The head of the Russian Orthodox Church will answer questions from TV viewers once a month in his program Pastor's Word on state-run Channel One on Saturdays, a church spokesman said Tuesday.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, elected to head the Russian Church after the death of Patriarch Alexy II in December 2008, has hosted the program for nearly 17 years, since the time when he was head of the Church's external relations department.
"The editor's office of Pastor's Word received numerous letters with requests for the patriarch to answer questions from TV viewers. Despite his busy schedule, the patriarch decided to do so once a month," Church spokesman Vladimir Legoida told journalists.
Previously, the program, which has constantly enjoyed high popularity among the faithful, only featured sermons from Kirill, seen as a liberal in the largely traditionalist Church.
MOSCOW, December 28 (RIA Novosti)
