Meeting between US President Barack Obama and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia KIRILL

On July 7, 2009, in the Grand Kremlin Palace, His Holiness, Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia met with visiting US President Barack Obama.

In greeting the Most Holy Patriarch KIRILL, the President of the United States of America stated his pleasure in meeting with the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, inasmuch as religious institutions, and in particular, the Russian Orthodox Church, have great importance in the Russian society.

In turn, His Holiness, Patriarch KIRILL stated that he also highly regards the possibility of a meeting with the President of the United States. According to the words of His Holiness, not only political contacts between their two leaders are important for the development of relations between two countries, but also sincere relationships between the peoples of the nations.
His Holiness stated that “there is great potential for removing anti-American feelings in Russia and anti-Russian sentiments in America, and that is to include the feelings of the heart. The Russian Orthodox Church brought Orthodoxy to the American continent, and now there are good relations between our Orthodox American brothers. Even in the most difficult years of the Cold War we tried to maintain these good relations.”

The Patriarch continued, “It is very important that the Peoples of America and Russia preserve the system of Christian ethics. We are the most religious of nations and it is very important for us to have constant dialogue between the Christians of our countries and that our two nations must be friends.

In his response, Mr. B. Obama noted the labors of Patriarch KIRILL in strengthening Christian Unity and stated his willingness to cooperate with the Russian Orthodox Church.

In prayerful memory of the meeting, the Most Holy Patriarch KIRILL presented the US President with an icon of the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos.


Courtesy of St Catherine the Great Orthodox Church