To His Beatitude, the Most Blessed TIKHON, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Your Beatitude!
It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the loss suffered by the Orthodox Church in America. The Lord has called to Himself His faithful servant — Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), who for many years headed the American Church. Under his leadership the Church of Christ on the American continent grew and was strengthened.
I offer prayers for the repose with the saints of the soul of the newly reposed Metropolitan Theodosius and prayerfully wish Your Beatitude, all the relatives and loved ones of the departed, and all the faithful children of the Orthodox Church in America consolation from God in these sorrowful circumstances.
May Christ our God give rest to the soul of His faithful servant, where there is no sickness, sorrow or sighing, but life everlasting.
With respectful love in the Lord,
HILARION, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk,
Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate