His Holiness Patriarch Alexy has conferred a high church award on Bishop Vasily of Zvornichko-Tuzlansk (Serbian Orthodox Church)

On October 8, 2008 after the Divine Liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra at a brotherly repast His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia has awarded Bishop Vasily of Zvornichko-Tuzlansk (Serbian Orthodox Church) the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2^nd degree.

Bishop Vasily is honoured with the award for his contribution to strengthening brotherly relations between the Moscow and Serbian Patriarchates and in connection with the 30^th anniversary of his ordination, as well as his 70^th birthday.

His Holiness the Patriarch also conferred church orders on archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church in connection with their anniversaries.

Bisop Vasily thanked His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on behalf of the recipients for all he had done for his Orthodox brothers in Serbia, referring to his support for the position of the Serbian Church on the Kosovo question and granting many students from Serbia and Chernogoriya the opportunity to study in the theological institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.

“We send students to Moscow theological institutions with special willingness so that they may be enriched with grace by the relics of St. Sergius in the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, a true source of Orthodoxy,” Bishop Vasily said and heartily thanked His Holiness Patriarch Alexy for his work aimed at achieving the unity of Orthodoxy.