Tennis star gets highest Church accolade

Serbian Patriarch Irinej handed the Order of Saint Sava of the first degree to Serbia's best tennis player Novak Djokovic on Thursday. This is the highest reward that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) can give to civilian citizens for good deeds and commitment to the faith. Tennis star gets highest Church accolade The proposal to present Djokovic with the order was made by Bishop of Raska and Prizren Teodosije, who said Novak was receiving it “for his active love for Mother Church, especially demonstrated by his fervent and persistent helping of the Serbian people and of the sanctity of our Holy Church, particularly in Kosovo and Metohija.” “By his strength, charm and sincerity, this young Serb, the most prominent athlete and ambassador of Serbia in the world, has managed to properly testify to the world the evangelical message of peace and love among people and solidarity with the victims, not only in the Serbian lands, but also around the world,” the SPC website said. After the ceremony in the Patriarchate, Djokovic told Tanjug that the order he had been awarded was “certainly the most important one in my life.” “As an athlete and as a believer, it is hard for me to find appropriate words to describe the feeling of gratitude for the trust I was shown by the Holy Synod. I can only pass the message that only hard work and believing in yourself, your loved ones and God can earn such trust,” said Djokovic, who received the SPC order in the presence of his family. The world number two tennis player told Tanjug that one should never lose compassion for others. “Never let yourself to lose compassion and a desire to help people in trouble. Today many people are in a difficult situation and have no opportunities such I was fortunate to be given. Therefore, while playing and winning, I also think about them,” the tennis star pointed out. Novak Djokovic receives the decoration (FoNet)

Tennis star gets highest Church accolade

The proposal to present Đoković with the order was made by Bishop of Raška and Prizren Teodosije, who said Novak was receiving it “for his active love for Mother Church, especially demonstrated by his fervent and persistent helping of the Serbian people and of the sanctity of our Holy Church, particularly in Kosovo and Metohija.”

“By his strength, charm and sincerity, this young Serb, the most prominent athlete and ambassador of Serbia in the world, has managed to properly testify to the world the evangelical message of peace and love among people and solidarity with the victims, not only in the Serbian lands, but also around the world,” the SPC website said.

After the ceremony in the Patriarchate, Đoković told Tanjug that the order he had been awarded was “certainly the most important one in my life.”

“As an athlete and as a believer, it is hard for me to find appropriate words to describe the feeling of gratitude for the trust I was shown by the Holy Synod. I can only pass the message that only hard work and believing in yourself, your loved ones and God can earn such trust,” said Đoković, who received the SPC order in the presence of his family.

The world number two tennis player told Tanjug that one should never lose compassion for others.

“Never let yourself to lose compassion and a desire to help people in trouble. Today many people are in a difficult situation and have no opportunities such I was fortunate to be given. Therefore, while playing and winning, I also think about them,” the tennis star pointed out.