The late head of the Russian Orthodox church, Alexy II, releases a dove after a holiday service at the Kremlin, in April 2004. Photograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty ImagesFrom Time Magazine:
Patriarch Alexy II, who died Friday at age 79 of a long-standing heart ailment, led the great revival of the Russian Orthodox Church, transforming it from a subservient and entirely dependent tool of the state in Soviet times to a rich and powerful ally of the state today. A shrewd diplomat and politician, he was elected Patriarch in 1990 by the Church's National Council (in which both clergy and laity are represented) in its first real secret ballot since 1917, and carefully orchestrated the ROC's role as Russia's dominant church, just short of official-religion status. Now, the Church faces the challenge of choosing a new Patriarch to carry forward his legacy.
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Update: Bush offers condolences as Russian church mourns -- AFP
My Comment: This is going to be a big thing in Russia this week. If the U.S. wants to signal its intent to improve relations with Russia, Vice President-elect Biden would be a perfect person to represent the U.S. at the service.