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Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow

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[[Image:alexeyII.jpg|frame|right|Patriarch Alexey Alexei II of Moscow and All Russia]]His Holiness [[Patriarch ]] '''Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow''' (born [[February 23]], 1929- [[December 5]], 2008[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7766625.stm]) is was the current Patriarch of Moscow and the head of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]]from 1990 until his death.
==Life and ministry==
He was born as '''Alexei Mikhailovich Ridiger''' in Tallinn, Estonia, to the family of a entered Leningrad Theological [[priestSeminary]]in 1947, and graduated in 1949. He graduated from then entered the Leningrad clerical seminary in 1949; was ordained Theological Academy (now [[deaconhttp://www.spbda.ru/english/index.php Saint Petersburg Theological Seminary]] in 1950; ), and graduated from Leningrad clerical academy in 1953. On August 14<ref name="official bio">[http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?mid=99&lng=1 Alexy II, 1961, he was chosen to be the [[Bishop]] Patriarch of Tallinn Moscow and Estonia. On June 23All Russia, 1964Biographical Note], he was promoted to [[archbishop]]; andBiography, on February 25, 1968, at the age of 39 to [[metropolitan]]Moscow Patriarchate's official website.</ref><refname="encbrit"> ''Encyclopedia Britannica Online'', s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref>
From 1986 until his election as PatriarchOn April 15, 1950, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) of Novgorod Leningrad, and on April 17, 1950, he was ordained a [[priest]] and Leningrad. After appointed [[rector]] of the death [[Theophany]] church in city of [[Pimen I (Izvekov) of Moscoww:Johvi|Patriarch PimenJohvi]] , Estonia, in 1990 the Tallinn Diocese. On July 15, 1957, Fr. Alexei was chosen to become appointed Rector of the Cathedral of the new Patriarch [[Dormition]] in Tallinn and [[Dean]] of The Russian Orthodox Churchthe [[W:Tartu|Tartu]] district. He was chosen on elevated to the basis rank of his administrative experienceArchpriest on August 17, 1958, and was considered "intelligenton March 30, energetic1959, hardworking, systematic, perceptive, and businesslike."<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Churchhe was appointed Dean of the united Tartu-[[W: A Contemporary History Viljandi|Viljandi]] deanery of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Editionthe Tallinn diocese.(Oxford: Westview PressOn March 3, 2003)1961,p 85.</ref> He also "had he was [[tonsure]]d a reputation as a conciliator, "a person who could find common ground with various groups [[monk]] in the episcopate.""<ref>Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History Trinity Cathedral of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition[[Holy Trinity-St.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 86Sergius Lavra]].</ref> Archbishishop Chrysostom (Martyshkin) remarked name="With his peaceful and tolerant disposition Patriarch Aleksi will be able to unite us all.official bio"<ref>Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii, No. 10 (October), 1990, p.16, quoted 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 PatriarchOn August 14, Patriarch Alexei became a vocal advocate of the rights of the church1961, calling for the Soviet government he was chosen to allow religious education in be the state schools [[Bishop]] of Tallinn and for a “freedom of conscience” lawEstonia.<ref> Encyclopedia Britannica OnlineOn June 23, s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref> During the attempted coup in August 19911964, he denounced the arrest of Mikhail Gorbachev, was promoted to [[archbishop]]; 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 legitimacyon February 25, called for restraint by the military1968, and demanded that Gorbachev be allowed to address at the people.<ref>Nathaniel Davisage of 39, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy, 2nd Edition.(Oxford: Westview Press, 2003),p 96[[metropolitan]].</ref> He issued a second appeal against violence and fratricide, which was amplified over loudspeakers to the troops outside the Russian name="White Houseencbrit" 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 From 1986 until his leadershipelection as Patriarch, he was Metropolitan of Novgorod and Leningrad. After the New Martyrs and Confessors death of Russia who suffered under Communism were glorified, beginning with [[Elizabeth the New MartyrPimen I (Izvekov) of Moscow|the Grand Duchess ElizabethPatriarch Pimen]]in 1990, [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) Alexei was chosen to become the new Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. He was chosen on the basis of Kiev his administrative experience, and Gallich|Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev]]was considered "intelligent, energetic, hardworking, systematic, perceptive, and Metropolitan Benjamin of Petrograd in 1992businesslike."<ref>Timothy WareNathaniel Davis, The Orthodox ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', New Edition, 2nd ed. (LondonOxford: Penguin BooksWestview Press, 19972003), p. 16485.</ref> In 2000He also "had a reputation as a conciliator, 'a person who could find common ground with various groups in the All-Russian Council glorified Tsar Nicholas II and his family, as well as many other New Martyrsepiscopate.' "<refname="nd86">Sophia KishkovskyNathaniel Davis, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/16/europe/16russ.php?page=2 Russian Orthodox ''A Long Walk to 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 A Contemporary History of bishopsRussian Orthodoxy' council: Nicholas' canonization approved], Communications Service2nd ed. (Oxford: Westview Press, Department of External Church Relations2003), Moscow Patriarchate, 14 August 2000p. 86.</ref> More names continue to Archbishishop Chrysostom (Martyshkin) remarked, "With his peaceful and tolerant disposition Patriarch Aleksi will be added able to list of New Martyrs, after the Synodal Canonization Commission completes its investigation of each caseunite us all. "<ref>Maxim Massalitin''Zhurnal Moskovskoi Patriarkhii'',[http://wwwNo.pravoslavie10 (October), 1990, p.ru/enarticles/040106180408 The New Martyrs Unify Us16, quoted in Nathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: Interview with Archpriest Georgy MitrofanovA Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', participant of the All-Diaspora Pastoral Conference in Nyack 2nd ed. (December 8-12Oxford: Westview Press, 2003)], Pravoslaviep. 284.ru</ref> Patriarch Alexei II was "the first patriarch in Soviet history to be chosen without government pressure; candidates were nominated from the floor, December 13, 2003and the election was conducted by secret ballot."<ref name="encbrit" /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 name="encbrit" /> During the attempted coup in August 1991, he denounced the arrest of Mikhail Gorbachev, and anathematized the plotters.<ref name="encbrit" /> He publicly questioned the junta's legitimacy, called for restraint by the military, and demanded that Gorbachev be allowed to address the people.<ref>Nathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', 2nd ed. (Oxford: Westview Press, 2003), p. 96.</ref> He issued a second appeal against violence and fratricide, which was amplified over loudspeakers to the troops outside the Russian "White House" half an hour before they attacked.<ref name="nd86" /> 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 ed. (Oxford: Westview Press, 2003), p. 97.</ref>  Under his leadership, the [[New Martyrs]] and [[Confessor]]s of Russia who suffered under Communism were [[glorification|glorified]], beginning with [[Elizabeth the New Martyr|the Grand Duchess Elizabeth]], Metropolitan [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich|Vladimir of Kiev]], and Metropolitan Benjamin of Petrograd in 1992.<ref name="ware">[[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Timothy Ware]], ''The Orthodox Church'', new ed., (London: Penguin Books, 1997), p. 164.</ref> In 2000, the All-Russian Council glorified Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia|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> Despite his ageduring his patriarchate, Patriarch Alexei II is quite healthy and leads led an active political life. He's was frequently seen on Russian TVtelevision, conducting Church church services, and meeting with various government officials. He died on [[December 5]], 2008.
==Name==
His name (secular 'Алексей, clerical Алексий) is transliterated from the Cyrillic alphabet into English in various forms, including Alexius, Aleksi, Alexis, Alexei, Alexey , and Alexy. When he became a monk, his name was not changed; this departure from custom was common in the Russian Church in Soviet times.'.
==Criticism==
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union there have been accusations that Patriarch Alexei had ties to the KGB, which resulted from documents which allegedly came from the KGB's archives in Estonia, and which refer to Patriarch Alexei with the code name "Drozdov.".<ref> See for example, ''The Wall Street Journal'', [http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB118469533202469128-lMyQjAxMDE3ODE0NzYxOTc1Wj.html 'Cold War Lingers At Russian Church In New Jersey'] December 28, 2007.</ref> It should be noted that it was very unusual for any person to be referenced in KGB documents prior to 1980 without a similar code name, regardless of their an affiliation with the KGB. Patriarch Alexei has always denied that he was a KGB agent,<ref>"Official spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchy Father Vsevolod Chaplin labeled such reports as "'absolutely unsubstantiated" ' in a Wednesday interview with Interfax. "'There is no data indicating that Patriarch Alexy II was an associate of the special services, and no classified documents bear his signature," ' he said. "'I do not think that direct dialogue between the current patriarch and KGB took place," ' Father Vsevolod continued. However, "'all bishops communicated with representatives of the council for religious matters in the Soviet government, which was inevitable, since any issue, even the most insignificant one, had to be resolved through this body. It is quite another matter that the council forwarded all its materials to the KGB," ' he said." [http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/0009b.html Moscow Patriarchate Rejects Times Repor Report of Alexy II'S Collaboration with KGB, Sept 20, 2000 (Interfax)] . "Chaplin, the church spokesman, said in March, "'Nobody has ever seen a single real document that would confirm the patriarch used his contacts with Soviet authorities to make harm to the church or to any people in the church.' " [http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/0205e.html Russia's Well-Connected Patriarch, ''Washington Post '' Foreign Service , 23 May 2002]; "Father Chaplin said: 'In recent times many anonymous photocopies of all sorts of pieces of paper have been circulated. In none of them is there the slightest evidence that the individuals we are talking about knew that these documents were being drawn up, or gave their consent. So I don't think any reasonably authoritative clerical or secular commission could see these papers as proof of anything.' " Russian Patriarch 'was KGB spy', ''The Guardian'' (London), February 12, 1999.</ref> and the authenticity of the documents in question have been disputed on the basis on the basis that they use anachronistic fonts which did not exist at the time the document ostensibly originated from, and that the Estonian government fabricated the documents in order to discredit the Russian Orthodox Church.<ref>Alexey Chumakov [https://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa-iub.exe?A2=ind0010A&L=ORTHODOX&P=R3102 Agent Drozdov?], December 28, 2007.</ref>  Professor Nathaniel Davis pointed out: "If the bishops wished to defend their people and survive in office, they had to collaborate to some degree with the KGB, with the commissioners of the Council for Religious Affairs, and with other party and governmental authorities."<ref> Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy,(Oxford: Westview Press, 1995),p .96 Davis quotes one bishop as saying: "Yes, we -- I, at least, and I say this first about myself -- I worked together with the KGB. I cooperated, I made signed statements, I had regular meetings, I made reports. I was given a pseudonym -- a code name as they say there... I knowingly cooperated with them -- but in such a way that I undeviatingly tried to maintain the position of my Church, and, yes, also to act as a patriot, insofar as I understood, in collaboration with these organs. I was never a stool pigeon, nor an informer."</ref>
Patriarch Alexei hasProfessor Nathaniel Davis pointed out: "If the bishops wished to defend their people and survive in office, howeverthey had to collaborate to some degree with the KGB, acknowledged that compromises were made with the Soviet government by bishops commissioners of the Moscow PatriarchateCouncil for Religious Affairs, and publicly repented of these compromiseswith other party and governmental authorities."<ref>[httpNathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', (Oxford://pagesWestview Press, 1995), p.prodigy96. Davis quotes one bishop as saying: "Yes, we&mdash;I, at least, and I say this first about myself&mdash;I worked together with the KGB. I cooperated, I made signed statements, I had regular meetings, I made reports. I was given a pseudonym&mdash;a code name as they say there.net/frjohnwhiteford/patalexei.htm Has . I knowingly cooperated with them&mdash;but in such a way that I undeviatingly tried to maintain the MP Repented?]position of my Church, and, December 28yes, 2007also to act as a patriot, insofar as I understood, in collaboration with these organs. I was never a stool pigeon, nor an informer."</ref>
:''"Defending one thingPatriarch Alexei has, it was necessary to give somewhere else. Were there any other organizationshowever, or any other people among those who had to carry responsibility not only for themselves but for thousands of other fates, who in those years in acknowledged that compromises were made with the Soviet Union were not compelled to act likewise? Before those people, however, to whom the compromises, silence, forced passivity or expressions of loyalty permitted government by the leaders bishops of the church in those years caused painMoscow Patriarchate, before and publicly repented of these people, and not only before God, I ask forgiveness, understanding and prayerscompromises."''<ref>From an interview of Patriarch Alexei II, given to "Izvestia" No 137, June 10, 1991, entitled "Patriarch Alexei II: -- I Take upon Myself Responsibility for All that Happened", English translation from Nathaniel Davis, A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy,(Oxford: Westview Press, 1995),p 89. See also [http://orthodoxinfopages.comprodigy.net/ecumenismfrjohnwhiteford/roca_historypatalexei.aspx History of htm Has the Russian Orthodox Church AbroadMP Repented?], by St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco, December 3128, 2007.</ref>
According :''"Defending one thing, it was necessary to Nathaniel Davisgive somewhere else. Were there any other organizations, or any other people among those who had to carry responsibility not only for themselves but for thousands of other fates, who in those years in the Soviet Union were not compelled to act likewise? Before those people, however, when asked by to whom the Russian press about claims that he was a "compliant" bishopcompromises, "Aleksi defended his recordsilence, noting that while he was bishop forced passivity or expressions of Tallinn in 1961, he resisted loyalty permitted by the communist authorities' efforts to make leaders of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral church in the city a planetarium (whichthose years caused pain, before these people, and not only before God, in truthI ask forgiveness, they did do elsewhere in the Baltic states) understanding and to convert the Pyukhtitsa Dormition nunnery to a rest home for minersprayers."''<ref> Nathaniel DavisFrom an interview of Patriarch Alexei II, A Long Walk given to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy"Izvestia" No 137,(Oxford: Westview PressJune 10, 1995)1991,p. 89f </ref> Official records show that the Tallinn diocese had a lower number of forced Church closings than was typical in the rest of the USSR during entitled "Patriarch Alexei's tenure as bishop there.<ref> II:&mdash;I Take upon Myself Responsibility for All that Happened", English translation from Nathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'',(Oxford: Westview Press, 1995), fnp. 89. 115, pSee also [http://orthodoxinfo. 272 <com/ecumenism/ref> Metropolitan Kallistos (Timothy Ware) notes, "Opinions differ over roca_history.aspx History of the past collaboration or otherwise between the Communist authorities, but on the whole he is thought to have shown firmness and independence in his dealings as a diocesan bishop with the Soviet State."<ref>Timothy Ware, The Russian Orthodox ChurchAbroad], New Edition, by St. [[John Maximovitch|John (London: Penguin BooksMaximovitch) of Shanghai and San Francisco]], 1997)December 31, p2007. 164</ref>
==External link==* [httpAccording to Nathaniel Davis, when asked by the Russian press about claims that he was a "compliant" bishop, "Aleksi defended his record, noting that while he was bishop of Tallinn in 1961, he resisted the communist authorities' efforts to make the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the city a planetarium (which, in truth, they did do elsewhere in the Baltic states) and to convert the Pyukhtitsa Dormition nunnery to a rest home for miners."<ref>Nathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', (Oxford:Westview Press, 1995) ,p. 89f.<//wwwref> Official records show that the Tallinn diocese had a lower number of forced church closings than was typical in the rest of the USSR during Patriarch Alexei's tenure as bishop there.<ref>Nathaniel Davis, ''A Long Walk to Church: A Contemporary History of Russian Orthodoxy'', (Oxford: Westview Press, 1995), fn. 115, p.mospat272.ru</index.php?mid=99 Biography ref> Metropolitan [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Kallistos]] (Timothy Ware) notes, "Opinions differ over the past collaboration or otherwise between the Communist authorities, but on the official site of whole he is thought to have shown firmness and independence in his dealings as a diocesan bishop with the Moscow Patriarchate]Soviet State."<ref name="ware" />
==Notes==
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{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=?[[John (Alekseyev) of Tallinn|John (Alekseyev)]]|title=Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia<br>(Moscow Patriarchate)|
years=1961-1986|
after=?[[Cornelius (Yacobs) of Tallinn|Cornelius (Yacobs)]]}}
{{succession|
before=?[[Anthony (Melnikov) of Leningrad|Anthony (Melnikov)]]|
title=Metropolitan of Novgorod and Leningrad|
years=1986-1990|
after=?[[John (Snychev) of St. Petersburg|John (Snychev)]]}}
{{succession|
before=[[Pimen I (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen(Izvekov)]]|title=[[Church List of primates of Russia|Patriarch of Moscow]]|years=1990-present2008|after=&mdash;[[Kyrill I (Gundyayev) of Moscow]]}}
{{end box}}
==External links==*[http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?mid=99&lng=1 Biography on the official site of the Moscow Patriarchate]*[eshttp:Alexei //orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/russia/current.htm#aleksii_patr Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute*[[w:Patriarch Alexius II|''Patriarch Alexius II (Ridiger) de Moscú'' at Wikipedia]] ==Notes== <div class="small"> <references /></div>
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Tallinn]]
[[Category:Bishops of Novgorod]]
[[Category:Patriarchs of Moscow]]
[[Category:St. Petersburg Academy Graduates]]
 
[[es:Alexei II (Ridiger) de Moscú]]
[[fr:Alexis II (Ridiger) de Moscou]]
[[pt:Aleixo II (Ridiger) de Moscou]]
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