As you probably know, Kirill is now a head (Patriarch) of Russian Orthodox Church.
The Russian Orthodox Church has elected senior cleric Metropolitan Kirill as its new leader, to succeed Patriarch Alexiy II who died last month.
Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, received 508 votes in a ballot of the Church Council in Moscow.
Kirill - who is regarded as a liberal - has said the Church could play a greater role in Russia.
He was the favourite in the contest and was chosen ahead of the more conservative Metropolitan Kliment.
"I accept and thank the Church Council for my election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia," Kirill said after the results of the ballot in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour were announced.
Earlier, he called for unity and said the Orthodox faithful must resist Catholic and Protestant proselytising.
After Alexiy II's death Kirill had served as acting head of the Church.


