His Holiness Patriarch Alexy awards President Vladimir Putin of Russia with the Order of St.Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles
4.03.2003 · English
HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY AWARDS PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA WITH THE ORDER OF ST.PRINCE VLADIMIR, EQUAL-TO-THE-APOSTLES
On 31 December 2002 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his wife at the Patriarch’s country residence in Peredelkino.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the head of the Russian State exchanged greetings with the coming New Year of 2003.
The retiring year, according to His Holiness the Patriarch, was not easy for our country. His Holiness wished the President and all Russian people to have a peaceful, creative and a better year and said that the Russian Orthodox Church prayed for that.
His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russian conferred upon President Vladimir Putin of Russia the highest church award for laymen – the Order of St.Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, for the President’s services to the Fatherland and in connection with his 50th birthday. The Primate of the Church presented Ms and Mr Putin with the recently published volumes of the ‘Orthodox Encyclopedia’. His Holiness is the editor-in-chief of the publication.
Vladimir Putin thanked His Holiness Patriarch Alexy for the high church award, warm wishes and presents and said that he was glad to meet His Holiness ‘in good health and shape’.
After the talk Ms and Mr Putin had a short walk in the territory of residence and saw a new building, where decoration is being completed.
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