Ilves met with Patriarch of Moscow and of All-Russia Alexius II
By Juhan Tere, The Baltic Course (Latvia)
July 1, 2008
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Alexius II |
On Monday President Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with Patriarch of Moscow and of All-Russia Alexius II in the Russian capital.
Ilves and the patriarch discussed thoroughly the relations between Estonia and Russia, the patriarch also confirmed his wish to visit Estonia, writes Postimees Online/LETA.
“It was a meeting with a warm, sincere and a very spiritual person who is also very much aware of what is happening in Estonia – in the country where he was born,” stated Ilves.
“Although there are problems between the countries, people communicate with each other and the mutual understanding is very good,” he added.
The Estonian President spoke about Alexius II’s possible visit to Estonia. The patriarch stated that he wishes to visit the country where he was born, particularly emphasising his desire to visit the convent at Kuremäe.
Ilves also gave a present to Alexius II – a photograph of the house in Tallinn where he and his parents lived until autumn of the year 1940. The President also handed over to him four letters found by the current owners of the house from the attic, one of which is a letter from Alexius II’s mother to her husband.
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