Russian President Vladimir Putin this week thanked the Orthodox faithful in the vast country for complying with coronavirus-related public health restrictions during Easter Week.
In a letter to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Kirill, the Russian president expressed his deep gratitude for the former’s responsible and tireless work, as he said, in maintaining peace and harmony in the country.
In a related development, guidelines and restrictions for churches and places of worship in Russia have been extended to April 28, according to an announcement by the Moscow Patriarchate, which cited a directive by public health authorities. The decision means that services and the Divine Liturgy will be conducted without the presence of worshippers.