ORDER OF THE SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday awarded Russia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, during his visit to the country.
The award for the PM was announced in 2019, for “exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.”
WHAT IS THE AWARD & WHO GETS IT?
The award is given to prominent government and public figures, military leaders, and outstanding representatives of science, culture, art, and various sectors of The economy for exceptional services to russia.
CAN IT BE AWARDED TO FOREIGN NATIONALS OR ITS AN EXCEPTION?
It can also be awarded to heads of foreign states for outstanding services to the Russian federation.
WHO WAS SAINT ANDREW?
Its name comes from Saint Andrew, who is believed to be one of the apostles or 12 original followers of Jesus.
After Christ’s crucifixion, the apostles are said to have travelled great distances to spread his message. Saint Andrew travelled to Russia, Greece, and other Places in Europe and Asia, and founded the Church of Constantinople, which later led to the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church.
More than 90 million people follow the Church in Russia, out of the country’s population of around 140 million.
THE SCOTLAND CONNECTION
Saint Andrew is regarded as the patron saint of Russia and Scotland.
The ‘X’ symbol on the flag of Scotland comes from the saint’s symbol, called the ‘Saltire’.
It is believed that he was crucified on a cross of a similar shape.
WHO ESTABLISHED THIS AWARD?
Tsar Peter the Great (1672–1725) established the Order of Saint Andrew in 1698. The chain of the Order consists of 17 alternating links, and features a gilded image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, a double-headed eagle. It also includes a badge, a star, and a light blue silk moire ribbon. For those recognised for distinction in combat, the badge and star are adorned with swords.
The order was abolished in 1918 following the Russian Revolution, which overthrew the Tsarist regime. It was re-established in 1998 by an Executive Order of the President of Russia.
NOTED RECIPIENTS
Past recipients largely include influential figures in Russia, such as:
- Military engineer and gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov,
- Author Sergey Mikhalkov,
- The Last Leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev,
- Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Alexy II, and
- The current head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill.
FOREIGN RECIPIENTS OF THE AWARD:
- Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017, and
- The former President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
- President of Azerbaijan, Heyder Aliyev
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