On November 4, 2025, National Unity Day, the Kremlin hosted the presentation of state awards and the Presidential Award for contribution to strengthening the unity of the Russian nation.
The high awards were presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Kremlin.ru .
Among the winners of the Presidential Award for contribution to strengthening the unity of the Russian nation in 2023-2025 is His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who took part in the solemn ceremony.
The Head of State congratulated the audience on National Unity Day.
"This holiday was established in memory of the heroic deed of our people, who defended the independence of their Homeland more than four centuries ago. It was his great solidarity, responsibility and duty to the Fatherland that made it possible to strengthen the foundations of the state, to defend the sacred right to hold on to his own roots and moral pillars. And today, by preserving these traditions, we are defending the sovereignty, honor and dignity of our native Russia with peaceful, creative and military labor," said Vladimir Putin.
"The World Russian People's Council supports fidelity to our unity based on common spiritual values. The head of this reputable public association, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, tirelessly promotes the ideas of dialogue and cooperation between all constructive forces in Russia and Russian communities from near and far abroad," the President noted.
"I cordially thank His Holiness for his enormous contribution to strengthening the unity of the Russian nation and congratulate him on the honorary title of the laureate of this award," said Vladimir Putin, presenting the award to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
The award was also awarded to the team of authors of the international exhibition "Russia" and the authors of the project "Big Ethnographic Dictation".
Members of the Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations under the President of Russia, representatives of intellectual, creative, and business circles from different countries were awarded high awards.
The Pushkin Medal was awarded to Archpriest Andrey Lemeshonok, a cleric of the Elisavetinsky Convent in Minsk (Belarusian Exarchate).