DECR Chairman congratulated Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai on his 70th birthday

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations has sent a congratulatory message to Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai, hierarch of the Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The message reads as follows:

His Eminence SERAPHIM
Archbishop of Sendai
Vicar of Tokyo

Your Eminence, dear Vladyka:

On the memorable day of your 70^th birthday I am sending you the warmest wishes on my behalf and on behalf of the staff members of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations.

With willingness you responded to the call of our Lord Jesus Christ and received the holy baptism, dedicating your whole life to serving God’s altar. You devotedly helped Metropolitan Theodosius of Tokyo, of blessed memory, in his labours continuing the apostolic work of St. Nicholas of Japan. Rejecting the vanity of this world, you fully commended yourself to the salvific will of God and took monastic vows at the Lavra of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Having received the grace of episcopal ministry, you take care of Christ’s flock in the lands of Eastern Japan, currently also assisting Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan in carrying the cross of the First Hierarch of the Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan.

You perform your ministry not by constraint, but willingly… neither as being a lord over God's heritage, but being an example to the flock (cf. 1 Pet 5:2-3), preaching the word of the Saviour to your compatriots so that they could understand what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom 12:2). You promote the Orthodox and national traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun, striving to strengthen the ties of the Japanese Orthodox Church with the Mother Church.

On your birthday I prayerfully wish you, dear Vladyka, joy, spiritual and bodily strength, God’s help in your archpastoral service, and good health for many and good years.

With fraternal love in the Lord,

/+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate

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DECR Chairman congratulated Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai on his 70th birthday

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