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Russian Orthodox Church head dies Russian Orthodox Church head dies
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died, Church officials say.The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died, Church officials say.
The patriarch died on Friday morning, aged 79, the Church told the BBC.The patriarch died on Friday morning, aged 79, the Church told the BBC.
They did not give a reason for his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. No date has been set yet for the funeral.They did not give a reason for his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. No date has been set yet for the funeral.
Alexiy II was credited with helping restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communism.Alexiy II was credited with helping restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communism.
However, relations with the Roman Catholic Church remained frosty and he repeatedly refused to meet the late Pope John Paul II, or his successor, Benedict XVI.However, relations with the Roman Catholic Church remained frosty and he repeatedly refused to meet the late Pope John Paul II, or his successor, Benedict XVI.
The Russian Orthodox Church counts nearly 70% of Russia's population - about 100 million people - among its members.The Russian Orthodox Church counts nearly 70% of Russia's population - about 100 million people - among its members.
The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says he was a hugely revered figure.The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says he was a hugely revered figure.
Alexiy II became its head in 1990, shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union.
He brought the scattered branches of the Russian Orthodox church back under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said he was shocked by the death. "I respected him deeply," he said.Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said he was shocked by the death. "I respected him deeply," he said.
A spokesman for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he would return to Russia from India on Friday, cancelling a planned trip to Italy.
Land dispute
Alexiy II became the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990, shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union.
In the new era of restored freedom and influence the church found itself with a prominent role rebuilding national self-esteem and morality in the post-Soviet period, our correspondent says.
Alexiy II insisted on his Church's right to be the sole national Church of Russia.
He brought the scattered branches of the Russian Orthodox Church back under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate.Alexiy II enjoyed close relations with the Kremlin
Born Alexei Rediger to a Russian Orthodox family living in Estonia in 1929, the future patriarch rose swiftly through the ranks of the Church after studying theology in St Petersburg.Born Alexei Rediger to a Russian Orthodox family living in Estonia in 1929, the future patriarch rose swiftly through the ranks of the Church after studying theology in St Petersburg.
By the age of 32 he was a bishop, by 35 he was an archbishop. By the age of 32 he was a bishop, by 35 an archbishop.
He served as the Moscow Patriarchate's chief administrator and the deputy head of the Church's external affairs department before being elected as its head. After moving to Moscow he served as the Patriarchate's chief administrator and the deputy head of the Church's external affairs department.
In the second post, he attracted criticism for what many thought was his unswerving obedience to the dictates of Soviet foreign policy.
Supporters argued that he was merely doing his best to win concessions for his persecuted church.
As patriarch, he moved the Orthodox Church closer to political circles, often visiting the Kremlin and aligning himself with its foreign policy stances.
One reason for his differences with the Catholic Church was a dispute over land taken by the Greek Catholic Church from the Orthodox Church in Ukraine in the early 1990s.
He also accused the Catholic Church of missionary activity in traditionally Orthodox areas, and blocked Pope John Paul II's long-held intention of visiting Russia.
Last year, Alexiy II presided over a union with a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church whose members fled abroad to escape the Bolshevik Revolution.