On February 13, 2022, immediately following the Divine Liturgy at the Saint Sergius Chapel, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon awarded David and Katherine Linke with the Saint Innocent Award, Bronze Class, for their many years of service to the Orthodox Church in America.
In his address to the recipients, His Beatitude noted that the retirement of David and Katherine is a bittersweet moment. He remarked that the Chancery and the Saint Sergius Chapel “have always been something of a transient community, with people coming and going both in terms of Chancery staff but also in terms of parishioners. The two of you have been a constant help here at the chapel in many ways and we are grateful to God for your faithfulness and support of the community, which gives expression to your love for God and for the Church.”
His Beatitude expressed the gratitude of the Chapel to David and Katherine for their efforts in the liturgical services, singing, cleaning the temple, and baking prosphora. In addition, he expressed his personal thanks for their support especially during his many travels around the Orthodox Church in America.
May God grant David and Katherine many blessed years in their retirement!
