Putin came to congratulate Alexy II happy birthday

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the past Wednesday congratulated the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II .

The head of state arrived in the residence of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church) in Pure Lane in Moscow. He presented the Patriarch of a bouquet of flowers and wished good health.

The Patriarch, in turn, congratulated V. Putin on the Day of the Defender of the Fatherland.

At the same time, V. Putin noted that "the Orthodox Church has always been a defender in Rus', at all times, we always remember it."

During the conversation, the Patriarch told the head of state how he spends a holiday. In particular, Alexy II noted that together with the Moscow clergy he laid a wreath at the grave of an unknown soldier.

On Wednesday, in the morning in the Patriarchal Residence in Pure Lane, a congratulation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II was a congratulation.

Among those who visited the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church on this day were the first president of Russia Boris Yeltsin with his wife Naina Josephovna. The Patriarch was also personally congratulated by the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov.

As Interfax was told in the church-Hand Center “Orthodox Encyclopedia” , during the conversation Alexy II and the metropolitan mayor discussed pressing issues of social ministry in Moscow.

On the same day, representatives of the State Duma, head of the Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations, Sergey Popov and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky, came to the Patriarchal Residence. On behalf of the speaker of the lower house of Boris Gryzlov, they congratulated Alexy II on his birthday and the upcoming Angel Day, passing the Patriarch the icon of St. Alexy, the Metropolitan of the Moscow - heavenly patron of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.