Metropolitan Herman sends message of condolence to Church of Greece on the death of Archbishop Christodoulos
On January 28, 2008, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, sent a letter of condolence to the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece on the repose of the Church’s Primate, His Beatitude, Archbishop Christodoulos.
The text of Metropolitan Herman’s letter reads as follows.
“We were saddened to learn today of the repose of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.
“The decade that Archbishop Christodoulos served as leader of the Church of Greece was marked by many milestones. It is perhaps fitting in a way that his last full day on this earth was the feast of the Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom. At the Divine Liturgy on this day, remembering the holy hierarch John, we hear our Lord call Himself the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep. We know that the pastoral ministry of Christ is the model and benchmark for all pastors who serve in His holy name. The ministry of Archbishop Christodoulos clearly showed him to also be a good shepherd who would nurture and defend his sheep at all costs.
“On behalf of the hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America I wish to share with you our heartfelt prayer that He who has dominion over the living and the dead will grant rest to the soul of Archbishop Christodoulos. May He also comfort and strengthen your Church as you deal with the loss of such a notable first hierarch and seek to find a worthy successor to his legacy.
“May the memory of His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece be eternal!”