The most famous pastor 4 letters. Six principles of Billy Graham: what the famous preacher believed in. Head of the patriarch's press service and his personal press secretary Alexander Volkov

American preacher Billy Graham is one of the most influential religious figures last century, died at the age of 99.

Graham himself called his sixty-year missionary activity, during which he preached to tens, if not hundreds of millions of people, his crusade.

Here are some of the important ideas that he believed in and defended throughout his life.

Among the first fighters for civil rights

During the time of racial segregation in the United States in the 50s, Graham refused to preach to divided audiences and often spoke about the need to unite people with different colors skin.

Once, at a sermon in Tennessee in 1953, he himself removed the rope barrier that separated white parishioners from blacks.

“Christianity is not a religion just for white people, don’t let anyone tell you ‘this is for white people and that is for black people!’” he said at a speech in South Africa in 1973. Christ belongs to all people."

Graham was a close friend of Martin Luther King and once posted bail for his release when King was arrested at a demonstration in 1960.

However, critics argue that Graham did not advocate for legal change but for voluntary change in society, and his support of representatives of the Southern Baptist Convention could be interpreted as an endorsement of segregation.

It's important to communicate with strangers

Graham (center) meets Kim Il-sung in North Korea in 1992

In 1992, Graham became the first foreign religious leader to visit North Korea, where he met with the then leader of the country, Kim Il Sung. Two years later, Graham visited North Korea again.

His family had close ties to this country: his late wife Ruth, whose parents were missionaries, spent her childhood in Pyongyang in the 1930s. She herself spoke of that time as one of the brightest periods of her life.

The visit, during which Graham spoke to a university audience, was approved by then US President George W. Bush.

“I want to become their friend, I want to find something good there and tell everyone about it, because today we hear so many negative things about North Korea,” Graham said before the trip.

Thanks to this visit, the missionary acquired the unofficial status of US representative in countries with which America had frosty relations. In 1984, he took a 12-day trip to Soviet Union and even met with Kremlin officials.

Billy Graham Rule

Or, as it is now called, the Mike Pence Rule.

A guide to how to avoid the slightest possibility of being accused of inappropriate behavior towards women was developed by Graham and three like-minded people in 1948 and was based on the Letter to Timothy of the Apostle Paul.

This principle was later adopted by US Vice President Mike Pence.

“We made a commitment to avoid any situation that might arouse the slightest suspicion, the slightest hint of impropriety. Since then I have never traveled, met or dined alone with any woman other than my wife,” Graham recalled.

You can find hope even in the hardest times

Speaking at the National cathedral Washington three days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Graham said he was struggling to find answers to the nagging questions the event posed.

“I have been asked hundreds of times why the Lord allows tragedy and suffering. And I must admit that I don’t know the answer,” the preacher said then, adding that what happened is a reminder for all of us of how much we need each other.

“Now we are faced with a choice - to cease to exist as a single nation, to disunite or to unite, to become stronger as a result of this suffering.”

Anyone can be saved, even a hardened criminal

One of the most intriguing episodes in Graham's life is his friendship with the leader of the Los Angeles mafia, Mickey Cohen.

They were introduced by Jimmy Vause, a con man who converted to Christianity after attending Graham's sermon.

Cohen did not give in to Graham's persuasion to turn to God, but the missionary did not stop trying for many years and even, according to rumors, promised the gangster to make him an outstanding preacher if he agreed to choose this path.

Cohen disagreed.

“My job is to try to win everyone to God, especially those who have influence in our society,” Graham said after their next meeting, realizing that perhaps Cohen only needed them to improve his image in the eyes of others.

He regretted participating in politics

Graham in company former presidents USA - Bush, Carter and Clinton, 2007

For decades, Graham had a friendly relationship with the White House. He served as an informal adviser to several presidents. Times journalist Nancy Gibbs once even wrote that it was part of the interior of their offices.

Although he generally avoided speaking out in support of particular candidates, he eventually became close friends with a number of presidents, notably Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.

Graham's relationship with Nixon even went so far as to have the evangelist give the president advice on how to act in Vietnam. Graham later supported Nixon during scandals, which did not stop him from criticizing the president.

In a 2011 interview with Christianity Today, Graham said he regretted getting involved in politics.

“I am grateful to God for the opportunity to help people in power - they, like everyone else, also have spiritual and personal needs and often have no one to talk to. But looking back, I understand that sometimes in these relationships I overstepped the mark , and I know that I wouldn’t do that now,” Graham said.

In 2002, he apologized after anti-Semitic remarks he and Nixon made were publicized, with Graham saying: "They don't know how I really feel about what they're doing to our country."

Billy Graham was born on November 7, 1918. He became world famous after a series of sermons in Los Angeles in 1949. Since then, he has preached to 215 million people in 185 countries.

The very first photo of baby Billy with his mother.

He became world famous after a series of sermons in Los Angeles in 1949. Since then, he has preached to 215 million people in 185 countries.

Billy Graham's performances filled stadiums all over the world.

In the photo: a record meeting at the stadium in South Korea in June 1973, when 1.1 million people came to hear Graham.

The Billy Graham Gospel Organization produces a weekly radio program, a printed newspaper, television programs, and produces films. Today, Billy Graham's total media audience has exceeded two billion people.

From 1982 to 1992, Billy Graham visited the USSR and Russia several times. In 1988, he came at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church to celebrate the millennium of the baptism of Rus'.

In 1992, Billy Graham was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 2005, he officially retired due to health reasons.

In the photo: Billy Graham and US President Donald Trump.

Illustration copyright Getty Images Image caption Billy Graham died at his home in North Carolina

The pastor of the American Baptist Church, one of the most influential preachers of the 20th century, Billy Graham, died at the age of 99.

Graham became one of Christianity's most recognizable apologists, beginning his global mission in the stadiums and arenas of London in 1954.

He died at his home in Monreat, North Carolina, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said.

According to some estimates, during Graham's 60-year missionary career, hundreds of millions of people listened to his sermons.

Graham spoke to millions of them on television - he was the first to use this medium on such a scale to preach salvation.

• Six principles of Billy Graham: what the famous preacher believed in
• "The Last Sermon" by Billy Graham

From young preacher to international phenomenon

Born in 1918 and raised on his parents' farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, Billy Graham converted to Christianity at age sixteen after attending a traveling evangelist's sermon.

He was elevated to the pastorate in 1939 when he was 21 years old.

Graham's reputation began to take shape in 1949 in Los Angeles, where he held services in a huge tent for two months.

Illustration copyright Reuters

During his years as a missionary, he traveled to the most remote corners of the world, including North Korea, and spoke to huge audiences, such as the twelve thousand-strong Haringey Arena in London in 1954.

Graham has avoided the kind of scandals that plague many television preachers.

Over time, his ardent style of preaching gave way to a more restrained one under the influence of the passing years.

Part of world history

US President Donald Trump paid tribute to the deceased, writing on Twitter: “The great Billy Graham has died. He had no equal! big loss for Christianity and all believers. A very special person."

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Wilby posted a message on Twitter calling Graham an example of a modern Christian.

Renowned civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson was also among those paying tribute to Billy Graham.

Confessor of Presidents

Graham was a personal friend of several American presidents, including Truman, Nixon and Obama, at whose last rally in New York in 2005 he preached at age 86.

He golfed with Gerald Ford and vacationed with George H.W. The latter's son, George W. Bush, approached Graham in 2010, wanting to return to faith.

Graham welcomed Nixon to the presidency, but he himself criticized him after the Watergate scandal.

Barack Obama became the 12th president to meet Graham, visiting the preacher at his North Carolina home in 2010.

Graham later admitted that his proximity to power may have compromised his missionary work.

"If I had the opportunity to start all over again, I would try to avoid participating in any political campaigns. The only worthy thing for a preacher is to carry the word of God."