Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a congratulatory and greeting letter to Patriarch Ilia II on the occasion of his namesake in the Julian calendar (July 20 / August 2).
“In the tradition of Orthodoxy, the holidays are a time of thanksgiving, in the Church, to the always charitable Lord of mercy. We experience in them the full presence of God in the life of the world, rejuvenated and enriched existentially in joy, empowered in the ministry of the people of God… “says, among others, the Ecumenical Patriarch, who concludes as follows:
“In this spirit, we address wholehearted prayers and supplications to the Immortal student who is Blessed on this name day, and given to our Savior Jesus Christ, as the Hymn is given unwavering and unfailing health.”