Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) attends meeting between of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of Eastern America and New York Diocese Laurus (leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, founded by the anti-Communist Orthodox clerics who had fled Russia after the 1917 revolution). The clerics met in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo during Metropolitan Laurus's visit to Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin readies to meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) exchanges kisses with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second. President met head of the Russian Orthodox Church and his counterpart of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile - Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus in then presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin readies to meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) meets Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (right) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (centre) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (left, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) meets Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (left, head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (right, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) meets Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (left, head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (right, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (second from the right), Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (seconde from the left, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) and Metropolitan Bishop of Krutisty and Kolomna Yuvenaly (right) meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and deputy chief of the presidential staff Vladislav Surkov (left) meet Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) meets Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis the Second (left, head of the Russian Orthodox Church) and Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (right, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen) meets Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (not seen) meets Metropolitan Bishop of East America and New York Laurus (head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile) in his residence of Novo-Ogarevo outside Moscow.