Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill I has addressed thousands of young people on the dangers of alcoholism and an unchecked market economy as he takes the church to people used to the Kremlin as the biggest institution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country's internal and external security depends upon two things - its traditional religions and its nuclear forces - writes Sophia Kishkovsky from Moscow for Ecumenical News International (ENI).

Today (7 January 2007) is the day of Christmas celebrations for 150 million Orthodox Christians across the world ‚Ä' the branch of the global Christian family which still claims the deepest links with the post-apostolic Church.