The funeral of leading Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church has taken place in Moscow, with the service being attended by President Dmitri A. Medvedev and Prime Minster Vladimir Putin

In the latest sign of a warming of relations between Russia and Cuba, President Raul Castro has attended the consecration of Cuba's first Russian Orthodox church in the capital, Havana.

Patriarch Ilia of Georgia and Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Aleksei II are doing all they can to ensure that the conflict between their nations does not become "a people's war, a holy war", echoing earlier nationalistic fervour.

President Vladimir Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, has been inaugurated in the Kremlin with pomp, circumstance, and prayers from Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church - which has paid tribute to the new national leader.