10 years ago: The death of Russian Orthodox Church primate Alexy II

On December 5, 2008, Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' since 1990, died of heart failure at the age of 79. Alexy II, born Alexey Mikhailovich von Ridiger in Estonia, became a Russian Orthodox priest in 1950 and worked his way up through the church hierarchy, eventually becoming the last Russian Orthodox Church primate to be appointed during the existence of the U.S.S.R., and the first during the post-Soviet period.

Patriarch Alexy knew how to work the political system. He was identified by many sources as an agent of the Soviet secret police force KGB, beginning in 1958; upon becoming Patriarch, Alexy was a stronger advocate for the rights of the church, and glorified those who had been victims of Communism.

Alexy II pursued ecumenical dialogue, attracting some opposition within the Russian Orthodox Church. He became one of the presidents of the Conference of European Churches in 1964, and in March 1987 was elected President of the CEC Presidium and Advisory Committee, in which post he served until November 1990. Patriarch Alexy had a dispute with the Roman Catholic Church over over the property rights of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, but was on friendly terms with Latin-rite Catholics in France.earning some opposition within the church. Patriarch Alexy II was succeeded by Kirill.