Russian greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East on the anniversary of his enthronement

February 10, 2016

On the occasion of the anniversary of his enthronement, Patriarch Kirill and Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev) sent greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch.

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Greeting from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill:

Your Beatitude,

beloved brother in the Lord and Concelebrant:

I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the day of your enthronement.

Standing at the helm of the holy Church of Antioch under difficult circumstances in a great trial of affliction (2 Cor. 8:2) you have been doing the courageous and selfless responsible work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12). I assure you that the Russian Orthodox Church will always support people of the same faith in keeping with the Apostle’s words whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor. 12:26).

I prayerfully wish Your Beatitude the inexhaustible God’s help in your primatial ministry, spiritual and physical health and many blessings from the Lord, holy and true (Rev. 6:10).

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+ Kirill

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

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Greetings from His Beatitude Metropolian Hilarion of Volokalamsk:

Your Beatitude:

I respectfully greet you with the anniversary of your election to the see of primates of the Church of Antioch.

Your are proclaiming the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19) and strengthening your flock in spirit during hard times of persecution carried out by the forces seeking to uproot the Christian faith in the ancient Biblical land of the Middle East. You are encouraging the people of God to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, contine constant in prayer, rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep (cf. Rom. 12:12-15). This appeal finds a cordial response in the hearts of the faithful.

I wholeheartedly wish Your Beatitude abundant mercies from Christ the Saviour, spiritual and physical fortitude in the Lord, and I wish a just and lasting peace and prosperity to your beloved flock.

With respectful love in the Lord,

+ Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairma of the Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate