His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulates the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the anniversary of his enthronement

To His Holiness Neofit, Metropolitan of Sofia, Patriarch of Bulgaria

Your Holiness, beloved brother in the Lord and concelebrant at God’s Altar:

I wholeheartedly greet you with the second anniversary of your ascension to the See of Bulgarian Patriarchs.

By the will of the Holy Spirit and election by the Council you have been called to the lofty and responsible ministry ‘to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood’ (Acts 20:28). As you endeavour to worthily carry a heavy primatial cross placed on your shoulders, you take an active care for the sheep of Christ’ flock entrusted to you.

On this solemn festive day may the Lord fill your heart ‘with all joy and peace in believing’ (Rom 15:13), grant you even more spiritual and physical strength and bestow upon you his abundant help in your patriarchal ministry for the good of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

With brotherly love in the Lord,

+KIRILL

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia