Awards of the Unity of Orthodox Nations International Foundation
30.01.2002 · English, Архив 2002
AWARDS OF THE UNITY OF ORTHODOX NATIONS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
On 22 January 2002, in the Patriarchal chambers in the Kremlin Granovitaya Palata His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia handed President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation a prize of the Unity of Orthodox Nations International Foundation, which he was awarded in the nomination ‘Leader of the State’. President of Russia accepted the award from the hands of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and expressed his thanks for high appreciation of his activities. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy presented the head of the Russian state with an Icon of the Mother of God for prayerful memory.
On January 21, in the Hall of Church Council of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour a ceremony was held of investing prizes of the Unity of Orthodox Nations International Foundation. Present were renowned state leaders, church hierarchs, representatives of public organizations, scientific and business circles, workers of art and literature.
The prize-winners of 2001 are the following persons: Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, the eldest among the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; Chairman A.Khachatrian of the National Assembly of Armenia; deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Isam Michael Fares and the European Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly.
The Foundation was established in 1995 with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. The Foundation undertook several charity actions, which have become notable events in public, political, religious and cultural life of the states of Eastern Orthodox tradition and other regions of the world where Orthodox Christianity is present. These were the building of houses for Russian pilgrims in the Holy Land, procession with the cross along Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina, which are the largest rivers of Russia, Ukraine and Byelorussia, and also some other actions.
In 2001 the Foundation instituted a prize for outstanding activities for the strengthening of unity of the Orthodox nations. The prize is handed to the state and religious leaders in five nominations: ‘Primate of the Church’, ‘Leader of the State’, ‘Political Leader’, ‘Businessman’ and ‘Public organization’.
President of the Foundation A.Alexeyev made an introductory speech at the ceremony. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who is Chairman of the Foundation Board of Trusties, handed prizes to the winners.
The Primate of the Russian Church congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia with high award and noted the personal contribution of a renowned Orthodox hierarch into the strengthening of unity of nations, which confess Orthodox Christianity.
His Holiness Patriarch Pavle thanked Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church for prayerful support, fraternal moral and material assistance rendered to the Serbian people at the time of hard trials.
The prize was invested to the Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Armen Khachatrian for his active contribution to the development of relationship between the parliaments and governments of the countries of Eastern Orthodox tradition and the work done for strengthening and preservation of traditional religious values of the Christian world. Mr.Khachatrian expressed his hope that cooperation between the Russian Orthodox and the Armenian Apostolic Churches would facilitate the strengthening of the principles of Christian morals in society and in the world.
Deputy Prime Minister of Lebanon Isam Michael Fares called Russia a centre of spiritual values of worldwide significance. He expressed his thanks for high award and noted the high level of relations between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Russian Orthodox Church.
The European Interparliamentary Orthodox Assembly is also among the prizewinners. Leaders of this association of Orthodox parliamentarians V.Zorkaltsev, Russia, and Stylianos Angelos Patapamelis, Greece were present in the Hall of Church Councils. Mr.G.Seleznev, Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia greeted the prizewinners, participants and guests.
In conclusion of the ceremony His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the prizewinners and wished them the blessed success and God’s help in their work. ‘The Orthodox nations show an example of good neighborly relations and cooperation with representatives of other traditional religions. Orthodox Christianity preaches peace, calls to common work for the good of people and bears witness to intransient spiritual values’, – said the Primate of the Russian Church.
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