The beginning of the 18th century in Russia was marked by sweeping reforms carried out by Peter I. The reforms did not leave the Russian Church untouched. After the death of Patriarch Adrian in 1700, Peter I delayed the election of the new Primate of the Church.He established, in 1721, a collective supreme administration known as the Holy and Governing [[holy Apostolic Governing Synod|Synod]]. The Synod remained the supreme church body in the Russian Church for almost two centuries.