Metropolitan Kirill to Lead Russian Orthodox in Interim

(06 Dec 08 - RV) The ruling body of the Russian Orthodox Church today elected Metropolitan Kirill as its’ interim leader following the death of Patriarch Alexiy II.

Kirill, the Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, heads the Church's department for external relations and has led Russian Orthodox participation in dialogue with the Catholic Church.

Chosen by a Holy Synod of 12 senior clergy, he will serve as interim patriarch until a larger Church Council is held within the next six months to pick Patriarch Alexiy's successor.

Patriarch Alexiy, who died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 79, was laid in state today at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

His funeral ceremony is to be held on Tuesday at 1100 Moscow time. He will be buried at the Epiphany Cathedral, where the relics of his patron saint are enshrined.

Cardinal Walter Kasper will led a Vatican delegation to the ceremonies. He will be joined by Card. Roger Etchegaray and the Holy See’s representative to the Russian Federation, Archbishop Antonio Mennini.