Orthodox Church Elects Modernizer as Patriarch

Reconciliation sought with Roman Catholics

From The Washington Times
By Mansur Mirovalev ASSOCIATED PRESS

The interim leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, seen as a modernizer who could seek a historic reconciliation with the Vatican and more autonomy from the state, was overwhelmingly elected patriarch Tuesday.

Metropolitan Kirill received 508 of the 700 votes cast during an all-day church congress in Moscow's ornate Christ the Savior Cathedral, the head of the commission responsible for the election, Metropolitan Isidor, said hours after the secret ballot was over.

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