DECR chairman expresses condolences over demise of Ekaterina Genieva

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, sent a message of condolences to Mr. Yury Belenky over the death of his spouse Ekaterina Genieva, Director General of the All-Russian State Library for Foreign Literature. The text of the message is given below.

Dear Yury Samuilovich,

I have been deeply grieved to learn about the untimely demise of your spouse Ekaterina Genieva. Her death did not come as a surprise to me, because all these past weeks I was been informed about her physical condition. However, her death has become my personal pain, since I knew this remarkable and cordial woman, who had truly Christian soul, for many years.

I cherish warm recollections of my meetings with Mrs. Ekaterina Genieva. It was her charisma, leadership skills and care for people that distinguished her. Even when suffering from a serious illness she devoted her whole self to her vocation – service to culture.

I appreciate Mrs. Ekaterina Genieva’s contribution to the development of education of the Russian Orthodox clergy. Her lectures at Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies always aroused interest and admiration in the audience. She delivered her last lecture not long before her death. That was the last time I had a chance to talk to her. She was weakened by the long-continued illness, but kept self-control, presence of mind, her usual sense of humor, and profound faith in God’s mercy.

Mrs. Ekaterina Genieva’s demise is a great loss for the Russian culture, for book publishing industry and library science. However, I believe that her work will be continued by those who were close to her and had an opportunity to learn from her.

Her death was not painless, but was truly Christian, unashamed and peaceful. She died, encouraged by the prayers of a priest and her family, having partaken of the Holy Gifts.

In these hard days I wish you and all her relatives physical and spiritual strength and steadfast faith. I lift up my prayers to the All-Merciful Lord, asking Him to grant rest to the soul of His servant Ekaterina in the dwellings of the righteous, where there is no illness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

With sincere condolences,

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate

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DECR chairman expresses condolences over demise of Ekaterina Genieva

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons