Metropolitan Herman expresses condolences on death of Boris Yeltsin

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — In separate letters to His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy of Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin, dated April 24, 2007, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman expressed condolences on the death of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

The text of the letters reads as follows.

“Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

“The death of Boris Yeltsin, the first freely elected President of the Russian Federation, is a time for prayer, and a time for the expression of sympathy and condolences. Please accept the condolences which I convey to you on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America and the clergy and people of our Church.

“Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin will be rememberedwith gratitude asahead of the Russian State who supported freedom of religion in the Russian Federation, thus enabling the Russian Orthodox Church to strengthen its mission and witness in Russian society.

“May the Lord give rest to the newly-departed servant of God Boris where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, but life everlasting.”