December 6, 2014

His Eminence,

The Most Reverend JOSEPH,

Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America

Your Eminence!

      Let me heartily congratulate you on the enthronement as the Head of the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America. By the disposition of God and the choice of the plentitude of the North American Archdiocese in 2014 you were set on a high hill of the ministry as the Head of the Antiochian Archdiocese in the USA to give light to all those around you. (Matthew 5:15)

      The potential of bilateral brotherly relations between the Antiochian and Russian Orthodox Churches is really high. The basis of cooperation on God's vineyard in the North-American continent was laid by our predecessors Holy Hierarchs Tikhon and Raphael. I strongly believe that there are a lot of unopened pages of our fruitful co-working for good of Orthodoxy ahead of us. 

      I prayerfully wish Your Eminence spiritual and physical strength, let the time of your ministry as head of the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America is peaceful and blessed. Let the Chief Shepherd Christ give you wisdom to right teach the word of His truth for many and many years.

      With respectful love in the Lord,

+JOHN

Bishop of Naro-Fominsk,

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

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