Condolence of WCC

H.E. Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad
Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations
Russian Orthodox Church
(Moscow Patriarchate)

Geneva, 5 December 2008

Your Eminence,

"Among the spirits of the righteous perfected in faith, give rest, O Saviour, to the soul of Your servant Patriarch Alexy. Bestow upon it the blessed life which is from You, O loving Lord"
(Hymn from the Orthodox Memorial Service).

Meeting in Geneva for our regular encounter, we received the sad news of the passing away of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Alexy II.

On behalf of the fellowship of the WCC, in deep sadness we join our voices to those of the Russian and worldwide Orthodox faithful and pray, together with them, for Patriarch Alexy II of blessed memory.

Message from Mr José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European Commission, to the Holy Synod of the Russian Church

It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of His Holiness Alexei II, Patriarch of Moscow and of all Russia, and I would like - in my personal name and in the name of the European Commission - to send my condolences.

Metropolitan Kirill elected Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne

At its extraordinary session of 6 December 2008 the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church elected Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne of the Russian Orthodox Church. Metropolitan Kirill will be the primate of the Moscow Patriarchate until the election of the new Patriarch, which will take place at the Local Council. The latter is due to be scheduled not earlier than 40 days and not later than 6 months after the death of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.

Patriarch of Moscow of blessed repose to be buried on Thursday

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Russia will be buried on Thursday, December 9 at Epiphany Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Alexy, which was his personal wish, expressed earlier in his will, stated Metropolitan Cyril of Smolensk and Kalingrad, the head of the External Relations Department of the Russian Church. Also in the same church was buried former Patriarch Sergius, one of predecessors of the last patriarch.

Memorial Service For Patriarch Alexy II Of Blessed Repose

On Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 12 in all churches of the Archbishopric of Belgrade-Karlovac, a memorial service has been served for Patriarch Alexy II of Russia of blessed repose.

Meeting Of Delegations of The Serbian Orthodox Church and The Jewish Community Regarding Restitution Of Properties Of Church

On December 5, 2008 the delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which consisted of: His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegroand the Littoral, archpriest Dr Luka Novakovic, director of the Patriarchate Head Office, Milan Andric the barrister of the Patriarchate Head Board met with Aleksandar Necak, the President of the Union of Jewish Communities of Serbia.