“I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WISH GOD’S BLESSING, ACCORD AND PEACE TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND OF ESTONIA”. An homily of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia in the Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn
29.09.2003 · English, Архив 2003
“I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WISH GOD’S BLESSING, ACCORD AND PEACE TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND OF ESTONIA”
An homily of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia in the Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn
Your Eminence Metropolitan Kornily!
My brothers archpastors and honourable fathers!
Your Excellencies the Ambassadors of the Russian Federation in Estonia and of Estonia in Russia!
Dear brothers and sisters!
I shall make no secret of the fact that it was with deep emotions that I entered this holy church, where I was brought by my parents as a child and where I came to know the beauty and magnificence of Orthodox Divine services. I was a priest for eleven years and then the ruling bishop of the Tallinn diocese for almost thirty years. Therefore it is a precious moment for me to come to this wonderful church, which has heard so many prayers, and so very moving for me is the first service – the Thanksgiving prayer, which we offered up in it. We thanked the Lord for bringing me here so that I could once again cross the threshold of this holy church after eleven years and pray together with the Archpastor of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, clergymen and all Orthodox believers.
I would like to express my gratitude to Metropolitan Kornily, clergymen and all Orthodox believers, who have kept their loyalty to the Mother Church. There were different periods in the history of Orthodoxy in this land. It knew the moments of joy and the difficulties, which we have survived together. Now, by God’s grace, the situation of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate is improving. We hope that the unresolved problems, which the Church still has, will find their solution with good assistance and understanding of the authorities of the Estonian Republic.
In these first minutes of our communion in prayer I would like to wish all the inhabitants of Estonia and the followers of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate the grace of the Lord and God’s help in their ministry of educating people, strengthening their faith and helping them to overcome difficulties and trials.
I would like to assure you from the ambo of this church that we pray for the land of Estonia and for all those who live and work here not only because this land is my little Motherland and I was consecrated bishop in this cathedral church forty two years ago. We pray for all people who do their work and perform their ministry here because people in Russia like those living in Estonia. I wholeheartedly wish God’s blessing, accord and peace to the inhabitants of the land of Estonia.
I thank you, dear brothers and sisters, for coming to our first prayer in the holy Cathedral of St.Alexander Nevsky.
It is with prayer that I wish all of you good health and God’s blessing. May the Heavenly Queen intercede for you, defend you and strengthen you in your life! May the heavenly protectors of this church, the saints, who are glorified by their deeds of faith and piety in the land of Estonia, be your helpers and intercessors before the Lord.
We are meeting on the eve of the feast of the Elevation of the Cross. All of us are carrying our own crosses and, looking at the Life-Creating Cross of our Lord and Saviour, let us carry on our small cross of life with patience and ask the Lord to set a guard over us by the power of His Honoured and Life-Creating Cross!
Thank you all for this first common prayer, which we have offered up in this holy cathedral church.
I congratulate you on the eve of the feast of the Elevation of the Cross.
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