Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople expresses support for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church

On May 7, 2012, on the eve of the Name Day of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew sent a message notifying that he was sending an official delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople for the celebrations to be held on the occasion and expressed support for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church over the attacks of anti-church forces, which have become more frequent. Below is the text of the message.

Your Beatitude and Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,

Very Beloved and Cherished Brother and Concelebrant of our Humbleness:

Embracing Your honourable Beatitude in a brotherly spirit, we greet you with greatest pleasure.

Mentally coming up to your very beloved and cherished Beatitude on the occasion of your forthcoming Name Day, by this fraternal letter we extend our warm congratulations on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and on our own behalf and inform you that His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of Dardanelles, the great ierokiriks of the Holy Great Church Archimandrite Vissarion (Komzias) and Sister Alexia, abbess of the holy patriarchal stauropegial Ikosifinissa Convent on Pangeo Mountain (northern Greece) have been instructed to represent us at the celebrations on the occasion of this feast of yours.

At the same time, having learnt about the inappropriate and offensive attacks which have been perpetrated against you these days by those who are outside of the church fold and who thus wish to cause troubles in your primatial ministry and to wound the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church to which you have served since your youth, we express sympathy to you and support of our Humbleness and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, ardently praying that the Lord God, through the intercession of your patrons Sts Cyril and Methodius, may strengthen and protect your love, delivering you from the arrows of the evil one, from everything taking place in darkness, from every confusion coming from the one who hates goodness, ordaining you to go through your life and service not tempted by the evil ones.

Hereafter, praying for the good health and long life of Your Beatitude at the helm of the Holy Russian Church, we once again embrace you with the holy kiss and remain with love in the Lord and special respect,

You honourable Beatitude’s loving brother in Christ,

+Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

May 7, 2012

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Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople expresses support for the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church

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