Metropolitan Herman sends message of condolence to Romanian Holy Synod on the death of Patriarch Teoctist
On July 30, 2007, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, sent a letter of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Romania on the repose of His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Patriarch Teoctist.
The text of Metropolitan Herman’s letter reads as follows.
“It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the untimely repose of the ever-memorable Servant of God, His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Teoctist, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Hungro-Vlachia, Locum Tenens of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and Patriarch of Romania.
“Throughout his long life, Patriarch Teoctist served Christ and His Holy Church with deep faith, selfless devotion, and exemplary commitment to the Holy Gospel. He will be especially remembered for shepherding the Church during some of Romania’s most difficult decades under godless communism, and for guiding its revival and ongoing growth in the new era that began after communism’s fall.
“It is our fervent prayer that Our Lord will now reward him for his life of dedicated ministry by granting him eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. In expressing our sadness at this great loss, I ask that you please accept the heartfelt condolences and prayerful support of the Hierarchs, Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America. May Christ Himself comfort all who mourn the loss of a dearly beloved archpastor, who served his flock in imitation of the One True Shepherd, Who came ‘not to be served, but to serve’ [Matthew 20:28].
“Please be assured of our fervent and ongoing prayers, that Our Lord will grant rest and refreshment with the saints to His newly departed servant, Patriarch Teoctist. May his memory be eternal!”