However, the Orthodox side was not that enthusiastic, making statements like: "The question of the visit of the Pope in Russia is not connected by the journalists with the problems between the Churches, which are now unreal to solve, but with giving back one of many sacred things, which were illegally stolen from Russia."
De todos os xeitos, a Igrexa ortodoxa nunca amosou moito entusiasmo, facendo declaracións ao efecto como: «A cuestión da visita do papa a Rusia non está conectada polos xornalistas cos problemas entre as igrexas, que son agora imposibles de resolver, pero si coa devolución dunha de moitas obras sacras, que foron roubadas ilegalmente de Rusia».