Free Republic

Moscow, January 13, Interfax – Requiem services for Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who died forty days ago, will be conducted on January 13, Tuesday, in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia, the CIS and other foreign countries. Divine Liturgy and requiem service will be conducted at the Yelokhovo Epiphany Cathedral, where the primate is buried. The Locum Tenens of the patriarchal see Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad will head the services. At the same time, Bishop Theofilakt of Bronnitsy will conduct the Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Orthodox youth...

"I am shocked. It is hard to find words. I had immense respect for him". These are the grieving words attributed to Mikhail Gorbachev in a multitude of news reports now streaming out of Russia concerning the death of Patriarch Alexy II, the beloved head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Reportedly interested in the claims of the Christian faith in the last few years, the last President of the Soviet Union and champion of the “Glasnost” strategy which helped consign that former world power to the history books expressed the sentiments of the entire Russian people. Under the leadership of...