NEW YORK: April 6, 2009
The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad Sends Greetings to Patriarch Kirill on the 40th Anniversary of His Holiness’ Clerical Service 

To His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia 

Your Holiness Vladyko! 

I praise and thank the Lord God, who has enabled you over the course of forty years to serve at the holy altar, to administer the Holy Gifts of the Church, to declare the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to those far and near. For your zealous service to the Church of God, the Lord has loved you and sent down heavenly gifts to the God-loving flock entrusted to you by the Chief Pastor, our Lord. 

Let us pray that during the years of your service as Primate, the Lord continues to visit upon our Russian Orthodox Church great and abundant mercies. 

I wish for Your Holiness spiritual and physical strength, the unabating help of God, the peace of Christ and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

With love in the Lord, 

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
March 25/April 7, 2009