SAN FRANCISCO: MAY 7, 2006

A Greeting from His Holiness Ilya, Catholicos of Georgia

To the Most Reverend Archpastors, clergy, faithful and all delegates to the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia:

Your Eminences, dear brothers in Christ, delegates to the IV All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia,

Christ is Risen!

On behalf of the ancient Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church I greet you from my heart.
The establishment of normal relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the resolution of other questions is of great importance to all Orthodoxy.

We must always remember that difficult, sorrowful, Golgothan path which our Churches went through during the era of totalitarian regimes, a consequence of which was this division.

It is necessary to note that this division did not take place on a dogmatic basis.

We should remember that love unites, and evil divides. Thousands of martyrs are lifting up their prayers for the establishment of peace in the Russian Church.

May God's will be done!

We wish you wisdom and help from Almighty God in resolving this most important question.

WIth brotherly love in Christ,

+ILYA II

Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia