Russian President decorated Bishop Antonije

The President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Vladimir Putin, decorated His Grace Bishop Antonije of Moravica, head of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow, with the Order of Friendship.

The decree, which was published on the Kremlin's website, says that the high decoration was awarded to Bishop Antonije for his great contribution to the development of spiritual and cultural ties as well as for his active educational activities.

In addition to managing the Serbian Representation in Moscow, Bishop Antonije is a doctor of theology and dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology at the Russian Orthodox University in Moscow. The Bishop has been the representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church at the Moscow Patriarchate since 2002. The Order of Friendship is awarded to foreigners and citizens of Russia who stand out in the strengthening of cooperation and friendship of the people and spread charitable activities.

Bishop Antonije has been awarded several times. Recently, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, decorated Bishop Antonije with the medal of St. Mark of Ephesus of the First Order.

Bishop Antonije has been a successful spiritual principal of the Representation of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Moscow for years, and thanks to him, not only numerous Serbs but also many Muscovites come to the church of Sts. Peter and Paul on the ancient Solyanka. Bishop Antonije contributed to the writing of new pages in the common history of the Russian and Serbian people and showed a great care for the development of relations between the two Churches. He also showed great concern for the Serbian diaspora in Russia.

Bishop Antonije was born in Valjevo on July 23, 1970, he graduated with the best grades from the Theological Seminary at the Krka Monastery, and in 1995 he graduated with great success from the Moscow Theological Academy. He is the author of several books and has translated some important theological books from Russian into Serbian.