Congratulatory Address of the Members of the Holy Synod to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the Anniversary of His Enthronement

The members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church congratulated His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ on the 16th anniversary of his enthronement:

To His Holiness, the Most Holy Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’

Your Holiness, Most Holy Master, and Gracious Father!

On this particularly important and spiritually significant day, both for You personally and for the entirety of the Russian Orthodox Church, we have gathered under the majestic domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to celebrate the Liturgy, to offer thanksgiving prayers to the Most Generous God, and to extend our heartfelt congratulations on the 16th anniversary of Your ascension to the throne of the Primates of Moscow.тRecalling how the Lord guided You toward this exalted and responsible ministry, we join the Apostle Paul in exclaiming with joy: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33).

Born into a pious priestly family, and having before You since childhood the example of Christian life from Your parents and the confessional feat of Your grandfather, at a very young age, You chose to dedicate Your life to Christ and, after finishing school, entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary. Under the guidance of Metropolitan Nicodemus (Rotov), Your spiritual father and mentor, You grew in strength and wisdom, nourishing Your mind and heart with theological knowledge. Your rectorial labors, numerous obediences in various spheres of church life, and over thirty years of archpastoral service in Smolensk and Kaliningrad allowed You to accumulate vast experience, which today helps You firmly and skillfully steer the ship of the Church through the storms of life’s sea toward the peaceful harbor of heaven, even amid the most challenging circumstances. Sixteen years ago, it was difficult to foresee the trials, harsh tribulations, and external and internal threats that Orthodox Christians would have to overcome in the coming decades, let alone imagine what lies ahead. Yet, following the words of the Psalmist, “I made haste, and delayed not” (Ps. 118:60), and entrusting Yourself entirely to the Creator in obedience to the One who “humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross” (Phil. 2:8), You took up the heavy cross of the Patriarchate and, with unfailing assistance from the Almighty, continue to carry it unwaveringly to this day.

Looking back on the years passed under Your wise leadership, we unanimously bear witness to the unceasing action of divine grace, the providential care of God for His Holy Churches (from the prayer of enthronement), and we are strengthened by Your example, drawing inspiration for further common labors and prayers for the greater glory of God.

Your zealous primatial ministry, fervent prayer, fiery preaching of the Gospel, care for the younger generation, paternal attention to the clergy and flock, concern for those who have fallen away or have yet to come to faith, and readiness to give an answer to anyone who asks—all of these serve as a visible embodiment of the words of the Apostle Paul: “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).

You have had to defend the external canonical boundaries of the Church while simultaneously preserving its internal unity and purity of faith.

Indeed, not a single aspect of the Church’s activity is without Your pastoral attention and ardent care, and thus, time would fail us (Heb. 11:32) to fully describe the abundance of Your labors.

We, giving thanks to God and the Father (Col. 1:12) for the opportunity to be Your humble co-workers, on behalf of the Holy Synod and Your multitude of God-loving faithful, prayerfully wish You, our dear and beloved Primate, strength, courage, peace, and the bountiful help of the Lord in Your exalted service for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Many and blessed years to You, Your Holiness!

Ἐις πολλὰ ἔτη, Δέσποτα!

Members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

Moscow, February 1, 2025