Russian Ambassador in Belgrade awarded a church decoration

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN BELGRADE AWARDED A CHURCH DECORATION

Archbishop Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, first deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, paid a visit on February 19, 2003, to the Russian Ambassador in Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. V. Ivanovsky. They discussed the development of relations between the two countries, the need to preserve Russia’s spiritual legacy in the Balkans, the participation of the Russian and the Serbian Orthodox Churches in strengthening friendly relations and building a lasting peace with justice in South-East Europe. Participating in the talk were also councilor A. Yeremenko, first secretary V. Polyanin, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations, and Rev. Vasily Petrov, lecturer at the Kaluga Seminary.

In conclusion of the discussion, Archbishop Clement presented Mr. Ivanovsky with the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Third Degree. The Ambassador has been awarded it in recognition of his work for the unity of Orthodox nations and in connection with the 200th anniversary of the Russian Foreign Ministry.