Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on her jubilee
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ sent greetings to Ms Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on her 50th birthday. The text of the message is given below.
Ms Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova
Director of the Information and Press Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Dear Maria Vladimirovna,
Please accept my heartfelt greetings on your jubilee.
Having devoted your life to diplomatic service, for over ten years now you have been the Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, making your great contribution to defending our country’s interests in the international arena.
I am grateful for your attention to the ministry of the Moscow Patriarchate and all-round support for the Russian Orthodox Church, steadfast in upholding traditional spiritual and moral values in the life of contemporaries.
In deference to your work and on the occasion of your jubilee, I deem it fair to award you the Order of the Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, 2nd Class.
Wishing you good health and well-being, as well as help from God and success in your responsible service for the benefit of our Homeland, I remain
Sincerely yours,
+KIRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
Patriarch
Department Chairman
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