Head of Russian Orthodox church Alexiy is dead

Alexiy II was named patriarch in 1990, just before the end of the Soviet Union, ascending to the leadership of a church that had often suffered brutal discrimination under the officially atheistic Communists. Under Stalin, many priests were killed or sent to labour camps, and cathedrals were destroyed.

First under Boris N Yeltsin and then under Putin, Alexiy II significantly deepened the role of the church in everyday life — erecting and restoring cathedrals, introducing Orthodox religious education in public schools and becoming a prominent voice on moral issues.

The patriarch successfully lobbied the government over the last decade to adopt restrictions on other Christian denominations to impede their efforts to attract adherents in Russia.

Relations between Patriarch Alexiy and the Roman Catholic Church were tense during his tenure over the issue of proselytizing, and as a result, he would not agree to a visit to Russia by Pope John Paul II.

Alexiy II did end another religious dispute, reaching an agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia to bring the churches closer together.