Background information on the documentary “9 Masters”
Abbot Daniil
Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate
DEUTSCH
Abbot Daniil (secular name: Andris Irbits) was born 1976 in Riga (Latvia). He comes from a Volga-German family. From a very young age, Andris Irbits decided to strive for a spiritual career: when he was 16 years old he obtained the precursor to the monk ordination in Riga, being appointed supreme acolyte in 1994. In 1995 he moved with his family to Germany, and with the blessing of the Archbishop of Berlin and Germany, Feofan, he took over the position of personal secretary to His Eminence. The appointment as deacon followed in 1997, in 1998 he became a monk, in 2006 by decree of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia he was designated an abbot. Abbot Daniil serves as a third priest in the Berlin cathedral as well as the secretary of the Office of the Archbishop. He is responsible for the public relations work of the diocese and represents the Russian Orthodox Church in Germany in the political institutions of the Federal Republic. From 2007 Abbot Daniil is also prior of the St. George Monastery in Götschendorf (Brandenburg).
Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate
The Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, in accordance with all Orthodox Churches that share a common faith-commitment, and along with the other Orthodox Churches, forms the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. In Berlin it maintains a diocese, which is the seat of the bishopric. The Diocese is presided by Archbishop Feofan (Galinsky). The following churches belong to the Russian Orthodox Church: Christ Resurrection Cathedral (Wilmersdorf), St. Constantine and Helen Church (Tegel), St. Sergius of Radonezh-Church (Karlshorst). The number of members in Berlin is approximately 15,000. The St. George Monastery was inaugurated in 2007 in northern Brandenburg at Götschendorf. The the four-hectare large complex, currently being built, will host the church and accommodate up to 30 Russian Orthodox monks. This place is conceived to develop the Russian German exchange as well as to serve the interreligious dialogue.
Music
Choir of the Russian-Orthodox Church Berlin
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