DECR chairman sends congratulatory message to Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
In his message to the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, congratulated him on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Below is the text of the message.
To: His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholics of All Armenians
Your Holiness,
Kindly accept my heartfelt congratulations on your 60th birthday. Sharing your joy on this day, I remember with deep gratitude our meetings in the hospitable Armenian land and our warm talks.
We are witnesses to your tireless work to regenerate the Church in Armenia and in the world. During the years of your primatial service, you have achieved many things and I am confident that the Lord will give you to see the abundant fruits of all your good initiatives.
The faithful of our two Churches know you as an advocate of strengthening the age-old friendship between our peoples. Thanks to your efforts, relations between our two Churches have become intensive and consistent, and I am confident they will become even more fruitful in the future.
On this auspicious day, I would like to wholeheartedly wish Your Holiness God’s help in your important service, solid health and prosperity. Many and good years be to you!
With love in the Lord,
+ Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate