DECR chairman greets Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai with his Name Day
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message of greetings to Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai, hierarch of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church, on the commemoration day of his heavenly patron, St. Seraphim of Sarov. The text of the message is given below.
Your Eminence,
On the commemoration day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, a great Russian zealot and your heavenly patron, I cordially greet you with your Name Day.
Imitating this saint by your faith and deeds and finding spiritual strength in his prayers, you strive with zeal to stir up the gift of God (2 Tim. 1:6), teaching the faithful children of the Holy Church of Christ in the Land of the Rising Sun to glorify and thank God Who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pet 1:3).
I wish you, dear Vladyka, God’s unceasing help in your ministry for the good of Orthodoxy on the islands of Japan, bodily and spiritual strength, and every blessing from Our All-Generous Heavenly Father.
With love in the Lord,
| /+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Chairman Department for External Church Relations Moscow Patriarchate |