“I love Moldova dearly because it has a hospitable people. I convinced myself of this when I saw the bright and kind faces of the faithful,” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said in a meeting with Prime Minister Vlad Filat, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the Government’s press office, the Patriarch stressed that the visit to Chisinau inspires him with optimism. He called upon the administration of the Moldovan Orthodox Church to continue the good things done until now, to further strengthen the faith and watch over the moral state of the faithful. The Russian official gave the Premier an icon representing Saint Gheorghe the Winner, on whose day Vlad Filat celebrates his name day, and a Bible as presents. For his part, the Premier presented the Patriarch with a small collection of old wines and a cognac made in 1946, when his Holiness was born. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia came to Chisinau in the evening of October 8 and held a service at the “God’s Birth” Metropolitan Cathedral. The next day, he officiated at a liturgical service in the square of the Cathedral, helped by a group of bishops. Vlad Filat said the visit paid by Patriarch Kirill was very important for the faithful in Moldova. His Holiness Kirill will end the visit to Moldova in the afternoon of October 10.