His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets Patriarch Irinej the Serbian Orthodox Church with the fifth anniversary of his ascension to the Patriarchal Throne

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent the following message to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, greeting him with the fifth anniversary of his enthronement:

Your Holiness,

beloved brother and concelebrant at God’s Throne:

I cordially greet you with the fifth anniversary of your election to the Throne of the Archbishops of Peć, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Patriarchs of Serbia.

Your have been carrying on your shoulders a heavy cross of primatial ministry for five years. As the spiritual father of the Serbian people, you tirelessly exert your efforts to the rooting of your large flock in Orthodoxy so that they keep faithfulness to the time-honoured traditions and be ‘fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Col 1:10).

With warm recollections of our fraternal meetings in Belgrade I prayerfully wish you peace, gracious strengthening of your health and bountiful divinely help in your future labours to the glory of the Holy Serbian Orthodox Church.

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+ KIRILL

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia