DECR chairman greets His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia with 5th anniversary of his episcopal consecration
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent greetings to His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia on the 5th anniversary of his archpastoral ministry. The text of the message is given below.
Your Beatitude,
Please accept my wholehearted greetings with the 5th anniversary of your episcopal consecration.
Having devoted yourself to the Holy Church of Christ since your youth, you went from strength to strength (Ps 84:7), becoming a pious steward of the Mysteries of God. Your meek and humble heart, full of concern for the spiritual needs of your flock, won you love of the church people who elected you to the See of Prešov.
One cannot fail to see the Divine Providence in your elevation to the Throne of Metropolitans soon after your episcopal consecration. You were given a lofty dignity of Primate and successor of the Metropolitans of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, founders and good stewards of the autocephalous Local Orthodox Church in the lands where Ss. Cyril and Methodius the Equal-to-the-Apostles had preached.
On this joyful day of celebration, I prayerfully wish to Your Beatitude peace, good health and unceasing help from above for many and good years of your blessed Primatial service.
With respectful love in the Lord,
/+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate