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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), sent a message of greeting to the Primate of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the occasion of his Heavenly Patron, the Holy Martyr Neophytus. Below is the text of the congratulatory message.

 

Your Holiness,

I cordially greet you on the occasion of the day of your Heavenly Patron.

On the long path of monastic feat and zealous pastoral work in the vineyard of the Holy Church of Christ, you have tirelessly went from strength to strength (Ps. 84:7) being strengthened from above by the intercession of the Holy Martyr Neotpypus. Like a wise bee, whatever your task is and wherever you serve, you have tirelessly gathered spiritual, pastoral and administrative experience, which by the mercy of All-Generous God, has helped to develop your manifold talents. And today, at the helm of the Most Holy Bulgarian Church, by the example of your own devoted life you have invariably admonished the pastors and flock entrusted to your care to stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27) for the Holy Church and for the preservation of the paternal traditions of the Orthodox Bulgarian People, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).

May the help of the Holy Martyr Neophytus always be with you in your Primatial work so that through his intercession before God’s Throne Your Holiness may continue receiving peace and physical strength from above for many good years.

With respectful love in the Lord,

 

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate