Vucic awards Order of Republic of Serbia 1st class to Russian Patriarch Kirill

MOSCOW - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic presented on Thursday in Moscow the Order of the Republic of Serbia 1st class on a grand collar to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus' for distinguished merit in development and strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation.

Vucic said Serbia valued Patriarch Kirill as a sincere friend who spoke out vociferously in defence of Serbian holy sites and the Serbian Orthodox faithful in Kosovo-Metohija.

"It is a great honour and joy for me to greet you on behalf of entire Serbia and to personally express gratitude to you for your distinguished contribution to development of friendly relations between our brotherly Slavic countries and Orthodox peoples. We value you as a wise and spiritual leader who has authority and safeguards spiritual Christian values and the unity of Orthodox peoples," Vucic told the Russian patriarch.