Turkish PM pledges support in organizing churches for Russian Orthodox Christians

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia discussed prospects of a spiritual ministry to Orthodox Russians residing in Turkey and visiting that country.

Patriarch Kirill said more and more Russian-speaking Orthodox believers were coming to Turkey each year, and they need churches, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, told the media after the talks in Ankara on Monday.

"Mr. Erdogan pledged support and said he was ready to take charge of this issues personally," Father Nikolay said.