His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II
Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
His Grace Mercurius
Bishop of Zaraisk and Vicar of the Patriarchal Parishes in the U.S.
Our Patriarch and Bishop
The Patriarch is the Primate of our church, but unlike Roman Catholicism he is not alone for he is a part of the Ecumenical Council of all Orthodox Churches worldwide. The Patriarchs, and in some cases of autocephalous churches, Metropolitans, administer the churches as the Original Apostles did adhering to the command of Christ. Furthermore each of our Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons can trace their ordinations back though an unbroken chain to one of the Apostles, this is referred to as Apostolic Succession.
In the Russian Patriarchal Church:
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His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia
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His Grace Mercurius Bishop of Zaraisk and Vicar of the Patriarchal Parishes in the U.S.
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