Putin Visits Famous Cathedral of the Annunciation to Receive Blessing From Patriarch
After the inauguration ceremony, President Putin went to the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, where he was met at the entrance by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. The Patriarch wished President Putin health and strength in order to fulfill the promises delivered during the inauguration speech.
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia: "Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. By the prayers of Virgin Mary and the apostles, by the prayers of St. Vladimir the Great, St. Prince Alexander Nevsky, St. Joachim and Anna and all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, since you are merciful and you love mankind.
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, after the people elected you to become the President of the Russian Federation, today, on the day you assume the responsibility, I want to welcome you here wholeheartedly. On behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church, our episcopates, monks, and large number of believers, who support you and see you as their leader, who is not only a successful head of state, but also a man who is dedicated to the Fatherland, a man for whom spiritual tradition is his own tradition, for whom both the material and the spiritual well-being of the people are his responsibilities as a president.
Today, you said a lot of good things in your inaugural address. I want to, from the bottom of my heart, to wish you the strength, health, and spiritual fortitude to fulfill your presidential duties. You talked about such remarkable qualities of our people as dutifulness, conscience, and kindness — these qualities aren't of the physical world. Of course, your work as the head of state is meant to solve the challenges that our people are facing. While these are material matters, they can't be addressed in a reasonable manner if our people are weak. Therefore, our people's spiritual strength and their faith in the principles you have described today is a strong foundation of success and it's the main reason why Russia is undefeatable. May God help strengthen these spiritual qualities throughout your governance.
We especially pray for our youth, who haven't gone through the challenges of either the Soviet era or the 1990s, which are incomparable to any other time. These people, who haven't gone through hardships, are most vulnerable. May God help our youth gain spiritual growth, strengthen their commitment to our people, and stay faithful to the Fatherland. And may all the thoughts you expressed today remain in the collective consciousness of our people for future generations and may they be fulfilled in every generation to come.
To bless your efforts on behalf of the Church Synod, and on behalf of myself, I would like to give you this 18th century icon of Christ the Savior; it expresses our people's spiritual and cultural traditions, so you can pray and remember this day as well as all the good words you've said and the good thoughts that are present in you; I have no doubt you will fulfill them during your presidential term. May God protect you, your family and loved ones. And may your friends and everyone around you be blessed with good health, spiritual and physical strength for many years to come".
President Putin: "Thank you".