Patriarch Kirill congratulates Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania on his 80th birthday
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent the following congratulatory message to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania on the occasion of his 80th birthday:
Your Beatitude,
Dear Brother and Concelebrant Beloved in the Lord:
I wholeheartedly greet Your Beatitude on the occasion of your 80th birthday.
From your youth you have dedicated your life to the Lord. With your tremendous experience of missionary work, theological instruction and spiritual guidance, you have become father for all the Orthodox faithful in Albania and put many on the path of life in Christ. Under your guidance the Albanian Orthodox Church, ruined by the godless authorities, has raised from ashes to gather together her dispersed children and to carry out her salvific task.
I prayerfully wish Your Beatitude God’s help, sound health and happy and peaceful primatial ministry for many years to come.
With brotherly love in the Lord
+ Kirill,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia