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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, has sent His Beatitude Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, a message expressing condolences over the demise of Archbishop Jeremiah of Wroclaw and Szczecin. Below is the full text of the message.

Your Beatitude,

Christ is Risen!

I have been grieved to learn about the demise of prominent hierarch of the Polish Orthodox Church Archbishop Jeremiah of Wroclaw and Szczecin.

The deceased pastor fruitfully worked for decades in the field of external relation of the Polish Orthodox Church, making a considerable contribution to both its cooperation with other Local Orthodox Churches and development of its dialogue with the non-Orthodox world.

A biblical scholar, professor and mentor of Orthodox students, he enjoyed authority in the Polish intellectual circles and for several years was rector of the Christian Theological Academy of Warsaw.

A graduate of Moscow Theological Academy, His Eminence Jeremiah, throughout his life, remained a good friend of the Russian Orthodox Church, which he repeatedly visited as member of official delegations, including the delegation that came for the 700th birthday of St. Sergius of Radonezh, in whose monastery he happened to live and study.

The last day of His Eminence Jeremiah’s life on earth fell on the Holy Pascha of Christ when the Heaven is open and the whole creation rejoices in the defeat of death. Our grief therefore is bright and filled with trust that the earthly demise has become for the deceased a beginning of blessed life, which God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor. 2:9). May the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life (Jn. 11:25), give rest to his soul in the dwellings of the righteous. Eternal and blessed memory to him!

With respectful love in the Lord,

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairman of the Department for Church External Relations

Moscow Patriarchate