His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, said that the true strength of people is most fully demonstrated in its unity on November 4, the Unity Day in Russia.
“It is very fortunate that Unity Day was established in our times. Those who made this decision made it possible to stress again and again that unity of people is demonstration of its strength. The true strength of our people is in unity,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church during an online meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of traditional religions and heads of centralized religious organizations in Russia.
Patriarch Kirill also reminded those present that Orthodox Christians commemorated the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God on November 4 as well. In this regard, His Holiness emphasized that Unity Day is dedicated to a great event – the unification of people previously separated by the time of Troubles.
Patriarch Kirill wished the President of Russia, the country’s leadership and the entire people to always be together.
“In the face of common tasks that people tackle today, we must be together, not in trifles, not in some issues determined by taste, but in what is important for our entire people and for our entire country,” stressed the Primate of the ROC.
Patriarch Kirill especially noted that representatives of religious communities play an important role in the formation of unity, who actively participate in the preservation and enhancement of this unity.
“On this day, we especially pray for the unity of our people and it is wonderful that we have the opportunity to all meet together in order to talk with each other and once again, by the very fact of our meeting, emphasize our commitment to the unity of our people and, of course, once again confirm our readiness for religious interaction and cooperation,” concluded His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
