Medal of St. Mark of Ephesus instituted as award of Department for External Church Relations

The medal of St. Mark of Ephesus was instituted on 6 April 2016 with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia as an award of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR).

St. Mark of Ephesus, an outstanding defender of Orthodoxy, is an example to the DECR, the eldest Synodal institution of the Russian Orthodox Church. This year 2016 marks the 70th anniversary of the DECR.

The medal will be awarded to both cleryg and laity for achievements in external Church activities: for cooperation between Church and secular authorities in international activity; for upholding consent and civil peace in society; for considerable contribution to inter-Orthodox cooperation; for support of compatriots living abroad; for contribution to the strengthening of peace and friendship among countries and nations; and for active participation in Church and secular diplomacy.

St. Mark of Ephesus, in whose honour the medal was instituted, is commemorated on Jan 19/Feb 1. The medal was designed by artist Sergei Kurakin.

Source: Moscow Patriarchate