October 13, 2012
Nyack, NY: A Greeting to His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, from the Participants of the Pastoral Conference

On Friday, October 12, upon completion of the work of the joint pastoral conference of clergy from the Eastern American Diocese and the Moscow Patriarchate, conference participants, led by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, sent a greeting to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, expressing gratitude to His Holiness for his spiritual care and manifest Primatial love. The text of the greeting is available below.

To His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia
A Greeting from the Archpastors and Clergy Participating in the
Joint Pastoral Conference of the Eastern America Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad
and the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

Your Holiness,
Most Holy Master, bless!

We the archpastors and pastors of the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church, scattered abroad like grains spread by God, as well as those citizens of the Untied States of America who love and honor the piety of Holy Russia, with kind heart and filial love greet Your Holiness.

In these blessed days of our prayerful and brotherly interaction, as the work of the clergy conference of the Eastern American Diocese and the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA continues in the quiet New York suburb of Nyack, we have taken up issues relating to the strengthening of that God-inspired unity, restored in 2007, and the continuation between us of ever-increasing beneficial collaboration in our salvific service to our dear Mother ‒ the Russian Orthodox Church, and to the people of God. Finding ourselves far away from Russia and one another, and having been brought up surrounded by foreign cultures and traditions, we nevertheless work with God to find a common tongue, overcoming spiritual illness and hardship, sharing in our joys and successes. Thanks to this brotherly unity, we have an opportunity to share our experiences of pastoral care for the souls of the faithful, for the youth, for the educational work of the Church.

In these days, it is with exceptional feeling that we hear the words of the Church’s blessing: "Peace be unto all!" and sense the work of the Holy Spirit. As is well known by all Christians, the peace of Christ which one acquires when he walks the true path of a Christian life is placed on par with such virtues as faith and love. Faith is the foundation of a Christian life – love is its peak. And, as our Christian path is a path than ascends from faith to love, so it must for its entire duration be enlightened and warmed with the light of Christ’s peace. We are overjoyed that "the Lord gave His people strength, and blessed His people with peace." May this peace reside with your spirit, may it accompany you in your trying Primatial service, may it be confirmed in the joint service of both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church in all them "that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" (Ephesians 6:24). Amen.

Kissing your Fatherly right hand, we ask your holy prayers and blessing for our continued labors in growing the Vineyard of Christ in this land.

With sincere love in the Lord,

+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

+PAVEL
Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsk

+JUSTINIAN
Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk
Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

+GEORGE
Bishop of Mayfield
Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese

+JEROME
Bishop of Manhattan
Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese