Patriarchal greeting to Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe on the occasion of his 60th birthday

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ has congratulated Bishop Ignaty of Aktobe and Kyzylorda on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

To His Grace, the Right Reverend Ignaty,

Bishop of Aktobe and Kyzylorda

Your Grace!

I cordially congratulate you on this significant personal milestone — your 60th birthday.

Responding to the saving call of the Creator, at a young age you received the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and later the monastic tonsure and the presbyteral rank. The Lord granted you many years to carry out various responsible obediences on the land of Kazakhstan, in fulfilling which you sought to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15).

Having looked upon your zeal and your desire to be watchful in all things (2 Tim. 4:5), the Almighty deemed you worthy to take upon yourself the difficult burden of the episcopate. Today you head the Aktobe Diocese and apply no small effort to the development of parish church life and the preaching of the Gospel there.

In recognition of your ministry and in connection with the commemorated date, I consider it just to award you the Order of St Seraphim of Sarov (3rd class).

I prayerfully wish you strength of soul and body, abundant help from God, and success in your further archpastoral labors for the good of Holy Orthodoxy.

With love in Christ,

+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUS’