ARCHBISHOP KYRILL

Archbishop Kyrill was born Boris Mikhailovich Dmitrieff on November 24, 1954, in San Francisco to Russian Orthodox parents. Fluent in Russian since his youth, he loved to serve as an altar boy, and went on to read during divine services. In 1972 at the age of 17, Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev, +2000) of San Francisco and Western America ordained him as a reader, and later that year, after graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of San Francisco, which he graduated on an accelerated schedule with a Bachelor's Degree in Theology in 1976. Boris then decided to continue his education at St Vladimir Academy, where he received a Master's Degree in Theology in 1979. In 1981, he was tonsured a monk and ordained as a hierodeacon by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky, +1985), after which he was ordained to the priesthood. That year he was appointed to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and began to teach Russian and English at Bethany School. In 1982, for health reasons, he was transferred to the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America. In 1987, he was appointed Director of SS Cyril and Methodius High School at the Cathedral of the Mother of God �Joy of All Who Sorrow� in San Francisco, and elevated to the rank of abbot. In 1988, he was awarded the palitsa. In 1992, he was consecrated Bishop of Seattle, Vicar Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America. In 2000, upon the repose of Archbishop Anthony, he was appointed Ruling Bishop of that diocese. In 2003, he was a member of the first official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia visiting Russia to meet with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. Later that year, Bishop Kyrill was elevated to the rank of Archbishop. In 2008, he was awarded the diamond cross by the Council of Bishops. In 2009, he was decorated with the Order of St Innocent, 2nd Degree, by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.