On 21st November 2011, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received at the Patriarchal See, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Institution for the Unity of Orthodox Nations Mr Valery Alexeev, who was accompanied by His Excellency the Ambassador of Russia in Egypt Mr Serge Kirpitchenko, the Honourable Consul General of Russia in Alexandria, Mr Serge Petliakov and the Very Reverend Exarch of the Russian Church Archimandrite Leonid Gorbacev.
During the meeting the decision of the above mentioned Institution to award the Patriarch Alexios II award for 2011, to His Beatitude was officially announced, for his excellent contribution to the consolidation of the unity of Orthodox nations and for the strengthening and promotion of Christian values in society.
This award is given annually to State Leaders, Presidents of Governments and Parliaments, as well as to Primates of Christian Churches for their great contribution towards the strengthening of spiritual and cultural ties between the nations of Christian tradition, the development of financial, political and humanistic relations between them, the strengthening of the supreme rules of religious ethics in the global society.
The award ceremony for this supreme distinction will take place next January in Moscow, within the framework of which His Excellency the Chairman of the Palestinians Mr Mahmoud Abbas will also be honoured. During his visit to the Russian capital His Beatitude is expected to meet with the President of Russia Mr Dmitri Medvedev.
