The message said, in part:
«Your primacy has coincided with a momentous stage in the history of Russia, profound transformations in the life of the country. Thanks to the wise leadership of Your Holiness, the Church has grown stronger, obtained a second lease of life and emerged as a serious force contributing to the unity and prosperity of our multinational Homeland and the preservation of its historical and cultural heritage.
You are doing much to strengthen civil peace and harmony in the country, to promote positive cooperation with government bodies and non-governmental associations for the purpose of successfully solving other socially significant issues. I would like to make a special note of your major role in asserting the principles of tolerance and harmony between confessions, and the development of a constructive dialogue between the Church and other religions.
You have made an invaluable contribution to the preservation and strengthening of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is particularly important for millions of our fellow countrymen who live far away from their Homeland. The historic process of the restoration of the unity of the Moscow Patriarchate with the overseas Russian Orthodox Church is associated with your name.
It is significant that the anniversary of your enthronement coincides with a milestone in the life of Russian Orthodoxy, the 1020th anniversary of the Christianisation of Russia».
The message was conveyed by the Deputy Prime Minister - Chief of the Government Staff, Sergei Sobyanin.
