The message from the President reads, in part:
”The celebration of Easter has rich historic traditions and profound moral significance in our country. It puts people in touch with their spiritual origins and with Christianity’s cultural heritage.
Under your guidance, the Russian Orthodox Church is making an important contribution to strengthening public morality, family values, and to educating our young people. The Church is doing much to preserve civic harmony in our country and promote understanding among peoples.
The constructive cooperation between the state authorities and the Moscow Patriarchate on the most important tasks facing Russian society today deserves the highest praise.“