MOSCOW: May 18, 2018
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulates His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York

On Sunday, May 18, 2008, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York was enthroned as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. To mark this anniversary, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent him a congratulatory letter:

To His Eminence
Metropolitan HILARION
of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminence, Beloved in the Lord Vladyka!

I send my heartfelt congratulations on this important date—the tenth anniversary of your ascending the cathedra of First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

By Divine mercy and the unanimous decision of your brother archpastors, you were fated to continue the service of Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York of blessed memory. Having received the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod for the labors you faced, you became the first metropolitan of the Church Abroad in history called to this lofty and responsible task following the reestablished unity within the Local Russian Church. Since then and to this day, you earnestly fulfill the obedience laid upon you to the benefit of the clergy and flock entrusted to you.

Under your guidance, the witness of the truth of Christ is manifested in many countries of the Russian diaspora. You pay special attention to carefully preserving the traditions of the Orthodox Church in foreign lands, the opening of new parishes, spiritual education and missionary work.

I express my hope that with your active participation, the Russian Church Abroad will continue strive to resolve many issues which were discussed in preparation for the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. I am convinced that we are called upon to exert all our efforts to ensure that our preaching of the Gospel in the lands of the "distant abroad” will be active and fruitful.

Sharing the joy on the tenth anniversary of the enthronement of Your Eminence, I prayerfully wish you spiritual and physical strength, the abundant assistance of God and further success in your achpastoral ministry to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

With love in the Lord,

+KIRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia