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Putin highlights Mount Athos importance for society’s moral foundations

"I am here for a second time, and I always feel special warmth, goodness and best attitude not only to me as the head of the Russian state, but to the Russian people, to people in general," Putin said

© Aleksej Druzhinin/Russian presidend's press service/TASS

KARYES (Mount Athos), May 28. /TASS/. Mount Athos is to a great extent a source of moral foundations of the society, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday on a visit to Mount Athos to mark the 1,000-year presence of Russian Orthodox monks there.

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Putin arrives at Mount Athos to mark 1,000 years of Russian presence

"I am here for a second time, and I always feel special warmth, goodness and best attitude not only to me as the head of the Russian state, but to the Russian people, to people in general," Putin said after a welcoming speech by Protos Paulos of Mount Athos, and thanking the Ecumenical Patriarch and primates of the Greek Orthodox Church for what they do to maintain relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian people.

A very important "and very necessary for the Orthodox world deed" happens on the Holy Mountain, connected with the strengthening of moral foundations of the society. "To a great extent you are the source of this welfare and grace," the president said.

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