The Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, sent condolences to His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada on the repose of Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations of the Orthodox Church in America. The message reads:
Your Beatitude!
It was with sorrow that I received the news of the repose of Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky. I grieve with you, the members of the departed’s family, his colleagues and flock over this grievous loss.
Born into a pious Russian family, Fr. Leonid devoted his whole life to the Church. Called to the service of the altar of the Lord, he was a sensitive and experienced pastor for the flock of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Sea Cliff.
For many years Fr. Leonid was an assistant to the Primates of the Orthodox Church in America, carrying out diverse and laborious administrative obediences. The departed enjoyed the well-deserved respect of the worldwide Christian community and took an active part in the work of the World Council of Churches and many inter-Christian and interreligious forums.
Over the years of his ministry, Protopresbyter Leonid visited the Russian Orthodox Church many times and was well known to its episcopate, pastors and laity, and especially to the parishioners of the Church of St. Catherine in Moscow — the Representation Church of the Orthodox Church in America — when he temporarily served as the Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.
May the Master of life hear the prayers now offered for the blessed repose in the bosom of Abraham of the newly reposed servant of God, establish his soul in the dwellings of the righteous and grant him eternal memory.
I offer prayers to the All-Merciful Lord also for the strengthening of you, the family and loved ones of the departed, and his flock in these sorrowful circumstances.
With love in the Lord
Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations
of the Moscow Patriarchate
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk