The Russian Orthodox Church has ruled that hierarchs (church leaders) and clergy are able to run for political office in exceptional cases.

The WCC General Secretary and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia have met in Moscow to discuss the relationship of the Orthodox to the churches globally.

Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill I has addressed thousands of young people on the dangers of alcoholism and an unchecked market economy as he takes the church to people used to the Kremlin as the biggest institution.

The head of the World Council of Churches has welcomed Metropolitan Kyrill of as the new patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, highlighting his desire for positive global inter-church relations.