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Russian Orthodox Patriarch is dead

— Photo: AP

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II.

MOSCOW: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, who presided over a massive post-Soviet revival of the church, died on Friday at the age of 79.

Alexy II, elected to head the church in 1990, a year before the disintegration of the officially atheist Soviet Union, took advantage of the lifting of Communist restrictions on religious freedom to dramatically rebuild the power and influence of the Orthodox Church in Russia and other former Soviet states. He enjoyed active support of the Russian Government, which saw in religious revival a way of filling an ideological vacuum left after the collapse of Communist ideology.

President Dmitry Medvedev praised Patriarch Alexy II for “wholeheartedly carrying out his pastoral duties” and for serving not only the Church but also Russia.

Mr. Medvedev cancelled his trip to Italy, where he was to fly from India, and is returning to Moscow to mourn the demise of the Russian church leader.

Under Patriarch Alexy II, the Orthodox Church has increased the number of its parishes more than fourfold, while the number of monasteries and convents has soared from 18 to 770.

According to polls, 60 to 70 per cent of Russians identify themselves as Russian Orthodox.

It is also the dominant church in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

Patriarch Alexy II’s highest achievement was the healing of the 80-year split between the domestic and exiled branches of the Russian Orthodox Church last year.

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