The award ceremony will be held in the State Kremlin Palace on Monday evening.
At today's ceremony, St. Andrew the Apostle Award will be also given to Hero of the Soviet Union Yekaterina Mikhailova-Demina "for personal bravery, courage and perseverance exhibited during the Great Patriotic War (1941-45) and authentic Russian character."
Famous Russian cardiologist Evgeni Chazov will be awarded for "his great contribution to Russian medicine, establishment of the Russian school of preventive cardiology, and unprecedented contribution to global peace cause."
Other laureates include: composer Alexandra Pakhmutova, "for the creation of the musical image of a hero of our times, optimism and patriotic education of several generations of Russian people; Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, for "perseverance in defense of Russian Orthodox religion;" head of the Federal agency on information technologies, Army General Vladimir Matyukhin, "for contribution to maintaining defense capabilities of Russia, ensuring the security of the Russian State and his strong civil attitudes;" one of the founders and the first commander of the Alpha anti-terrorist unit, Hero of the Soviet Union Gennadi Zaitsev, "for heroism and valor exhibited in the fight against terrorism;" Director-General of OAO Motor-Sich, Hero of Ukraine Vyacheslav Buguslaev, "for strengthening Russian-Ukrainian cooperation and construction of St. Andrew the Apostle Cathedral and monument in Zaporozhie.
All laureates will receive a diploma and two badges of the award - "Double-headed Eagle" and the Star, and also a moire ribbon of laureate and an icon of St. Andrew the Apostle. It isnot a monetary award because it symbolizes the altruistic character of public services rendered by laureates.
Sources in the St. Andrew the Apostle Foundation told RIA Novosti that "the award is presented for outstanding contributions to strengthening of the Russian statehood, unity of Slavic peoples and coalition of friends of Russia, and also for work restoring moral values in the society."
The Awarding committee is currently headed by former Russian cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union, Doctor of Medical sciences Oleg Atkov.
Among previous laureates of the award are the Patriarch of All Russia and Moscow Alexey II, the Patriarch of Serbia Pavel, Three-Time Olympic Champion Alexander Karelin, and President of the Ukrainian National academy of Sciences Boris Paton.
The award is traditionally presented on December 13 -- the St. Andrew the Apostle Day, who is especially esteemed by the Russian Orthodox believers because the legends say that he personally visited Russian lands and dwellings of our ancient predecessors.
