Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent a message to His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, greeting him with his Name Day. The text of the letter is given below.
Your Beatitude,
On the commemoration day of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Tyron I respectfully greet you with your Name Day.
For over forty years you have been pursuing in all humility a challenging path of monastic labours and zealous pastoral service, blessed by the prayerful intercession of St. Theodore, martyr for Christ’s sake, whose name you received when taking monastic vows. Finding inspiration in the feat of his pious life, you in your Primatial ministry show particular concern for the spiritual and material needs of the God-loving flock entrusted to your care and scattered throughout Africa, striving to be in everything “a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
Rejoicing with you and with the plenitude of the Most Holy Church of Alexandria on this day of celebration, I wish you blessed help from above, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, as well as many years of the Patriarchal ministry.
With respect and love in the Lord,
/+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate