« Congratulations from the Head of the Department of External Church Relations to Archbishop Elisey on his Birthday »

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Head of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, sent a message of congratulations to Archbishop Elisey of Sourozh on the occasion of his birthday.

To His Eminence the Most Reverend Elisey, Archbishop of Sourozh

Your Eminence!

I warmly congratulate you on the occasion of your 55^th birthday.

Having from your youth chosen the path of service in the Church, you obtained your theological education in the Leningrad Theological Schools and for nearly three decades now have been hard at work in the church field.

As the person responsible for external church relations, it is with special satisfaction that I note your many years of service in this area, which you began in our Department and are now successfully continuing abroad.

As the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Sourozh, by your diligent labours you are preserving and multiplying the precious legacy of your ever-memorable predecessor, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh. Having as the object of your care the Orthodox flock who are under the omophorion of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, you tirelessly call them to maintain the love and singleness of mind that are commanded by God.

You also do much to strengthen fraternal cooperation with the hierarchs and clergy of the other Orthodox Churches that are present in Britain, as well as to develop good relations with representatives of other Christian traditions in that country.

Greeting Your Eminence on this significant anniversary, I prayerfully wish you good health and length of days. May Christ the Chief Shepherd send down upon you His generous aid and may He bless with success your further service for the good of the Holy Church and the flock entrusted to your care.

With love in the Lord,

+ Hilarion,
Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate,
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk