Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church blessed the new Russian president

PRIMATE OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BLESSED THE NEW RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

A thanksgiving on the occasion of the inauguration of the new president of the Russian Federation was performed on May 7 by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kremlin.

The Russian president V. V. Putin arrived at the cathedral immediately after the official inauguration ceremony was completed.

At the end of the service, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church blessed V.V. Putin and his wife with an icon of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky and addressed an exhortation to the president, which is given below.

At the conclusion of the meeting His Holiness the Patriarch gave to the head of state mosaic icons of the Saviour and St. Nicholas for Savior’s and St. Nicholas’ gates of the Moscow Kremlin.

EXHORTATION BY PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA UPON THE INAUGURATION OF V. V. PUTIN AS PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
May 7, 2000

Your Excellency, Highly Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich,
Dear fellow countrymen:

Russia has found a new head of state who received convincing support in the elections. Most of the people voted for continuity in power, for a well-considered and responsible style of leadership, for the rule of law, order and concern for people, for a strong country, reasonably open to the surrounding world. This is precisely the direction you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, have followed in the past months while acting as president of Russia.

Now you have taken upon yourself the entire burden of supreme state authority. On this most important day I ask you on behalf the pastors and flock of the Russian Church, I ask you on behalf of all those who hold dear the spiritual heritage of the country: remember the great responsibility of the ruler before the people, history and God Who holds in His hands the destiny of every human being.

The Holy Church calls the citizens to honour state leaders and obey them. “The powers that be are ordained of God”, writes the apostle Paul (Rom. 13:1). These words of Holy Scripture at the same time remind us: every deed that the ruler does should conform to the ultimate truth and justice, to the God-given eternal moral law. Government service requires great sacrifice. According to St. Philaret of Moscow, “a superior must… intervene for justice, order, and for the peace of others, not for himself”.

In the past century our people endured countless sufferings. Today they also have a hard time. But in the new century and new millennium into which the country has entered under the leadership of a new president, the sons and daughters of Russia deserve a better fate. Therefore I call you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, to show comprehensive and persistent concern for the welfare of the people — the welfare not only material but also spiritual. This nation hopes in you and believes in you. Justify its trust. I assure you that the Russian Orthodox Church will invariably help the secular power in actions aimed at reviving the Fatherland. I take the liberty of expressing my confidence that this is the intention of the faithful of all traditional religions and confessions.

More than anything else Russia needs today the restoration of her spiritual resources and her commitment to authentic moral values. I am convinced that without this we will not be helped by money, nor industrial or military might, nor economic remedies. So, Vladimir Vladimirovich, help the nation to reveal its soul which, I believe, still seeks truth, peace, love and duty.

May the Lord bless you, accompanying you in your upcoming difficult work for the glory of the Fatherland and for the benefit of the people living in it. May He strengthen your associates and coworkers. May He send to our Motherland, great Russia, harmony, prosperity and happiness.