His Holiness Patriarch Alexy congratulates ‘Radio Russia’ on its 15th anniversary

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated ‘Radio Russia’ on its 15th anniversary. The text of his address sent to General Director A.V.Abakumov of the ‘Radio Russia’ state broadcasting company is given below.

Dear Alexei Vladimirovich,

I cordially greet you and all staff members of ‘Radio Russia’ with its 15th anniversary.

Our country and the mass media have walked a long and difficult way in recent years. The freedom of the press was established, and many new interesting editions and radio stations appeared. However, many negative phenomena have been brought to our life along with the freedom of the mass media. Unfortunately, propaganda of immoral way of life, cruelty and violence has become an integral part of TV and radio prohrammes in our country.

‘Radio Russia’, however, fulfils its professional duties honestly and responsibly. It gives the listeners complete information of the developments in our country and in the world, being aware of the influence of the word on the minds and souls of millions.

I would like to point out an educational purpose of your programmes. Many of them propagate traditional values and moral way of life. A new project ‘World.Man.Word’ is especially popular among the listeners.

I am sure that problems, which your company offers to discuss in its programmes, are very important at present, as Russian people are gradually coming back to their original spiritual traditions.

I state that ‘Radio Russia’ is a major radio company in our country and that it continues the best national and world traditions of journalism. I hope that cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and ‘Radio Russia’ will develop.

I wish you success in your responsible service to the Fatherland,

+Alexy,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia