"Your convincing victory at the elections in open and honest procedure with high turnout witnesses to the fact that Russians of various nationalities, religions and confessions, to different social and age groups, even to different political views have united around you," the patriarch writes in his congratulatory message spread by his press service. 

According to the church primate, results of people's choice prove that their hopes correspond to Putin's views on Russia's future as "a peace-loving, truly sovereign state that secures human rights and freedoms and bears responsibility for preserving and multiplying spiritual, moral and cultural values that formed our country."

"May God keep you in good physical and spiritual health and give you strength to carry out what you have planned, which was so decisively backed up by our people. To you, national leader, on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church I declare: many good years!" the patriarch said.

 Source: interfax-religion.com