2007),^[17] and at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne (28 September 2007).^[18] Equally well received was his Christmas Oratorio, performed in Washington, Boston and New York (18–20 December 2007)^[19] and later in Moscow (7 and 15 January 2008) and his Stabat Mater (world premiere in January 2012 under the direction of Vladimir Spivakov). On the other hand, a Washington Post review described a 2011 performance of the Oratorio as "banal music that seemed the Russian equivalent of the cheesy carol arrangements by John Rutter".^[20] Other critics, however, are more favorable to Alfeyev's music, noting that "while they're not on the level of Johann Sebastian Bach, the compositions are sophisticated, and they're easy on the ear."^[21] Some go even further by stating that "the music of composer Hilarion (Alfeyev) is bright, powerful and rigorous, but at the same time it is distinguished by the subtlest lyricism... His compositions penetrate a human soul; they are clear and accessible to everyone."^[22] It has also been repeatedly argued that Alfeyev is "one of the most widely performed of all living Russian composers".^[23][24][25] His music has been performed at concerts more than 300 times in 15 years, in Russia and abroad.^[26]

Ecumenical activity

Alfeyev was a member of the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches, of the Presidium of 'Faith and Order' Commission, as well as of numerous bilateral theological dialogues.

Alfeyev was a member of the Joint International Commissions for the Theological Dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion, and between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. He is also interested in interfaith dialogue among all major world religions, and currently sits on the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.^[27]

On 10 October 2007, Alfeyev walked out of an important meeting of the Orthodox–Catholic International Theological Commission in Ravenna in protest against the choice of delegates by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His action was approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.^[28][29]

On 5 October 2008, Alfeyev took part in the "Bible marathon" organized by the Italian state TV channel RAI-Uno.^[30] He read Chapter Two from the Book of Genesis, immediately following Pope Benedict XVI, who read Chapter One.

Late in 2010, Alfeyev spoke to senior Anglican bishops and professors at the Nikean Club dinner at Lambeth Palace,^[31] criticizing proposals for the ordination of women as bishops and the toleration of homosexual activity by some Anglicans.

In April 2017, he expressed his approval of the Supreme Court of Russia's decision to ban Jehovah's Witnesses from worship anywhere in the Russian Federation. He claims that "they erode the psyche of people and the family" (e.g. disfellowshiping), and that those Witnesses' beliefs which do not coincide with those of the Orthodox Church, such as the rejection of the doctrine of the Trinity, are reason to outlaw their religion.^[32]

Dismissal, transfer and suspension

In March 2022, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) wrote a letter to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, asking him to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In response, Hilarion responded, saying that "we call upon everyone to pray fervently for the cessation of every military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine".^[33] On 11 March 2022, the University of Fribourg suspended Hilarion from his academic positions due to his failure to condemn the invasion.^[34]

In June 2022, following a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hilarion was removed from his position as president of the Department of External Church Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow and dismissed as Metropolitan of Volokolamsk. He was appointed to the Metropolis of Budapest-Hungary. Many Western media have speculated that his dismissal and transfer were due to pressure from the Russian government because of Hilarion's refusal to back the war.^[35][33][36]

In July 2024, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church suspended Hilarion from his position as metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary, pending an investigation, following the 2024 accusations of sexual abuse by his cell-attendant, who is also referred to as an intern or sub-deacon. The accuser supported his allegations with audio recordings. He shared photographs showing Hilarion enjoying a luxurious lifestyle including yachting and skiing, and his ownership of an estate near Budapest. He also had a photograph of a Hungarian passport Hilarion had received within just three months of arriving there.^[37][38] Hilarion has denied the allegations, calling them part of an extortion plot.^[39]

In the Czech Republic

He was the rector of the Church of Saint Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, from December 2024 to May 2026.

In May 2026, he was arrested for having "white powder" in his car.^[40] He denied the accusations and was released two days after his arrest without bail, a travel ban, or any other restrictions. No charges were filed against him. ^{[41] [42]}

In Brazil

By decree of Patriarch Kirill dated 3 June 2026, he was assigned to the Eparchy of Argentina and South America, to serve in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as the rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Santa Rosa as well as the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Campina das Missões.^[43] This decree was temporarily suspended as of 31 July 2026 to allow him to care for his elderly mother.^[44]

In English

1. Alfeyev, Hilarion (2000), St Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. ——— (2000), The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian, Cistercian Studies, Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications.
3. ——— (2002), The Mystery of Faith. Introduction to the Teaching and Spirituality of the Orthodox Church, London: Darton, Longman & Todd.
4. ——— (2006), Orthodox Witness in a Modern Age, Geneva: WCC Publications.
5. ——— (2009), Christ the Conqueror of Hell. The Descent into Hell in Orthodox Tradition, New York: SVS Press.
6. ——— (2011), Orthodox Christianity, vol. I. The History and Canonical Structure of the Orthodox Church, New York: SVS Press.
7. ——— (2012), Orthodox Christianity, vol. II. Doctrine and Teaching of the Orthodox Church, New York: SVS Press.
8. ——— (2014), Orthodox Christianity, vol. III. The Architecture, Icons and Music of the Orthodox Church, New York: SVS Press.
9. ——— (2017), Orthodox Christianity, vol. IV. The Worship and Liturgical Life of the Orthodox Church, New York: SVS Press.
10. ——— (2018), Jesus Christ His Life and Teaching, vol. 1 The Beginning of the Gospel, New York: SVS Press.
11. ——— (2019), Orthodox Christianity, vol. V. Sacraments and Other Rites, New York: SVS Press.
12. ——— (2020), Jesus Christ His Life and Teaching, vol. 2 The Sermon on the Mount, New York: SVS Press.
13. ——— (2021), Jesus Christ His Life and Teaching, vol. 3 The Miracles of Jesus, New York: SVS Press.
14. ——— (2021), Jesus Christ His Life and Teaching, vol. 4 The Parables of Jesus, New York: SVS Press.