December 5, 2013
Fifth Anniversary of Repose of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey II

On Thursday, December 5, the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church throughout the world honor the fifth anniversary of the repose of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey II, her Primate for more than 18 years. Prayers for his repose are also being offered up in the parishes and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese. In honor of this anniversary, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York released the following statement:

"Patriarch Alexey ascended the Patriarchal throne at a critical time for the Russian Orthodox Church. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, church life in Russia experienced an unprecedented rebirth that has continued even until this day. Patriarch Alexey was an example of a wise and pious shepherd, who herded countless lost souls back into the saving fold of the Church and united them to Christ. His love for God and the Russian land inspired him to reunite the two parts of the Russian Church and, together with our beloved ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, end 85 years of bitter division. The Lord has bestowed manifold blessings on us since the day of reconciliation between the Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate, and we have Patriarch Alexey to thank for this. May we continue to remember him in our prayers, especially today, on the fifth anniversary of his repose, that the Lord may grant him eternal rest in the bosom of Abraham for the immeasurable good that he was able to accomplish on behalf of our Holy Church."

Memory eternal to His Holiness, Patriarch Alexey!

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese