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The Times: Russian Orthodox Church Chooses Patriarch from 3 Ex-KGB Agents
World | January 27, 2009, Tuesday // 00:00
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Russian President Medvedev kisses Patriarch Alexy II's forehead during his lying-in-state. Photo by BGNES
The Russian Orthodox Church will choose Tuesday its next spiritual leader from three alleged former KGB agents, Tony Halpin, correspondent in Moscow, wrote in the British "Times".
The article reminds that the Church elections are the first ones since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
More than 700 priests, monks and lay representatives will decide who should become the 16th Patriarch of a Church with 165 M followers. The elections, following the death of Alexy II, could last well into Thursday.
Alexy II, who died in December, at the age of 79, became Patriarch in 1990, just before the breakup of the Soviet Union. It will be the first election of a Patriarch since the end of the Soviet era, at times when the Church's popularity in Russia as well as its close ties with the Kremlin are considered unprecedented.
Alexy II gave his blessing last year to Medvedev's election as President and publicly praised the social programs he implemented as Deputy Prime Minister.
The strength of the Church's relations with the Kremlin was clearly demonstrated when President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin kissed Alexy II's forehead during his lying-in-state.
Alexy's reputation was, however, tarnished by allegations that he had been a long-serving KGB agent under the alias "Drozdov" and in 1988 had been awarded a "certificate of honor" for his service, Halpin writes.
In 1992, Father Gleb Yakunin revealed that most of the Church hierarchy was infiltrated by the secret police. Material from the KGB archives was further examined by a parliamentary committee.
On Sunday, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church selected the three top contenders for the Patriarch's post: the Metropolitans Kiril, Filaret and Kliment.
According to the "Times" publication, Kiril was alleged to be an agent under the alias Mikhailov, Filaret was identified as agent Ostrovskii while Kliment has been accused of working as a KGB agent named Topaz.
The article reminds that the Church elections are the first ones since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
More than 700 priests, monks and lay representatives will decide who should become the 16th Patriarch of a Church with 165 M followers. The elections, following the death of Alexy II, could last well into Thursday.
Alexy II, who died in December, at the age of 79, became Patriarch in 1990, just before the breakup of the Soviet Union. It will be the first election of a Patriarch since the end of the Soviet era, at times when the Church's popularity in Russia as well as its close ties with the Kremlin are considered unprecedented.
Alexy II gave his blessing last year to Medvedev's election as President and publicly praised the social programs he implemented as Deputy Prime Minister.
The strength of the Church's relations with the Kremlin was clearly demonstrated when President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin kissed Alexy II's forehead during his lying-in-state.
Alexy's reputation was, however, tarnished by allegations that he had been a long-serving KGB agent under the alias "Drozdov" and in 1988 had been awarded a "certificate of honor" for his service, Halpin writes.
In 1992, Father Gleb Yakunin revealed that most of the Church hierarchy was infiltrated by the secret police. Material from the KGB archives was further examined by a parliamentary committee.
On Sunday, leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church selected the three top contenders for the Patriarch's post: the Metropolitans Kiril, Filaret and Kliment.
According to the "Times" publication, Kiril was alleged to be an agent under the alias Mikhailov, Filaret was identified as agent Ostrovskii while Kliment has been accused of working as a KGB agent named Topaz.
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