Muslim cleric gets Russian Orthodox Church award

Muslim cleric gets Russian Orthodox Church award
15:05 | 13/ 10/ 2008
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081013/117702391.html

MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's chief mufti has become the first
Muslim cleric to receive an Orthodox award, an Orthodox Church leader said
on Monday.

"The head of the Central Muslim Board of Russia, Talgat Tadzhuddin, has been
awarded a Russian Orthodox Church order for 'promoting interfaith peace and
accord," Archbishop Nikon told a conference titled 'Islam and the state.'

"The Russian Church expresses its gratefulness to Mufti Tadzhuddin for
training Muslim leaders who contribute to interfaith cooperation by their
activities," the archbishop said, reading out a congratulatory message from
the Moscow Patriarchy.

Tadzhuddin, who has held his post since Soviet times, has been loyal to the
Kremlin, condemning separatist fighters and extremists. The mufti has
however been in the headlines in recent years for his remarks about plans
for gay pride parades in Moscow.

The cleric is expected to receive the order of St. Prince Daniel of Moscow -
famous for policies aimed at avoiding bloodshed during the Tatar-Mongol
invasion of Russia - when he visits Moscow in the near future.