His Holiness Patriarch Alexy congratulated Metropolitan Anthony of Surozh on his 85th birthday

HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY CONGRATULATED METROPOLITAN ANTHONY OF SUROZH ON HIS 85TH BIRTHDAY

Metropolitan Anthony (Blum) of Surozh marked his 85th birthday on June 19, 1999. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the oldest-consecrated hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church on this auspicious day. The telegram sent by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church to London states:

YOUR EMINENCE, DEAR VLADYKO!

I CORDIALLY CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE REMARKABLE ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR LIFE.

CHRISTIANS IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN RUSSIAN DIASPORA AND AROUND THE WORLD KNOW YOU AS A BRIGHT AND INSPIRED WITNESS TO ORTHODOX FAITH, AND WE HIGHLY APPRECIATE YOUR ARCHPASTORAL WORK FOR MANY YEARS.

LIFTING UP PRAYER TO THE ALL-MERCIFUL LORD FOR THE HEALTH AND MANY YEARS OF LIFE FOR YOUR EMINENCE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I WISH YOU, DEAR VLADYKO, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH, PEACE, JOY AND GOD’S HELP IN OUR ARCHPASTORAL WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF CHRIST.

ON THIS DAY I AM DELIGHTED TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE ORDER OF ST. INNOCENT, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW, 2ND DEGREE, IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR ARDENT MISSIONARY EFFORTS AND ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR 85TH BIRTHDAY.

WITH LOVE IN THE LORD
ALEXY II, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA