Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod completes its session

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church has begun its session on December 6, 2008, at the patriarchal residence at Peredelkino near Moscow. It has been convened upon the demise of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

The Holy Synod members lifted up a prayer for the repose of the soul of the recently deceased Patriarch Alexy at his coffin.

The session has been opened by the oldest by consecration permanent member of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.

Among the agenda items is election of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens.

Participating in the Synodal work are also Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch to All Belarus; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations; Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Valentin of Orenburg and Buzuluk; Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich: Archbishop Tikhon of Novosibirsk and Berdsk; Bishop Feofilakt of Bryansk and Sevsk; Bishop Stefan of Tura and Mozyr.

• Head of the Russian State and Chairman of the Russian Government laid flowers on the tomb of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Yelokhovo on the fortieth day since his demise
• Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne celebrates requiem service
• His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II is buried in the Yelokhovo Cathedral
• Funeral service for His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was celebrated at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• Parastas memorial service conducted at the coffin of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy
• Telegram of the Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
• The first liturgy for the repose of the deceased Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated at his coffin at the Church of Christ the Saviour
• Head of the Russian State signs decree on Organizational Arrangements with Regard to the Demise of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia
• Proceedings No. 94 of the Holy Synod session on December 6, 2008
• Patriarchal Locum Tenens says the Office for the Dead at the coffin of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia in the Church of Christ the Saviour
• Proceedings No. 93 of the Holy Synod session on December 6, 2008
• Proceedings No. 92 of the Holy Synod session on December 6, 2008
• Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod elects Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as Patriarchal Locum Tenens
• Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod completes its session
• Requiem services for recently-deceased Patriarch Alexy held at patriarchal residence at Peredelkino
• His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia passed away in the Lord