PATRIARCH PORFIRIJE: GRATITUDE TO PUTIN FOR RUSSIA'S SUPPORT IN THE MATTER OF KOSOVO AND REPUBLIKA SRPSKA

MOSCOW, APRIL 22 /SRNA/ - His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Porfirije thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for Russia's support in the matter of Kosovo and Metohija, Republika Srpska and Montenegro and asked him to remain in that position and do everything possible, because without Kosovo and Srpska, Serbian people have no perspective.

"Without your and the support of China, I don't know what would happen to Kosovo," said the Serbian patriarch at the meeting in the Kremlin with Putin, which was attended by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, and His Eminence Metropolitan Irinej of Bačka.

Patriarch Porfirije pointed out that it is his wish and that of the majority in the Serbian Orthodox Church that in the future, if there is a new global order, the Serbian people will be closer to the Russian world.

The Serbian patriarch thanked Putin for everything he does to preserve values, and reminded that the relations between the Russian and Serbian churches in the past were relations of love and cooperation, and that is the case today.

The Serbian Patriarch mentioned that he recently spoke with the Patriarch of Jerusalem who told him that the Orthodox have one trump card, and that is Vladimir Putin. "Those words say it all," added the Serbian patriarch.

Patriarch Porfirije stated that a color revolution is underway in Serbia and expressed the hope that this temptation will be overcome, adding that the West wants to destroy the identity of the Serbian people and culture.

Russian Patriarch Kirill has stressed that of all the local Orthodox churches, the Serbian one is the closest to Russia in terms of culture, language, and history, and that love for Russia is in the genes of the Serbian people, which is also reflected in the relations between the churches.

Patriarch Kirill pointed out that the Serbian people and the Serbian Church never betrayed Russia, while some Slavic peoples did, under the influence of militaristic Western powers, but later regretted it.

Russian President Putin underlined that the Russian Patriarch makes a lot of efforts to strengthen traditional values ​​and spirituality.

Recalling Pope Francis, who died yesterday, Putin said that it seems to him that there are still spiritual forces and people in the West who strive to restore relations and spiritual rebirth.

"Western culture, no matter what anyone says, is based on Christian principles," Putin added.