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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent greetings to His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, with his Name Day. The text is given below.

Your Beatitude, dear Vladyka:

On the Day of your Patron Saint, please accept my sincere congratulations.

Entrusted to you, the guardian angel of the Orthodox Church in America, is the helm of the church boat, which you lead by a firm hand, guiding it to the haven of salvation. As a good shepherd of the flock of Christ, you have dedicated all your life and gifts to your sheep  (Jn. 10:11).

Your works and prayers tie the peoples nourished by our two Churches by the inseverable bonds of fraternal love in Christ. In the person of Your Beatitude we see a reliable and close friend of the Russian Orthodox Church. With special warmth I remember the visits of Your Beatitude to Moscow, during which we had a spiritual joy of open and cordial fellowship with you.

May the All-Merciful Lord Who has placed on you the important burden of primatial ministry send Your Beatitude abundant and rich blessings. I prayerfully solicit the All-Good God to grant you spiritual strength, wisdom, grace-giving service and good health for many years.

With respectful love in the Lord,

+ Hilarion,

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate