DECR chairman congratulates His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on his Nameday

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent the following greeting to His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople with his Nameday:

Your Holiness:

On the commemoration day of Your heavenly patron, the holy apostle Bartholomew, please accept my respectful greetings with Your Nameday.

Honoring the holy apostles ‘whose line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world (cf. Ps 19:4), the Holy Church affirms her faithfulness to the Holy Tradition that dates back to the disciples of Christ and through them to the Lord Himself. Your Holiness, while fulfilling Your noble ministry ‘in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity’ (1 Tim 4:12) You remain a worthy custodian of the apostolic traditions.

On this solemn day for You and for the whole Holy Church of Constantinople, I prayerfully wish Your Holiness good health, long life and God’s help in Your Patriarchal ministry and to all Your flock – peace and joy in the Lord.

With constant respect and love in the Lord,

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate