Russian President Praises Old Believer Hierarch for Service to Church, Society

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has praised the first hierarch of the main Old Believer ('Belokrinitsy') accord in Eastern Europe, Metropolitan Cornelius () of Moscow, on the occasion of the latter's birthday for "[his] fruitful work as primate of the Russian Orthodox [Old Ritualist] Church," noting his service to his church as particularly valuable in its "contribution to the maintenance of time-honored spiritual traditions, the preservation of the rich cultural and historical legacy of our people, [and] the strengthening of peace and harmony and the moral climate in [Russian] society." More here.

Russian President Visits Holy Places in Jerusalem, Bethlehem

As part of his recent state visit to Israel Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has made a pilgrimage to the holy places of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, stopping at the Church of the Resurrection (the "Holy Sepulchre") in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. In Jerusalem the president was welcomed by Patriarch Theophilus III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem and representatives of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. More here.

Russia, Serbia Affirm Ties

During a visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin to Serbia the Serbian government affirmed its strong ties with Russia and noted that Serbian integration into the European Union would be closely monitored to ensure that it would not mean a weakening of links with the Russian Federation. More here.

Russian Leadership Celebrates Nativity

Both Russia's president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, and its prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin, attended Nativity services yesterday, the former at Christ the Savior Church in Moscow and the later at a church in the small town of Turginovo. More here and here.

Pictured is Patriarch Cyril (Gundyayev) of All Rus' celebrating the Nativity services yesterday in Moscow's Christ the Savior Church.

Putin Speaks on Russian Sexual Minorities

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has stated that the federal govenrment has no objection to the presence of sexual minorities in the country, but that it is focusing its efforts on promoting marriage and procreation because of the severe demographic issues facing Russia. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union violent clashes have taken place between human rights activists and anti-gay protesters on numerous occasions, but the legal restrictions placed on homosexuality during the Soviet era have been repealed. More on Prime Minister Putin's statement here.

Prime Minister of Russia Meets with the Patriarch of Bulgaria

This past Sunday Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin of Russia visited St. Alexander of the Neva's Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria, to venerate the relics of St. John there and to meet with Patriarch Maxim of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Moscow Patriarchate's press release on the visit can be found here.