Patriarch alexiy, life, where he is buried. Patriarch Alexy II of All Russia Alexy II

More recently, less than a dozen years ago, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, who headed the Russian Orthodox Church during the critical years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, passed away to the Lord. His Holiness, in spite of his high position, was simple in communication, and therefore loved by all who knew him closely, a principled person of a bright soul. He became the fifteenth after the restoration of the Patriarchate in Russia, the Primate of the Church.

The name of Alexy II also occupies a solid place in the science of Church history and theology. Just before his accession to the Holy See, he had more than 150 publications on church history and theology of the topic. Who is Patriarch Alexy (Ridiger), why he is revered as a righteous man and what he did for the Church and all of Russia - you will find out in this article.

Childhood of the Patriarch

At birth, in the world, the Patriarch also had the name Aleksey Ridiger - which is quite unusual, usually when taking monastic vows, the name is changed. He was born on February 23, 1929 in the "capital of Soviet Estonia" - Tallinn. The story of his family is unusual: by his father, Mikhail Alexandrovich, he was a descendant of a German noble family who moved to the new capital - St. Petersburg under Anna Ioannovna or even Peter the Great and became Russified, that is, who adopted the Orthodox faith. By his mother, Elena Iosifovna Pisareva, His Holiness was an Estonian. The family were emigrants who left Petrograd through the Finnish lands after the revolution. Despite the meagerness of life, characteristic of all refugees, Alyosha Ridiger was brought up in knowledge and respect for cultural values, interest in art and the Church.

The roots of deep faith and piety of Alexy II were laid by his family, which led a truly Christian life. The father of the future Patriarch was a priest and blessed his son to help him with divine services, church life was inseparable from family life. It is even known the time of the first service in which the future Holy Patriarch participated: at the age of six, in 1936, he began to help pour out holy water for the parishioners at the Epiphany of the Lord. Probably, from childhood, he wanted to serve the Church - but only God knows how and when that strength of spirit appeared in him, which made it possible to lead the entire Russian Church.

An important page in the beginning of the life of Alexy II was his regular visit with his parents to the Valaam Monastery of the Savior-Transfiguration - the spiritual pearl of Ladoga, an ancient monastery. Here he also served at the altar. It is clear that in this monastery he developed a desire to give his life to monastic service to God and people.

Russian Patriarch in his youth

The talent of inspired prayer, piety, knowledge of church services - this is what determined the vocation of Alexei Ridiger, who at the age of 15 became a subdeacon (that is, accompanying and constantly serving the bishop for divine services) Bishop Isidore and Archbishop Paul of Estonia and Tallinn. At the age of 16 - the year of the end of the Great Patriotic War - Aleksey even became a sacristan (responsible for vestments and church utensils), continuing to serve as an altar boy in the Tallinn Cathedral.

Soon he entered the Leningrad Orthodox Theological Seminary (now SPbPDAiS) and upon graduation became a student at the Theological Academy of the Northern Capital. Having been ordained as a priest, at first he was just a white celibate priest (who did not have a monastic tonsure, but who gave only a vow of virginity). Having started his priestly ministry in the small town of Jykhvi, he soon became the rector of the Epiphany Monastery, and in 1957 - the rector of the local Assumption Cathedral. So for about a year he led two monasteries and the parish of the cathedral. Then he was officially appointed dean of the district (that is, the priest who supervises the activities of a number of parishes - usually this position is given to the rector of a large cathedral in the region, who has many years of pastoral experience).

Since 1959, the future Patriarch has decided to devote himself completely to God in monasticism. Quite a little time passed from his cassock tonsure - giving a new name, symbolic cutting of hair with the ability to wear some monastic clothes - to the mantle tonsure. At this time, Alexy, like all cassock novices, had the opportunity to refuse to be tonsured as a monk, it would not be a sin. However, the future Primate was already firm in his decision to renounce worldly life, and in 1959 he was tonsured into the mantle, that is, the "small angelic image", the small schema. He took vows of obedience to the bishop, renunciation of the world and non-possession - that is, the absence of his property. This tonsure of monks has been going on since antiquity and continues to the present day.

Father Alexy was tonsured into a mantle with the preservation of his name, which is quite unusual for church practice. Also, after a short time - only 2 years later - he was consecrated bishop. At 32, he was one of the youngest archpastors of the Church. He was sent to govern his native Riga diocese with the title of Estonian and Tallinn bishop.

Bishop Alexy - future Patriarch of Moscow

Despite the “Khrushchev thaw,” the 1960s, when Vladyka Alexy began his hierarchical service, were difficult for the Church. If in the 1930s priests were shot together with everyone as enemies of the people, then during the Great Patriotic War they began to be massively returned from the camps, opening churches. Khrushchev opened new persecutions: first of all, by organizing an information wave not even of godlessness, but of stereotypical slander against the Church in the media. Revolutionary slogans were raised, condemning "obscurantism", psychologically pressured people, shaming them at work, for example, for attending an Easter service. Seminaries were closed under the pretext of low-quality education and churches, which simply "needed" to be used as warehouses, factories and granaries.

Having become Patriarch, Alexy II often spoke, including in the press, but without details, about these times, what only God knew, how difficult it was for the priests and bishops to go through the time of persecution. However, the interests of the Orthodox Church were defended. She did not die with the help of such zealous servants of the Lord as Vladyka Alexy.

Thus, after becoming a bishop, His Grace Alexy began to actively work in the field of international and interchurch relations. He worked in many committees, was a member of delegations. His Eminence (this is an appeal to the bishop) was an active supporter of the joint work of Churches of various Christian denominations, emphasizing that in a perfect world people forget about Christ in principle, and that all Christians should look for common ground in ministry and communication with each other, acting together.

After a short period of time, an active and active archpastor was noticed in the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate, starting to nominate him to even more responsible posts. In 1964, at the age of 35, he became archbishop, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, and then, in fact, first deputy of the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow. He received the rank of Metropolitan (that is, higher than the episcopal) of Tallinn, and then was transferred to St. Petersburg (Leningrad) with the rank of Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, while, as now, it was the focus of church science and prayer life. Through the labors of Vladyka Alexy, many events have taken place, the memory of which is preserved by grateful Petersburgers: the return of the brethren to the Valaam Monastery - the spiritual cradle of Vladyka Alexy himself, the revival of the Ioannovsky nunnery founded by the holy righteous John of Kronstadt on the Karpovka River, and the uncovering of the relics of the most holy righteous Ioann. In 1989, His Eminence even became a People's Deputy of the USSR, which was extremely unusual, and, in fact, a politician.

Despite his active ministry, Vladyka Alexy prepared and defended his doctoral dissertation for the degree of candidate of theology.

In 1990, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen died, and on June 10 of the same year, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II was elected to his place.

Words and deeds of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy 2

It is interesting that the activity of the Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church is expanding with each subsequent election of the Primate. Usually the Patriarch was elected from among the venerable hierarchs with extensive pastoral experience, but therefore cut off from the too perfect trends of society. In the middle of the twentieth century, no one thought about the importance of attracting young people to the Church: it was difficult to talk to her, the guys not only strove for ordinary entertainment, but also had an opinion about the Church as a "bunch of obscurantists." Having no life experience, they relied on the judgment of teachers and the authority of the state.

Over time, a lot began to change. The intelligentsia and emigrants turned to Christianity as a de facto religion of protest, a breath of fresh air in the stuffy Soviet ideology. If Patriarchs Alexy I and Pimen, in general, had concerns about maintaining parishes, about the existence of a church at least in every city, about protecting pastors from repression (and Pimen also about celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, that is, the cultural and historical establishment of the Church ) - then His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II developed activities to spread the missionary service of the Church, work with young people (on which the new, current Patriarch Kirill also emphasizes), restructuring the Church, and creating new dioceses.

Church and secular historians distinguish the following pros and cons of the activities of Alexy II as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:

An increase in the number of churches, monasteries and dioceses - despite the fact that the number of believers and churchgoers did not require such a number of church structures.

The active return of the historical buildings of the churches to the church, their restoration - this was called "the claim of the Church to the canonical territory." If some churches were given over as warehouses or workshops and returned painlessly, then the return of temples-museums, temples-monuments met with active resistance from public activists. There were incidents when the Church and cultural organizations found themselves on opposite sides of the barricades. Nevertheless, it was during the period of Patriarch Alexy's activity that the experience of overcoming such opposition was laid. The intelligentsia made sure that the Church really knows how to preserve the cultural heritage of the party, especially since it was she who created this property: it was for prayer that the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, and the Ipatievsky Monastery in Kostroma were built.

An increase in the number of ordained bishops, priests, monks and the apparatus of church officials - the Synodal departments - at a time when people were not spiritually ready for responsible church service. This is a controversial point to this day: from apostolic times to the revolution in Russia, priests were not ordained earlier than 30 years. Under Alexy II, even bishops under the age of thirty began to be ordained.

At the same time, such an "increase in the flow of cadres" and places for prayer created a groundwork, space for the further coming to the Church of many, many people. Today, not only the revival of temples in historical buildings of churches begins, but also the construction of new ones. For example, in Moscow there is a program to create 200 new churches in the sleeping areas of the capital; 36 churches are being built in the Vyborg diocese alone, and more than 100 in the entire St. Petersburg Metropolitanate. People really do not fit in the buildings of small churches, many parishes on Sundays and holidays carry columns outside the building so that people can pray outside.

The number of educational centers increased, the missionary activity of the Church became more active. Many believed that the Church should not attract new people, but occupy a niche in a certain service sector. Nevertheless, it was Patriarch Alexy who again began the catechism work of the Church: after all, Christ commanded the apostles to enlighten all nations with the light of Christianity, to save the souls of people. He himself fearlessly spoke around the world with speeches aimed at strengthening traditional moral values \u200b\u200b- after all, they are based on the commandments of God - at a time when the movement of promoting homosexuality and leveling the differences between the sexes, legalizing euthanasia began in Europe. The Primate has repeatedly stated that the moral decay of society leads to the death of civilization.

Internal church relations were not easy: Local Councils were rarely convened, relations with the Roman Catholic Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople worsened. At the same time, a number of clergymen accused His Holiness of ecumenism, that is, too active interaction with other confessions and religions.

During the period of Patriarchal service of Alexy II, military conflicts took place in the world and in Russia. This Patriarch is famous. the fact that in 1993 he admonished the State Emergency Committee, taking the Vladimir Icon out of the storerooms of the Tretyakov Gallery and praying before it for peace and God's help with the whole people. In addition, he regularly came out with peacekeeping initiatives regarding the wars in the North Caucasus, South Ossetia, during the bombing of the US Air Force in Iraq and Serbia.

In an interview shortly before his death, His Holiness Vladyka Alexy II himself summed up the results of his work, evaluating the fruits of his labors as completely new relations between the Church and the state, which he was forced to build. By the will of God, he was able to turn interaction both with society and with the authorities in the direction of accepting the Church.

Was Patriarch Alexy II killed?

His Holiness departed to the Lord, only two months before his 80th birthday. Alexy II died at the Patriarchal residence in Peredelkino, on December 5, 2008 during the Christmas fast. The Orthodox people of all Russia and neighboring countries are so accustomed that this good pastor of the Church is always cheerful, travels around the country and even visits distant dioceses, that his death caused shock and amazement. Against this background, rumors began to spread that the Patriarch had been killed, but the testimonies of the hierarchs who knew him closely and the conclusion of a medical examination disproved them: Alexy II suffered several heart attacks and a stroke in the last years of his life, therefore death occurred for natural reasons, becoming a consequence of a heart failure.

Where Patriarch Alexy II is buried

When parting with the Patriarch, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the largest temple in Moscow, recreated on the site of the one blown up in the 1930s in the same architectural forms, was full of people. Day and night, they walked in a whole stream to take a last look at the fifteenth Archpastor of the Russian Church, who headed it during the years of perestroika, the collapse of the Soviet system and the creation of a new society, leading the Ship of the Church through the waters of one of the most difficult times in the history of the country.

The coffin with the body, in a magnificent funeral procession, was transported across Moscow to the Elokhovsky Cathedral of the Epiphany, where he was buried. There is now a marble tombstone with a cross over the grave. The clergy of the temple and the staff of the Church testify that many pilgrimage routes from different regions of the country must stop at the cathedral at the grave of Alexy II. Already now, the people are honoring His Holiness.
Not only his spiritual children, who during their lifetime asked the Patriarchal advice, but also many people, from village parishioners who came to venerate the shrines of the capital, to the President himself and various celebrities, come to consult with His Holiness Vladyka, ask for his help and blessings for good and necessary deeds. The Patriarch has not yet been canonized - after all, more than a dozen years must pass for canonization - but already now miracles are recorded through prayers to him at the grave, materials and evidence of the milestones of his life are being thoroughly studied, and popular veneration is growing.
Thus, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, who was Alexy II's deputy - he had the post of Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate - wrote that in close communion he always saw in him a judicious pastor of the Church who had truly God-given love for all people. For all Orthodox people, he was like a caring father who led the Church with a sincere experience of her problems in his own heart. There was no question for him of unimportant, even the most ordinary people, with whom they were treated unfairly, he defended before the authorities, helped the most distant and poorest church parishes. According to His Eminence Clement, more than ten thousand letters were sent to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy annually (that is, about 30 daily) - and he did not disregard a single one, every day allocating time to read the correspondence and instructions at the request of the addressees. Many people who served with His Holiness or were former employees of the Synodal departments testify that communication with him has become a school of life. He showed an example of pastoral service in unchanging striving for the Lord and love for every person.

Tomb of Patriarch Alexy

On any day you can visit the Yelokhovsky Cathedral of the capital and talk to him at the grave of His Holiness. Prayer is a dialogue with a departed person who has signs of holiness.

Get a candle in the temple, put it on a candlestick by the grave, turn to the Lord:

“Rest, Lord, the soul of Thy deceased servant, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, where there is no sorrow and tears, but life and joy are endless. Forgive him all sins, voluntary and involuntary, but with his holy prayers, have mercy on me, a sinner (sinner). "

Then you can in your own words, addressing the Patriarch, ask him about your needs. Many ask him, as a wise leader,

• About advice in business;
• About making a decision in a difficult choice;
• About help to get rid of the injustice of the authorities;
• About acquittal in case of libel;
• With gratitude for the perfect deeds, the resulting things.

Through the prayers of Patriarch Alexy, may the Lord bless you!

On December 5, 2008, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, the fifteenth Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church since the establishment of the Patriarchate in Russia, died.

Patriarch Alexy (in the world - Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger) was born on February 23, 1929 in the city of Tallinn (Estonia). His father studied at the School of Law, graduated from high school in exile in Estonia, in 1940 he graduated from the theological three-year courses in Tallinn and was ordained a deacon and then a priest; for 16 years he was the rector of the Tallinn Nativity of the Virgin of the Kazan Church, was a member and later chairman of the diocesan council. Mother of the Most Holy Patriarch - Elena Iosifovna Pisareva (+1959), a native of Revel (Tallinn).

From early childhood, Aleksey Ridiger served in the church under the guidance of his spiritual father, Archpriest John of the Epiphany, later Bishop Isidor of Tallinn and Estonia; from 1944 to 1947 he was a senior subdeacon with Archbishop Paul of Tallinn and Estonia, and then with Bishop Isidore. He studied at a Russian high school in Tallinn. From May 1945 to October 1946, he was the altar and sacristan of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn. From 1946 he served as a psalmist in Simeonovskaya, and from 1947 - in the Kazan Church of Tallinn.

In 1947 he entered the St. Petersburg (at that time - Leningrad) Theological Seminary, from which he graduated with the first grade in 1949. On April 15, 1950, Alexei Ridiger was ordained a deacon, and on April 17, 1950, he was ordained a priest and appointed rector of the Epiphany Church in Johvi, Tallinn Diocese. In 1953, Father Alexy graduated from the Theological Academy with the first grade and was awarded the degree of candidate of theology.

On July 15, 1957, Father Alexy was appointed rector of the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Tartu and dean of the Tartu region. On August 17, 1958, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest. On March 30, 1959, he was appointed Dean of the united Tartu-Viljandi Deanery of the Tallinn Diocese. On March 3, 1961, at the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he was tonsured a monk. On August 14, 1961, Hieromonk Alexy was assigned to be Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia with the assignment of him to temporarily govern the Riga diocese. On August 21, 1961, Hieromonk Alexy was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On September 3, 1961, Archimandrite Alexy was ordained Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia at the Tallinn Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

On November 14, 1961, Bishop Alexy was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. On June 23, 1964, Bishop Alexy was elevated to the rank of archbishop. On December 22, 1964, Archbishop Alexy was appointed manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate and became a permanent member of the Holy Synod. He stayed at the post of business manager until July 20, 1986. On May 7, 1965, Archbishop Alexy was appointed chairman of the Study Committee. Released from this position, according to a personal request, October 16, 1986. From October 17, 1963 to 1979, Archbishop Alexy was a member of the Commission of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on Christian unity and interchurch relations.

On February 25, 1968, Archbishop Alexy was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan. From March 10, 1970 to September 1, 1986, he was in charge of the general management of the Pension Committee, whose task was to provide pensions for the clergy and other persons who worked in church organizations, as well as their widows and orphans. On June 18, 1971, in consideration of the diligent efforts to hold the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, Metropolitan Alexy was awarded the right to wear a second panagia. Metropolitan Alexy performed responsible functions as a member of the Commission for the preparation and celebration of the 50th anniversary (1968) and 60th anniversary (1978) of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church; member of the Commission of the Holy Synod for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, as well as the chairman of the procedural and organizational group, chairman of the Secretariat of the Local Council; from December 23, 1980, he is the deputy chairman of the Commission for the preparation and holding of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus and the chairman of the organizational group of this commission, and since September 1986 - of the theological group. On May 25, 1983, he was appointed chairman of the Responsible Commission for the development of measures for the reception of the buildings of the Danilov Monastery ensemble, the organization and implementation of all restoration and construction work to create on its territory the Spiritual and Administrative Center of the Russian Orthodox Church. He held this position until his appointment to the St. Petersburg (at that time - Leningrad) department. On June 29, 1986, he was appointed Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod with the assignment to govern the Tallinn diocese.

On June 7, 1990, at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, he was elected to the Moscow Patriarchal See. The enthronement took place on June 10, 1990.

Metropolitan Alexy's activities in the international arena

As part of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he took part in the work of the III Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in New Delhi (1961); was elected a member of the Central Committee of the WCC (1961-1968); was President of the World Conference "Church and Society" (Geneva, Switzerland, 1966); member of the Commission "Faith and Order" of the WCC (1964 - 1968). As head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he participated in theological interviews with the delegation of the Evangelical Church in Germany "Arnoldshain-II" (FRG, 1962), in theological interviews with the delegation of the Union of Evangelical Churches in the GDR "Zagorsk-V" (Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1984 ), in theological interviews with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in Leningrad and the Pyukhtitsky monastery (1989). For more than a quarter of a century, Metropolitan Alexy devoted his works to the activities of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). Since 1964, Metropolitan Alexy has been one of the presidents (members of the presidium) of the CEC; at subsequent general assemblies, he was re-elected president. Since 1971, Metropolitan Alexy has been vice-chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the CEC. On March 26, 1987 he was elected Chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the CEC. At the VIII General Assembly of the CEC in Crete in 1979, Metropolitan Alexy was the keynote speaker on the topic "In the Power of the Holy Spirit - to Serve the World". Since 1972, Metropolitan Alexy has been a member of the Joint Committee of the CEC and the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (SECE) of the Roman Catholic Church. On May 15-21, 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, Metropolitan Alexy was co-chairman of the 1st European Ecumenical Assembly on the theme "Peace and Justice" organized by CEC and SECE. In September 1992, at the X General Assembly of the CEC, the term of office of Patriarch Alexy II as chairman of the CEC expired. His Holiness addressed the II European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz (Austria) in 1997. Metropolitan Alexy was the initiator and chairman of four seminars of the Churches of the Soviet Union - members of the CEC and the Churches that support cooperation with this regional Christian organization. Seminars were held at the Pukhtitsky Dormition Convent in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1989.

Since 1963 he was a member of the board of the Soviet Peace Fund, participated in the founding meeting of the Rodina society, at which he was elected a member of the council of the society on December 15, 1975; re-elected on May 27, 1981 and December 10, 1987. On October 24, 1980 at the V All-Union Conference of the Soviet-Indian Friendship Society, he was elected vice-president of this Society. On March 11, 1989, he was elected a member of the Board of the Foundation for Slavic Writing and Slavic Cultures. Delegate to the World Christian Conference "Life and Peace" (April 20-24, 1983, Uppsala, Sweden). Elected at this conference as one of its presidents. Since January 24, 1990, he was a member of the board of the Soviet Fund for Mercy and Health; from February 8, 1990 - a member of the Presidium of the Leningrad Cultural Foundation. From the Charity and Health Foundation in 1989, he was elected People's Deputy of the USSR.

As a co-chairman, he entered the Russian organizing committee for preparations for the meeting of the third millennium and the celebration of the two millennium of Christianity (1998-2000). On the initiative and with the participation of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, an interfaith conference "Christian Faith and Human Enmity" was held (Moscow, 1994). His Holiness the Patriarch presided over the conference of the Christian Interfaith Advisory Committee "" Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb. 13: 8). Christianity on the Threshold of the Third Millennium (1999); Interreligious Peace Forum (Moscow, 2000).

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy was an honorary member of the St. Petersburg and Moscow Theological Academies, the Cretan Orthodox Academy (Greece); Doctor of Theology of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy (1984); Doctor of Theology honoris causa of the Theological Academy in Debrecen of the Reformed Church of Hungary and the Faculty of Theology of Jan Comenius in Prague; Doctor of Theology honoris causa of the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church in the USA (1991); Doctor of Theology honoris causa St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary (Academy) in the USA (1991); Doctor of Theology honoris causa St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary in the USA (1991). In 1992 he was elected a full member of the Russian Academy of Education.

The Patriarch was also a Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from the University of Alaska Pacific in Anchorage, Alaska, USA (1993); laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) named after A.E. Kulakovsky "For outstanding selfless work to consolidate the peoples of the Russian Federation" (1993). In 1993, Alexy II was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Omsk State University for outstanding services in the field of culture and education. In 1993 he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Moscow State University for outstanding services in the spiritual revival of Russia. in 1994 - Honorary Doctor of Philological Sciences of St. Petersburg University.

His Holiness was also an Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade, an Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Tbilisi Theological Academy (Georgia, April 1996). Alexy II - holder of the gold medal of the Kosice University in the Faculty of Orthodox Theology (Slovakia, May 1996); Honorary Member of the International Charity and Health Foundation; Chairman of the Public Supervisory Board for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. He was awarded the highest award of the Russian Federation - the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, many orders of the Local Orthodox Churches and state orders of different countries, as well as awards of public organizations. In 2000, His Holiness Patriarch was elected an honorary citizen of Moscow, he was also an honorary citizen of St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Kalmykia, Sergiev Posad, Dmitrov.

His Holiness was awarded the national awards "Person of the Year", "Outstanding People of the Decade (1990-2000) who contributed to the prosperity and glorification of Russia", "Russian National Olympus" and the honorary public title "Man of the Age". In addition, His Holiness the Patriarch is a laureate of the International Prize "Perfection. Good. Glory", awarded by the Russian Biographical Institute (2001), as well as the Main Prize "Face of the Year", awarded by the "Top Secret" holding (2002).

On May 24, 2004, the Patriarch was presented with the UN award "Defender of Justice" for his outstanding services in strengthening peace, friendship and mutual understanding among peoples, as well as the Order of Peter the Great (1st degree) under number 001.

On March 31, 2005, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II was presented with a public award - the Order of the Golden Star for Loyalty to Russia. On July 18, 2005, His Holiness the Patriarch was awarded the jubilee civil order - the Silver Star "Public Recognition" Number One "for the arduous and selfless activity in providing social and spiritual support to veterans and participants of the Great Patriotic War and in connection with the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory".

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy was chairman of the Patriarchal Synodal Biblical Commission, editor-in-chief of the Orthodox Encyclopedia and chairman of the Observatory and Church Scientific Council for the publication of the Orthodox Encyclopedia, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Charitable Fund for Reconciliation and Accord, heads the Board of Trustees of the National Military Fund.

During the years of his episcopal service, Metropolitan Alexy visited many dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and countries of the world, was a participant in many church events. Several hundred of his articles, speeches and works on theological, church history, peacemaking and other topics have been published in the church and secular press in Russia and abroad.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy headed the Arihiereus Councils in 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2004, invariably presides over the sessions of the Holy Synod. As Patriarch of All Russia, he visited 81 dioceses, many several times - more than 120 trips to dioceses in total, the purposes of which were primarily pastoral care for remote communities, strengthening church unity and witnessing the Church in society.

During his episcopal service, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy led 84 episcopal ordinations (of which 71 after being elected to the All-Russian See), ordained more than 400 priests and almost the same number of deacons. With the blessing of His Holiness, theological seminaries, theological schools, and parish schools were opened; structures were created for the development of religious education and catechesis. His Holiness pays great attention to the establishment in Russia of new relations between the state and the Church. At the same time, he firmly adheres to the principle of separation between the mission of the Church and the functions of the state, non-interference in each other's internal affairs. At the same time, he believes that the soul-saving service of the Church and the service of the state to society require mutually free interaction between church, state and public institutions.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy called for close cooperation between representatives of all areas of secular and church culture. He constantly reminded of the need to revive morality and spiritual culture, to overcome artificial barriers between secular and religious culture, secular science and religion. A number of joint documents signed by His Holiness laid the foundations for the development of the Church's cooperation with health and social security systems, the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, justice agencies, cultural institutions and other government agencies. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, a system of care for military personnel and law enforcement officers has been created.

The Patriarch came up with many peacekeeping initiatives in connection with the conflicts in the Balkans, the Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation, hostilities in Moldova, events in the North Caucasus, the situation in the Middle East, the military operation against Iraq, and so on; it was he who invited the parties to the conflict during the 1993 political crisis in Russia to negotiate.

Date of Birth: 23 February 1929 Country: Russia Biography:

Childhood years (1929 - late 30s)

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia is the fifteenth Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church since the establishment of the Patriarchate in Russia (1589). Patriarch Alexy (in the world - Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger) was born on February 23, 1929 in the city of Tallinn (Estonia) into a deeply religious family.

Patriarch Alexy's father, Mikhail Alexandrovich Ridiger (+1962), a native of St. Petersburg, came from an old Petersburg family, whose representatives went through the glorious field of military and public service (among them, Adjutant General Count Fyodor Vasilyevich Ridiger - the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812).

Mikhail Alexandrovich studied at the School of Law, graduated from the gymnasium in exile in Estonia. Mother of the Most Holy Patriarch - Elena Iosifovna Pisareva (+1959), a native of Revel (Tallinn). In pre-war Europe, the life of the Russian emigration was poor, but material scarcity did not interfere with the flourishing of cultural life.

The emigrant youth was distinguished by a high spiritual attitude. The Orthodox Church played a huge role. The activity of the Church in the life of the Russian diaspora was as high as never before in Russia.

The religious community in the Russian diaspora has created an invaluable experience for Russia in the churching of various forms of cultural activity and social service. The Russian Student Christian Movement (RSKhD) actively worked among the youth. The movement had as its main goal the unification of believing youth for the service of the Orthodox Church, set itself the task of training defenders of the Church and the faith, and affirmed the inseparability of true Russian culture from Orthodoxy.

In Estonia, the Movement operated on a large scale. Parish life was actively developing within the framework of his activities. Russian Orthodox people willingly participated in the activities of the Movement. Among them was the father of the future Holy Patriarch.

From a young age, Mikhail Alexandrovich strove for the priestly ministry, but only after completing theological courses in Reval in 1940, he was ordained a deacon, and then a priest. For 16 years he was the rector of the Tallinn Nativity of the Virgin of the Kazan Church, was a member and later chairman of the diocesan council.

The family of the future Primate was dominated by the spirit of the Russian Orthodox Church, when life is inseparable from the temple of God and the family is truly a home church. For Alyosha Ridiger, there was no question of choosing a life path.

His first conscious steps were taken in the church, when as a six-year-old boy he performed his first obedience - pouring baptismal water. Even then, he firmly knew that he would become only a priest. At the age of eight or nine, he knew the Liturgy by heart and his favorite game was “to serve”.

The parents were embarrassed by this and even turned to the Valaam elders about this, but they were told that if everything is done seriously by a boy, then there is no need to hinder. Most of the Russians who lived in Estonia at that time were essentially not emigrants. Being natives of this region, they ended up abroad without leaving their homeland.

The uniqueness of the Russian emigration in Estonia was largely determined by the compact residence of Russians in the east of the country. Russian exiles scattered around the world sought to visit here. By the grace of God, they found here a "corner of Russia" that contained the great Russian shrine - the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, which, being outside the USSR at that time, was inaccessible to the godless government.

Every year, making pilgrimages to the Pyukhtitsa Holy Dormition Monastery and the Pskov-Pechersky Holy Dormition Monastery, the parents of the future His Holiness the Patriarch took the boy with them.

In the late 1930s, together with their son, they made two pilgrimage trips to the Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Lake Ladoga. The boy remembered for the rest of his life his meetings with the inhabitants of the monastery - the spirit-bearing elders Schema-Abbot John (Alekseev, +1958), the Hieroschemamonk Ephraim (Khrobostov, +1947) and especially with the monk Iuvian (Krasnoperov, +1957), with whom a correspondence began and who received the youth in my heart.

Here is a small excerpt from his letter to Alyosha Ridiger: “ Dear in the Lord, dear Alyoshenka! I sincerely thank you, my dear, for the greeting on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year, as well as for your good wishes. May the Lord God save you for all these spiritual gifts.<...>

If the Lord vouchsafed all of you to come to us on Easter, this would increase our Easter joy. Let's hope that the Lord, by His great mercy, will do this. We, too, fondly remember all of you: for us you are exactly our own, kindred spirit. Forgive me, dear Alyoshenka! Be healthy! God bless you! In your pure childish prayer, remember also about me, unworthy. Sincerely loving you in the Lord M. Iuvian. "

Thus, at the very beginning of his conscious life, the future Primate touched his soul to the pure spring of Russian holiness - “the wonderful island of Valaam”.

Through the monk Iuvian, the spiritual thread connects our Patriarch with the Guardian Angel of Russia - St. John of Kronstadt. It was with the blessing of this great lamp of the land that Russian Father Iuvian became a Valaam monk, and of course he spoke about the great shepherd to his dear boy Alyosha.

This connection reminded of itself half a century later - the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990, which elected His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, glorified righteous John of Kronstadt in the face of saints.

Youth. Study, the beginning of the ministry (late 30s - late 50s)

The path that the saints of the Russian land traveled for centuries - the path of pastoral ministry, which originates from a church-going childhood in Christ - was banned under Soviet rule.

Divine Providence for our current Primate built his life from birth in such a way that childhood and adolescence in old Russia preceded life in Soviet Russia (as far as it was then possible), and the young, but spiritually mature and courageous warrior of Christ met with Soviet reality.

From early childhood, Alexei Ridiger served in the church. His spiritual father was Archpriest John Bogoyavlensky, later Bishop Isidor of Tallinn and Estonia (+1949). From the age of fifteen, Alexy was a subdeacon to Archbishop Paul of Tallinn and Estonia (Dmitrovsky; +1946), and then to Bishop Isidor. He studied at a Russian high school in Tallinn.

His Holiness the Patriarch recalls that he always had an A according to the Law of God. The family was his strength and support both in choosing the path and throughout his priestly ministry. Not only the bonds of kinship, but also the bonds of spiritual friendship tied him with his parents, they shared all their experiences with each other ...

In 1936, the Tallinn Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, whose parishioners were the parents of the future Primate, was handed over to the Estonian parish. The history of this temple is long-suffering: immediately after the proclamation of the Republic of Estonia in 1918, a campaign to liquidate the cathedral began - they raised money "for the demolition of churches with Russian golden onions and boxes of Russian Gods" (Orthodox chapels) even in schools for children.

But the public, Russian and international, as well as the Red Cross, came out against the destruction of the cathedral. Then a new wave arose: to demolish the domes of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, erect a spire and create a "pantheon of Estonian independence" there. An architectural magazine published illustrations: a view of the city without “Russian bulbs”, but with “the pantheon of Estonian independence”.

These illustrations were preserved by the future His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and at one time were useful for saving the cathedral, when the authorities of already Soviet Estonia set out to transform the temple into a planetarium (the demonstration of the intentions of the bourgeois authorities regarding the use of the cathedral discouraged the Soviet rulers).

In 1936, the gilding was removed from the domes. The cathedral existed in this form until the war. In 1945, Subdeacon Alexy was instructed to prepare for the opening of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn for the resumption of divine services there (the cathedral was closed during the wartime occupation).

From May 1945 to October 1946, he was the altar and sacristan of the cathedral. Since 1946 he served as a psalmist in Simeonovskaya, and since 1947 - in Kazan churches in Tallinn. In 1946, Alexy Ridiger passed exams to the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Theological Seminary, but was not accepted, since he was not yet eighteen at that time.

The next year, 1947, he was immediately enrolled in the 3rd year of seminary, which he graduated with the first grade in 1949. While in his first year at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, on April 15, 1950, he was ordained a deacon, and on April 17, 1950, a priest, and was appointed rector of the Epiphany Church in the city of Johvi in \u200b\u200bthe Tallinn Diocese.

For more than three years he combined the ministry of a parish priest with correspondence studies at the academy. In 1953, Father Alexy graduated from the Theological Academy with the first grade and was awarded the degree of Candidate of Theology for his term essay "Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov) of Moscow as a dogmatist."

On July 15, 1957, Father Alexy was appointed rector of the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Tartu (Yuryev) and during the year he combined ministry in two churches. He served in Tartu for four years.

Tartu is a university city that is quiet in the summer and lively in the winter when students arrive. His Holiness the Patriarch has preserved the good memory of the old Yuryevsk university intelligentsia, which actively participated in church life. It was a living connection with old Russia. On August 17, 1958, Father Alexy was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

In 1959, on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the mother of His Holiness the Patriarch died. She had a difficult cross in her life - to be the wife and mother of a priest in an atheistic state. A reliable refuge and consolation was prayer - every day Elena Iosifovna read the akathist in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow". Mother Helena Iosifovna was served in Tartu, and was buried in Tallinn, at the Alexander Nevsky cemetery - the resting place of several generations of her ancestors. Father and son were left alone.

Episcopal ministry

On March 3, 1961, at the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Archpriest Alexy Ridiger took monastic vows. Soon, by a resolution of the Holy Synod of August 14, 1961, Hieromonk Alexis was assigned to become Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia with the assignment of the temporary administration of the Riga diocese.

On August 21, 1961, Hieromonk Alexy was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On September 3, 1961, Archimandrite Alexy (Ridiger) was ordained Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia, temporarily administrator of the Riga diocese.

It was not an easy time - the height of Khrushchev's persecutions. The Soviet leader, trying to revive the revolutionary spirit of the twenties, demanded the literal implementation of the anti-religious legislation of 1929. It seemed that pre-war times with their "five-year plan of atheism" had returned. True, the new persecution of Orthodoxy was not bloody - the ministers of the Church and Orthodox laity were not exterminated, as before, but newspapers, radio and television spewed streams of blasphemy and slander against the faith and the Church, and the authorities and the "public" persecuted and persecuted Christians. There was a massive closure of churches throughout the country. The already small number of theological educational institutions dropped sharply.

In February 1960, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I, in his speech at a conference of the Soviet public for disarmament, addressed millions of Orthodox Christians over the heads of those gathered in the Kremlin. Calling them to stand firm in the face of new persecution, His Holiness the Patriarch said: “In such a position of the Church there is a lot of consolation for its faithful members, for what can all the efforts of the human mind against Christianity mean if its two-thousand-year history speaks for itself, if the hostile ones are against His attacks were foreseen by Christ Himself and made a promise of the steadfastness of the Church, saying that "the gates of hell will not prevail against Her!"

In those difficult years for the Russian Church, the older generation of bishops, who had begun their ministry in pre-revolutionary Russia, left this world - confessors who had gone through the Solovki and the hellish circles of the Gulag, archpastors who went into exile abroad and returned to their homeland after the war ... a galaxy of young bishops, among whom was Bishop Alexy of Tallinn. These bishops, who did not see the Russian Church in power and glory, chose the path of serving the persecuted Church, which was under the yoke of a godless state. The authorities invented new ways of economic and police pressure on the Church, but the Orthodox faithfulness to Christ's commandment became an irresistible strength for her: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

On November 14, 1961, Bishop Alexy was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. Already at the very beginning of his episcopal ministry, the young bishop was faced with the decision of the local authorities to close and transfer the Pyukhtitsa Assumption Monastery to a rest house. However, he managed to convince the Soviet authorities that it was impossible for the bishop to begin his ministry by closing the monastery. At the beginning of 1962, being already deputy chairman of the DECR, Bishop Alexy brought a delegation of the Evangelical Church of Germany to the monastery. At that time, his father was lying with a heart attack, but the bishop had to accompany foreign guests - after all, it was about saving the monastery. Soon there were rave reviews of the Pukhtitsa Monastery in the Neue Zeit newspaper. Then there was another delegation, the third, fourth, fifth ... And the question of closing the monastery was removed.

Recalling those years, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy says: “God alone knows how much each of the clergy who remained in Soviet Russia, and did not go abroad, had to go through ... I happened to start my church service at a time when there was no longer they were shot, but how much I had to endure, defending the interests of the Church, will be judged by God and history ”. Over the 25 years of Vladyka Alexy's episcopal ministry in Estonia, with God's help, he managed to defend a lot. But then the enemy was known - he was alone. And the Church found ways of internal opposition to him.

Having ascended the Patriarchal throne, His Holiness Vladyka faced a completely different situation: in the modern complex world, with its social, political and national problems, the Church has many new enemies. On June 23, 1964, Bishop Alexy was elevated to the rank of archbishop and at the end of 1964 was appointed Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate and became a permanent member of the Holy Synod.

His Holiness the Patriarch recalls: “For nine years I was close to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy I, whose personality left a deep imprint on my soul. At that time, I held the post of the Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, and His Holiness the Patriarch fully trusted me in solving many internal issues. The hardest trials fell to his lot: revolution, persecution, repression, then, under Khrushchev, new administrative persecutions and the closure of churches. The modesty of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, his nobility, high spirituality - all this had a great influence on me. The last divine service, which he performed shortly before his death, was in 1970 at the Meeting.

In the Patriarchal residence in Chisty Lane, after his departure, the Gospel remained, revealed in words: "Now release Thy servant, Master, according to Thy verb in peace ..." ".

From March 10, 1970 to September 1, 1986, he was in charge of the general management of the Pension Committee, whose task was to provide pensions for the clergy and other persons who worked in church organizations, as well as their widows and orphans. On June 18, 1971, in consideration of the diligent efforts to hold the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, Metropolitan Alexy was awarded the right to wear a second panagia.

Metropolitan Alexy performed responsible functions as a member of the Commission for the preparation and celebration of the 50th anniversary (1968) and 60th anniversary (1978) of the restoration of the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church; member of the Commission of the Holy Synod for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971, as well as the chairman of the procedural and organizational group, chairman of the Secretariat of the Local Council; since December 23, 1980, he is the deputy chairman of the Commission for the preparation and celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus and the chairman of the organizational group of this commission, and since September 1986 - of the theological group.

On May 25, 1983, he was appointed chairman of the Responsible Commission for the development of measures for the reception of the buildings of the Danilov Monastery ensemble, the organization and implementation of all restoration and construction work to create on its territory the Spiritual and Administrative Center of the Russian Orthodox Church. He held this position until his appointment to the St. Petersburg (at that time - Leningrad) department.

In 1984, Vladyka Alexy was awarded the title of Doctor of Theology. The three-volume work "Essays on the History of Orthodoxy in Estonia" was submitted to him for the degree of Master of Theology, but the Academic Council of the LDA unanimously decided that, since "the dissertation in terms of the depth of research and the volume of material significantly exceeds the traditional criteria for a master's work" and "on the eve of 1000 On the anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, this work may constitute a special chapter in the study of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, ”the author deserves a higher academic degree than the one for which he submitted it.

“The dissertation is a comprehensive work on the history of Orthodoxy in Estonia, it contains a huge amount of church-historical material, the presentation and analysis of events meet the high criteria for doctoral dissertations,” was the conclusion of the Council. On April 12, 1984, the solemn act of presenting the doctoral cross to Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia Alexy took place.

At the Leningrad Department

On June 29, 1986, Vladyka Alexy was appointed Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod with the assignment to govern the Tallinn Diocese. Thus began another era in his life.

The reign of the new bishop became a turning point for the church life of the northern capital. At first, he faced complete disregard for the Church by the city authorities, he was not even allowed to pay a visit to the chairman of the Leningrad City Council - the representative of the Council for Religious Affairs said harshly: "This has never happened in Leningrad and cannot be." But a year later, this same chairman, when meeting with Metropolitan Alexy, said: "The doors of the Leningrad Soviet are open for you day and night." Soon, representatives of the authorities themselves began to come to the reception of the ruling bishop - this was how the Soviet stereotype was broken. Since January 24, 1990, Vladyka Alexy has been a member of the board of the Soviet Fund for Mercy and Health; since February 8, 1990 - member of the Presidium of the Leningrad Cultural Foundation.

From the Charity and Health Foundation in 1989, he was elected People's Deputy of the USSR. During the management of the St. Petersburg diocese, Vladyka Alexy managed to accomplish a lot: the chapel of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg at the Smolensk cemetery, and the Ioannovsky monastery at Karpovka were restored and consecrated.

During the tenure of His Holiness the Patriarch as Metropolitan of Leningrad, the canonization of Blessed Xenia of Petersburg took place, relics, churches and monasteries began to return, in particular, the holy relics of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, the Monks Zosima, Savvaty and German of Solovetsky were returned.

International activities

During all the years of his episcopal service, the future His Holiness Patriarch Alexy took an active part in the activities of many international organizations and conferences.

As part of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he took part in the III Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in New Delhi (1961); was elected a member of the Central Committee of the WCC (1961-1968); was President of the World Conference "Church and Society" (Geneva, Switzerland, 1966); member of the Commission "Faith and Order" of the WCC (1964-1968).

As head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, he took part in theological interviews with the delegation of the Evangelical Church in Germany "Arnoldshain-II" (FRG, 1962), in theological interviews with the delegation of the Union of Evangelical Churches in the GDR "Zagorsk-V" (Trinity-Sergius Lavra, 1984 ), in theological interviews with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in Leningrad and the Pyukhtitsky monastery (1989).

For more than a quarter of a century, Archbishop and Metropolitan Alexy devoted his works to the activities of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). Since 1964 he has been one of the presidents (members of the presidium) of the CEC; at subsequent general assemblies, he was re-elected president. Since 1971, Metropolitan Alexy has been vice-chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the CEC. On March 26, 1987 he was elected Chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the CEC. At the VIII General Assembly of the CEC in Crete in 1979, Metropolitan Alexy was the keynote speaker on the topic “In the Power of the Holy Spirit - to Serve the World”. Since 1972, Metropolitan Alexy has been a member of the Joint Committee of the CEC and the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (SECE) of the Roman Catholic Church. On May 15-21, 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, Metropolitan Alexy was co-chairman of the 1st European Ecumenical Assembly on the theme "Peace and Justice", organized by CEC and SECE. In September 1992, at the X General Assembly of the CEC, the term of office of Patriarch Alexy II as chairman of the CEC expired. His Holiness addressed the II European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz (Austria) in 1997.

Metropolitan Alexy was the initiator and chairman of four seminars of the Churches of the Soviet Union - members of the CEC and the Churches that support cooperation with this regional Christian organization. Seminars were held at the Pukhtitsky Dormition Convent in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1989.

Metropolitan Alexy took an active part in the work of international and domestic peacekeeping public organizations. Since 1963 - a member of the board of the Soviet Peace Fund, a member of the founding meeting of the Rodina society, at which he was elected a member of the council of the society on December 15, 1975; re-elected on May 27, 1981 and December 10, 1987.

On October 24, 1980 at the V All-Union Conference of the Soviet-Indian Friendship Society, he was elected vice-president of this Society.

Delegate to the World Christian Conference "Life and Peace" (April 20-24, 1983, Uppsala, Sweden). Elected at this conference as one of its presidents.

The future Primate in his Patriarchal ministry was to revive church life on an all-Russian scale.

On May 3, 1990, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia reposed in the Lord. An extraordinary Local Council was convened to elect a new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. On June 7, 1990, the bell of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra announced the election of the fifteenth All-Russian Patriarch. The enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy took place on June 10, 1990 in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow.

The return of the Church to wide public service is largely the merit of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. One after another followed truly providential events: the uncovering of the relics of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, their solemn transfer to Diveyevo, when, according to the saint's prediction, in the middle of summer they sang Easter; the uncovering of the relics of St. Joasaph of Belgorod and their return to Belgorod, the uncovering of the relics of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon and their solemn transfer to the Great Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery, the uncovering of the relics of St. Philaret of Moscow and St. Maximus the Greek in the Trinity Lavra of St.

These miraculous gains testify to the beginning of a new, amazing period in the life of our Church, testify to God's blessing for the ministry of Patriarch Alexy II.

As a co-chairman, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy joined the Russian organizing committee for preparations for the meeting of the third millennium and the celebration of the two millennium of Christianity (1998-2000). On the initiative and with the participation of His Holiness the Patriarch, an interfaith conference "Christian Faith and Human Enmity" was held (Moscow, 1994). His Holiness the Patriarch presided over the conference of the Christian Interfaith Advisory Committee "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13: 8). Christianity on the Threshold of the Third Millennium "(1999); Interreligious Peace Forum (Moscow, 2000).

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy was the chairman of the Patriarchal Synodal Biblical Commission, editor-in-chief of the Orthodox Encyclopedia and the chairman of the Observatory and Church Scientific Councils for the publication of the Orthodox Encyclopedia, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Charitable Fund for Reconciliation and Accord, headed the Board of Trustees of the National Military Fund.

During the years of his episcopal service as Metropolitan and Patriarch Alexy II visited many dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and countries of the world, was a participant in many church events. Several hundred of his articles, speeches and works on theological, church history, peacemaking and other topics have been published in the church and secular press in Russia and abroad. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy headed the Councils of Bishops in 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2008, and invariably chaired the meetings of the Holy Synod.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy paid much attention to the training of clergy for the Russian Orthodox Church, the religious education of the laity, and the spiritual and moral education of the young generation. For this purpose, with the blessing of His Holiness, theological seminaries, theological schools, and parish schools are being opened; structures are being created for the development of religious education and catechesis. In 1995, the dispensation of church life made it possible to approach the rebuilding of the missionary structure.

His Holiness paid great attention to the establishment in Russia of a new relationship between the state and the Church. At the same time, he convincingly adhered to the principle of separation between the mission of the Church and the functions of the state, non-interference in each other's internal affairs. At the same time, he believed that the soul-saving service of the Church and the service of the state to society require mutually free interaction between church, state and public institutions.

After many years of persecution and restrictions, the Church returned the opportunity to carry out not only catechetical, religious, educational and educational activities in society, but also to carry out charity in relation to the poor and the ministry of mercy in hospitals, nursing homes and places of detention.

The pastoral approach of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy eased the tension between the institutions of the state system for the preservation of cultural monuments and the Church, which was caused by unjustified fears, narrowly corporate or personal interests. His Holiness signed a number of joint documents with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the leadership of individual museum complexes located on the territory of church-historically and spiritually significant monasteries, which solve the above problems and give the monasteries a new life.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy called for close cooperation between representatives of all areas of secular and church culture. He constantly reminded of the need to revive morality and spiritual culture, to overcome artificial barriers between secular and religious culture, secular science and religion.

A number of joint documents signed by His Holiness laid the foundations for the development of the Church's cooperation with health and social security systems, the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, justice agencies, cultural institutions and other government agencies. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, a harmonious church system of nourishment for military personnel and law enforcement officers was created.

In the course of political, social and economic reforms, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II constantly spoke about the priority of moral goals over all others, about the advantage of serving the good of society and a particular person in political and economic activity.

Continuing the tradition of Christian peacekeeping service, during the socio-political crisis in Russia in the fall of 1993, fraught with the threat of civil war, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia took on the mission of pacifying political passions, inviting the parties to the conflict to negotiate and mediating on these negotiations.

The patriarch came up with many peacekeeping initiatives in connection with the conflicts in the Balkans, the Armenian-Azerbaijani confrontation, the hostilities in Moldova, the events in the North Caucasus, the situation in the Middle East, the military operation against Iraq, the military conflict in South Ossetia in August 2008, and so on. Further.

During the Patriarchal service, a large number of new dioceses were formed. Thus, many centers of spiritual and ecclesiastical-administrative leadership arose, located closer to parishes and contributing to the revitalization of church life in remote regions.

As the ruling bishop of the city of Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II devoted much attention to the revival and development of intra-diocesan and parish life. In many ways, these works became a model for the organization of diocesan and parish life in other places. Along with the tireless internal church system, in which he constantly called for a more active and responsible participation of all Church members without exception on a truly conciliar basis, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church paid great attention to the issues of fraternal interaction of all Orthodox Churches for the joint witness of the Truth of Christ to the world.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy considered cooperation between various Christian confessions to meet the needs of the modern world as a Christian duty and a path to fulfilling Christ's commandment of unity. Peace and harmony in society, which Patriarch Alexy tirelessly called for, necessarily included a benevolent understanding and cooperation between adherents of different religions and worldviews.

For a year he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary, from which he graduated with the first grade of the year.

Priesthood

Bishop of Tallinn

On November 14 of the same year, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On December 22 of the same year, he was appointed Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate and a permanent ex-officio member of the Holy Synod.

On May 7, he was appointed chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, which manages the spiritual and educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On August 26 of the same year he was elected an honorary member of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Elected to the Commission of the Holy Synod for the preparation of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1971 and appointed chairman of the procedural and organizational group, as well as chairman of the secretariat of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of the year.

Instructed to head the Theological Working Group of the Commission of the Holy Synod for the preparation and celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

On May 17, with the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York, he signed the "Act of Canonical Communion," marking the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Ecumenical and social activities

Delegate to the 3rd General Assembly of the World Council of the Church in New Delhi in 1961; member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches from 1961 to 1968; participant in the session of the Central Committee of the RCC in Paris (France) - 1962; Rochester (USA) - 1963; Onugu (Nigeria) - 1965; Geneva (Switzerland) - 1966; President of the World Conference "Church and Society" - 1966 in Geneva (Switzerland); member of the commission "Faith and Order" of the WCC from 1964 to 1968. and a participant in the session in Arhus (Denmark) on August 12-26, 1964.

Head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at theological interviews with the delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, Germany, Arnoldshain II - October 20-25, 1962

Head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at theological interviews with the delegation of the Union of Evangelical Churches in the GDR - "Zagorsk-V", November 13-16, 1984 in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Zagorsk.

At the 8th General Assembly (October 1979) he was the keynote speaker on the theme "In the Power of the Holy Spirit - to Serve the World".

Since 1971 - Vice-Chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the Conference of European Churches. At the first meetings of the Presidium and the Advisory Committee of the CEC, after the VII and VIII General Assemblies in 1974 and 1979. re-elected to the post of vice-chairman of the Presidium of the Advisory Committee.

He headed the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church to the General Assemblies of the CEC: 1964 - Bornholm (Denmark); 1967 - Petschach (Austria); 1971 - Nyborg (Denmark); 1974 - Engelberg (Switzerland); 1979 - Crete (Greece).

Participant of joint meetings of the Presidium and the Advisory Committee of the CEC:

• Vienna, Austria - 1965; Falsterbo, Sweden - 1966;
• Bucharest, Romania - 1967; Thun, Switzerland - 1968;
• El Escorial, Spain - 1969; Out-Pulheist, Holland - 1970:
• Marseille, France - 1971; Puchserg, Austria - 1972;
• Libfraunberg, France - 1975; Moscow, USSR - 1976;
• Iasi, Romania - 1977; Trondheim, Norway - 1978;
• Sigtuna, Sweden - 1979; Salzburg, Austria - 1980;
• Curry le Roy, France - 1981; Athens, Greece - 1982;
• Oxford, England - 1983; Les Avan, Switzerland - 1984;
• Sofia, Bulgaria - 1985

Participant of sessions of the Presidium of the Conference of European Churches:

• Bucharest, Romania - 1965; Naples, Italy - 1968;
• Windsor, England - 1969; Poiana Brasov, Romania - 1970;
• Geneva, Switzerland - 1971; Zagorsk, USSR - 1972;
• Crete, Greece - 1974; Bad Gandersheim, Germany - 1976;
• Geneva, Switzerland - 1976; Manchester, England - 1977;
• Warsaw, Poland - 1978; Helsinki, Finland - 1980;
• Prague, Czechoslovakia - 1981; Ernst Sillam Hove, Holland - 1982;
• Geneva, Switzerland - 1983

At the meeting of the Presidium and the Advisory Committee of the CEC in Les Avans on May 4, 1984, he was elected a member of the committee for the election of the General Secretary of the CEC. March 1987 - Elected Chairman of the Presidium and Advisory Committee of the CEC.

At the jubilee meeting of the Churches' Program Committee for Human Rights in the Light of the Compliance with the Final Act of Helsinki on June 12-16, 1985 in Arvepniaia, Finland, represented the leadership of the Conference of European Churches.

Since 1972 - member of the joint committee of the Conference of European Churches - Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe, the Roman Catholic Church and a member of the meetings of this committee:

• Geneva, Switzerland - 1972 Lockum, Germany - 1977
• Frankfurt am Main, Germany - 1973 Copenhagen, Denmark - 1979
• Zurich, Switzerland - 1974 Bayenrode, Germany - 1981
• Geneva, Switzerland - 1975 St. Gallen, Switzerland - 1982
• Bad Gandersheim, Germany - 1976 Kartyi, Switzerland - 1983
• Geneva, Switzerland - 1977 Luxembourg - 1984

Participant of the first broad meeting between the Conference of European Churches and the Council of Episcopal Conferences in Shantini, France, April 10-14, 1978.

Participant of the second broad meeting between the Conference of European Churches and the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe of the Roman Catholic Church, November 16-19, 1981, Legumkloster, Denmark.

Participant of the third broad meeting between CEC and SECE, October 3-7, 1984 in Riva del Garda, Northern Italy, on the theme: "Our credo is a source of hope."

Initiator and chairman of the First Seminar of the Churches of the Soviet Union - members of the CEC and Churches supporting fraternal cooperation with the European Ecumenical Organization, June 27-29, 1982 in the Pukhtitsa Assumption Convent and the Second Seminar - "Pukhtitsa-2", May 15-17, 1984 ...

He actively participated in the work of public organizations:

• since 1962 - member of the Estonian Republican Peace Committee;
• from 1963 - member of the Board of the Soviet Peace Fund, participant in All-Union conferences and meetings of the Bureau of the Board of the Peace Fund; participant of the founding meeting of the Rodina society, at which he was elected a member of the Society's Council since December 15, 1975;
• delegate to the 2nd All-Union Conference of the Rodina Society. Re-elected as a member of the Rodina Society Council on May 27, 1981;
• October 24, 1980, at the V All-Union Conference of the Society of Soviet-Indian Friendship, was elected vice-president of this Society;
• delegate of the IV Estonian Republican Conference of the Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. On February 13, 1981, he was elected a member of the Board of the Estonian Republican Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries;
• delegate to the Conference of Representatives of the Soviet Public for General Disarmament and Peace, May 29-30, 1962;
• delegate to the All-Union Conference of Representatives of the Soviet Public for Peace, National Independence and Disarmament, June 17-18, 1965;
• delegate to the Soviet Peace Conference, October 9-10, 1974;
• delegate to the World Forum of Peace Forces, January 14-16, 1977;
• delegate to the World Congress for Peace and Peaceful Cooperation, New Delhi, India, November 1964;
• chairman of the secretariat and delegate to the Conference of Representatives of All Religions in the USSR for Cooperation and Peace between Nations, 1969;
• delegate of the World Conference "Religious Leaders for Lasting Peace, Disarmament and Fair Relations between Nations", June 6-11, 1977 in Moscow;
• participant of the All-Union Conference dedicated to the results of the 9th All-Christian Congress in Prague, Moscow, November 14-16, 1978
• head of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation at the CEC colloquium "Churches of Europe and Helsinki", Bukov, East Germany, October 1975
• delegate to the 2nd All Christian Peace Congress in Prague - 1964;
• chairman of the "Peace and Ecumena" Commission of the Christian Peace Conference from 1964 to 1968;
• a delegate from the Russian Orthodox Church at the international interreligious meeting to convene the World Conference of Religious Figures 1982, October 1-2, 1981;
• honorary guest of the World Conference "Religious Leaders for Saving the Sacred Gift of Life from Nuclear Catastrophe", May 10-14, 1982, Moscow;
• delegate to the World Christian Conference "Life and Peace", April 20-24, 1983 Uppsala, Sweden. Elected at this conference by one of its presidents;
• participant in the Research Consultation of the CEC "Dynamics of Hope: Trust, Disarmament, Peace", May 26-31, 1983, Moscow;
• from December 19, 1983 - member of the public commission of the Soviet Peace Committee for relations with religious circles advocating for peace;
• co-chairman of the meeting of religious leaders of the Soviet Union and India, dedicated to the current international situation and, in particular, in the Indian Ocean region, October 1-2, 1984, Moscow;
• delegate of the All-Union Conference of Peace Supporters on January 23, 1985, Moscow.

During the years of his episcopal ministry, he visited many countries and was a participant in many church events:

• participant of the first Pan-Orthodox conference on Fr. Rhodes, 1961;
• as part of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, visited the Church of Denmark from 8 to 15 April 1964;
• led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the Uppsala Archbishop's Chair, Sweden, June 11-18, 1964;
• led the ROC pilgrimage group to the Holy Places of Jordan and Israel on Holy Week and Easter 1965;
• headed the ROC pilgrimage group to the Holy Places of Jerusalem and Israel from June 6 to June 21, 1984 and from June 21 to 25, 1984, was a guest of the Cypriot Orthodox Church in Cyprus;
• led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations of the Malabar Church, in connection with the 150th anniversary of the theological seminary, and was a guest of the Local Council of this Church in Katoyama, India, December 22, 1965 - January 4, 1966;
• member of the delegation of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations in connection with the 20th anniversary of the Lviv Council in Lvov, April 21-28, 1966;
• led the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the founding of the monastery in Curtea de Arges, Romania, Aug. 1967;
• participant of the celebrations on the occasion of the consecration of the World of the Armenian Apostolic Church, 1962;
• head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations of the consecration of Peace in Echmiadzin, 1969;
• head of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation to the enthronement of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch David V, Tbilisi, 1972;
• as part of a delegation of CEC leaders, visited the CEC member Churches in Portugal, November 26 - December 1, 1976;
• head of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation at the funeral of His Beatitude Patriarch Justinian of Romania, March 30-April 1, 1977;
• led church celebrations in Smolensk in connection with the 300th anniversary of the Assumption Cathedral, August 8-11, 1977;
• head of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation at the funeral of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia David V, November 9-12, 1977;
• head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Conference of Lutheran Churches of Europe in Tallinn, September 7-13, 1980;
• chairman of the Commission for the Celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo and a participant in the celebrations dedicated to the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo in Tula, on the Kulikovo Field and the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, September 17-21, 1980

From 26 to 31 October 1980 he was on a visit to Finland as a guest of the Lutheran and Orthodox Church of Finland;

From June 4 to June 12, he was in Finland at the invitation of the Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Archbishop Vikstrem and visited Helsinki, Lahti, Kuopio, Porvo, N. Valaam and Lintul monasteries;

From November 11 to November 28, 1980, he led the pilgrimage group of the Russian Orthodox Church, which visited Holy Mount Athos and the Holy Places of the Church of Greece.

Awards

Church

Secular

• State Order of the USSR "Friendship of Peoples" 22 / 11-1979
• certificate of honor of the Soviet Peace Fund 23 / VII-1969
• medal of the Soviet Peace Fund and a certificate of honor 13 / XII-1971
• commemorative table personal medal of the Soviet Peace Fund 1969
• medal of the World Peace Council, in connection with the 25th anniversary of the peace movement 1976
• medal of the Soviet Peace Committee, in connection with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Committee in 1974
• certificate of honor of the Soviet Peace Committee 11.1979
• certificate of honor of the Soviet Peace Fund and a commemorative medal 11.1979
• commemorative medal of the World Peace Council, in connection with the 30th anniversary of the peace movement 1981
• honorary badge of the Board of the Soviet Peace Fund for active participation in the activities of the fund 15 / XII-1982
• diploma of the Society of Soviet-Indian Friendship (ZhMP. 1986, No. 5, 7).

Essays

• "Metropolitan Filaret (Drozdov) of Moscow as a dogmatist" (Candidate's essay. Typescript).
• Speech when naming the Bishop of Tallinn ZhMP. 1961, No. 10, p. ten.
• Speech at the Conference of the Soviet Public of the Estonian SSR. ZhMP. 1962, no. 6.
• Speech at the opening of theological interviews with the delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Federal Republic of Germany "Arnoldshain-II" October 21, 1982 ZhMP. 1983, no. 12, p. 41.
• "Russian Orthodox Church and Peace Foundation" WMP. 1964, no. 6.
• "A trip to Denmark". ZhMP. 1964, no. 6 and 7.
• "Meetings of the Commission" Faith and Church Order in Aarhus "ZhMP. 1964, No. 10.
• On the assessment of the past activities of the Conference of European Churches and the tasks ahead of it "WMP. 1964, no. 11.
• "International Conference for Peace and Cooperation in New Delhi". ZhMP. 1965, no. 1.
• "Meetings of the RSC" Vera "Commission and Church Order in Aarhus". ZhMP. 1965, no. 6.
• Greetings from the Chairman of the Study Committee on behalf of the theological academies and seminaries of the Russian Orthodox Church Theological Seminary in Kottayamo on the day of its 150th anniversary. ZhMP. 1966, No. 2, p. 3.
• "In memory of the Bishop of the Methodist Church, Dr. F. Zigg". ZhMP. 1966, No. 2, p. 53-55.
• Report at the solemn act on April 23, 1966, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Lviv Council and the liquidation of the union. ZhMP. 1966, No. 6, p. 9-15.
• Report at the meeting of the KMK commission for the study of ecumenical problems. Bucharest, May 1966
• Christianity in the USSR. "Moscow News" 29 / X-1966
• "Anniversary of the Shepherd". ZhMP. 1968, No. 11, p. 31-32.
• "Conference of the Soviet Peace Fund" (April 1, 1969). ZhMP. 1969, no. 5, p. 40-42.
• "Speech at the 1st meeting of the 1st working group of the Conference of Representatives of All Religions in the USSR, July 2, 1969. ZhMP. 1969, No. 9, pp. 48-49.
• M. Alexy's interview with a correspondent for radio Germany on October 27, 1970 ZhMP. 1970, no. 12, p. 6-7.
• "In the high position of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens" ZhMP. 1971, No. 2, p. 6-11.
• Answer to the question of the APN correspondent. ZhMP. 1971, No. 5, p. 3-5.
• "On the Peacekeeping Activity of the Russian Orthodox Church" (Co-report at the Local Council on May 31, 1971) ZhMP. 1971, No. 7, p. 45-62.
• "Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church", ed. 1972, p. 80.
• Speech at the presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on behalf of the Local Council to His Holiness Patriarch Pimen. ZhMP. 1971, No. 9, p. 22; "Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church", ed. 1972, p. 264.
• "An important milestone on the road to European security" WMP. 1971, No. 9, p. 44-45.
• "In the name of a common cause" (to the 10th anniversary of the Soviet Peace Fund). ZhMP. 1971, No. 12, p. 49-50.
• Speech on the day of the first anniversary of the patriarchal service of Patriarch Pimen. ZhMP. 1972, no. 7, p. 7-9.
• Speech at the prayer service on the opening day of the meeting of the CEC Presidium in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra on April 18, 1972 ZhMP. 1972, no. 7, p. 50-52.
• Speech to His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia David V after his enthronement in the Mtskheta Cathedral on July 2, 1972 ZhMP. 1972, no. 8, p. 49-51.
• Speech at a reception on the occasion of the enthronement of His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia David V, July 2, 1972 ZhMP. 1972, no. 8, p. 51-62.
• Speech at the presentation of the bishop's baton to Bishop Simon (Novikov) of Ryazan on October 14, 1972 ZhMP. 1972, no. 12, p. 9-11.
• Speech at the presentation of the bishop's baton to the Bishop of Tambov Damascus (Bodrom) on October 18, 1972 ZhMP. 1972, no. 12, p. 14-16.
• Christian view of the ecological problem "ZhMP. 1974, No. 3, pp. 43-48; No. 4, pp. 35-39.
• M. Alexy's interview to the All-Union radio correspondent on November 6, 1974 ZhMP. 1975, No. 1, p. 46-47.
• Address at the plenum of the Soviet Committee for European Security and Cooperation 18 Feb. 1975 ZhMP. 1975, no. 4, p. 52.
• Congratulatory words on the day of Holy Easter by Patriarch Pimen May 5, 1975 ZhMP. 1975, no. 7, p. 16-17.
• Speech to Canon Raymond Goor after being awarded the International Lenin Prize "For Strengthening Peace Between Nations" in the Sverdlovsk Hall of the Kremlin on November 26, 1975. ZhMP. 1976, 12, p. 38.
• Speech at the founding conference of the Rodina society on December 15, 1975 ZhMP. 1976, No. 2, p. 39.
• Speech at the presentation of the baton to Bishop Seraphim (Gachkovsky) of Alma-Ata. ZhMP. 1976, no. 3, p. 12.
• Significance of the Local Council of 1971 ZhMP. 1976, no. 8, p. 7.
• Interview to the All-Union Radio June 18, 1976 ZhMP. 1976, no. 8, p. 36.
• "Fifth Anniversary of the Patriarchal Enthronement" ZhMP. 1976, no. 8, p. 6.
• Speech at the plenum of the Soviet Peace Committee, August 17, 1976 WMP. 1976, No. 11, p. 36.
• Speech in the discussion group of the World Forum of Peace Forces on January 15, 1977 WMP. 1977, no. 4, p. 35.
• Interview to All-Union Radio on February 26, 1977 ZhMP. 1977, no. 5, p. 7.
• Speech at the tomb of His Beatitude Patriarch of Romania Justinian March 31, 1977 WMP. No. 6, p. 34.
• Statement on the draft of the new Constitution of the USSR. ZhMP. 1977, no. 10, p. five.
• Sermon on the day of the celebration of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God on the day of the 300th anniversary of the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral, August 10, 1977 ZhMP. 1977, no. 10, p. 26.
• "Humanism and care for people" Newspaper "Voice of the Motherland". 1977. No. 38 (Sept.).
• Speech at the meeting of the Council of the society "Rodina", September 29, 1977 ZhMP. 1977, no. 12, p. 34.
• Speech at the presentation of the baton to Bishop Ambrose (Shchurov) of Ivanovo and Kineshma on October 18, 1977 ZhMP. 1978, No. 1, p. 34.
• Speech at the tomb of His Holiness and Beatitude Patriarch of All Georgia David V in the Cathedral of Zion on November 10, 1977 ZhMP. 1978, no. 3, p. 45.
• Archbishop Alfred Tooming (obituary). ZhMP. 1978, no. 4, p. 61.
• Speech at the All-Union Conference of the Soviet Peace Fund. ZhMP. 1978, no. 7, p. 43.
• Speech before the funeral prayer for the late Pope John Paul I in the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral. ZhMP. 1978, no. 12, p. 59.
• Eighth anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement, word of Metropolitan Alexy. ZhMP. 1979, no. 8, p. fourteen.
• "Come and See" is about religious life in the USSR and the training of clergy. The newspaper "Voice of the Motherland". 1979. No. 33 (2177) (Aug.).
• Name of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, word of Metropolitan Alexy. ZhMP. 1979, No. 11, p. ten.
• "In service to the world." "Neye Zeitung" newspaper. 1979. No. 269, 14.11.
• Interview to the newspaper Kodumaa (Rodina) (in Estonian), no. 50, 12 December 1979
• "In the Power of the Holy Spirit - Serving the World": Report to the VIII General Assembly of the CEC, Crete, Greece, October 18-25, 1979 WMP. 1980, no. 1, p. 54; No. 2, p. 62; No. 3, p. 57.
• Speech at a meeting of the Soviet public on the day of action against the deployment of medium-range missiles in Western Europe. ZhMP. 1980, no. 2, p. 41.
• Greetings on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the newspaper "Voice of the Motherland". "Voice of the Motherland". 1980. No. 14 (2210) (Apr.)
• In the service of peace - a conversation recorded on the eve of the 1980 Olympics, Newspaper "Neues Zeit", GDR, July 19, 1980, p. five.
• Speech on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement. ZhMP. 1980, no. 8, p. 7.
• Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Patriarch Pimen, opening remarks. ZhMP. 1980, no. 9, p. sixteen.
• The legacy of the Conference on the Security and Disarmament of Europe is important to the world. Aamulehti newspaper, Finland, October 29, 1980
• Speech at handing over the baton to Bishop Athanasius (Kudyuk) 1 Sept. 1980 ZhMP. 1980, no. 11, p. eleven.
• Speech before the funeral service in the St. John the Epiphany Church in the village of Kurkino, Tula Bishop, in connection with the 600th anniversary of the Kulikovo Victory. ZhMP. 1980, no. 12, p. 13.
• Speech at the opening ceremony at the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the Kulikovo Victory. ZhMP. 1980, no. 12, p. fifteen.
• Message to the readers of the magazine "Our Life" for the feast of the Nativity of Christ. "Our Life" ed. Russian Cultural Democratic Union of Finland № 1 (241), 1981, p. 6.
• "For Peaceful Europe", interview to the newspaper "Voice of the Motherland". "Voice of the Motherland", No. 11 (2259) March, 1980, p. 13.
• On the eve of the meeting in Legumkloster. (interview).
• Speech on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Patriarchal enthronement in the Epiphany Cathedral on June 3, 1981 ZhMP. 1981, no. 8, p. 7.
• Speech at the Second All-Union Conference of the Rodina Society on May 27, 1981 ZhMP. 1981, No. 9, p. 48.
• Congratulations to the readers of the newspaper "Voice of the Motherland" on May 1 and Victory Day. "Voice of the Motherland", No. 19, May 1982, p. ten.
• "Preserving the sacred gift of life" (article). "Voice of the Motherland", No. 23, June, 1982, p. eleven.
• Annotation to the discs released for the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo. Moscow, 1981
• Speech at a reception in honor of the delegation of the Council of Evangelical Churches of Germany (FRG) June 24, 1982 WMP. 1982, No. 9, p. 61.
• Message to the readers of the magazine "Our Life" for Christmas and New Year. "Our Life", No. 6, 1982, p. 35.
• Speech to His Holiness Patriarch Pimen on the day of his namesake in the Pimenov Church in Moscow, 9 Sept. 1982 ZhMP. 1982, No. 12, p. 36.
• Speech at the presentation of the baton to Bishop Alexander (Timofeev) of Dmitrov. Intercession Church MDA October 14, 1982 ZhMP. 1982, No. 12, p. 40.
• A speech to the participants of the "Peace March-82" in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra on July 24, 1982 ZhMP. 1982, No. 12, p. 104.
• "Stop the nuclear arms race, prevent war." Izvestia newspaper April 30. 1983, p. 4. Newspaper "Kodumaa" May 11, 1983, p. 7 (in Estonian).
• "Choosing in favor of life". Moscow News newspaper, 1983, No. 20, May 19, p. 6.
• Speech at the presentation of the diploma of Doctor of Theology Honoris Kausa on November 12, 1983 in Prague. ZhMP. 1983, no. 4, p. 46.
• Report "Philokalia in Russian ascetic thought". ZhMP. 1983, No. 4, p. 46.
• "For life, we must act together." Novaya Gazeta, May 21, 1983, No. 119.
• "A Call to the Christians of the World". Consultative meeting of representatives of the Churches of Europe in Moscow. The newspaper "Voice of the Motherland", June 1983, no. 24, p. 12.
• "For the salvation of the sacred gift of life" Journal "Otchizna", no. 5, p. 29.
• Interview "End the Arms Race". Journal "Soviet Country", June, 1983
• Speech at the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on the day of the celebration of the 12th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen. ZhMP. 1983, no. 8, p. 16-17
• Speech at the ecumenical service at the opening of the CEC Consultation "Dynamics of Hope: Trust, Disarmament, Peace", May 26, 1983, Moscow. ZhMP. 1983, no. 8, p. 66.
• "Danilovsky Monastery is being restored" (interview). Newspaper "Moscow News", No. 45, November 6, 1983, p. eleven.
• Sermon on the day of the celebration of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. ZhMP. 1983, no. 10, p. 24.
• Speech on the day of the namesake of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen 9 Sept. 1983 ZhMP. 1983, No. 11, p. 7.
• Article "Life and Peace". Uppsala World Christian Conference. ZhMP. 1983, no. 11, p. 36-39.
• Message for Christmas and New Year to the readers of the magazine "Our Life". "Our Life", 1983, no. 6, p. 3-4.
• "Essays on the history of Orthodoxy in Estonia". 806 s. (doctoral dissertation) (typescript).
• Speech at the Soviet-French colloquium "The problem of disarmament and the consolidation of peace" January 24, 1984 ZhMP. 1984, no. 4, p. 38.
• Speech at the All-Union Conference of the Soviet Peace Fund at the House of Unions, January 31, 1984 ZhMP. 1984, no. 5, p. 54.
• Speech at a meeting of the Rodina Society Council on February 16, 1984 ZhMP. 1984, no. 7, p. 51.
• Speech at the presentation of the baton to Bishop Eusebius (Savin) of Alma-Ata on April 1, 1984 at the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral. ZhMP. 1984, no. 6, p. 13.
• Speech on the day of the 13th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Pimen at the Epiphany Patriarchal Cathedral on June 3, 1984 ZhMP. 1984, no. 8, p. eleven.
• Speech on the 74th anniversary of the birth of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen in the Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Moscow on July 23, 1984 ZhMP. 1984, no. 9, p. nine.
• Message to the readers of the magazine "Our Life" of the Russian Cultural and Democratic Union in Finland for Christmas and New Year. "Our Life", 1984, no. 6.
• Speech at the opening of the Fifth Theological Interview "Zagorsk-V", November 13, 1984 in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. ZhMP. 1985, no. 4, p. 64.
• Interview to the newspaper "Uusi Suomi" "The Russian Church is preparing for the 1000th anniversary, the Metropolitan of Tallinn appeals to the spirit of Helsinki." "Uusi Suomi", June 7, 1985, p. nine.
• Interview to Barkauden Lyakhti newspaper "Trust of Churches and Nations Can Prevent Wars" Metropolitan Alexy on Valaam. "Barkauden lyahti", June 10, 1985
• Interview to the Helsinki Sanomat newspaper "The Estonian Orthodox Church believes in its future." "Helsinki sanomat" June 14, 1985, p. 20.
• Speech at the official reception in honor of the participants in the Theological Interview "Zagorsk V", November 21, 1984 ZhMP. 1985, no. 5, p. 63.
• "To protect the world" on the 10th anniversary of the signing of the final Act of Helsinki // "Voice of the Motherland" newspaper, No. 51, 1985
• The difficult path of the dramatic century // NG-Religions. 1997. No. 11 (Nov.).
• I can't walk to Jerusalem // Kommersant-daily. 1998. No. 127.
• Epistles for the Feast of the Nativity of Christ to the clergy, monastics and Orthodox believers of the Tallinn diocese, typed with parallel Estonian and Russian texts for 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985
• Epistles for the feast of Holy Easter to the clergy, monastics and Orthodox believers of the Tallinn diocese, printed by typographical method for 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

Literature

• Nikitin V.A. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. Life and deeds for the glory of God. M .: Astrel: Rus-Olympus, 2009
• ZhMP. 1961, No. 9, p. 4; No. 10, p. eleven.
• - "-, 1962, No. 2, p. 23.
• - "-, 1964, No. 5, p. 14, No. 8, p. 1
• - "-, 1965, No. 1, p. 5; No. 4, p. 5; No. 6, p. 2.
• - "-, 1966, No. 2, p. 34; No. 5, p. 4; No. 10, p. 17, 18.
• - "-, 1967, No. 4, p. 3; No. 5, p. 37; No. 7, p. 26, 39-40; No. 9, p. 1, 7; No. 10, p. 3; No. 12, 3, 21.
• - "-, 1968, No. 2, p. 15, No. 3, p. 3, 14; No. 7, p. 23; No. 9, p. 12; No. 11, p. 32; No. 12, p. 17, 37.
• - "-, 1969, No. 4, p. 6; No. 8, p. 1; No. 9, p. 5; No. 11, p. 22.
• - "-, 1970, No. 1, p. 18; No. 2, p. 43; No. 3, p. 26; No. 6, p. 11-32; No. 7, p. 11; No. 10, p. 16, 55-59; No. 11, p. 4.5; No. 12, p. 30.
• - "-, 1971, No. 2, p. 16; No. 3, p. 16; No. 4, p. 3; No. 6, p. 1; No. 7, p. 1; No. 8, p. 46; No. 9 , p. 35; No. 10, p. 28; No. 11, p. 2, 13, 15; No. 12, p. 40.
• - "-, 1972, No. 1, p. 23; No. 3, p. 3, 45; No. 5, p. 17; No. 7, p. 33; No. 9, p. 24, 30, 33; No. 10, p. 2; no. 12, p. 7, 12, 17, 24.
• - "-, 1973, No. 1, p. 35, 65; No. 3, p. 25; No. 5, p. 5; No. 11, p. 9.
• - "-, 1974, No. 1, p. 27; No. 2, p. 11, 40; No. 5, p. 4, No. 9, p. 9; No. 11, p. 9, 23.
• - "-, 1975, No. 1, p. 30, 34; No. 2, p. 3; No. 3, p. 20; No. 6, p. 13; No. 10, p. 22; No. 12, p. 9.
• - "-, 1976, No. 1, p. 16; No. 2, p. 12; No. 3, p. 12, 20; No. 9, p. 5; No. 12, p. 10.
• - "-, 1977, No. 2, p. 23, 67; No. 3, p. 7; No. 4, p. 22; No. 5, p. 4; No. 10, p. 9; No. 11, p. 3; No. 12, p. 3.
• - "-, 1978, No. 1, p. 28, 34, 36; No. 2, p. 7; No. 6, p. 23; No. 7, p. 62; No. 10, p. 7; No. 11, p. 4; No. 12, p. 10, 22.
• - "-, 1979, No. 1, p. 9; No. 3, p. 21,22; No. 5, p. 7, 11, 12; No. 6, p. 2, 45; No. 8, p. 38, 53 ; No. 9, p. 8, 24, 50; No. 10, p. 24, 25, 26; No. 11, p. 14; No. 12, p. 3, 6, 57.
• - "-, 1980, No. 1, p. 8, 45; No. 3, p. 4; No. 5, p. 7, 17; No. 8, p. 24-25; No. 9, p. 9-10, 12 , 34, 42; No. 10, p. 2-3, 21-22; No. 11, p. 8, 12, 56; No. 12, p. 8, 28, 58.
• - "-, 1981, No. 1, p. 59-60; No. 2, p. 4, 8, 13; No. 3, p. 3; No. 4, p. 55; No. 5, p. 6, 15, 33 ; No. 7, p. 63; No. 8, p. 36; No. 9, p. 6, 48; No. 11, p. 62; No. 12, p. 3, 6.
• - "-, 1982, No. 1, p. 9, 59, 61; No. 2, p. 5, 7, 55; No. 3, p. 3, 17; No. 5, p. 6, 59; No. 7, p. . 10, 33, 51, 59; No. 8, p. 11, 45, 46, 53; No. 9, p. 3; No. 10, p. 35; No. 12, p. 4, 7, 39, 109,124,129.
• - "-, 1983, No. 1, p. 9, 11, 68; No. 2, p. 5, 44, 47; No. 3, p. 26; No. 4, p. 9, 45, 58; No. 5, p. 7, 24, 27, 68; No. 7, p. 14, 57-58; No. 8, p. 5, 31; No. 9, p. 5, 17, 21; No. 10, p. 17, 22; No. 11, p. 18, 21; No. 12, p. 8-11.
• - "-, 1984, No. 2, p. 4; No. 3, p. 49; No. 4, p. 5, 14, 53; No. 5, p. 7-8, 11, 54; No. 6, p. 3 , 6; No. 7, p. 49, 52; No. 8, p. 6, 19, 61, 63; No. 9, p. 6, 8, 62; No. 10, p. 4, 10, 13, 17, 42 ; No. 11, p. 5, 51; No. 12, p. 3.
• - "-, 1985, No. 1, p. 46, 58; No. 2, p. 8; No. 3, p. 60; No. 4, p. 5-6, 20; No. 5, p. 6, 24, 58 ; No. 6, p. 65; No. 8, p. 2, 7, 64; No. 9, p. 9, 91; No. 10, p. 9, 12-13, 52; No. 11, p. 28, 85; No. 12, p. 41, 43, 10.
• - "-, 1986, No. 1, p. 23; No. 11, p. 2-3, 8-9.
• - "-, 1988, No. 10, p. 7.
• - "-, 1989, No. 6, p. 5.

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The name of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow occupies a firm place in church science. Even before the First Holy See, he published more than 150 works on church history and theological topics. He became the fifteenth Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and received the honorary title of His Holiness His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

In the world he is Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger. Was born on February 23, 1929 in the Estonian city of Tallinn. The family of the future Patriarch was deeply religious. Alexei's father, Mikhail Alexandrovich Ridiger, was a native of St. Petersburg and descended from an old Petersburg family. The saint's mother, Elena Iosifovna Pisareva, was Estonian.

In pre-war Europe, the life of Russian families. who emigrated from their homeland, was not very well off. But although material life was meager, this did not prevent His Holiness from developing culturally.

From a young age the boy strove to worship. The spirit of the Orthodox Church always reigned in the family of the Primate. It has always been believed that the temple and the family are inseparable parts. That is why, for young Alexei, there was no question about choosing a path through life.

At the age of six, the boy made his first conscious steps in an Orthodox church. He acted as an assistant to the priest, pouring out the sacred water. Then he definitely decided that when he grows up, he will become a priest.

The youth of Alexei II Patriarch of Moscow

His Holiness began to serve in the church from a young age. At the age of 15, he became a subdeacon to Bishop Isidore and Archbishop Paul of Estonia and Tallinn. In 1945, Alexei became a sacristan and altar boy at the local cathedral. A few years later he entered the theological seminary in St. Petersburg. And five years later he became the abbot of the Epiphany Monastery in Jõhvi. In 1957 he was also appointed rector of the Assumption Cathedral. He served in two monasteries for a year.

Episcopal and patriarchal ministry of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II

At the age of 32, His Holiness took monastic vows. In the same year, a resolution was adopted to confer the titles of Estonian and Tallinn Bishop to Alexy Ridiger. So he became the administrator of the Riga diocese.

It was not an easy time. In the communist country, more and more revolutionary actions flared up, which were aimed at persecuting religiosity. This is the time of Khrushchev's persecution. True, these were not pre-war times, when church ministers were exterminated. At that time, everything was simply bypassed by slandering the church in the media: newspapers, radio, television. The authorities wanted to persecute Christians by closing religious schools and temples.

Patriarch Alexy II himself says about this time: “Only the Lord knows how much each clergyman who remained in Soviet Russia had to endure at that time. We defended the interests of the Orthodox Church. "

During his ministry, His Holiness formed a large number of new dioceses. Created new centers of church and spiritual leadership. All this contributed to the revitalization of religious and church life. He also constantly spoke out with peacekeeping initiatives in counter-permanent and military operations in the Balkans, Moldova, the North Caucasus, South Ossetia and Iraq.

Where Patriarch Alexy II is buried

The XV Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church died during the light Christmas fast - December 5, 2008. Alexy did not live to see his birthday for only two months. The death of Patriarch Alexy was a shock to the entire Orthodox people.

Today believers very often turn to the relics of His Holiness:

• for help;
• for advice;
• for healing;
• with thanks.

Even after the death of the Patriarch, his pilgrimage route takes shape by itself. Many come to his place of burial. He is buried in the Epiphany Cathedral, which is also popularly called Elokhovsky.

People come to him, talk to him, consult, ask for something, or worship the great Holy Man. Moreover, both ordinary ordinary people and leaders, famous figures, and even presidents come to him.

The Lord is always with you!

Watch the video about His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow: