86 year old Archbishop Dmitri loves children. If a child walks by while he’s talking to someone else, he will stop mid-sentence with the adult and bend over to be with the kid.
Jenny and I have been leading a children’s choir for the past couple of months. The first time they all sang was during the pre-communion prayers a few months ago. The Archbishop was on his way into the altar to perform his tasks when he heard the children start to sing. He turned around, came back to the altar door, and just watched. People said he stood there mesmerized, tears filling his eyes. All of our work was worth that one moment for him.
He really is a wonderful man. If you don’t get the opportunity to meet him, it’s really too bad.