"He received the legacy of a Church that had been weakened by decades of repression," he said. "At a time when our country was called to meet big challenges, the weak Russian Church had to face them, to preserve its people and help them find their faith again." "Today," continued Metropolitan Kirill who was visibly moved to tears "he entrusts us another Church. It is no longer a weak, powerless Church. He met the challenge and was able to preserve the unity of the Church so that today we are here all together".
