Metropolitan Timotheos of Bostra, Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Cyprus, was awarded the Order of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, First Class, on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
The award was presented on August 28, following the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the Church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in Limassol.
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Timotheos.
They were joined by the parish priest, Archpriest Pavel Povalyaev, and clergy visiting Cyprus as pilgrims.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Anthony read a congratulatory message from Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to Metropolitan Timotheos.
With the blessing of Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Anthony then presented him with the Order of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, First Class, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Metropolitan Timotheos thanked Patriarch Kirill and referred to their long-standing friendship, which began when he was a student at the Leningrad Theological Schools and the future Patriarch of Moscow served as rector.
M. M. Zyazikov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Cyprus, also attended the Divine Liturgy and congratulated Metropolitan Timotheos.
On the previous evening, Metropolitan Anthony presided over the All-Night Vigil at the Church of Saint Nicholas.
Source: Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations
