January 21, 2016
On the occasion of his Name's Day Patriarch Kirill and Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev) sent greetings to His Holiness Patriarch Neofit of Bulgaria:
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Greeting from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill:
Your Holiness, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at God’s Altar,
Please accept my heartfelt greetings on the commemoration day of the martyr Neophytos, your tireless intercessor before the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords (1Tim 6:15).
By his prayerful supplication, this saint pleasing unto God helps you to follow your path, strengthening you for bearing the cross of your lofty and laborious primatial ministry, which you perform with zealousness to the glory of the consubstantial and undivided Trinity and for the salvation of the clergy and flock of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
May the King of Peace renew Your Holiness’ physical and spiritual strength by the intersession of your heavenly patron, and grant to you His abundant help for performing your ministry in His vineyard.
With fraternal love in Christ,
+KIRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
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Greeting from His Beatitude Metropolitan Hilarioin of Volokolamsk:
Your Holiness,
Please accept my cordial greetings with your Name's Day.
The untiring prayerful intercession of the holy martyr Neohytos, which has been assisting you in your monastic labours for forty years now, bestowing on you gifts of the manifold grace of God (1 Pt 4:10) and giving strength to Your Holiness for bearing the heavy cross of patriarchal service, is truly a source of God’s blessings for your abundant flock as well.
In this day of celebration for Your Holiness and for the whole Bulgarian Orthodox Church, I prayerfully wish you peace, good health, and boldness in your primatial prayer for the future of the Bulgarian Orthodoxy.
It is with warmth and gratitude that I recall our talks in Sofia, looking forward to new joyful meetings.
With respectful love in the Lord,
+Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairmanof the Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate
