Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday congratulated the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, on the second anniversary of his enthronement.
"The Church is always with us, it has a huge influence on the moral atmosphere in society," Putin told the patriarch in the latter's working residence.
Kirill, seen as a liberal in the largely traditionalist Church, was elected to head the Russian Church after the death of Patriarch Alexy II in December 2008. He was enthroned on February 1, 2009.
MOSCOW, February 1 (RIA Novosti)
