DECR chairman greets Primate of Orthodox Church of Antioch with anniversary of enthronement
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message of greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of the Great Antioch and All the East on the anniversary of enthronement.
Your Beatitude,
Please accept my most sincere greetings with the anniversary of your accession to the ancient Throne of Their Beatitudes the Patriarchs of Antioch.
At a time of hardships for Christians in the Middle East you perform your labours “with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering” (Eph 4:2), exhorting the faithful in “good doctrine” (1 Tim 4:6) and enlightening their hearts with the word of God.
Being for your blessed flock an example of true service to God and to your neighbour, you help them follow the salvific path of Christian virtues, provoking them “unto love and good works” (Heb 10:24). Substantial is your contribution to the strengthening of the unity of the Holy Churches of God and to the preservation of the purity of the Orthodox faith.
On this day of celebration I prayerfully wish to Your Beatitude good health, spiritual fortitude, peace, longevity and God’s unceasing help in your service to the Church of Christ.
| /+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Chairman Department for External Church Relations Moscow Patriarchate |