Metropolitan Feofan: ‘I’m happy when I see Tatartan President doing namaz’

'The conspiracy theory is groundless'

Your Eminence, how unexpected was the offer to go to Kazan last year?

For me, it was a complete surprise because the Patriarch told me about his decision on the eve of the Synod, late in the evening. I knew nothing and I was not prepared. That's why all conspiracy talks about the fact that this transfer had been prepared in advance are groundless. The Patriarch has his own vision, and he together with the Holy Synod decided to appoint me to Kazan and my predecessor appoint in Simbirsk. Nothing terrible happened. In any organization, a rotation is a natural phenomenon. You should not think that there were some undercurrents.

When you were appointed in Kazan, did you know anything about the life in the Kazan Metropolis?

Surely, I do not live in a vacuum. The problems that were there, of course, I knew about them. But I knew also that Kazan is the region which is famous for many shrines. When we hear about this city, we have the image of the icon of Our Lady of Kazan. In every Orthodox home in the sacred corner there is always the icon of Our Lady of Kazan. This is the first that comes to mind when we talk about Kazan. Kazan is the Martyr Hermogenes, who, being a priest, took the miraculous image, and then became the Patriarch, united Rus' against intruders during the Time of Troubles. He devoted his life for Russia. Kazan – it is the Archbishops Guria and Barsanuphius, the Martyr Metropolitan Kirill, the new Martyrs. Kazan — it is the monasteries: Sviyazhsky, Makaryevsky, Raifa, Kizichesky, and of course, the Monastery of the Mother of God in the place of appearance of the Kazan icon of Our Lady of Kazan, the Ivanovo Monastery. Kazan – it is magnificent temples, the Annunciation Cathedral and the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Kazan — it is the edge that is most relevant to the Orthodox world.

'Of course, I do. But I have a feeling that it's been more than a year: I've already forgotten when I arrived. Because the life here was so dynamic, I never had a chance to reminisce, it was necessary to involve in the real work. And a lot has been done during this year. ' Photo: Roman Khasaev

Do you remember 20 July of last year when you came and for the first time serviced a prayer in the Annunciation Cathedral?

Of course, I do. But I have a feeling that it's been more than a year: I've already forgotten when I arrived. Because the life here was so dynamic, I never had a chance to reminisce, it was necessary to involve in the real work. And a lot has been done during this year.

Your assignment in Kazan was very quick. When did you come up with the idea to recreate the Cathedral?

It is Kazan where I came! I knew the Kazan Cathedral was ruined (I had been to Kazan before, a few years ago, at the conference). Of course, I knew the matters. I knew that we should start with the shrines. Around the shrines many good ideas and projects are formed.

'The President is a good man'

The idea of the revival of the Cathedral hovered in the air for at least ten years, but nothing changed. How did you manage to convince the President?

Because the President is a good man. And the first president is also a good man.

Your second project concerns the revival in Kazan of once respected and well-known Theological Academy. What has changed during this year?

The return of the Academy building is not the main issue, the main thing is the training of teaching staff, faculty. This task is more difficult. It takes time. We are now opening some new directions, new departments in the seminary in order to follow the path to the Academy. Again, the training here is most important. And if are given a building, we declare: 'Since today, we are the Academy', and the result is nothing, it will not be the Academy. There is no scientifically-pedagogical base, the main advantage of the Kazan Theological Academy. Therefore, now do everything so that the base was.

'The return of the Academy building is not the main thing, the main thing is the training, teaching of staff, faculty. This task is more difficult. It takes time. We are now opening some new directions, new departments in the seminary in order to follow the path to the Academy. Again, the training here is most important.' Photo: tatarstan-mitropolia.ru

Another project which the citizens are concerned about, it is the revival of the New Jerusalem Monastery in Kazan. Are there results?

We have finished the roof, the crosses and domes have been installed on the main building.

What new projects have been created this year?

It is necessary to work so that everywhere — in the provinces, and in the parishes there were active church life. Recently, for example, we have held a great festival of religious music in the province, in Drozhzhanovsky rayon. The groups were not only Russian but also the Udmurt, Chuvash, Mordovian, Mari. That's life! And we have a lot of such holidays. We must stir people up. I always say, look how the Muslims celebrate their holidays, the Muslims go to the mosque, they do not hesitate. I appeal to our elite: 'Look at the President of the Republic. I'm happy to see him performing namaz. I'm happy when I see Mintimir Shaimiev performing namaz.' They do not hide their affiliation to Islam, they don't hide the fact that they are practising Muslims. And we, the Slavs, are still thinking — to cross the head or not? We must understand that our faith is our heritage.

'I appeal to our elite: 'Look at the President of the Republic. I'm happy to see him performing namaz. I'm happy when I see Mintimir Shaimiev performing namaz.' They do not hide their affiliation to Islam, they don't hide the fact that they are practising Muslims. And we, the Slavs, are still thinking — to cross the head or not?' Photo: prav.tatar.ru

Will the shrines be taken to Kazan?

Of course, they will. But you should not treat it as a magic act — to wait that you will be given health, work, money. You must improve yourself constantly.

It seems to me that in Kazan you have worked more than in the previous places. Is it true?

I always work a lot. I have a lot to do.