Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad condoles over the demise of the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad sent his condolences to Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros, Locum Tenens of the Archbishopric of Athens, and the Most Reverend members of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church over the demise of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece. The text is given below.

Your Eminence, Dear Metropolitan Seraphim beloved in the Lord,
Most Reverend Brothers in Christ,
Dear Archpastors of the Greek Church:

Kindly accept my sincere condolences over the death of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

Throughout his years of primatial ministry, the deceased P5imate represented the image of an ardent archpastor of God committed to the commandments of Jesus, ‘the author and perfecter of our faith’ (Heb 12:2) for which he rightly gained the love and respect of his flock. Having become the Head of the Church after the death of Archbishop Seraphim of Athens and All Greece of the blessed memory towards the end of the millennium, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos steered the church boat carefully and wisely, leading it to the quiet and serene haven of Christ.

Ten years is not a long time on the scale of human history, but even in this short period the numerous talents and gifts of the deceased First Hierarchs unfolded in full measure. He was a fervent preacher whose word was always ‘seasoned with salt’ (Col 4:6) and could touch the most hidden strings of the soul and awake it to repentance. He was a patriot who by all means defended the undistorted perception of the Greek national history. He was a wise theologian and influential publicist, important pubic and ecclesiastical leader who enjoyed authority not only in his own country but also abroad.

His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos was most actively involved in the inter-Orthodox, inter-c0nfesisonal and interreligious dialogue, believing rightly that our willingness to respect other people’s beliefs determines in many ways the peaceful co-existence of nations.

The deceased Primate was a good friend and welcome guest of the Russian Orthodox Church. He believed that the Russian and Greek nations, so closely tied together by their common belonging to the holy Orthodox faith, should continue fostering their brotherhood and cooperation in all possible areas.

Sharing the sorrow of parting with His Beatitude, I fervently pray to ‘Him Who possesses the living and rules the dead’ that He may give rest to the soul of the deceased in the mansion of the righteous.

+Kirill
Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate

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• Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church condoles over the demise of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece
• Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad condoles over the demise of the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church
• His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of the Greek Orthodox Church passes away in the Lord