Father Georgiy (George) Kochetkov

Born 1952. Got two magister degrees (economics and art history), converted to Christianity in his youth. In 1970-s studied in the Theological Academy in Saint-Petersbourg but was expelled under the pressure of the KGB after he was noticed in taking part in the ecumenical meeting with non-registered (clandestine) Baptists. Later he was ordained and served in the Moscow suburb. Non-married (celibate.) During Perestroyka he was appointed a dean of the newly restituted church in the center of Moscow. He was supported by the Metropolit Kyrill Gundyaev, head of the Department of the External Church relations. His spiritual director is Fr. Vitaliy Borovoy who workes in the same department and from 1950-s organize ecumenical contacts of the Moscow Patriarchy.

Kochetkov became famous for his wide range of missionary work.  He was more rigid in restoring the state of the parish life which he thinks is more correct than usual in other parishes. Kochetkov translated some parts of the service in modern Russian, organized the parish school for adults, publishes a magazine. His parish numbered more than 1.000 members. In the beginning of 1994 he was punished for his innovations despite the protests of the liberal intellegintsia and foreign Russian Orthodox priests. He was transmitted to another church, where only 500 people can worship. In 1997 Kochetkov was fired out by the Patriarch, but he still is the leader of Russian Orthodox school for intelligentsia, now working without the approvement of the Moscow Patriarchy. Patriarch Alexy Ridiger publicle accused Kochetkov in being too "proud". Financial support comes from the West.