To His Beatitude, Most Blessed Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Your Beatitude, beloved in the Lord Brother and Co-Servant!
It was with sorrow that I received the news of the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) — your blessed predecessor, who headed the Orthodox Church in America from 1977 to 2002. Please accept my deep and sincere condolences on the loss suffered by your flock.
The departed visited the Russian Orthodox Church many times and made a significant contribution to strengthening the fraternal ties between our Churches.
May the merciful Lord give rest to the soul of His newly reposed servant in the dwellings of the righteous and grant him eternal memory.
With fraternal love in Christ
+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA