WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: November 23, 2019
Patriarchal 65th-birthday congratulations to Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America

On November 21, 2019, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia congratulated His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Fransciso and Western America on his 65th Birthday. Below is a translation of the Patriarch's letter.

To His Eminence KYRILL
Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America

Your Eminence!

I sincerely congratulate you with your 65th Birthday.

Having desired to labor for the King of the ages and Creator of all (Sunday sticharion, Tone 5), from your youth you have performed various ecclesiastical obediences, that you may declare to those near and far the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (I Peter 2:9). You have received a theological education, have taken up monastic vows and been bestowed with priestly rank. You successfully combined your pastoral service in the Holy Land with labors in the field of pedagogy.

In years following, the Lord was pleased to make you a successor to the God-seeing Apostles, who confess the indescribable glory of God (Thursday Matins Canon, Tone 2). Now you are the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America and you make no small efforts for the advancement of all aspects of church life in the portion that has been allotted to you.

I prayerfully wish you good health, an ever-vigilant spirit and boundless aid from the Saviour of the world in all of your continued archpastoral labors.

With love in Christ,

+Kirill
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA