Fr. Kirill has been called the “father confessor (dukhovnik) of all Russia”. He was confessor to three consecutive patriarchs: Alexei I, Pimen, and Alexei II.
Editor's Note: Archimandrite Kirill (in the world, Ivan Dimitrievich Pavlov) was born on September 8, 1919 in the village of Makovskie Vyselki in Ryazan Province, to a pious peasant family. However he lapsed in his faith after living with his atheist brother for twelve years. He regained his Orthodox faith during World War II, in which he fought as a lieutenant in the Soviet army. Directly after the army, Ivan went to seminary.
On August 25, 1954, Ivan Pavlov was tonsured a monk in the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, with the name Kirill. In 1965 Fr. Kirill was raised to the rank of archimandrite, and appointed father confessor of the monastery brethren. Fr. Kirill has been called the “father confessor (dukhovnik) of all Russia”. He was confessor to three consecutive patriarchs: Alexei I, Pimen, and Alexei II.
Earlier this year, on the fourth anniversary of the repose of Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov), the head of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, the abbot of the Donskoy Stauropegic Monastery in Moscow, Archbishop Feognost of Kashira celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Lavra.
His Eminence was co-served by the governor of Danilov's stavropegic monastery in Moscow, Bishop Alexy of Solnechnogorsk and the brethren of the Lavra in the priesthood
At the end of the Liturgy, a panikhida was served at the grave of Father Cyril, behind the altar of the Spiritual Church of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, led by Bishop Alexy.
His numerous spiritual children, monastics, Lavra brethren, pilgrims and parishioners of the monastery gathered to honor the memory of the ever-memorable Father Cyril.
Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) departed to the Lord four years ago, on February 20, 2017.
Source: patriarchia.ru (Russian)