Patriarch Alexei I (Sergey Simansky) (Russian: Патриарх Алексий I (Сергей Симанский) (October 27, 1877 – April 17, 1970), was the 14th Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, head of the Russian Orthodox Church between 1945 and 1970. Born in Moscow to a noble family, his father was a Russian Royal House Chamberlain. In 1899 graduated from Moscow Imperial University with a law degree; was conscripted by the army and served in a grenadier regiment. In 1902 enrolled at Moscow Theological Academy and by 1906 became archimandrite and rector of Tula seminary.