Russian President Dmitry Medvedev believes the revival of Orthodoxy in Russia for the last 20 years is a miracle.
“If we talk about what has happened over these 20 years in terms of my experiences as an Orthodox Christian, it is a miracle. Frankly, I could not imagine 15-20 years ago that the recovery, finding of faith for the vast number of our fellow citizens will go at such a pace,” Medvedev said on Saturday.
Medvedev noted that today the Church cooperates with the government and with public institutions. “I am very pleased that the state and church initiatives could take place lately,” he said. Medvedev emphasized the Orthodox importance in the education of young people and the preservation of cultural and spiritual values in the society.
Dmitry Medvedev also intends to instruct the Ministry of Defence to actively develop the activities of the clergy in the army.
In July 2009, after a meeting with the heads of Russia's main confessions, President Dmitry Medvedev supported a project to restore full-scale military priesthood, which existed from the 18th century to the start of the Soviet era.
It is planned that 240 clergy and nine priest positions will appear in the Russian army. “I will give the appropriate instructions to the Ministry of Defence,” Medvedev said.
