DUSHANBE, December 6, 2008, Asia-Plus — Death of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, is bereavement for the Orthodox Church, the whole Orthodox world and patriots of Russia, Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, known Tajik religious leader and member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament), said in an interview with Asia-Plus on Saturday.
“He was not only spiritual leader but also great patriot of Russia defending its interests,” said Turajonzoda, “He is worthy of respect and we, Muslims of Tajikistan, grieve over his death.”
According to him, Patriarch Alexiy II enjoyed authority with the Islamic world, and “leaders of Islamic states, the CIS member nations and Arab East had respect for him.”
Turajonzoda noted that he had met with Alexiy II. “As member of the Tajik delegation participating in celebrations to mark the 1000th anniversary of the millenary of the Baptism of Russ that was held in Moscow in 1988, I met with him and we had short conversation. He was not yet Patriarch that time,” Turajonzoda said.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, died on December 5, aged 79. The Church officials did not give a reason for his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. Alexiy II was credited with helping restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communism.
