Members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ on the thirteenth anniversary of his enthronement.
To His Holiness, KIRILL, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
Your Holiness, Holy Master and gracious Father!
Please accept our heartfelt congratulations on the blessed anniversary of your enthronement on the throne of the holy primates of Russia (rite of Patriarchal enthronement) — an event in your life that determined your further path of service to the Church of Christ and the people of God.
Thirteen years ago, the All-Bountiful Lord — the Righteousness that wisely governs all things (Canon of Tone 2, Monday Matins) — entrusted to you the care of the whole fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church, that you might shepherd the flock of God in mystical pastures, driving away the wolves with the staff of sacred words (canon).
All these years you have actively cared for your brother concelebrants — archpastors and pastors — giving wise instruction and sharing valuable spiritual and practical experience, delving into their problems and attending to their needs, calling them to selfless and zealous service and reminding them to stir up the gift of God given through ordination, for God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).
Strengthened by prayer, you inspiredly preach Christ Crucified and Risen to a flock of many millions, convincingly testifying that faith in the Savior and following His holy commandments can change and transfigure a person’s life, filling it with true meaning and joy.
By your zealous and ascetic service, your reverent and responsible approach to preaching, and your tireless energy and dedication, you inspire us, your humble co-workers, to diligent labor in the Vineyard of Christ. Caring for the building and restoration of churches and monasteries and for the strengthening of Orthodox communities, you do much that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified (2 Thess. 3:1), both in our Fatherland and throughout the world.
In the present difficult circumstances, you encourage and instruct the people of God in the saving necessity of commending ourselves, and each other, and all our life unto Christ our God, of not losing good hope in His mercy, and you yourself set an example of patience and humility and of ardent and unshakable faith.
Once again congratulating you on the anniversary of your enthronement, we express our sincere gratitude for your wise and sensitive fatherly care, and testify to our filial love and readiness to continue contributing what we can to the cultivation of the field of Christ.
On this solemn day we wish Your Holiness to continue, in good health and good spirits, to serve the All-Bountiful Lord, Who illumines all with the thrice-radiant, almighty and unapproachable light (canon) of His Divinity and strengthens you in your Patriarchal ministry.
Many and blessed years to you, Your Holiness!
Eis polla eti, Despota.
Members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church:
Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine
Metropolitan of Chișinău and All Moldova
Vladimir; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District
Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga
Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Pavel
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate
Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus
Metropolitan Dionisy of Voskresensk, First Vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate
Metropolitan Innokenty of Vilnius and Lithuania
Metropolitan Antony of Boryspil and Brovary
Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk
Metropolitan Artemy of Khabarovsk and the Amur Region; Bishop Methodius of Kamensk and Kamyshlov