Russian Orthodox Patriarch Dies

The Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Alexei II, died this morning at the age of 79.

• Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II dies (AP)

• His Holiness the Patriarch: Biography (Moscow Patriarchate)

• Death of Alexy II a tragic and sorrowful event – Putin

• Russian Orthodox Church Council to elect Patriarch within six months

• Medvedev expresses condolences on Patriarch's demise

• Gorbachev shocked by Alexy II death

• Holy Synod to hold emergency session on Saturday

• Patriarch expected to be buried in Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow as he wished

PUTIN: STATE WILL REPAY DEBT TO RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, OTHER DENOMINATIONS

Valday, Novgorod region, January 14, Interfax - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the government is indebted to the Russian Orthodox Church and has promised to facilitate the revival of religion in Russia.

Speaking at a prayer ceremony on the sanctification of the Assumption Cathedral at the Valday Iversky Monastery in the Novgorod region, Putin said that both he and those who work with him "represent a state which has done a lot over the previous decades to undermine the roots of our history and culture, including the spiritual one."

"Therefore, it is too early to thank us for anything," the president said in response to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia's greeting words, in which he thanked Putin for helping the revival of the Iversky Monastery.

Putin said he perceived the gratitude "exclusively as a hope that the state will repay its debt to the Russian Orthodox Church and other traditional denominations and its debt to the Russian people."

Prospects Improve for Pope-Patriarch "Summit"

Moscow, Aug. 07 (CWNews.com) -

After an August 7 meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray said that the prospects for a "summit meeting" between the Orthodox prelate and Pope Benedict XVI are steadily improving.

The cardinal cautioned that no plans were underway for a summit meeting, but important steps were being taken to strengthen the ties between Rome and Moscow, particularly through cooperative efforts to affirm the role of Christianity in European society. The veteran Vatican diplomat said that a meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch would likely be the fruit of these cooperative ventures.

Cardinal Etchegaray went on to say that Pope Benedict has cultivated a personal friendship with Patriarch Alexei, even at a distance. During his meeting with the Russian prelate he handed over a personal letter from the Roman Pontiff, which Alexei read. The Russian Orthodox leader expressed his thanks for the Pope's thoughts and promised a full reply.

Cardinal Etchegaray stopped in Moscow to meet with Patriarch Alexei as he traveled to Siberia, where he will participate in ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of a Catholic cathedral in Novosibirsk. The French-born cardinal has frequently carried out sensitive diplomatic assignments for Holy See since retiring from his post as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. As he approaches his 85th birthday he continues to be a valued papal envoy.