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Old Saint Basil's Cathedral in MoscowJohnson's Russia List title and scenes of Saint Petersburg
Excerpts from the JRL E-Mail Community :: Founded and Edited by David Johnson
#6 - JRL 2008-6 - JRL Home
Alexy II Congratulates Medvedev During Christmas Service

MOSCOW. Jan 7 (Interfax) - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II congratulated Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during an Orthodox Christmas service at the Church of Christ the Savior in Moscow on Sunday night.

"May the joy of this holy feast give you strength and courage in your service for the good of our long-suffering people and Fatherland," the Patriarch said, addressing Medvedev who attended the service.

His Holiness also wished that Medvedev's life course be "brightened by light from the Star of Bethlehem".

He praised the first vice premier's role in the realization of national programs in the healthcare sector, education, housing and agriculture.

"You've had to travel a lot about Russia. You were confronted by difficulties and know how to surmount them," the Patriarch said.