Patriarch Kirill of Moscow sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Catholicos-Patriarch Shio of All Georgia.
In his message, Patriarch Kirill expressed his Paschal joy and offered his congratulations, noting in particular: “I wholeheartedly congratulate Your Holiness on your election as Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church.” He also emphasised the historical and spiritual bonds between the two churches, stating that “our sister churches have been linked throughout their shared history since ancient times”.
The Primate of the Russian Church also expressed his desire for the continuation of the tradition of fraternal communication and spiritual unity, concluding with wishes for “health and unceasing divine assistance for many blessed years of peaceful and blessed patriarchal ministry”.
Read below the message of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow:
Your Eminence, beloved Master,
CHRIST IS RISEN!
I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on your election as Primate of the Georgian Orthodox Church. News of this event has filled the hearts of the children of our Church with radiant Paschal joy, for they have a sincere love for Iberia, the allotment of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Throughout their shared history, our sister Churches have been linked by divine Providence, bearing zealous witness to the truth of the Gospel and steadfastly preserving the faith delivered once and for all to the saints (Jude 1:3). Having visited Georgia many times and received dear visitors from Iberia, I have always felt the deep spiritual closeness between our peoples of the same faith.
I pray that, with God’s help, the traditions of fraternal communication established by your venerable predecessors will continue during your own Primatial ministry, especially those formed under the ever-memorable and most holy Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, who is revered throughout the entire Orthodox world.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you good health and unceasing divine assistance for many blessed years of peaceful Patriarchal service.
With brotherly love in the Lord,
KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW
