Vsevolod Anatolyevich Chaplin was born on 31 March 1968 to the family of an agnostic professor of radio engineering in Moscow. He attended school in Golyanovo, Moscow. After he finished secondary education in 1985, he joined the staff of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate. On recommendation of Metropolitan, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary, graduating in 1990. From October 1990 to March 2009, he was in the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, beginning as an ordinary staffer before moving into public affairs, then being secretary and vice-president. At the same time as being in the DECR, he continued studies at the Moscow Theological Academy, defending his thesis and graduating in 1994. He was ordained to the diaconate on April 21, 1991, and to the priesthood on January 7, 1992. He was elevated to archpriest in 1999. In 2009 he was appointed chairman of the newly created synodal department for the Cooperation of Church and Society of the Moscow Patriarchate. He wrote satirical science fiction under alias "Aron Shemayer". On 24 December 2015, by the decision of the Holy Synod he was released from this position of head of the Department for the Cooperation of Church and Society, the latter being merged with the Information Department headed by. Chaplin was also removed from the. Shortly after his dismissal, Chaplin gave a series of interviews which were sharply critical of PatriarchKirill who he said would "not last much longer". In March 2017, he described people who fled to the West as traitors and expressed support for the killing of "traitors". He died in Moscow.
Committees
In addition to his other work, Fr. Vsevolod was a member of:
The Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of Russia on March 4, 1996, May 14, 1997 and May 28, 2009
March 31, 2009: Chairman of the Synodal Department for the newly formed relationship between the Church and society
January 4, 2010, August 21, 2012: Member of the Russian Organizing Committee "Victory"
July 26, 2010: Member of the Patriarch's Council of Culture
May 22, 2009: Vice-chairman of the World Russian People's Council
Public statements
Fr Vsevolod's role as Chairman of the Department for the Cooperation of Church and Society meant that he made public statements on religion and ethics, including:
Opposing the confusion of the terms 'religion' and 'denomination', claiming that confessions can be just Christian.
Advocating the establishment of 'Orthodox National Teams'
Supports the beautification of church buildings, iconostases, ornaments and vestments, as befits a religion at the centre of national life, giving the Church the opportunity to speak to rich and poor alike.
Vsevolod Chaplin was one of the closest and loyal people of Kirill for many years, said the former Patriarch Alexy II, congratulating him with the birthday in 2008 year. They both were the main developers of. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation calls Chaplin: "Patriarch Kirill's right-hand man".
Awards
State awards
The Order of Friendship – for outstanding contribution to the development of spiritual culture and strengthening friendship between peoples.
Diploma of the Russian Federation President – for services to the development of spiritual culture and strengthening friendship between peoples.
The medal "For peace and harmony between peoples" – for their active participation in the peace, charity, peace and mutual understanding, cooperation among peoples and for strengthening relations and fruitful cooperation between the regional diocesan and secular non-governmental organizations
