“The Russian Orthodox Church as a leading spiritual component of our society is making a very significant contribution to the cause of the coexistence of religions, representatives of different creeds,” he said at a meeting with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.
Putin noted that the patriarch has always headed the process. He greeted the patriarch on his name-day and simultaneously on the Day of Slavic Written Language pointing out to the happy coincidence of the two holidays.
“Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, for the kind words and for the fact that the relations between the church and state are developing a very good way at all levels with your direct involvement,” the patriarch said in reply. “The church-state relations are developing very correctly,” he said.
“The fact that our society is consolidating around fundamental moral principles without which neither the individual, nor society can exist is the result of our joint efforts,” he said.
