The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, was awarded the prize "His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia" for 2016, which will be presented to him by the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill in May, at a ceremony in Moscow.

The award is granted by the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations for outstanding activity in strengthening the unity of Orthodox peoples and the establishment and promotion of Christian values in life and society.

Award winners for 2016, despite President Ivanov, are the Head of the Coptic Church, Patriarch Tawadros II and the Mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin.

The prize awarding ceremony is expected to be held on May 23, 2017, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.
The prestigious international award which is awarded to President Ivanov is recognition of his efforts in strengthening the inter-Orthodox relations, the role of religion in society and establishing or strengthening the principles of religious tolerance.

Holders of this award are heads of states, governments, parliaments, heads of Orthodox churches, leaders of international organizations, prominent political and spiritual leaders, public figures, representatives of business community.

The International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations was established in 1995 with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

The main goal of the Foundation is to strengthen the spiritual unity between Orthodox peoples, to intensify and deepen the cultural and social cooperation of Orthodox communities and to promote Christian values in society.