By Kostas Onisenko
Hours after the Russian President Putin, the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill congratulated Joe Biden on his election as US president. The Russian Patriarch referred to “parishes” of the Russian Church in the United States and called on the American authorities to pay attention to the religious needs of Russian-speaking believers. The full announcement is as follows:
“The modern world needs great stability and security, for the development of constructive cooperation between states, aimed at solving problems such as extremism and terrorism, local war conflicts, economic justice, environmental protection. I am convinced that the interaction of our states and peoples, based on historical experience, can make an important contribution to the search for effective answers to the international challenges of the modern age.
The Russian Orthodox Church considers interfaith and intercultural dialogue to be an important tool for strengthening mutual respect and good neighborliness and solidarity in society. We stand ready to work together in this area with the US authorities.
For a long time people who left the countries of the Canonical jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate live and work in the USA. Many of them are Orthodox believers, the patriarchal parishes of our Church in your country, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, take care of their spiritual nourishment. I hope the attention of the American authorities for the religious needs of the Russian-speaking faithful.
I wish you good health, wisdom in decision-making, and the people of the United States – peace and prosperity.”
