See Also
The Tireless Preacher
Russia Profile,
02/02/2010Prior to Kirill's enthronement in winter of 2009, the clergy were wary of his pro-Western sympathies, reformer’s zeal and forceful character that, the fear was, could have led to a schism in the Russian Church. Now that the first year of his patriarchate has elapsed, these fears can be said to have been ungrounded.
The Last of the Noughties
Russia Profile,
12/31/2009The year 2009 – the last of the “noughties” (or “zero” years, as Russians have started calling them, with the tongue-in-cheek subtext of being empty, devoid of a content) - is coming to an end. Due to the annual New Year holidays, the Russia Profile Web site will be updated on a reduced schedule between January 1 and 10. Until then, we would like to leave you with a few of our own reflections on where Russia stands on the brink of the new decade - and most importantly, wish all our readers a Happy New Year.
Preconciliar Tension
Comment by Andrei Zolotov Jr.
Russia Profile,
01/21/2009The Council of Bishops and the Local Council – the two top bodies of the Russian Orthodox Church -- will convene in less than a week. The Councils will elect the new Patriarch of Moscow, and the pre-council tension has reached the apogee. This will be the first time for the Russian Church to elect its new primate in an informational society, and thus, whether the church acknowledges this or not, in the circumstances of a public “election campaign.”
Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: the Role of the Patriarch
Introduced by Vladimir Frolov
Russia Profile,
12/12/2008The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexy II, died at the age of 79 last week of heart-related illnesses. Alexy II helped restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church following decades of repression under communism. President Dmitry Medvedev made an emotional televised statement from India, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called the patriarch’s death a "great loss." But has Alexy’s policy of closely aligning the Church and the state been good for the Church and for Russia as a society? Has his rule contributed to religious tolerance and freedom to worship in Russia? Why would the Church want to be an international agent for the Russian government?
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ALEXY II
Patriarch of Moscow and of All-Russia and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church (1990-2008)
07/22/2010
