President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would like to thank the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, for all your efforts to maintain relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian people and Russia.
I would like to thank the brethren of Mount Athos for their warm welcome. It is my second visit here, and I feel particular warmth and kindness, and the best of attitudes not only towards me as the leader of Russia but towards the people of Russia as a whole.
Mount Athos is responsible for a very important feat which is essential for the global Orthodox community. This feat is related to the preservation of the moral foundations of our society. To a great extent, you are a source of this goodness and grace.
Thank you very much. I wish you all the best.