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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, good afternoon.

Patriarch Kirill: Good afternoon.

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, in your service to our nation, you contribute immensely to the Orthodox world, to the Russian people, and to all of Russia, devoting tremendous energy and effort – of this I am well aware.

On the occasion of your birthday, I wish to convey my heartfelt wishes for your health, that you may continue this noble service to our Motherland with the same, if I may say, rigorous and intense resolve.

Thank you very much. My congratulations.

Patriarch Kirill: I offer my profound gratitude, Mr President, for your generous words and for your congratulations, and most importantly, for the fact that, with your active participation as head of state, such a style and model of relations between the Church and the state has been established – one that, I dare say, would be the envy of all preceding generations.

In the former, tsarist era, the Church was not free; it was administered by a state official. In Soviet times, we know what happened. Now, for the first time in our long history, the relations between the Church and the state are conducted in such a manner that no conflicts arise which could, as it were, cast a shadow over these relations. Furthermore, these relations genuinely serve the welfare and prosperity of our people and our beloved Motherland.

I thank you most sincerely for this.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you. Might I trouble you for some tea?

Patriarch Kirill: It would be my pleasure.

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