| The President and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church discuss a unified plan for the development of society Excommunicated by the Constitution from the state and the school, the Russian Orthodox Church seems to have finally managed to regain its long-lost positions. In just three days of meetings of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the hierarchs were able to formulate such proposals for the interaction of spiritual and secular authorities, with which they were literally greeted in the Kremlin with open arms. Yesterday, the participants of the cathedral went to a reception with Vladimir Putin to acquaint the president with his vision of a new model of civil society.
Patriarch Alexy II, for whom this was his second meeting with the head of state in a week, told Mr. Putin that “the council has formulated proposals that could serve to develop church-state partnership.” “In my deep conviction, we must work together for the moral renewal of the people, without which the revival of Russia cannot take place,” the patriarch said, adding that in the next two days, at services in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, special prayers for the health of the president.
“We all urgently need the unity of church, state and society,” says the message of the Council of Bishops transmitted to the president. - Such partnership, in our deep conviction, is an urgent requirement of the time. The artificial barriers between the church, society and secular power, which we inherited from the totalitarian past, must disappear.” The bishops expressed their readiness to work on the spiritual, moral and patriotic education of new generations of Russians and even eliminate imbalances in demographic processes. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church recalled that they have long been engaged in social assistance to elderly and infirm people, orphans, victims of conflicts and natural disasters. “We must together fight alcoholism, drug addiction, crime, the cult of power, profit, debauchery, dishonor, and other vices that threaten the future of the people,” the clergy’s appeal emphasizes.
Vladimir Putin assured the bishops of the exceptional usefulness of direct and constant dialogue between the top leaders of the state and the church. “Today the state urgently needs authoritative and influential partners,” he clarified. Expressing gratitude to the clergy for their work for the benefit of Russia, the president noted that, for his part, he is always ready to help in solving the problems of the church, especially since the secular authorities, in his opinion, have a historical debt. To confirm these words, the head of state reminded the guests that even on the opening day of the cathedral, he signed a law on the transfer of land plots for free use to churches and monasteries. And he promised that the adoption of a law on the return of all church property is not far off. According to the president, the seizure of property from the church after 1918 is “not only immoral, but also illegal.” “The signed law on land confirms my position on this issue,” said Vladimir Putin. “The question is how to do it carefully.” According to the head of state, there is no need to rush into such restitution, since the “bleeded church” does not yet have the funds to restore and maintain the monuments. But as soon as possible, the president promised to instruct the government and the Ministry of Education to deal with the issue of state recognition of diplomas received by graduates of theological seminaries, institutes and academies.
The first order of the head of state to the spiritual fathers was a request to help in the fight against international terrorism. “Religious slogans are increasingly being exploited by terrorists and extremists for their criminal purposes. Trying to fuel the fire of civil conflicts, they play on religious and nationalist sentiments. I think you will agree: in many ways this became possible due to a moral deficiency in society. And here the public service of the church and its missionary activities are indispensable,” said Vladimir Putin. The President spoke rather briefly about the second order. He appreciated the importance and necessity of the social programs carried out by the Russian Orthodox Church, and called on the bishops in general to help “in the spread of humanism and strengthening all-Russian unity.” Kirill VASILENKO |
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