DECR chairman greets Abune Mathias with his election Patriarch of Ethiopia
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent the following greeting to Patriarch-Catholicos of the Ethiopian Church, Abune Mathias:
Your Holiness:
I cordially congratulate you on your election the 6th Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church and enthronement to the See of an ancient Christian community in Africa.
I have warm recollections of my visits to Ethiopia with its ancient monasteries and churches and my meetings with the faithful. I hope that your labours as Primate of the Ethiopian Church will promote the strengthening of morality in society and the overcoming of difficulties appearing on the way to the revival of Ethiopia.
The Russian Orthodox Church highly appreciates friendship and cooperation with the Ethiopian Church and wishes to continue them.
I wholeheartedly wish Your Holiness God’s inexhaustible help in your noble labours, good health, peace and many years of life.
With love in Christ,
+Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate