The Primate of the Church is presented with Medal No. 1 of the International Association of Peace Foundations

THE PRIMATE OF THE CHURCH IS PRESENTED WITH MEDAL NO. 1 OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEACE FOUNDATIONS

The International Association of Peace Foundations, in the person of its chairman, world chess champion Anatoly Karpov, presented Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia with the Golden Medal No. 1 «For Peace and Humanism» on March 10, at the Patriarchal residence in Chisty Lane. The association, which unites peacemaking organizations in the CIS and the Baltics, has been awarded the UN honorary title of Messenger of Peace. Last December it was granted the general consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council. It was only recently that the association established the Golden Medal «For Peace and Humanism». By the unanimous decision of its Founders Board, His Holiness the Patriarch has become the first person to be decorated with it.

Mr. Karpov noted with gratitude His Holiness’ participation in the peace movement. Having thanked him for the award, Patriarch Alexy spoke about the peacemaking service of the Russian Orthodox Church and its cooperation with the association, one of few public organizations working now in all the independent states which were established after the disintegration of the USSR. «I have been on the Board on the Peace Fund since 1963», he emphasized. «This organization promotes peace and accord among nations and affirms of the ideal of good». His Holiness noted with satisfaction the contribution the association made to the restoration of ruined shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Optina hermitage, the Donskoy monastery and other places. During a brief talk with journalists that followed, Patriarch Alexy supported the idea of concluding an agreement between the different branches of power and Russian political forces and called to reject the use of power in settling the conflict in Chechnya, saying, «During the tragedy in the 90s in Chechnya, we issued several statements in an attempt to stop the bloodshed».