MOSCOW, April 16 Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia traditionally congratulated the Russian cosmonauts on the International Space Station (ISS) on Easter, wishing them a successful flight and so that «the guardian angel was with them.»
The participants of the 68th and 69th long-term expeditions took part in the conversation via teleconference with the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church: ISS commander Sergei Prokopyev, flight engineers Dmitry Petelin and Andrey Fedyaev, according to the ROC website.
«I would like to congratulate you all on this wonderful day and wish you God's help, that the Lord be with you, that the guardian angel be with you. So that your flight is successful, useful,» the words of the patriarch are quoted on the website.
The patriarch noted that Russia is a very rich country, and its main wealth is its people. «Our people are our main wealth. The Lord gave us a very rich country, a very rich land with colossal opportunities. And our task is to use all these opportunities correctly. Therefore, there is still a lot to be done, of course, developing our economy, developing our science and everything that will help, among other things, to make the most of the wealth that God has given Russia. We live in a wonderful country, which means we are happy people. And you are our pride. You represent Russia there, in space «, said the patriarch.
The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was glad that the astronauts took with them on the flight the icons that were visible in the frame. The Russian cosmonauts congratulated Patriarch Kirill and all compatriots on the feast of Christ's Resurrection.