Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: 

Vladimir Putin: Your Holiness, I wanted to meet with you to discuss a draft law that will regulate relations regarding ownership of religious buildings.

But before we begin our conversation, I'd like to thank you for the moral support and compassion that you and the entire Russian Orthodox Church have expressed following the recent acts of terror in our country - in Moscow and Dagestan.

There is no doubt that in such cases moral support is even more important than material support. Being with others during trying times is a tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. Thank you very much.

As for the topic of our meeting, you are familiar with the draft law. I was told that you have some comments to make. I'd like to discuss them with you today.

Indeed, Russia has many religious buildings. We have 12,000 monuments alone, out of which 11,000 are Orthodox monuments and over 6,000 are monuments of federal importance.

Obviously, we must proceed from a basis of historical justice and the requirements of religious institutions. We must also be careful in how we deal with the past - you know my views on this - so as to ensure that our attempts to  achieve this justice do not lead to any negative consequences or destroy what we have today.

I'm referring to buildings that are being used for the public good, such as museums and the like.

On the whole, we have dealt with these problems, including the Novodevichy Convent. The most important thing is for federal and regional authorities to create the necessary conditions to resettle various institutions in modern buildings.

In the last two or three months I have signed 16 government executive orders transferring religious buildings to the Russian Orthodox Church. I have just signed two more orders, bringing the total to 18. We will, of course, continue this work at the government level. But again, I'd like to know your opinion on the draft law that is now being debated in the State Duma.

Patriarch Kirill: Thank you, Mr Putin, for this opportunity to meet and for the kind words about the position taken by the Russian Orthodox Church on these acts of terror.

Immediately after this tragedy took place in Moscow, I sent clergymen to  hospitals. We have a group of experienced clergymen who have been through Kizlyar and Dubrovka and are well educated.

The majority of victims were Russian Orthodox Christians, although there were also Muslims and representatives of other religions among them. With the exception of one man who said he was not a believer, all the victims were pleased to meet with Orthodox priests.

These conversations were very moving - many confessed and received communion. The priests prayed with them and provided support. And this illustrates what you have correctly noted - moral and spiritual support is extremely important when people are at their lowest point.

I will not tell you all the stories I heard, but one was truly stunning. A young pregnant woman was riding the metro and decided to pray. She took out a book of prayers from her handbag and read one. When she finished, an explosion occurred very close to her, but she miraculously survived. Only her face is badly injured. Her husband is also an Orthodox Christian. This shows how faith helps people overcome incredible suffering.

I'd like to discuss with you improving cooperation between clergymen and the services that are responsible for responding to such tragedies.

Personally, and on behalf of the Church and our people, I'd also like to thank you for the excellent work. This is perhaps the first time that everything was executed so well. Our priests saw firsthand how all the departments worked. Their work was well coordinated, without any unnecessary actions. It was all directed toward a common goal. I pray that these efforts were effective and the victims will recover. God bless them. And may the souls of the departed reside in the kingdom of heaven. 

As for the law, we find the draft prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development to be suitable. We had some comments on one of the drafts, but I was told that the Government Commission on Religious Associations, headed by Alexander Zhukov, received a document that is the result of some agreement that was reached. There are perhaps some details worth discussing, but the law as such is very good.

Allow me to share my understanding of the problem. I'm absolutely convinced that the tension in a certain part of our society and the press have been generated by the instinct for self-defence, the desire of the museum world to protect itself against potential trouble.

There is no problem really. Both sides are very careful in each specific case. I have established a Council on Culture that will decide each specific disputed issue should they arise.

Yesterday I visited the Andrei Rublev Museum, looked at the artwork and asked the director a rhetorical question: "Do you think it is possible to take these pieces, these icons, and distribute them among the churches?" It took many years to put together this exhibit, and it is important as an integral whole. No one is going to take this road.

However, this does not mean that monasteries must endlessly accommodate secular institutions, that icons must be stored in vaults when they can be used for their intended purpose. It is necessary to take a balanced approach and to consider the interests of both sides. The Church never pursues its own narrow interests. It has no right to care only about its own well-being. It must take care of the people and of society.

Therefore, all the solutions that we are striving to find will, I hope, be found and carried out without causing more difficulties in our Fatherland, our society, which is not going through the easiest period of its history right now.

That is why I believe that this issue will be resolved in a calm, sensible and balanced manner. I'd like to thank the government of the Russian Federation for its constructive approach to the problem.

Vladimir Putin: The position of museum workers is also understandable, because they also want everything to be resolved in a reasonable and balanced manner. No one wants any campaigns.

Patriarch Kirill: Absolutely.

Vladimir Putin: It is easy to evict an institution from a building but difficult to quickly build new, well-equipped modern facilities for it. This is what we have done in some cases. The Historical Archives have been transferred in St Petersburg, but we have also created unique environment for their preservation, improvement and use. But this is not a common occurrence, and institutions are afraid of being evicted.

Obviously, we must find an acceptable solution to this problem. No doubt, this problem can be solved. Let's discuss this now.