Department for External Church Relations
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DECR chairman congratulates Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov) on his 55th birthday
Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), has sent a congratulatory address to the DECR vice-chairman, Archimandrite Philaret (Bulekov), on the occasion of his 55th
birthday. The text reads as follows:
Dear Reverend Father Philaret:
I am sincerely happy to congratulate you on your 55th birthday. This is a remarkable date in human life marking maturity and experience as well as vitality and willingness to open up new horizons and make new achievements.
Having received high secular and theological education you began your ministry to the Church in your younger days and for over thirty years have been investing your time, energy and talent to the work in the sphere of external church relations both in the DECR and at the parishes and representations of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad.
It was through your efforts and under your supervision that the DECR Communication Service was set up in the 1990s and is working effectively at present.
Wherever the Mother Church has sent you, be it Damascus, Johannesburg, or Strasbourg, you have been assiduous and resourceful in fulfilling the tasks given to you, developed cooperation with fraternal Local Churches and representatives of Christian confessions and other religions, successfully advocated the interests of the Church at European international venues, took pastoral care of compatriots living abroad, and made for the rise of international authority of the Russian Church.
Having such a substantial experience of the work in the Department for External Church Relations and in the Moscow Patriarchate establishments in other countries, you also have brilliantly proved your worth as vice-chairman of the Department zealously working at this post for the last eleven years.
Invariable characteristics of your work are high professionalism, profound competence and ability to solve extraordinary problems, tenacious attitude to people, exclusively deep and sincere respect for your colleagues, subordinates and staff members.
The Sage said: “Wisdom preserves the life of him who has it” (Ec. 7:12). On your 55th birthday I wholeheartedly wish you God’s aid in your further successful labours for the benefit of the Church, strength and good health for many good years.
Invoking God’s blessing upon you,
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch
Department Chairman
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