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His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II sent a welcoming address to the participants of the «Russian-speaking Population in the Enlarged European Union» Conference

3.12.2004 · Без рубрики  

On 3 December 2004 the «Russian-speaking Population in the Enlarged European Union» Conference opened in the premises of the European Parliament in Brusells, Belgium. His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II sent a welcoming address to the participants, which is given below

To the Participants in the Conference

«The Russian-Speaking Population in the Enlarged European Union»,

Brussels
, Belgium
, 3-4 December 2004

Esteemed participants in the conference!

Dear brothers and sisters!

I cordially greet all of you, who have gathered to discuss a topic, which is very important for many of our compatriots who live in the countries of the European Union.

Millions of people, Russian by their culture and language, have found themselves beyond the borders of their Motherland for different historical and social reasons. Their destinies have turned out differently: many of them have had to overcome serious material difficulties and learn to live under absolutely new circumstances. To the credit of the majority of our compatriots, they have tried to be worthy citizens of their new Motherland. Some of them bring an important contribution into the development of the science, arts, economics, social sphere and sport of the countries where they live. However, while enthusiastically taking part in the life in the countries of their residence, Russians have always tried to preserve their faith, culture, language and ties with the Fatherland. Churches, schools, cultural and social centres and the system of communications are needed for that, but it is impossible to create them without the self-organization of the Russian-speaking citizens of the European Union.

I hope that this conference will help you find the right way to uniting and defending people, to whom the Russian language and culture are native. This is needed not for setting themselves off against people among whom they live, but for the sake of not losing their cultural wealth and enjoying it for the good of the countries where they reside.

I wish you God’s help in your work for the good of Russian people and all other people of the European continent. May God’s blessing be upon all of you.

+ALEXY,

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

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