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On 22 October 2010, the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on the Mount Athos celebrated the 95th birthday of its abbot, archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin). Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, currently on a visit to the Holy Mountain of Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

Concelebrating with Metropolitan Hilarion were Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, chairman of the Synodal Commission on Monasteries; Archbishop Antony of Borispol, rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary; abbot archimandrite Jeremiah, father confessor Macarius, ordained DECR staff members and pilgrims/

After the divine service, Metropolitan Hilarion read out welcoming address of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Archimandrite Jeremiah, who celebrated his 95th birthday.

The DECR chairman presented hegumen Jeremiah with a pectoral; cross sent by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and warmly greeted Fr. Jeremiah on behalf of all the worshippers and on his own behalf, wishing him constant help from God in his monastic ministry and in governing the monastery.:

“You have come to the Holy Mountain being a mature man, and the Lord prolongs your life so that you can govern the monastery and be a father for the brethren. May the Lord continue to give you spiritual and physical strength and multiply the number of the brethren, and bring pilgrims here. May the monastery flourish under your leadership. May the Lords keep you for many and good years.”

Metropolitan Hilarion gave his archpastoral blessing to the brethren and pilgrims and shared repast with the monks.