By Kostas Onisenko
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent a greeting message to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day that is celebrated in Russia every year on February 10.
In his message, Patriarch Kirill expressed his support for the Minister’s “resistance” to “attempts by various political forces to use false propaganda, double standards, and violence.”
“By selflessly carrying out your service, you are making a significant contribution to overcoming differences between people, resisting attempts by various political forces to use false propaganda, double standards, and violence to achieve personal temporary gains,” Patriarch Kirill said.
Elsewhere, the Russian Hierarch stressed that the Russian Foreign Ministry “defends the interests of our state, strengthening its international prestige as a credible partner, pacifist, fighter against terrorism and extremism, supporter of relations of mutual respect and good neighborliness between countries”.
At the same time, Patriarch Kirill referred to the ministry’s relations with the Russian Church, saying: “It is gratifying to note that for many years constructive cooperation has been developing between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Orthodox Church, which, I hope, will continue to promote traditional moral values in the lives of modern people, and the creation of peace and agreement between peoples “.
