DECR chairman greets His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa with the anniversary of his election to the Patriarchal Throne

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent the following greeting to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria with the fifteenth anniversary of his election to the Patriarchal Throne:

Your Beatitude,

Please accept my heartfelt greetings and sincere good wishes for the fifteenth anniversary of your honourable election and glorious ascension to the Patriarchal throne of St. Mark, Apostle and Evangelist.

Under wise guidance of Your Beatitude the recent years have brought about many impressive achievements in the life of theHoly Orthodox Church of Alexandria and its mission work in the countries on the African continent. This success has been achieved thanks to the selfless efforts of Your Beatitude, your brother bishops, pious clerics and all labourers in the field of Christ. Indeed, as St. Paul put it, ‘this grace was given to you to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ’ (Eph 3:8).

I wholeheartedly wish you the replenishment of spiritual and physical strength, peace, good health and the fortifying God’s aid in your noble Patriarchal ministry.

With respectful love in the Lord,

+Hilarion Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Chairman Department for External Church Relations Moscow Patriarchate