Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia sent a congratulatory message on March 14, 2026, to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
In his message, Patriarch Porfirije praised Patriarch Kirill’s “long-standing service to the Church”, highlighting his “firm witness to the Gospel and his pastoral care for the faithful”. He even described him as a “Good Shepherd” (John 10:14), who according to him “has strengthened the people entrusted to him through love and dedication”.
Referring to his decades of ministry, Patriarch Porfirije noted that over the past half century, Patriarch Kirill “has carried out various responsibilities within the Church, gathering and preserving the richness of Orthodox tradition”. He also didn’t miss to point out that during his leadership over the past seventeen years “he has guided the Church through challenging times while safeguarding its Orthodox identity”.
The Serbian Patriarch further described Patriarch Kirill as “one of the spiritual pillars of the wider Orthodox world,” “especially in periods marked by difficulty and uncertainty.”
Concluding his message, Patriarch Porfirije joined the prayers of millions of faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church, asking the Lord to grant Patriarch Kirill “good health, spiritual strength, and joy,” and that “his primatial ministry may continue to bring comfort and salvation to the faithful.”
Source: Patriarchate of Serbia
