MOSCOW: June 7, 2017
Patriarchal Congratulations to Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco on the 25th Anniversary of His Episcopacy

On June 7, 2017, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia sent congratulations to His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration:

Your Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America:

Please accept my earnest congratulations on the 25th anniversary of your episcopal consecration together with my prayerful wishes for your good health and boldness of spirit, peace and the bountiful mercies of the Most-Generous and Giving Creator.

A quarter of a century ago, the Omnipotent power of the Life-Giving Consoler made you a successor of the eyewitnesses and servants of the Word Incarnate, a pastor of the flock of Christ, a distributor of Divine Grace. The Omniscient Lord has deemed worthy for you to serve in the episcopal rank in your native Diocese of San Francisco. Laboring in the harvest-fields entrusted to you, you strive towards the blossoming of Church life among your flock, and for the illumination of our contemporaries with the light of the Gospel.

In recognition of your service and to mark this significant jubilee, I deem it proper to grant you the Order of St Seraphim of Sarov, Third Degree.

May “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15), through the intercession of the Most-Pure Virgin Mary, help you in your continued episcopal labors as you earnestly strive towards achieving the salvation of the clergy and people of God who abide under your omophorion.

Many blessed years!

+KIRILL,
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA