DECR chairman extends condolence over the death of the Orthodox Church in America’s representative to Moscow Patriarchal See Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach)

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations (DECR) has sent a message of condolences over the untimely death of Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach), representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and rector of the church of the Protomartyr Catherine-Next-to-the Field in Moscow.

 

His Beatitude TIKHON

Archbishop of Washington

Metropolitan of All America and Canada

 

Your Beatitude,

 

I was grieved to learn about the death of Archimandrite Alexander (Pihach), representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchal See.

The whole life of the deceased from his youth was devoted to the work for the good of the Holy Church of Christ. Throughout nearly three decades Father Alexander carried out pastoral service in Alaska and Canada, performing successful missionary and social work overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God (2 Cor. 9:12).

The deceased devoted the last four years of his earthly life to the lofty and important task of rector of the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America. As chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, I give a high value to the personal contribution made by Archimandrite Alexander to maintaining and developing good relations between our two Churches and strengthening pan-Orthodox unity.

The deceased is remembered as a worthy envoy of his Church. A diligent and caring pastor, he gained sincere love of the parishioners of the church of the Holy Protomartyr Catherine-Next-to-the-Field – the Moscow Representation of the Orthodox Church in America, and of his fellow clergy in Moscow.

Extending to Your Beatitude sincere and profound condolences over the untimely death of Archimandrite Alexander, I lift up prayers to the All-Merciful Chief Pastor, the Lord Jesus Christ for the repose of his soul in the dwellings of the righteous, where there is no illness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

Memory eternal and good be to him!

 

With respectful love in the Lord,

 

+ Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate