The Romanian Orthodox Church this week announced that the Patriarch of All Romania, His Beatitude Daniel, will bestow the Patriarchal Cross, the Church’s highest distinction, to top tennis player Simona Halep — days after she won this year’s Wimbledon tournament in the final against Serena Williams.
Halep begins each of her matches by making the sign of the Cross, a very public confession of her faith. The decision by the Romanian Church was particularly well-received by Romanian public opinion.