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International Orthodox Christian News

Greeting Address of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of the Birthday Anniversary of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr

HIS BEATITUDE METROPOLITAN VOLODYMYR OF KYIV AND ALL UKRAINE

Your Beatitude, beloved in the Lord Vladyka Metropolitan!

I heartily greet You on Your birthday anniversary.

Today we zealously thank the Creator of All for His All-merciful Providence, leading You from the youth and to the snow of venerable age along the way of service to the Church that You have chosen. This way is crowned by Your tenure of the First Hierarch’s throne of the Mother of Russian cities, the ancient Kyiv, and by Your primacy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5. 14), and in accordance with this gospel word, the feat of Your sacrificial ministry to God is known not only in the Russian Orthodox Church, but all over the orthodox world. You preach peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh (Ephesians 2. 17), incessantly caring for the church unity, reunite around yourself the flock trusted to You together with its pastors and archpastors, instructing it with wisdom from the treasure of Your rich spiritual and life experience.

Your Beatitude! On this solemn day I wish You full-heartedly the God-granted health, increase of Your bodily powers, longevity and God’s help in your high and responsible ministry.

With love in the Lord,

† Kirill
the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia