His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania on the commemoration day of his heavenly patron – Venerable Martyr Anastasius the Persian. The text of the message is given below.
HIS BEATITUDE ANASTASIOS
ARCHBISHOP OF TIRANA AND ALL ALBANIA
Your Beatitude,
Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant,
Please accept my cordial greetings with the commemoration day of Venerable Martyr Anastasius the Persian – your Name Day.
For over a quarter of a century, with reverence and the fear of God, you have been carrying out your laborious ministry as Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, running with patience the race that is set before you, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).”
May the Lord Almighty, by the prayers of your heavenly patron, renew your spiritual and bodily strength and grant you fortitude and His unceasing help in your further archpastoral labours.
With brotherly love in Christ,
+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA