Moscow, February 18, Interfax – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia conducted a prayer service in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for Russian Paralympic team on the eve of their departure to Vancouver.

“I wish you spiritual strength, it can compensate physical disability. All victories are based on it, the strongest in spirit is always the winner,” Patriarch Kirill told sportsmen after the prayer service.

The Patriarch believes Paralympians with the very fact that they participate in sport competitions prove the world “their victory over themselves.”

“Society should be attentive to the disabled, it’s correct. However, it’s equally correct that society needs the disabled. They defeated their grief and sufferings and it is a bright example for the whole society,” Patriarch Kirill believes.

However, he urged to work out the correct attitude to church blessing given to sportsmen and not to see it as “success programming,” but rather that “thanks to your faith, God will turn His mercy to you in difficult work you have undertaken.”