Orthodox Religious Figure. One of the most revered elders of the Russian Orthodox Church by the the end of XX and the beginning of XXI centuries, having served among others as the spiritual father of three Russian Patriarchs, he was commonly referred as the "all-Russian confessor". A highly esteemed figure, Ivan Dimitrievich Pavlov was born in the village of Makovskie Vyselki in the Ryazan Province to a pious peasant family. Lapsing in his faith after living with an atheist brother of his for twelve years, he regained his Orthodox faith during the Second World War, in which he served as a lieutenant in the Soviet Army. Fighting in the famous battle of Stalingrad, where he commanded a platoon, he also saw action in Hungary, ending his service in Austria in 1946. It was during the bellic period that while on watch in a then destroyed Stalingrad in April 1943, happened to find a book of the Gospels among the ruins, and reading its lines, made him enter seminary right after leaving the army. Undergoing studies at Novodevichy Monastery in Moscow, he frequented the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1954. Tonsured a monk on August 25, 1954 at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, with the religious name of Kirill, he was appointed treasurer of the Lavra in 1970. Raised to the rank of archimandrite and appointed father confessor of the monastery brethren in 1965, he would soon become known as the "Father Confessor of all Russia", having served as confessor to three consecutive patriarchs: Alexy I, Pimen and Alexy II. Moving to the patriarchal residence of Peredelkino, a suburb of Moscow, during the patriarchate of Alexy II, throughout the years he received thousands of people from all over Russia and abroad, hearing confessions and giving spiritual counsel, touching thus the lives of innumerable people. With many of his sermons and instructions published in a series of books, a stroke suffered in 2004 left him paralyzed and unable to speak, although aware of his surroundings. He went on however to live several more years, confined to bed, passing away during the evening of February 20, 2017 at the patriarchal residence of Peredelkino. The funeral of one of the most famous and beloved elders of the Russian Orthodox Church was held three days later at lavra's Dormition Cathedral with Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, presiding.