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Dmitry Medvedev presents lithograph to Russian patriarch on occasion of his birthday

Over the past year the Russian patriarch has visited around 40 cites

© ITART-TASS/Zurab Dzhavakhadze

STRELJNA, November 20, 20:10 /ITAR-TASS/. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill on the occasion of his birthday and sent a birthday message and a present- a lithograph with the pictures of Moscow, to the patriarch who is celebrating his 67th birthday on November 20.

Despite his birthday the patriarch did not change his usual work schedule; on Wednesday morning the patriarch conducted a liturgy at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in downtown Moscow and then he did his usual work at his residence at the St. Daniel Monastery.

Over the past year the Russian patriarch has visited around 40 cites, laid foundation stones to new cathedrals and sanctified newly built ones. He paid visits to China, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova, Ukraine, Greece where he visited Holy Mount Athos. Towns in the depth of Russia prevailed in the Patriarch's itinerary this year.

Patriarch Kirill took part in a ceremony of unveiling a monument to the 17th century patriarch, Germogen- a spiritual leader of the people's defense forces, and an obelisk to the Romanov royal dynasty, which was restored at the Kremlin wall.

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