Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on Sunday congratulated the head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church on his 75th birthday.

"You have been fulfilling your pastoral duty in Belarus for over 30 years and have won deep respect from the country's nationals by your efforts," Medvedev's telegram to Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, said as quoted by the Kremlin.

"The time of your service is marked with a rise in Orthodox Christianity's authority in Belarusian society and by revival of spiritual values that are common for our brotherly nations. Your efforts to maintain civil peace and accord and develop broad interchurch dialogue have received a high assessment and recognition," the telegram said.

Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, personally congratulated Filaret during Sunday morning's liturgy in central Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral.

The patriarch said Filaret had always testified to "eternal Gospel truth," adding that he called on people to "live according to Christ's commandments."

Kirill wished Filaret "strong spiritual and bodily force, success and God's help" in his work.

Belarus' main religion is Orthodox Christianity.

Prince Vladimir baptized medieval Kievan Rus, which comprised parts of modern-day Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, in the year 988. The canonical Orthodox Churches in Belarus and Ukraine are subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church.

MOSCOW, March 21 (RIA Novosti)