JORDANVILLE, NY: April 30, 2007
His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Sends Condolences to the Family of Mstislav Rostropovich

On Friday, April 27, 2007, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus sent his condolences to the family of Mstislav L. Rostropovich:

Christ is Risen!

I express my profound empathy in your sorrow with the death of the servant of God Mstislav. We and our brethren, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatov and his family, the seminarians and worshipers of Holy Trinity Monastery raise our fervent prayers for the repose of his soul, and that the Lord grant all of us His consolation and blessings. I am certain that if the deceased, whose lips are now sealed by death, could speak, he would confirm that our Lord Jesus Christ is the sole consolation for those who have passed on, just as He is the sole hope for those living on earth. May the Divine Lover of Mankind, Risen in Three Days, be near to us, consoling and encouraging us, granting us hope and giving us strength!

And may you, our beloved brother Mstislav, abide in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father, prepared for us by His Son, the Resurrected Savior; for sooner or later we will also join you and will be united with you.

With love in the Resurrected Lord,

+ Metropolitan Laurus
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

April 14/27, 2007