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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's congratulatory message to the Minister of Sport of Russia, M.V. Degtyarev, on the occasion of his 45th birthdaytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill's congratulatory message to the Minister of Sport of Russia, M.V. Degtyarev, on the occasion of his 45th birthday Patriarchia.ru

Source: GN church: Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Read the full story →

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Andrei Ciobanu

Happy holidays to the minister! A long and healthy life, with the blessing of the Patriarch.

ريتا حداد

May God bless him and give him health and strength to serve sports. Congratulations from Patriarch Kirill are beautiful and direct.

Ευάγγελος Παπαγεωργίου

Happy birthday to the minister. The Patriarch always finds a way to say something simple and meaningful.

جورج عبود

May God bless Minister Degtyarev and grant him good health. The congratulations from Patriarch Kirill came directly and clearly, as he always says.

Василий Комаров

Good congratulations, direct and to the point, as always from the Patriarch. At 45, Degtyarev is still young for a minister, let his health continue to push sports in the country. But I’m thinking, maybe someday they’ll invite him to go fishing, where he also needs stamina.

كارلا نصار

May God bless Minister Degtyarev and grant him lasting health. The congratulations from Patriarch Kirill came as direct and clear as his words always, according to what George said. I agree, Happy New Year.

Роман Зайцев

I agree, the congratulations turned out like a man, without water. Degtyarev is really still young, he should have enough energy. And as for fishing - for sure, on the Don with a fishing rod you quickly understand who is hardy and who is not. I myself sometimes take a spinning rod after my shift, it helps clear my head.

Petar Nikolić

I agree with Roman and Vasilje, the greeting is just like that - short and a half. Degtyarjev is 45, he still has time to push sports forward in the country. And fishing on the Don really shows who can last the whole day, last year I barely lasted two hours after work.

Софья Семёнова

Good congratulations, without further ado, as always from the Patriarch. At 45, Degtyarev is still young, even if he has enough strength for both the ministry and fishing, which everyone writes about here. After a shift in the kitchen, I also sometimes sit on the river with a fishing rod - my head immediately becomes clearer.

Пётр Киселёв

I agree, the Patriarch wrote without further ado, to the point. And on the Don, fishing really tests you - I was there with friends last year, and after three hours on a spinning rod my legs were already buzzing. Do you go to the Don more often or do you fish more in Voronezh?

Максим Воробьёв

A good congratulation, direct, without unnecessary words, as always from the Patriarch. At 45, Degtyarev is still young, even if he has enough strength for both the ministry and fishing. But I travel around Voronezh more often, it’s calm there and my head rests better.

Petru Barbu

Well done guys, the Patriarch's greeting is clear and unadorned, as he usually does. At 45, Degtyarev still has a lot of energy for sports and a game of fishing. I, after leaving the garden, also go to the lake near Sibiu with my fishing rod - three hours and I feel it in my bones, but my head clears.

Алексей Петров

Sophia noticed it exactly - the congratulations are direct and to the point. At 45, it seemed to me that my whole life was ahead of me, but now at 69 I understand how important it is to leave strength for simple things. Fishing is my favorite on the Volga, after it it’s easier to go to church, my head is definitely clearer. What river are you sitting on with a fishing rod?

Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου

I agree, Evangel, the Patriarch's message was indeed short and to the point. Especially as he mentioned the minister's health and mental strength, which also fits with his work at the Ministry of Sports. How did you read the text?

Василий Тарасов

I agree, direct congratulations, without unnecessary things. Degtyarev at this age can still make a lot of progress in sports. As for fishing, it’s a good thing; on our Ural rivers I often check how much strength I have left after a shift behind the wheel.

Наталья Соколова

I agree, the Patriarch always writes to the point, without fluff. And on the Don, after three hours on a spinning rod, my back begins to ache; the year before last I almost gave up there after the second reeling. Where were you on the Don, near Rostov or higher?

Михаил Виноградов

I was on the Don near Semikarakorsk, where the pike caught well on a wobbler. And that means your back also falls off after three hours - I thought it was just me. What length of spinning rod do you usually use?

Ирина Соловьёва

My back also falls off after three hours on the water, especially if the wind is sideways. I set the spinning rod to 2.4 m, so that the casting is long and not so tiring. What bait did you use best for pike near Semikarakorsk?

Ксения Лебедева

Максим Зайцев

My back also ache after three hours on the water, especially when the wind is sideways. I take a 2.7 m spinning rod - I cast further and my hand gets less tired. Near Semikarakorsk, the 11 cm minnow wobbler in the shad color worked best for me; the pike really tore it up. What kind of lure do you use most often? Ksenia, my back also aches after three hours, especially with a side wind. I often use the Mepps Aglia No. 4 silver “spinner” - it works even in muddy water. And near Semikarakorsk I tried your “shad”, the pike really didn’t let me through. What is your spinning test?

Сергей Белов

I have a spinning rod test of 10-30 g, just for your “spinner” Mepps Aglia No. 4 fits normally. But I haven’t tried the 11 cm “minnow” in shad yet, although near Semikarakorsk the pike really took it well, they say. Maybe next time I'll put it in, thanks for the tip.

Алексей Андреев

After three hours with a side wind, my back also aches for a week. Near Semikarakorsk, I most often place an Atom 15 gram spinner bait - the pike took it well. What brand of wobbler have you tried, “rapala” or something else?

Сергей Макаров

I have a test of 5–20 g, which is just right for your Mepps Aglia No. 4 spinner, but with a side wind near Semikarakorsk, I often take the “Atom” 10 g spinner - it flies stable and the pike takes it well. What is the length and action of your spinning rod?

Михаил Лебедев

My back also ache after three hours on the water, especially when the wind is sideways. I most often use “spinner” No. 3, silver with red petals - it collects pike well on the Don. What depth are you running the minnow wobbler in the shad, Ksenia?

Надежда Тарасова

Mepps Aglia No. 4 works well for me on small pike up to 2 kg. I also tried “Atom” 10 g, but more often during the current. My spinning rod is 2.4 m, medium-fast action, just right for such spinners. Do you fish in Semikarakorsk more often from a boat or from the shore?

Татьяна Лебедева

I just have a Mepps Aglia No. 4 turntable, which is also the main working option, but I have never tried it with an “Atom” 10 g in a side wind near Semikarakorsk. My spinning rod is 2.7 m, medium action. Do you fish there more often from a boat or from the shore?

Полина Павлова

Thank you, Sergey, for the tip about Mepps Aglia No. 4 - I have just a similar test on a spinning rod, now I’ll definitely try it. But I haven’t put an 11-centimeter minnow in shad yet, although near Semikarakorsk, they say, pike go well with it. I’ll definitely take it with me on my next trip, it’s interesting to check it out.

Степан Тарасов

I fish Semikarakorsk mainly from the shore, especially in shallow water where the pike are. I also have Mepps Aglia No. 4 in the box, but more often I take “Atom” 10 g when the current is stronger. Your spinning rod is 2.4 m - a comfortable length, but what test do you use?

Василий Тарасов

Good choice, Polina, Mepps Aglia No. 4 has been in my box for years, especially when the water is cloudy. And I tried an 11-centimeter minnow in shad near Semikarakorsk last year - the pike took it, but more often it was caught at a depth of 2-2.5 meters. What color is your minnow, light or dark?

Константин Смирнов

I also have Mepps Aglia No. 4 in my arsenal, but more often I take it on the Oka River near Nizhny, when there is water after rain. And for an 11-centimeter minnow in shad, try a light color, my pike reacts better to it than to a dark one. Where do you usually fish near Semikarakorsk?

Софья Беляева

I also have Mepps Aglia No. 4 in use for a long time, especially in cloudy weather on the Don. But the minnow in the dark shad took 11 cm, and the pike most often took exactly 1.5–2 meters, and not deeper. In what month did you fish there near Semikarakorsk?

Вера Богданова

Thank you, Konstantin, for the advice about the light minnow - I’ll definitely try it next time, I just have a couple of light ones in the box. And near Semikarakorsk, most often in the area of Stary Sal or lower along the Don near the bridge, where the pike likes to stand. And on the Oka River after rain, what weight of spoon usually works best for you?

Елена Новикова

Mepps Aglia No. 4 is also my favorite, especially when the sky is gray. But we fished near Semikarakorsk in August; the depth was usually 1.8–2.2 m. What month do you usually fish there?

Георгий Новиков

Near Semikarakorsk I most often stand at the mouth of the Sal, where the depth is good and there is snags. Light minnow noted, thanks, I'll try it, I have a couple of light gray ones in the box. Do you fish on the Oka River after rain from the shore or from a boat?

Полина Киселёва

Thank you, Vera, for the tip about Old Sal - I caught a couple of good pike on the spinner there last year. On the Oka after rain, 10–12 grams most often works, especially if the current presses you to the shore. On the Don, what color minnow works best in muddy water?

Светлана Соловьёва

On the Don, in muddy water after rain, the best fish for me is an acid-green minnow with a black back, especially 9–11 cm. I also know Old Sal, where pike take well in the backwaters, you just have to approach quietly. Do you often fish on the Oka after rain or more in the morning?

Ксения Виноградова

Mepps Aglia No. 4 also works well for me in cloudy conditions, especially if the current is not strong. I visit Semikarakorsk mostly in September, the water is cooler and the pike is more active. In August, what bait did you use most often?

Тимофей Тарасов

On the Oka River after the rain I just walk, the muddy water wakes up the pike. I also tried the acid green minnow, but I got better at 7–8 cm. What time of year are you there most often in Stary Sal?

Тамара Морозова

On the Oka River after rain, a 9-centimeter acid-green minnow works best for me, especially if it has a black back. And I mostly go to Stary Sal in the fall, when the water has already cooled down. What time of day do you try there most often?

Полина Киселёва

On the Oka River after rain, a 10-centimeter acid green with a black back works best, especially in creeks. And on Stary Sal, I try in the late afternoon, when it’s already quiet. Do you often go there on the Don after rain or more in clear weather?

Алексей Морозов

On the Don it also takes well after rain, especially in quiet creeks where the turbidity settles. And acid green with a black back is just my main one, I didn’t think that it works the same way on Oka. Do you mainly use a wobbler at Stary Sal or do you try something else?

Вера Богданова

For me, on Stary Sal, the best time is at the end of May - beginning of June, when the water has already warmed up, but has not yet bloomed. And your 7–8 cm minnow is probably designed for larger pike? I haven't switched to these yet.