Print This Post

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message to Archimandrite Eulogius, hegumen of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt Athos, in which he congratulated him and the brethren of the abode on the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon.

Very Reverend and Honourable Father Eulogius,

Brethren of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt Athos,

I greet you and all the brethren in Christ with the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, heavenly patron of your holy abode and intercessor for us all before the Lord.

The solemn All-Night Vigil, which is celebrated annually on this day under the vaults of the ancient katholikon of your monastery, reveals to the world the unbroken tradition dating back to the first centuries of Christianity to venerate martyrs as imitators of Christ’s selfless deed. During this liturgical celebration we, spiritually united with the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, are called by the Church to have his strength in our hearts (Ikos of the Canon of Matins), for truly glorifying a martyr means to imitate him in the virtue (Cf. St. John Chrysostom. Homily on Martyrs).

Being in my mind and heart with you on this memorable day, I prayerfully wish to the hegumen and the brethren of your holy abode blessed spiritual and bodily strength in your pious monastic life and in your numerous labours for the benefit of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mt Athos.

I invoke upon you God’s blessing and ask for your holy prayers.

/+Hilarion/

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate