MOSCOW: June 8, 2009
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Congratulates Bishop Theodosius of Seattle

From the Editors: the following is a translation of a greeting sent by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle. The original, in Russian, can be viewed in pdf form here.

To His Grace THEODOSIUS, Bishop of Seattle

Your Grace, 
Dear Vladyka!

I congratulate you on your 45th birthday and wish you the grace-filled assistance of God in your archpastoral service.

Through your zealous and Christ-imitating labors to the glory of the name of the Lord and the benefit of the people of God, you have acquired a good name among the bishopry and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

I hope that, as you continue to labor in your episcopal calling on the North American continent, you show yourself a true servant of the Word and a pious fulfiller of His will. May the Founder of our salvation “make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:21).

I prayerfully wish you, dear Vladyka, strength of spirit, boldness and wisdom in your archpastoral service, and Divine mercies in every aspect of your life.

With love in Christ,

+KIRILL 
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA