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Russia chooses new Orthodox head Russian Orthodox Patriarch chosen
(about 20 hours later)
The Russian Orthodox Church has begun the final stage of electing a new leader to succeed Patriarch Alexiy II, who died last month. The Russian Orthodox Church has elected senior cleric Metropolitan Kirill as its new leader, to succeed Patriarch Alexiy II who died last month.
More than 700 clerics and lay people have assembled in Moscow to choose from among the three candidates. Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, received 508 votes in a ballot of the Church Council in Moscow.
They are: Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk and Metropolitan Filaret from Minsk. Kirill - who is regarded as a liberal - has said the Church could play a greater role in Russia.
Kirill has been the acting head of the Church and is considered the favourite. He was the favourite in the contest and was chosen ahead of the more conservative Metropolitan Kliment.
Declining church attendance "I accept and thank the Church Council for my election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia," Kirill said after the results of the ballot in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour were announced.
This is an election without precedent. Earlier, he called for unity and said the Orthodox faithful must resist Catholic and Protestant proselytising.
After Alexiy II's death Kirill had served as acting head of the Church.
Declining attendance
This was an election without precedent, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says.
More than 700 clerics and lay people took part in the secret ballot
The last time the Russian Orthodox Church chose a leader was in 1990, when the Soviet Union still existed.The last time the Russian Orthodox Church chose a leader was in 1990, when the Soviet Union still existed.
Since then, Russia has changed beyond recognition, and the Orthodox Church in Russia has been reunited with the Church outside the country. Since then, Russia has changed beyond recognition, and the Orthodox Church in Russia has been reunited with the Church outside the country, our correspondent says.
Across Russia thousands of churches and monasteries have been re-opened or rebuilt.
That was one of the achievements of Patriarch Alexiy II.That was one of the achievements of Patriarch Alexiy II.
Patriarch Alexiy II enjoyed close relations with the Kremlin However, Metropolitan Kirill has already highlighted one of the great challenges facing the Church.
Kirill polled the highest number of votes in the first round of voting among church leaders on Sunday, but observers say that is no guarantee of eventual success. While some two-thirds of Russians describe themselves as Orthodox Christians, far fewer regularly attend services, our correspondent says.
Metropolitan Kirill has already highlighted one of the great challenges facing the church. Speaking to the Trud newspaper before his election, Kirill noted: "Millions of people have been baptized, and consider themselves Orthodox Christian. But the degree of their observance leaves much to be desired."
While some two-thirds of Russians describe themselves as Orthodox Christians, far, far, fewer regularly attend services.
Speaking to the Trud newspaper, Kirill noted "millions of people have been baptized, and consider themselves Orthodox Christian. But the degree of their observance leaves much to be desired."