Patriarch Kirill congratulates Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on 20th anniversary of his patriarchal ministry

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has sent the following congratulatory message to His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople the New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of his patriarchal ministry:

Your Holiness,

Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at the holy Table of the Lord:

I cordially congratulate you on the momentous event, the 20^th anniversary of your patriarchal ministry.

Twenty years ago, by the choice of your fellow-archpastors acting in harmony with the will of God, you, a most energetic hierarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople already widely known in the Orthodox Church, were destined to carry out the lofty and important primatial ministry. The years of your patriarchal office have been filled with work to govern the Orthodox Church of Constantinople glorious from the oldest times and to build her relations with sister Local Churches and to develop constructive relations with the external world.

The public appearances of Your Holiness in which you develop the fundamental affirmations of the patristic tradition are a vivid witness to Orthodoxy. I am pleased to note your personal contribution to the consolidation of fraternal relations between the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow in recent years.

On the auspicious day when the Church of Constantinople recalls the election of her Primate, I share the joy of the hierarchs, clergy and people of God who have gathered for these celebrations and I lift up prayers to Christ the Chief Pastor that He may give physical and spiritual strength to Your Holiness for continuing your primatial ministry for many good years.

With brotherly love in Christ,

+ KIRILL,

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

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Patriarch Kirill congratulates Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople on 20th anniversary of his patriarchal ministry

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

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