In a spirit of brotherly love and respect, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed a letter to Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania on the occasion of his Name Day.
“Your Beatitude and Holiness, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, in Christ our God, most beloved and longed-for brother and concelebrant of our Modesty, Lord Ioannis, we fraternally embrace Your venerable Beatitude in the Lord and greet You with heartfelt joy,” the Patriarch wrote.
Expressing gratitude to God for the ministry and witness of Archbishop Ioannis, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the importance of thanksgiving and unity within the Orthodox Church. “Praising and glorifying the Lord of glory, who has granted to His Holy Church Your venerable Beatitude, and to us a most precious brother and fellow minister, we communicate with You to express the congratulations of the Holy Great Church of Christ on the occasion of Your sacred Name Day, as well as our personal festive wishes.”
Highlighting the deeper meaning of Orthodox feasts, Patriarch Bartholomew wrote: “In the Orthodox tradition, feasts are a time of thanksgiving to the Triune God for His inexpressible gifts to the world and to each of us. We do the same today, sharing this joy with our brothers and drawing from the ineffable divine philanthropy inspiration and strength for service and fruitful works of goodness… proclaiming in thanksgiving: ‘What do you have that you did not receive?’ and ‘Glory to God for all things!’”
Read the full letter below:
Your Beatitude and Holiness, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania,
In Christ our God, most beloved and longed-for brother and concelebrant of our Modesty, Lord Ioannis, we fraternally embrace Your venerable Beatitude in the Lord and greet You with heartfelt joy.
Praising and glorifying the Lord of glory, who has granted to His Holy Church Your venerable Beatitude, and to us a most precious brother and fellow minister, we communicate with You to express the congratulations of the Holy Great Church of Christ on the occasion of Your sacred Name Day, as well as our personal festive wishes.
In the Orthodox tradition, feasts are a time of thanksgiving to the Triune God for His inexpressible gifts to the world and to each of us. We do the same today, sharing this joy with our brothers and drawing from the ineffable divine philanthropy inspiration and strength for service and fruitful works of goodness, always looking to the author and finisher of our faith, and proclaiming in thanksgiving: “What do you have that you did not receive?” and “Glory to God for all things!”
We pray to our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ, that He may strengthen Your Beatitude in Your lofty and weighty ecclesiastical ministry, for the good of the people of God entrusted to You by Him, for Orthodoxy and for the whole oikoumene, to the glory of His most exalted Name manifested through Your most honorable person. We also wish You steadfast health and every blessing, as we embrace You with a holy kiss and remain with exceptional respect and deep love in the Lord.
Many years to You, Beatitude, beloved brother!
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
