OREANDA-NEWS  Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia wished God's blessing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government and the armed forces of the Russian Federation on Christmas Eve.

"May God's blessing rest on our president, on the authorities, on the army, and on all of us, preserving deep faith in our hearts and faithfulness to the Lord," he said in a sermon after the liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

He also wished the faithful to strengthen their faith, piety and wisdom, and the country spiritual and material strength.