MOSCOW, January 7. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana have arrived in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to attend a Christmas service led by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.
Medvedev regularly goes to church for the most important Christian festivals and he usually attends divine services in Moscow's main Orthodox cathedral for Christmas and Easter. He was present at services at the Christ the Saviour Church at the beginning of his public political career - as the head of the Kremlin administration first, and then as the first deputy prime minister.
The prime minister tries not to attract much attention to his own religious beliefs.
“Personal religious feelings are concealed in nature, and that is why they are so valuable,” Medvedev said at a meeting with young people once. “The church should be in our souls. Everyone has their own path and should sort out their feelings, but the state should create conditions to satisfy people’s demand for going to church.”
Christmas was one of the most cheerful holidays, Medvedev said.
“Christmas days give us the eternal light of faith and fill us with joy and hope,” he said. “This is the time of good thoughts and good deeds, and concern for people close to us and unfamiliar people who need our help.”.