The message reads, in part:
“During these joyous days, it is particularly gratifying to realise that Easter is celebrated widely and festively, that every year more and more people strive to learn about the spiritual values and moral sources of Orthodoxy. Your wisdom, high prestige and genuinely selfless service for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church and all of Russia have played an important role in this. I would like to express my deep gratitude for your support and overall vision of the problems our nation faces.
It is noteworthy that this year, Easter is being celebrated simultaneously by the Orthodox and other Christian denominations. I’m sure that this celebration will promote social unity, harmonising inter-religious relations and strengthening cooperation between people.”