Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill congratulates President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov on his 60th birthday

On March 1, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill congratulated President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov on his 60th anniversary:

"Dear Rustam Nurgalievich! From the bottom of my heart I congratulate you on your 60th birthday.

You have come a challenging way from an engineer to the President of Tatarstan. I am pleased to emphasize that under your leadership this important region of our country, where representatives of different nationalities and religious beliefs live in peace, is being developed in socio-economic and cultural terms.

I would like to thank you for your attention to the life and activity of the Tatarstan archdiocese, its socially significant projects and initiatives, as well as for the assistance that you provide to the Kazan Theological Seminary, churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church.

I am convinced that fruitful cooperation between dioceses of Tatarstan archdiocese and the government of the republic will continue to promote the spiritual, moral and patriotic education of people, preserve historical and cultural heritage of Russia, edify peace and civil accord.

In recognition of your merits and in connection with your 60th anniversary I suppose that you deserve to be awarded with the Order of Glory and Honour (second class).

I wish you strength, courage and success in your work for the benefit of all the residents of Tatarstan."