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From 1986 until his election as Patriarch, he was Metropolitan of Novgorod and Leningrad. After the death of [[Pimen I (Izvekov) of Moscow|Patriarch Pimen]] in 1990 Alexei was chosen to become the new Patriarch of The Russian Orthodox Church. He was chosen on the basis of his administrative experience, and was considered "intelligent, energetic, hardworking, systematic, perceptive, and businesslike."<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 85.</ref> He also "had a reputation as a conciliator, "a person who could find common ground with various groups in the episcopate.""<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 86.</ref> Archbishishop Chrysostom (Martyshkin) remarked "With his peaceful and tolerant disposition Patriarch Aleksi will be able to unite us all."<ref>Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii, No. 10 (October), 1990, p.16, qouted in Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 284.</ref> Patriarch Alexei II was "the first patriarch in Soviet history to be chosen without government pressure; candidates were nominated from the floor, and the election was conducted by secret ballot."<ref> Encyclopedia Britannica Online, s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref>
Upon taking on the role of Patriarch, Patriarch Alexei became a vocal advocate of the rights of the church, calling for the Soviet government to allow religious education in the state schools and for a “freedom of conscience” law.<ref> Encyclopedia Britannica Online, s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref> During the attempted coup in August 1991, he denounced the arrest of Mikhail Gorbachev, and anathematized the plotters.<ref> Encyclopedia Britannica Online, s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref> He publicly questioned the junta's legitimacy, called for restraint by the milatary, and demanded that Gorbachev be allwed to address the people.<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 96.</ref> He issued a second appeal against violence, which was amplified over loudspeakers to the troops outside the Russian "White House" half an hour before they attacked.<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 86.</ref> Ultimately, the coup failed, which eventually resulted in the break up of the Soviet Union.<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 97.</ref>
Under his leadership, the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia who suffered under Communism were glorified, beginning with [[Elizabeth the New Martyr|the Grand Duchess Elizabeth]], [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich|Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev]], and Metropolitan Benjamin of Petrograd in 1992.<ref>Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church, New Edition, (London: Penguin Books, 1997), p. 164</ref> In 2000, the All-Russian Council glorified Tsar Nicholas II and his family, as well as many other New Martyrs.<ref>Sophia Kishkovsky, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/16/europe/16russ.php?page=2 Russian Orthodox Church is set to mend a bitter schism], International Herald Tribune, May 16, 2007; [http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/0008f.html#31 Second day of bishops' council: Nicholas' canonization approved], Communications Service, Department of External Church Relations, Moscow Patriarchate, 14 August 2000</ref> More names continue to be added to list of New Martyrs, after the Synodal Canonization Commission completes its investigation of each case. <ref>Maxim Massalitin,[http://www.pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/040106180408 The New Martyrs Unify Us: Interview with Archpriest Georgy Mitrofanov, participant of the All-Diaspora Pastoral Conference in Nyack (December 8-12, 2003)], Pravoslavie.ru, December 13, 2003</ref>
