My mother-in-law phoned to tell us the news. She said all TV channels were stoppped to make the announcement. The bells of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral tolled sixteen times. Patriarch Kyrill made a very moving acceptance speech in which he said he knew from what the late Patriarch Alexey had said to him that being patriarch was a very heavy cross; he asked the bishops to pray for him that he would carry this cross. He also asked them to help him by their prayers and advice. My parents-in-law were weeping at his speech.