This morning (December 5) the Russian Orthodox Patriarch of Russia, Aleksy II, has died, aged 80, the Patriarchate's press service informs. The top cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church died at his residence in Peredelkino. The reason of the death has not been announced yet, but it is known the patriarch suffered from several chronic diseases and had a stroke several years ago, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Holy Synod of the Russian Church urgently gathered in Moscow, RIA Novosti news agency reports. The Synod is empowered to appoint an interim till a new Patriarch is elected at a larger reunion of the Russian church. In Moscow, the Patriarch's death is heralded by the bells of all the churches in the city, ITAR-TASS reports. The largest religious organization from Moldova, the Orthodox Church of Moldova, is canonically subordinated to the Muscovite Patriarchate.