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The conversation took place at the Patriarch’s suburban Moscow residence in Peredelkino.
Mr Putin and Patriarch Alexii congratulated each other on past Easter holidays and exchanged gifts. The President gave the Patriarch an icon, “The Resurrection of Christ”, and the Patriarch presented Mr Putin with an Easter egg – “a symbol of life”.
His Holiness expressed regret that he was unable to extend Easter greetings to President Putin on the holiday, because at that time Mr Putin was in Tajikistan. The Patriarch said he had watched television reports about Mr Putin’s stay in the Tajik capital and his attendance of an Orthodox Easter service at the St Nicholas Church in Dushanbe, and asked him how Orthodox parishes fared there.
During their conversation, Mr Putin and Patriarch Alexii also discussed the relationship between the church and the state and the spiritual development of Russian society.
The President wished the Patriarch the best of health and strength in his service.
May 10, 2003