Home page News
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences ove…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences over the death of Archbishop Feofan (Galinsky)

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent condolences to the clergy and flock of the diocese of Berlin and Germany over the death of Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany.

All-honourable fathers, dear brothers and sister, dear Yevgeny Ivanovich and Natalia Ivanovna,

I was deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany.

The Lord willed that I was well acquainted with Vladyka Feofan for many years. He had sincere faith and loyalty to the Holy Church, as well as a great erudition. When I served as rector of the Leningrad theological schools, he was my private secretary, as well as a lector and secretary of the academic board. He was a talented teacher. And it was from my hands that he received ordination into presbyter.

Having worked zealously in the sphere of theological education, he was called to serve the Church in the rank of bishop. For a long time he carried out this ministry abroad.

For over a quarter of a century Vladyka Feofan was the head of the diocese of Berlin and Germany, which under his administration became the largest diocese abroad. It was thanks to the zeal of the late archpastor that the number of parishes increased greatly and the diocese was enriched with new clergymen, faithful to their ministry. Vladyka Feofan devoted all his energies to the regular celebration of the divine services, to the unceasing preaching of God’s word, and to the care for the flock entrusted to him.

He had remarkable traits, such as kindness, delicacy, sympathy, care for his neighbours, an ability to co-suffer and to rejoice with them. Thanks to all his labours, Vladyka Feofan wan respect and love of his brothers the archpastors, and of the clergy and the flock entrusted to his care, for whom he was not just a high-ranking hierarch, but a considerate spiritual father.

In the last months of his life, suffering from a serious disease, the archpastor endured the ordeals that had befallen him with patience and hope for God’s mercy, at the same time offering spiritual consolation and support to his flock.

I mentally give the last kiss to the late archpastor and lift up prayers for the repose of his soul. May the All-Merciful Lord embrace in His heavenly mansions the soul of His newly departed faithful servant, Archbishop Feofan, and make his memory eternal.

With condolences,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

Share:
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill sends condolences to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch over terrorist attack on Church of Prophet Elias in Damascus

22.06.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders

19.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches participate in Patriarchal service on the occasion of Saints Cyril and Methodius Day.

24.05.2025

Congratulatory Address by the members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of his name’s day.

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election to the See of Rome

09.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the President of Cuba

08.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church awarded highest order of the Republic of Serbia

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

08.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill: AFU attack on the church in Belgorod region indicates lack of Christian faith of those who committed it 

07.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with Sheikh ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims’ Board

05.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

03.05.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill arrives in Baku

03.05.2025

DECR Chairman: the politicization of the World Council of Churches puts its future under threat

01.07.2025

Delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate participates in the work of the WCC Central Committee in South Africa

18.06.2025

DECR Chairman meets with Russian Ambassador to South Africa

17.06.2025

DECR Chairman arrives in South Africa

16.06.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with students of the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy

12.06.2025

DECR secretary for affairs of the far abroad archpriest Sergy Zvonaryov defends doctoral dissertation.

09.06.2025

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Liturgy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on the Feast of the Holy Trinity

08.06.2025

Presidential Council for Coordination with Religious Organisations meets in Moscow

05.06.2025

Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk meets with the Assyrian Patriarch

31.05.2025

DECR Chairman celebrates Liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Rome

25.05.2025

A Moleben was served before the relics of St. Cyril Equal-to-the-Apostles in Rome

24.05.2025

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church participates in the Paschal reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia

20.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk takes part in the consecration of a church in Zahlé, Lebanon

18.05.2025

DECR chairman visits Archdioceses of Zahlé and Beirut of Antiochian Patriarchate

18.05.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with the head of the Maronite Church

17.05.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب