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In his letter to Archimandrite Yevlogy, hegumen of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, congratulated him and all the brethren of the abode on the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon. The message reads as follows:

The Very Reverend All-Honourable Archimandrite Yevlogy,

By this letter I cordially greet you and all the Christ-loving brethren of your abode with the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon – a strong intercessor for us before God, defender and patron of the Russian Athonite monasticism.

Today “synaxes of the faithful are rejoicing all over the world” (Stichera on “O Lord, I have cried,” July 27), praising the courageous confessor of Christ, who even unto the death remained loyal to his Lord and received from Him “a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet 5:4). And now, after so many centuries, Christians still find inspiration in the heroic deeds of St. Panteleimon and lift up their prayers to him, asking to heal their spiritual and bodily infirmities and receiving in abundance “the grace of healings” (Kontakion, Tone 5). With particular solemnity this glorious martyr is glorified in your holy monastery, where his precious head abides, attracting for veneration pilgrims from every corner of the world.

Rejoicing with you and all the cenobites of the ancient Monastery of St. Panteleimon on this memorable day, I prayerfully wish to all those performing their ascetic deeds in this abode peace, bountiful spiritual gifts and bodily and spiritual strength in their many salvific labours for the good of the holy monastery.

I invoke God’s blessing upon you and ask for your holy prayers.

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