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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a letter to His Beatitude Metropolitan Rostislav of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, greeting him with the 5th anniversary of enthronement.

The text of the message is given below.

Your Beatitude,

Please accept my heartfelt greetings with the 5th anniversary of your enthronement.

The Lord vouchsafed me to participate personally in the celebrations that marked your elevation to the Primatial Throne. That momentous event opened a new page in the history of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia that found in you a worthy Primate, defender of unity and guardian of the paternal traditions.

Acknowledged throughout the Orthodox world are your labours aimed at spreading and strengthening the Holy Orthodoxy in the land where Ss. Methodius and Cyril, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Enlighteners of the Slavs, had preached the Gospel. By the example of your own pious life you inspire your flock to obey the commandments of the Holy Gospel, bearing witness by word and deed to the apostolic faith before the peoples of the Czech lands and Slovakia.

I am pleased to note Your Beatitude’s contribution to the development of relations between our Churches. Your Beatitude’s personal participation in the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was of great importance. The supreme authority of the Russian Orthodox Church highly appreciates the unflagging support that Your Beatitude renders to the canonical Orthodoxy in Ukraine.

On this day of celebration I prayerfully wish Your Beatitude peace, good health and God’s almighty and unceasing help for many and good years of your blessed Primatial ministry.

With respectful love in the Lord,

  /+Hilarion/

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate