Patriarch Alexy II (in the world - Alexey Mikhailovich Ridiger)

Patriarch Alexy (secular - Alexey Mikhailovich Ridiger) was born February 23, 1929 in Tallinn (Estonia) in a deeply believing family. Father of Patriarch Alexy, . Mikhail Alexandrovich Ridiger (+1962), . born in St. Petersburg, . studied at the School of Law, . graduated from high school in emigration in Estonia, . In 1940 he graduated from the Theological three-year course in Tallinn and was ordained deacon, . and then to the priesthood, in the past 16 years was the rector of the Tallinn Church of the Nativity of the Virgin of Kazan, . a member, . and later chairman of the Diocesan Council,
. Mother of His Holiness Patriarch - Elena losifovna Pisarev (1959), was born in Revel (Tallinn).

Annual pilgrimage to the Holy Dormition Pц?htitsa female and Pskov-Pechora Holy Dormition Monastery, parents took along his son. In the late 30-ies parents with the son made two pilgrimages to the Holy Transfiguration Valaam Monastery on Lake Ladoga, which largely determined the future path of the spiritual life of the Patriarch. From early childhood, Alexey Ridiger served in the church under the guidance of his spiritual father, Archpriest John Epiphany, . later - the Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia Isadora (1949), from 1944 to 1947 was senior subdeacon of Archbishop in Tallinn and Estonia Paul (Dmitrovsky, 1946), . and then the bishop Isidore,
. He studied at the Russian secondary school in Tallinn. In 1945, the subdeacon Alexis was asked to prepare for the opening of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallin for a resumption of worship in it (the cathedral in the military occupation was closed). From May 1945 to October 1946 he was the altar boys and the sacristan of the cathedral. Since 1946, served as a psalm-reader in Simeon, and since 1947 - in the Kazan church in Tallinn.

In 1947 he entered the St. Petersburg (at that time - Leningrad) Theological Seminary, where he obtained first class in 1949. As a freshman at St. Petersburg Theological Academy, . Alexei Ridiger April 15, 1950 was ordained a deacon, . and April 17, 1950 - a priest and appointed rector of Epiphany Church City Jц?hvi (Johvi) Tallinn diocese,
. In 1953, father Alex graduated from the Theological Academy in the first category and was awarded the degree of candidate of theology.

July 15, 1957 Father Alexy was appointed rector of Cathedral of the Assumption of the city of Tartu and the Dean of the Tartu County. August 17, 1958 elevated to the rank of archpriest. 30 March 1959 was appointed Dean of the Joint Tartu-Viljandi deanery of the Tallinn diocese. March 3, 1961 at the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra tonsured a monk. August 14, 1961 Hieromonk Alexy determined to be the Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia with the task of his interim management of the Riga diocese. August 21, 1961 ieromonah Alexy was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. September 3, 1961 in Tallinn Alexander Nevsky Cathedral committed consecration of Archimandrite Alexy as Bishop of Tallinn and Estonia.

. 14 November 1961 Bishop Alexy was appointed deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of Moscow Patriarchate
. 23 June 1964 Bishop Alexy was elevated to the rank of archbishop. On 22 December 1964 Archbishop Alexy appointed business manager of the Moscow Patriarchate and became permanent member of the Holy Synod. At the post office manager, he stayed until July 20 1986goda. 7 May 1965 Archbishop Alexy appointed Chairman of the Education Committee. Exempt from this position, according to his own request, Oct. 16, 1986. On October 17, 1963 to 1979 Archbishop Alexy - Member of the Commission of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on Christian unity and inter-church relations.

. 25 February 1968 Archbishop Alexy was elevated to the rank of metropolitan
. On March 10, 1970 to September 1, 1986 the general management of the Pension Committee, whose task was pensions of the clergy and others working in religious organizations, as well as their widows and orphans. June 18, 1971 at the diligent attention to the works for the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, 1971 Metropolitan Alexy was awarded the right to wear the second Panagia.

. Metropolitan Alexy perform important functions as a member of the Commission on the preparation and holding the celebrations of 50 years (1968) and 60 years (1978) restoration of the Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, a 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 chairman of the procedural and organizational groups, . Chairman of the Secretariat of the Local Council, 23 December 1980, he - Deputy Chairman of the Commission on the preparation and holding of the celebration of 1000 anniversary of the Baptism of Russia and the Chairman of the organizing team of the Commission, . and from September 1986 - theological group,
. May 25, 1983 was appointed chairman of the responsible commission for the development of activities on the Admission of the ensemble of buildings Danilov Monastery, . organization and conduct of all restoration and construction works to build on its territory of Ecclesiastical-Administrative Center of the Russian Orthodox Church,
. In this position, he stayed until the appointment of the St. Petersburg (at that time - Leningrad), chair. June 29, 1986 he was appointed Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod to the request control of the Tallinn diocese. June 7, 1990 at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church elected to the Moscow Patriarchal See. The enthronement took place 10iyunya 1990.

. Activities of Metropolitan Alexy on the international stage: in the Russian Orthodox Church delegation participated in the III Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in New Delhi (1961), was elected a member of the WCC Central Committee (1961-1968) was president of the World Conference on Church and Society (Geneva, . Switzerland, . 1966); member of the commission "Faith and the WCC (1964 - 1968),
. As head of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation participated in theological interviews with the delegation of the Evangelical Church in Germany "Arnoldshayn-II" (Federal Republic of Germany, . 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 Pц?htitsa Monastery (1989),
. More than a quarter century, Metropolitan Alexy devoted his labors of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). Since 1964, Metropolitan Alexy - one of the Presidents (members of the Bureau), CEC; subsequent general assemblies re-elected president. Since 1971, the Metropolitan Alexy - Vice-Chairman of the Presidium of the Conference Committee and the CEC. March 26, 1987 elected as Chairman of the Presidium of the Conference Committee and the CEC. At the VIII General Assembly of CEC in Crete in 1979 Metropolitan Alexy was a keynote speaker on the topic "The power of the Holy Spirit - to serve the world". Since 1972, Metropolitan Alexy - a member of the Joint Committee of the CEC and the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE), the Roman Catholic Church. 15-21 May 1989 in Basel, Switzerland, Metropolitan Alexy was co-I European Ecumenical Assembly on the theme "Peace and Justice", organized by CEC and CCEE. In September 1992, at the Tenth General Assembly of CEC, his term of office of Patriarch Alexy II as CEC chairman. His Holiness spoke at the II European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz (Austria) in 1997. Metropolitan Alexy was an initiator and chairman of four seminars Churches of the Soviet Union - the members of CEC and the Churches, to cooperate with this regional Christian organization. Seminars were held in the Assumption Pц?htitsa nunnery in 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1989.

Metropolitan Alexy took an active part in international and national peace public organizations. Since 1963 - Member of the Board of the Soviet Peace Fund, a member of the Constituent Assembly of society "Motherland", which elected a member of the society on Dec. 15, 1975, was re-elected May 27, 1981 and December 10, 1987. October 24, 1980 at the V All-Union Conference of the Soviet-Indian friendship was elected vice-president of the Society. 11 March 1989 elected a member of the Board of Slavonic Literature and Slavonic Cultures. The delegate of the World Christian Conference on Life and Peace "(20-24 April 1983, Uppsala, Sweden). Elected at the conference by one of its presidents. On January 24, 1990 - Board member of the Soviet Fund of Charity and Health, with the February 8, 1990 - Member of the Presidium of the Leningrad Culture Fund. From Charity and Health Fund in 1989 was elected deputy of the USSR.

. As co-chair of Russia entered the organizing committee to prepare for the meeting of the third millennium and the celebration of two thousand years of Christianity (1998-2000)
. On the initiative and with the participation of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II held an interfaith conference "Christian faith and human enmity" (Moscow, 1994). His Holiness Patriarch presided at a conference of Christian interfaith advisory committee "" Jesus Christ yesterday and today and forever the same (Heb.. 13:8) ". Christianity on the threshold of the Third Millennium "(1999), Interreligious Peacemaking Forum (Moscow, 2000).

. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy - was an honorary member of the St. Petersburg and Moscow Theological Academy, ,
. In 1992 he was elected a member of the Russia Academy of Education. Doctor of Theology honoris causa of the University Alaska Pacific "in Anchorage, Alaska, USA (1993). State Prize of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) of the name AE Kulakovskogo "For outstanding selfless work for the consolidation of the peoples of Russia" (1993). In the same year His Holiness was awarded the title of honorary professor at Omsk State University for outstanding achievements in the field of culture and education. In 1993 it was awarded the title of honorary professor at Moscow State University for outstanding achievements in the spiritual rebirth of Russia.

. 1994: Honorary Doctor of Philology, St. Petersburg University (24 January), Honorary Doctor of Theology in the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade (15 May)
. Honorary Doctor of Theology of the Tbilisi Theological Academy (Georgia, . April 1996), winner of gold medal Koе?ice University Faculty of Orthodox Theology (Slovakia, . May, 1996), honorary member of the International Fund for Charity and Health, Chairman of the Public Supervisory Council to reconstruct Christ the Savior Cathedral,
. He was awarded the highest award of Russia - the Order of St. Andrew, . Order of Merit to the Fatherland ", . many orders of the local Orthodox Churches and the orders from different countries, . as well as awards of public organizations.,

. In 2000, His Holiness Patriarch was elected an honorary citizen of Moscow, he also served as an honorary citizen of St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Kalmykia, Sergiev Posad, Dmitrov.

. His Holiness was awarded the national prize "Man of the Year", "Outstanding people decades (1990-2000), contributed to the prosperity and the glorification of Russia," Russia's national Olympus "and the honorary title of Public Man-era"
. In addition, His Holiness Patriarch was awarded the International Award "Perfection. Benefit. Glory "award Rossiyskim Biographical Institute (2001), and the main prize" Person of the Year "Award from holding" Top Secret "(2002).

. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy was chairman of the Patriarchal Synodal Bible Commission, . chief editor of "Orthodox Encyclopedia" and the Chairman of the Supervisory and the Orthodox church and the scientific advice for the publication of "Orthodox Encyclopedia", . Chairman of the Board of Trustees Rossiyskogo charity fund reconciliation and harmony, . headed the Board of Trustees of the National Military Fund.,

. Over the years of his episcopal ministry Metropolitan Alexy visited many dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and the world, was a member of numerous church events
. In the church and secular press in Russia and abroad published several hundred of his articles, speeches and works on theology, church history, peacekeeping and other topics.

. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy headed Arihiereyskie Councils 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2000, invariably preside at meetings of the Holy Synod
. As Patriarch of All-Russia he visited the diocese of 81, . many several times - more than 120 missions in the diocese, . objectives which is primarily a pastoral care to remote communities, . strengthen church unity and witness of the Church in society.,

. During the Episcopal service of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy headed the 83 episcopal ordinations (70 of them after being elected chair of the All), ordained in the sacred dignity of more than 400 priests and almost as many deacons.

. Much attention Holiness Patriarch Alexy paid training clergy for the Russian Orthodox Church, the religious education of the laity and the spiritual and moral education of the young generation
. To this end, the blessing of His Holiness opened seminaries, theological schools, parish schools, established a framework for the development of religious education and catechesis. In 1995, the ordering of church life allowed to approach the re-establishment of missionary structure. His Holiness paid much attention to establishing in Russia a new relationship between the State and Church. Moreover, he convincingly maintained the principle of separation between church mission and functions of state interference in the internal affairs of each other. At the same time, he believed that the soul-saving ministry of the Church and serve the state of society demand mutually free cooperation between church, state and public institutions.

. After years of persecution and restrictions on the church was returned to hold not only the Catechetical, . religious education and educational activities in the society, . but also to exercise charity towards the poor and the ministry of charity hospitals, . nursing homes and prisons.,

. Pastoral Approach of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy took the tension between the institutions of the state system of preservation of monuments of culture and the Church, which led to unwarranted fears, narrow corporate or personal interests
. His Holiness has signed several joint documents with the Ministry of Culture of Russia and the leadership of individual museum complexes, . on the territory of the Church, historically and spiritually significant monasteries, . which allowed mentioned problems and gave new life to the monasteries.,

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

. Several signed by His Holiness the joint documents laid the foundation for development cooperation of the Church with the health system and social security, . Armed Forces, . enforcement agencies, . justice agencies, . cultural institutions and other government agencies,
. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II was to create a graceful church system of care of military and law enforcement.

. In the course of political, . social and economic reforms His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II constantly reminded of the priority of moral goals in front of all other, . about the advantages of serving the public good and individual rights in the political and economic activities,
. Continuing the tradition of Christian peacemaking ministry, . between socio-political crisis in Russia in autumn 1993, . fraught with the threat of civil war, . Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II took over the mission umireniya political passions, . invited to negotiate the conflict parties and mediating in the negotiations,
. The patriarch spoke with many peacekeeping initiatives in connection with conflicts in the Balkans, . Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, . fighting in Moldova, . developments in the North Caucasus, . situation in the Middle East, . military operation against Iraq, and so on.,

. During the Patriarchal ministry present the Russian Orthodox Church was formed by a large number of new dioceses
. Thus arose the set of centers of spiritual and ecclesiastical administration, located closer to the parishes and promote the revitalization of religious life in remote regions. As the ruling bishop of Moscow, Patriarch Alexis II has devoted much attention to the revival and development vnutrieparhialnoy and parish life. These works in many ways became the model for the ordering of the diocesan and parish life in other places. Along with tireless device internal church, . in which he constantly urged more active and responsible participation of all without exception, members of the Church in a truly conciliar principles, . Of the Russian Orthodox Church has paid great attention to the fraternal cooperation among all Orthodox Churches to share the Truth of Christ's peace testimony,
. Cooperation between the various Christian denominations for the sake of the needs of the modern world His Holiness Patriarch Alexy considers Christian duty and the path to fulfillment of Christ's commandment of unity. Peace and harmony in society, which constantly called Patriarch Alexy, be sure to include a sympathetic understanding and cooperation among adherents of different religions and worldviews.

. 5 December 2008 the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, died on the 80 th year of life, in the first week of Advent, shortly after his return from Germany, where he received treatment
. Primate of the Orthodox Church, who headed the world's largest Orthodox Church in 1990, died at his residence outside Moscow in Peredelkino.

. His last liturgy Alexy II made the day before, when congratulated the Russians on the occasion of the Presentation of Mary and the beginning of Advent.

. On this day, he made a solemn mass in the main church of Russia - Assumption Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin.

. Patriarch congratulated all Christians from the beginning of Advent, which, he said, "prepares for the great holiday - coming into the world of the Savior Jesus Christ"
. He wished that "Christmas was a time of post spiritual growth, time to examine your life's journey, to adequately prepare for the feast of Christmas."

. Farewell ceremony with Patriarch Alexy II will continue until 8 am on Dec. 9
. At 8 o'clock in the morning access to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior will be terminated.

At this time in the temple will begin the Divine Liturgy for the Dead, headed by locum tenens of the patriarchal throne, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill. Along with him will serve as members of the Holy Synod and the other bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

. After funeral liturgy will begin Alexy II, which is headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople (Ecumenical) Bartholomew.

. Then the coffin will be surrounded around the Holy Temple of Christ the Savior
. Process will be repeated the route of the Cross, which is performed on special occasions.

. Then the cortege will take the coffin with the body of His Holiness Patriarch of Epiphany Cathedral, where the 15th primate of the Russian Orthodox Church will be buried in the aisle the Annunciation.

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