John Sutko to receive St. Romanos Award
BURR RIDGE, IL [MW Diocese Communications] — John Sutko, whose life-long, exemplary dedication to Orthodox Christian liturgical music has been recognized far beyond the choir loft of Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church here, will receive the Order of Saint Romanos on Saturday, May 6, 2017. In March, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America blessed Mr. Sutko to receive this year’s award, given “in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the field of liturgical music in the Orthodox Church in America.” [See related story.]
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon will preside at Saturday’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church at 9:30 a.m. His Grace, Bishop Paul will concelebrate. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon will award the Order to Mr. Sutko.
Established by the Holy Synod of Bishops in 2014, the Order is awarded to influential arrangers, composers, teachers and conductors. Past recipients include Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, Archpriest Igor Soroka, Prof. Dr. David Drillock, Walter Shymansky, Archimandrite Roman [Braga], Dr. Vladimir Morosan and Aleksei V. Shipovalnikov.
The celebration will be a double one for the Sutko family as Mr. Sutko’s grandson, Deacon Alexander Koranda, will be ordained to the priesthood during the Divine Liturgy.