BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/06/2007

Belarussian President receives award from Russian Orthodox Church

MINSK, June 5 (Itar-Tass) - President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has received the highest award that the Russian Orthodox Church bestows on secular people - the order of St Vladimir of the First Degree.

The awarding ceremony took place Thursday in the olden town of Polotsk, where Lukashenko came to take part in festivities on the occasion of consecration of a reliquary of St Yevfrosinya of Polotsk, the most venerated Belarussian woman saint.

The presidential press service said Lukashenko received the award for considerable contribution in the development of relations between various religious denominations and between countries.

Lukashenko said, on his part, he did not expect this award and he regarded it as a sign of distinction given to the entire Belarussian people.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11599582&PageNum=0