Alexander Agеev and Robin Matthews together with the Association of Orthodox Business Leaders had the honor to have an audience with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 7 December.

The Patriarch told that the economic crisis might be a good opportunity for soul-searching and spiritual reflection. The Patriarch voiced his wish that the global recession would help business leaders to develop the right attitude to work and compensation, make them pull themselves together and value their contributions to society.

The Patriarch urged business leaders to remember that money imposes a huge responsibility upon its owner. His Holiness envisioned that the economic crisis would finally pick the thin artificial coating called 'virtual economy' - speculation and short-term profit taking. The Russian society might emerge from the crisis strong rather than weakened.

Patriarch Kirill called on business leaders to remember that by virtue of this crisis God gives the global community another chance to purify.