Metropolitan Jonah congratulates Patriarch Kirill on enthronement anniversary

Patriarch Kirill during anniversary celebration at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

SYOSSET, NY [OCA]—In a letter dated February 1, 2011, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, congratulated His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus on the second anniversary of his enthronement.

Patriarch Kirill was elected at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church on January 27. He succeeded His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksy II, who fell asleep in the Lord on December 6, 2008. His enthronement took place February 1, 2009 at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

The text of Metropolitan Jonah’s letter reads as follows.

“Beloved Brother and Concelebrant in the Lord,

“On behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops, together with the clergy, faithful and monastics of the Orthodox Church in America, I wish to express heartfelt greetings and congratulations to Your Holiness on the second anniversary of your enthronement as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

“Having just returned from Russia, it was my joy to concelebrate with you and to observe first-hand the vibrant life of the Russian Orthodox Church which you so energetically guide, building upon the legacy of your ever-memorable predecessors and expanding the Church’s activity into new areas of ministry and witness to Christ. In the difficult and often anti-Christian age that we live in, your personal witness in the Church’s struggle against secularization on a global scale is greatly appreciated by all Christians. Your wise efforts to strengthen Orthodox unity are highly respected throughout the Orthodox world. We are particularly grateful for your unfailing care and support for the Orthodox Church in America, which dates back to your labors in assisting your mentor, Metropolitan Nikodim of blessed memory, in the preparatory work leading to the granting of our autocephaly in 1970.

“I fervently pray that our Lord, Jesus Christ grant Your Holiness both physical and spiritual fortitude so that you may wisely continue to lead the Russian Orthodox Church for many long years to come. In the words of the Gospel and as said during the hierarchical Divine Liturgy, we prayerfully wish that “your light will so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).”