[2] This view was challenged by historians Joseph T. Fuhrmann (1976) and Donald Ostrowski (1993), who pointed out several entries in Rus' chronicles such as the Nikon Chronicle indicating that Kiev remained the de jure and de facto residence of Kirill during his entire tenure as metropolitan, as well as the early years of his successor Maximos.
[citation needed] Since 1251 Kirill almost continuously resided in the north-east of Russia, working closely with Prince Alexander Nevsky, constantly traveling around the country.
Prince Alexander Nevsky and Kirill chose to recognise Mongol domination, and opposed Western Catholic expansion.
record that khan Mengu-Timur and Metropolitan Kirill sent Sarai Bishop Theognostus to the Emperor Michael VIII and the Patriarch of Constantinople as their joint envoy with letters and gifts from each of them.
[citation needed] In 1279, Khan Meng-Timur issued a charter that defended the faith and the sanctity of the rights of clergy from abuse by Mongol officials.