Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade – laureate of the annual award of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations, 2003.
His Beatitude Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Mr. Constantinos Stephanopoulus, President of the Republic of Greece, Mrs. Helene Carrere d’Encausse, Permanent Secretary of the French Academy, Mr. Vladimir Potatin, President of the Interros Company, and the Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church have been awarded annual prizes of the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations for 2003 “for outstanding activity on strengthening unity of Orthodox Christian nations”. At the ceremony held at the Conference/Concert Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow Tuesday, January 21 2004, awards have been presented by His Holiness Alexy II, Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Head of the IFUOCN Trustee Council and Head of the Foundation Mr. Valery Alexeev, Ph.D., professor of Moscow Lomonosov State University and adviser to the Chairman of the State Duma of Russian Federation. Delegation representing Theological Faculty of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the award giving ceremony comprised of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ignatije (Midic), Bishop of Pozarevac and Branicevo, Presbyter Professor Dr. Vladan Perisic, Faculty Dean, and Mr. Petar V. Serovic, Faculty Secretary.
Next day, Wednesday January 22 – on the day commemorating St. Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, the two Patriarchs, together with a great number of metropolitans, archbishops, bishops and numerous priests and deacons of the three churches (Russian, Alexandrian and Serbian), celebrated Holy Liturgy in the ancient Kremlin church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. After Liturgy, all laureates, together with the celebrating clergy were served lunch which was hosted by His Holiness Alexy II, Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia at the Kremlin Patriarchal Palace. This gathering was also graced by the presence of Mr. Vladimir V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation.
The Public Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations was established in April 1995 with the blessing of His Holiness Alexy II, Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. It was created with the aim to prioritize and work on the revival and strengthening of ties of spiritual brotherhood between nations confessing Orthodoxy, thus contributing towards their efforts in the domain of cultural and social cooperation. In March 1998 the Foundation was given International status.