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Vsevolod Chaplin, a senior Moscow Patriarchate official in charge of relations with political and government organizations, said he welcomed the president's statement on the need to respect other nations, particularly at the present time when Russia itself was torn by ethnic tensions.

"These are very good words," Chaplin said. "Although the president cannot be considered a professional theologian, he correctly understands the essence of our teaching, which combines profound faith in our own tradition, understanding of its uniqueness and value, with openness to other people, other traditions and other nations."

Asked about the significance of the fact that Putin visited Solovki at the time of the anniversary of the coup, Chaplin said, "I am not a clairvoyant and cannot fathom what is going on in another person's soul. But the very fact that during these days he prayed and venerated the holy sites of our church and our country speaks for itself."

Copyright © 2001 ENI

Media coverage of the failed coup's tenth anniversary include: Reuters, CNN, and the Associated Press.

Previous Christianity Today stories about Russia include:

Church Leader Says Russia Needs To Adopt German-Style Church Tax | Russian Orthodox Church facing financial difficulties, but suggestion is seen only as publicity ploy. (Mar. 27, 2001)

Federal Ruling May Mean Salvation Army's Moscow Problems Are Over | Church able to register as "centralized" religious organization, but leaders say Moscow decision must still be overturned. (Mar. 6, 2001)

Russia Recognizes Salvation Army as a Religious Organization | Officials say that doesn't restore status to the Army's Moscow branch. (Feb. 28, 2001)

Most Religious Groups Achieve Reregistration | Russia registers more than 9,000 religious organizations, but number is only 60 percent of religious groups in 1990s. (Feb. 6, 2001)

Russian Intellectuals Try to Revive Atheism | The Moscow Society of Atheists says its ideology has fallen out of fashion. (Jan. 24, 2001)

Russia's Last Czar to be Sainted for 'Humility' of his Death, but not for his Life | Nicholas II and family part of 1,100 canonized for martyrdom by communists. (Aug. 18, 2000)

Will Putin Protect Religious Liberty? | Freedoms may be in danger in the new Russia. (July 26, 2000)

A Precarious Step Forward | Loosened rules in Russia may mean better times for religious freedom. (Feb. 3, 2000)

A Russians Prepare to Elect New President, Putin Shows Interest in Religion | Russian Orthodox Church sees news church-state relationship. (Jan. 11, 2000)

Russia's minority churches welcome liberal ruling on religion law | 1997 ruling against 'sects' upheld, but religious groups claim victory. (Dec. 30, 1999)

Moscow Meeting Eases Russia's Interchurch Tensions | First major interchurch meeting since 1997 religion law called 'highly important'. (Dec. 6, 1999)

Baroness Caroline Cox: Rescuing Russia's Orphans | Hundreds of thousands of children consigned to Russian orphanages for oligophrenics need aid. (Aug. 8, 1999)

Jehovah's Witness Verdict Stalled | Civil case attracts attention as the first test for Russia's controversial 1997 religion law. (April 26, 1999)

Learning to Speak Russian | When the Communists fell, we discovered that we did not speak the same language as secular Russians. (Nov. 16, 1998)

Stepping Back from Freedom | (Nov. 17, 1997)

New Religion Law Fraught with Potential for Abuses | (Nov. 17, 1997)

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August (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45