Department for External Church Relations
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DECR chairman expressed condolences over demise of a senior hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Antioch
On 14 June 2017 a senior hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean passed away. Born in Lebanon on January 17, 1932, he received theological education in Lebanon, was ordained deacon in 1952 and entered the University of Athens which he graduated as Master of Theology. He was ordained priest in 1958 and elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 1966 was consecrated Bishop of Cesarea and appointed Patriarchal Auxiliary in Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean. In 1996 the Diocese of Mexico has become Metropolis. His Eminence was its ruling hierarch till his blessed demise.
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, extended his condolences to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. The text is given below.
Please accept my profound condolences over the demise of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Antonio of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Islands of the Caribbean Sea.
The late Metropolitan Antonio was an outstanding hierarch of the Antiochian Church and a true celebrant at God’s Throne. He was a sincere friend of the Russian Orthodox Church, visited our country many times and worked a lot for the strengthening of traditionally friendly relations between the Patriarchate of Antioch and the Patriarchate of Moscow. I happened to have met Metropolitan Antonio many times and I will always cherish the memories of his shining person, a wise archpastor and courageous zealot of the glory of Holy Orthodoxy.
I am offering up fervent prayers to the Conqueror of death our Lord Jesus Christ for giving rest of the soul of the newly departed Metropolitan Antonio where is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting. Memory eternal to him!
With reverential love in the Lord,
+Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020