Metropolitans Kirill, Kliment, Filaret elected Candidates for Patriarch of Moscow

Moscow, January 25, Interfax – The Archbishop’s Council of the Russian Orthodox Church has approved Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Metropolitan Kiment of Kaluga and Borovsk and Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, who is also the head of the Byelorussian Orthodox Church, as candidates for Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Metropolitan Kirill won 97 votes, Metropolitan Kliment – 32 votes and Metropolitan Filaret – 16 votes. Some 198 out of 202 bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate took part in the Archbishop’s Council, with four being unable to attend it. Head of the counting board of the Archbishop’s Council Metropolitan Isidor of Yekaterinodar and Kuban announced the results of the voting.

Source: