Metropolitan Tikhon congratulates Antiochian Patriarch John X on election anniversary
On December 17, 2016, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon sent a congratulatory message to His Beatitude, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, on the occasion of the third anniversary of his election.
The text of Metropolitan Tikhon’s message reads as follows.
Your Beatitude,
I greet you with the anniversary of your election as the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
Our Lord has blessed the people of the Antiochian Orthodox Church with a true shepherd loved and known by his people. With your election, the heavy cross of primatial ministry was placed on you at a most difficult and challenging time for the Orthodox faithful of the Antiochian Church. Your love and courageous wisdom has been a light to your people and to all Christians throughout the world who keep you and the faithful Christians of Syria and the Middle East in their prayers.
It is my sincere prayer that the All-Merciful God bless Your Beatitude with good health, strength and wisdom to continue in your primatial ministry for many years!
With brotherly love, I remain,
+ Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada