Kiril Gundjajev

Kiril Gundjajev, known as Patriarch Kirill, is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and has been a prominent religious leader since his appointment in 2009. Born in 1946 in Leningrad, he has played a significant role in the church's relations with the Russian government, often aligning with President Vladimir Putin's policies. Recently, he has been implicated in a scandal involving his long-term partner, Lidija Leonova, with whom he has lived for over 50 years, raising questions about the church's adherence to its own canonical laws regarding celibacy.