The complete transcript of the conversation between Patriarch Porfirije and Putin: Vučić is coming to Moscow

The meeting was attended by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, as well as Metropolitans of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej and Antonije.

We are transmitting the complete transcript of the conversation, and below you can also watch a video of what they were talking about.

Here is the translation of the complete transcript into Serbian:

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness!

Allow me to greet you warmly in Moscow, as well as here in these chambers - there is a special atmosphere here. We are very glad to see you.

I know that the Serbian Orthodox Church makes a significant contribution to strengthening the relations between our peoples, who traditionally maintain the warmest, closest and most trusting alliance relations.

Allow me to congratulate you on the holiday of Easter. It is our common holy holiday.

I have already said that Russian-Serbian relations always have a special character, and so it is today. This is, among other things, because we are connected by strong, deep, spiritual common roots.

We are always glad to see you. On May 9, we expect the President of Serbia to be in Moscow at the ceremonies on the occasion of the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War.

We know that the situation in the Balkans is not easy, and we are aware of your efforts to strengthen the position of Serbia, including the importance of the All-Serbian Assembly that you held.

We are always glad to see you. Welcome!

Patriarch Porfirije: Mr. President, excuse me, I will say a few words - I don't speak Russian very well, but I understand everything. Bishop Irinej is also with me, he speaks Russian very well.

Thank you for having us and happy Easter. Christ is risen!

I hope that resurrection is our way and our reality, the fact of our faith. This means that victory is known and that it depends on God's will. It is up to us to do what is up to us.

I wanted to thank you for everything you do at the value level. Because the foundation of values ​​- without values, without ideology - not ideology in the psychological sense, as you said, but essentially - it is impossible to live. Everything depends on faith: as we believe, so is our life, our words, etc.

You know and you yourself said that the relations between our churches in the past were always relations of love and mutual help between the Russian and Serbian churches. I think it's still like that today... Isn't it?

Patriarch Kirill: That's right.

Patriarch Porfirije: My predecessors - the patriarchs of the Serbian Church - were always connected with the patriarchs of the Russian Church in the past. And my predecessor, Holy Patriarch Irinej, said: we Serbs need... How did he say?

Bishop Irinej: He said that our small boat, sailing on rough seas, should always be tied to a big Russian ship.

Patriarch Porfirije: I wanted to say that we feel it and believe it to be true.

I have to say that you already know that, but it should be said again: the Serbian people look at the Russian people as their own. Sometimes it may seem that the hope that the Serbs place is greater in Russia, in Russian politics, than in their own. Maybe it's a paradox.

Two weeks ago I was in Jerusalem and spoke with the Patriarch of Jerusalem, we talked for a long time. He did not know that I would come to Moscow. When we talked about Orthodoxy on a global level, he told me: "We Orthodox have one trump card." I asked, "Which one?" He told me: "Vladimir Putin." Those words say it all.

"We have a very good relationship with the president, he sent you greetings. He will be here on May 9".

It should be noted that we are grateful to you for your support and attitude regarding Kosovo and Republika Srpska, and of course Montenegro - and our people, our church, are there. You know very well that without your support and the support of China, I don't know what would happen to Kosovo. I was there for Easter, I served in the patriarchal service - it is the capital city of the Serbian Patriarch.

Please stay in that position and do your best. Because - independent of politics, independent of people - without Kosovo and without Republika Srpska, I can say, the Serbian people have no perspective.

Of course, we have a very good relationship with the president, and he sends his regards and told me that he will be here on May 9, regardless of the circumstances in Europe and elsewhere.

Our position regarding Kosovo, Republika Srpska and Montenegro, I believe and feel that it also depends on the position of the Russian state, the Russian Federation on a global level. My wish, and the wish of the majority in our Church, is that in the future, if there is a new geopolitical regrouping, we will be close to that Russian environment.

Bishop Irinej: In the Russian world.

Patriarch Porfirije: Yes, in the Russian world, in the Orthodox world. We discussed Orthodoxy with Your Holiness - it is not easy.

There are revolutions in our country these days too. What's its name?

Bishop Irinej: Colored.

Patriarch Porfirije: The colored revolution - you know it. I hope we will overcome that temptation, as you said. Because we know and feel that the centers of power from the West do not want the identity of the Serbian people and their culture to develop.

Thank you for what you said, and may God give you strength and wisdom. Our prayers are always with you and I hope the Lord will help you.

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, you mentioned identity. This is what the church deals with in general, and especially the Russian Orthodox Church under the leadership of the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The Holy Patriarch invests a lot of effort in order to strengthen our traditional values, our spiritual foundations.

And whenever we meet, we remember and talk about our Orthodox brothers, and that is the attitude of the holy patriarch. I am convinced that he constantly talks about it in his conversations with you. Your Holiness.

Patriarch Kirill: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!

I am very glad that this meeting took place and that it will happen.

Of all local Orthodox churches, the Serbian one is the closest to the Russian church - in terms of culture and language. And historically speaking: our countries have never gone to war against each other, and if they did, it was side by side against others.

That love for Russians, for the Russian people and the Russian church is organically woven into the culture of Serbia, into the Serbian people. That is why they are our closest friends, our brothers - both in spirit and in terms of life philosophy. This is of great importance: both when we discuss problems together and when we meet at interlocal Orthodox gathering,  the Serbian church is the closest to us. I'm not saying that just because the Serbian patriarch is sitting here today, but because it really is so.

If we look at history, the Serbian people and the Serbian church have never betrayed Russia.

Some Slavic countries, not to mention them, under the influence of powerful militaristic Western powers, temporarily changed their orientation, then regretted it, but changed. Serbs never changed. That love for Russia, so to speak, may even be genetically instilled in the Serbian people.

All this is strongly reflected in inter-church relations. We are always like-minded. And when there are discussions on inter-Orthodox forums, we always feel the support of the Serbian Church.

And of course, I would like to point out something else: Serbs are, of course, more western than us - that's how God arranged it. It is a church that faces the West directly, from which it can probably receive and has received much that is useful in science and culture.

But what is happening today with human morality and ethics in the West - I will say it openly, why should we be ashamed - it is the devil's work.

Patriarch Porfirije: Yes.

Patriarch Kirill: Why the devil? Because the goal of the devil is for man to lose the difference between good and evil. That is no more. There is only "alternative behavior". The Church says: it must not be done that way. And God's word says: it must not be done that way. And modern secular culture says: why not, man is free to act as he wants - it is simply freedom of choice.

This approach destroys the moral foundations of human existence, and this can lead to terrible civilizational disasters. Because when the integrity of the human personality is violated, then everything collapses. The RPC, as you know, stands by those positions and defends them in international forums. But we also need such good allies.

Of all local Orthodox churches - I am not saying this because the Holy Patriarch is here today, but from my own experience - the Serbian Church is always with us. And Serbia is the country that has never betrayed Russia. I will not mention other Slavic countries which, under the influence of political and military forces, temporarily lost good relations with Russia. Serbia always stayed with us. That is why I am especially looking forward to this meeting today.

The people who are here today, at this table - both Bishop Antonije and Bishop Irinej - are truly the spiritual leaders of their people. And I know how sincere their feelings are towards Russia and towards you personally. That's why today's event is emotionally very high for me - the fact that we all met. I hope that this will lead to good results in the development of relations between the Russian and Serbian churches, as well as between Serbia and Russia.

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, you mentioned what is happening in the west. We know very well and we all witnessed your meeting with the Pope of Rome, who left this world during these Easter days. I think it also shows that even in the West there are still people, spiritual forces, who strive for the restoration of relations and spiritual rebirth.

Patriarch Kirill: Absolutely correct.

Vladimir Putin: Western culture - no matter what anyone says - is based on Christian foundations.

Patriarch Kirill: You very correctly mentioned the late Pope. He was a man of strong views and convictions, despite the great pressure that was put on him - including attempts to cool down relations with the Russian church.

He's in another world now, so I'm free to quote him without his permission. When they pressed him hard - pardon the expression - he only said a short sentence: "Don't argue with Kirill." He turned and left.

Pressure was exerted by his closest collaborators: that the course should be changed, that it is not acceptable - because it is connected with Russian politics.

That sentence – "Don't argue with Kirill" – was constantly in my mind while he was alive. Relations were good. Now the Lord has called him to heaven, but his memories remain the most beautiful - both in terms of his relationship with Russia and the Russian Church.

Vladimir Putin: Me too. We saw each other several times. He, quite obviously – I can say that – had sincere and good feelings towards Russia. Bearing in mind his Latin American origin and the mood of most citizens of Latin American countries, I am sure that he also felt this and built relations with Russia in a very benevolent spirit.