President Putin decorates Metropolitan Kirill with the Order of Merit

PRESIDENT PUTIN DECORATES METROPOLITAN KIRILL WITH THE ORDER OF MERIT

President Putin decorated Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, with the Order of Merit, on April 11 at Catherine’s Hall of the Kremlin. According to the Decree on the decoration, Metropolitan Kirill has been given a high state award “for a considerable contribution to the consolidation of civic peace and the spiritual revival of Russia”.

Speaking at the ceremony, Metropolitan Kirill said, addressing the president: “Highly Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, thank you for this high award.

“I believe that the problem of human personality has become the principal problem at the turn of the century. The crisis it experiences generates in many ways the crises shaking the modern civilization. The task of the Church is to help man to heal and elevate his soul. However, in the situation of a secularized, secular society, the Church cannot do it on her own. Therefore, she is doing it in cooperation and dialogue with other public forces – representatives of culture, art, science, education, healthcare as well as political structures.

“As I perceive it, today’s award is the recognition of this work of the Church and an expression of the state’s support for the Church-society dialogue held as it is in the interests of the spiritual growth of the human personality and therefore overcoming together the crises characteristic both of the present stage in the development and human nature in general.

“Thank you very much”.

State awards were also presented to a group of statesmen, military commanders, creative intellectuals, educators, healthcare workers, as well as public figures and businessmen.

In conclusion of the ceremony, President Putin congratulated those awarded, emphasizing that “today high state awards have been given to outstanding people. The success of each of them is the success of the country, the power and spirit of Russia”. He also thanked those awarded for their tireless work for the prosperity of the Fatherland.