« On the Holy Trinity Day, Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh, was awarded the order of Saint Andrei Rublev, second class »

On Sunday, 23 May, the Holy Trinity Day, the festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the London Dormition Cathedral followed by Vespers with kneeling prayers. After the service, Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh, was awarded the order of Saint Andrei Rublev, second class.

On behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh presented the award and an icon of Saint Andrei Rublev to Vladyka Anatoly. Archbishop Elisey read the message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Archbishop Anatoly. The decision to award Vladyka the order of Saint Andrei Rublev, second class, was made facing the 80^th anniversary of Archbishop Anatoly, taking into consideration the many years of his service to the Russian Orthodox Church (Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch is the oldest Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox Church) and the fact that Archbishop Anatoly is an iconographer. In his greeting Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh mentioned the great experience of Vladyka Anatoly and wished him good health for many years.

In reply, Archbishop Anatoly warmly thanked His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Archbishp Elisey and all the clergy and parishioners who gathered to greet him for their attention. Vladyka said that 80 years of life are a great school. Vladyka Anatoly shared his memories of the Church life during the years of the atheistic government and the war period; he also said a few words about his service in the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia, Lithuania and Syria and remembered how he had come to the Sourozh Diocese. Vladyka Anatoly wished the assembly to maintain the youth of spirit which was still present in him in his eighty thanks to the mercy of God.

After the award of Archbishop Anatoly, there was a festive meal in the hall of the Dormition Cathedral in which Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh, Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch, the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral took part.

The parishioners of the London Dormition Cathedral will be able to greet Archbishop Anatoly on his 80^th birthday on Friday, 28 May.

The order of Saint Andrei Rublev, second class is the 8^th Church Award of Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch who also has awards from local churches.