599
edits
Changes
m
→Life and ministry: corrected expression
He entered Leningrad Theological [[Seminary]] in 1947, and graduated in 1949. He then entered the Leningrad Theological Academy (now [http://www.spbda.ru/english/index.php Saint Petersburg Theological Seminary]), and graduated in 1953.<ref name="official bio">[http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?mid=99&lng=1 Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Biographical Note], Biography, on the Moscow Patriarchate's official website.</ref><ref name="encbrit">''Encyclopedia Britannica Online'', s.v. Alexis II, http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005644/Alexis-II 1/19/2008</ref>
On April 15, 1950, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) of Leningrad, and on April 17, 1950, he was ordained a [[priest]] and appointed [[rector]] of the [[Theophany]] church in city of [[w:Johvi|Johvi]], Estonia, in the Tallinn Diocese. On July 15, 1957, Fr. Alexei was appointed Rector of the Cathedral of the [[Dormition]] in Tallinn and [[Dean]] of the [[W:Tartu|Tartu]] district. He was elevation elevated to the rank of Archpriest on August 17, 1958, and on March 30, 1959, he was appointed Dean of the united Tartu-[[W:Viljandi|Viljandi]] deanery of the Tallinn diocese. On March 3, 1961, he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] in the Trinity Cathedral of [[Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra]].<ref name="official bio" />
On August 14, 1961, he was chosen to be the [[Bishop]] of Tallinn and Estonia. On June 23, 1964, he was promoted to [[archbishop]]; and, on February 25, 1968, at the age of 39, to [[metropolitan]].<ref name="encbrit" />
