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