ORDER
OF SAINT ANDREW THE APOSTLE - AWARDS
News: What is Order of
Saint Andrew the Apostle, conferred upon PM Modi?
What's
in the news?
●
Recently,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Russia’s highest civilian honor, the
Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, during his visit to the country.
Key
takeaways:
●
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.”
Awardees
Qualification:
●
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.
●
It
can also be awarded to heads of foreign
states for outstanding services to the Russian Federation.
Other
Eminent Persons Received the Award:
●
Foreign
leaders who have been honored in the past include Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017, and the former President of
Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Go
back to basics:
Backdrop
of the Award:
●
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 traveled great distances to
spread his message. Saint Andrew traveled 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.
●
Tsar Peter the Great (1672–1725) established the Order of Saint Andrew in 1698.
●
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.