Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated all Orthodox Christians and Russian citizens celebrating Orthodox Christmas, which is being celebrated Saturday, the Kremlin press service said.
He noted that the celebration “gives us all the light of faith and fills us with joy and hope,” and that this is a time of good intentions and good deeds, when we should care for loved ones and people who need our help.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also took time to wish the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia a Merry Christmas, saying that he was confident Russia would continue to develop constructive relations with state and public institutions under his presidency.