January 27, 2016
On the occasion of the commemoration of St. Nina, Patriarch Kirill and Met. Hilarion (Alfeyev) sent greetings to His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Iliya of Georgia.
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Greeting from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill:
Your Holiness and Beatitude
Dear Brother and Concelebrant beloved in the Lord,
I wholeheartedly greet you on the occasion of the commemoration day of St. Nina Equal-to-the-Apostles, the enlightener of Georgia.
Full of spiritual wisdom, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17), you continue the cause of St. Nina in the blessed land of Iberia.
From my heart I wish that Your Holiness and Beatitude may continue as convincingly to bear witness before our contemporaries to the intransient truths of the Gospel and may the Saviour of the world strengthen you in this endeavour.
With brotherly love in Christ,
+ KIRILL
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
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Greeting from His Beatitude Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk:
Your Holiness and Beatitude,
I would like to respectfully greet you on the day of St. Nina Equal-to-the-Apostles, the enlightener of Georgia.
The missionary feats of this great saint are continued today in a worthy way in your work for educating and edifying the Georgian flock. The people of God give high value to your primatial service manifested in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left (2 Cor. 6:7). The word of Your Holiness and Beatitude is filled with spiritual power and is always full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14) in Christ.
From my heart I wish you God’s all-strengthening help in your lofty service for the good of the Holy Orthodox Church.
With respectful love in the Lord,
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk
Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate
