\u201cFor many young people today Simona is a symbol of diligence, perseverance and hope\u201d, the Patriarch said at the ceremony. \u201cBesides all that, the Romanian Church greatly appreciates the fact that you profess your Orthodox faith by making the sign of the Cross in public thus showing that you faithfully represent the devout, sacrificial and skilled Romanian people\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n
Halep received the Romanian Patriarchate\u2019s Cross of St Andrew last year (2018). In an interview a few days after winning Wimbledon, she said that her Christian faith was \u201cmost important\u201d for her in her life. \u201cI believe in God even if I cannot attend the liturgy every Sunday\u201d. (Unlike Sunday Mass attendance in the Catholic Church which has been compulsory since the Council of Trent, attending the Sunday Liturgy is not compulsory in the Orthodox Church.)<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic (aged 33), the number 1 tennis player in the world, belongs to the Serb-Orthodox Church. He already received the Serb-Orthodox Church\u2019s Order of St Sava 1st Class in 2011 above all because he promotes many religious and social church initiatives. \u201cThis is the most important award in my life as, before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian\u201d, he said at the time on receiving the award from the hands of Patriarch Irenaeus of the Serb-Orthodox Church.The Order of St Sava is the Serb-Orhtodox Church\u2019s highest distinction.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘This is the most important award in my life as, before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian’ @DjokerNole<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/gMgWCdePOd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Tablet (@The_Tablet) July 29, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n