Aleksy II was the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church who led the revival of the church in Russia after the fall of Communism in 1990.New York Times: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Dies at 79 (December 4, 2008)

He died in Moscow on December 5, 2008. He was 79 years old and had suffered from myocardial ischemia.New York Times: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Dies at 79 (December 5, 2008)

Throughout the length of communist rule in Russia, from 1917 to 1990, the Russian orthodox church, like all religion in Russia, was persecuted and discriminated against. Joseph Stalin in particular killed hundreds of clergy and sent others to concentration camps. Beginning in 1990, Alexsy II began rebuilding the churches and introducing Orthodox religion into public schools.New York Times: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Dies at 79 (December 5, 2008) International Herald Tribune: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksy II dies at age 79 (December 5, 2008)

The patriarch also successfully lobbied the government to restrict the activities of other Christian, denominations, especially Roman Catholics.New York Times: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Dies at 79 (December 5, 2008)

"He was an outstanding religious figure and true spiritual leader, and he was also a great citizen of Russia, a man whose destiny reflected all the great trials and upheavals that our country traversed in the 20th century, a critical time in our country's history.—Dmitry MedvedevInternational Herald Tribune: Russian Orthodox Patriarch Aleksy II dies at age 79 (December 5, 2008)