![Patriarch Alexy II, who led the Russian Orthodox Church for 18 years, died at the age of 79 in his residency near the Russian capital on Friday morning, December 5th, 2008. Pictured: Patriarch Alexy II, who led the Russian Orthodox Church for 18 years, died at the age of 79 in his residency near the Russian capital on Friday morning, December 5th, 2008. Pictured:](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/CD08YY/patriarch-alexy-ii-who-led-the-russian-orthodox-church-for-18-years-CD08YY.jpg)
Patriarch Alexy II, who led the Russian Orthodox Church for 18 years, died at the age of 79 in his residency near the Russian capital on Friday morning, December 5th, 2008. Pictured:
![Everything 'Human' Will End in Nothing”.A Few Quotes from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II | Church Blog Everything 'Human' Will End in Nothing”.A Few Quotes from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II | Church Blog](https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/alexy-2-775x517.jpg)
Everything 'Human' Will End in Nothing”.A Few Quotes from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II | Church Blog
![Moscow Patriarch Alexy II (R), leader of the main Russian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Laurus, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, bless believers during a ceremony marking the reunion Moscow Patriarch Alexy II (R), leader of the main Russian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Laurus, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, bless believers during a ceremony marking the reunion](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TYFBPR/moscow-patriarch-alexy-ii-r-leader-of-the-main-russian-orthodox-church-and-metropolitan-laurus-head-of-the-russian-orthodox-church-outside-of-russia-bless-believers-during-a-ceremony-marking-the-reunion-at-christ-the-savior-cathedral-in-moscow-on-may-17-2007-leaders-of-the-russian-orthodox-faith-signed-a-historic-pact-healing-a-schism-between-the-church-in-russia-which-for-decades-cooperated-with-soviet-authorities-and-an-offshoot-set-up-abroad-after-the-1917-bolshevik-revolution-upi-photoanatoli-zhdanov-TYFBPR.jpg)
Moscow Patriarch Alexy II (R), leader of the main Russian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Laurus, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, bless believers during a ceremony marking the reunion
![Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (C) mourns at a casket with late Patriarch Alexy II in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on December 8, 2008. Patriarch Alexy II who led the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (C) mourns at a casket with late Patriarch Alexy II in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on December 8, 2008. Patriarch Alexy II who led the](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TYFD2D/georgian-catholicos-patriarch-ilia-ii-c-mourns-at-a-casket-with-late-patriarch-alexy-ii-in-the-christ-the-savior-cathedral-in-moscow-on-december-8-2008-patriarch-alexy-ii-who-led-the-russian-orthodox-church-since-1990-during-a-post-soviet-revival-of-faith-died-at-the-age-of-79-on-friday-upi-photoanatoli-zhdanov-TYFD2D.jpg)