Putin's holy Christmas message

It was  Orthodox Christmas yesterday, and the Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated all Russian citizens on the Nativity of Christ.  His press office quotes him saying   "This feast has brought the light of faith, hope and love for centuries. It turns us to eternal spiritual values  that play a special role in the Russian history and feed our national culture...the Russian Orthodox Church and followers of other Christian confessions pay most serious attention to strengthening the moral health of our society,".   
    Relations are cordial..back in May Patriarch Alexei praised Putin as an "Orthodox human being".