Earlier today, the President sent the Patriarch his best wishes.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, good afternoon. Congratulations.
Patriarch Kirill: Mr President, my sincere thanks. Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you for your service, for helping the people and the state.
Patriarch Kirill: I sincerely thank you for the level of our relations, both interstate and church relations, as well as personal ones, which, thanks to you in the first place, are maintained at the highest level. This is reflected in the lives of people, in the life of the multimillion-strong Russian Orthodox Church, which can feel the support of the Russian state, and yours personally, in this very difficult time, although there almost never have been easy times in history.
Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin: Congratulations again.
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