Russian President Vladimir Putin this week congratulated the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Kirill, on the occasion of the latter’s name day.
As the Russian leader noted, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is sincerely and infinitely respected both in Russia and abroad, due in large part to Patriarch’s “… long-standing and responsible service, His concern for the well-being of Russian citizens, and the strengthening of traditional spiritual and family values, as well as high peacekeeping missions”.