DIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO AND WESTERN AMERICA : March 14, 2007
Address of the Pastoral Conference of the Diocese of Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

To His Eminence,
the Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminence,
Our Merciful Archpastor and Father!

Bless!

The Lord, by His boundless mercy, has granted us to live to the very threshold of that long-awaited and truly historical moment of the final elimination of the division between the Church in the homeland and abroad.

We are thankful to the Lord that he has vouchsafed that it is namely You, dear Vladyko, who is at the helm of the ship of the Church at these momentous days. Prayerfully, we shall be with You on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, when, in the Church of Christ the Savior, previously destroyed by the Bolsheviks and now, by the providence of God, restored, in the capital city of Moscow will be signed the “Act of Canonical Communion,” which has been approved by both Hierarchical Sobors and Synods. It is significant also that the second joint service—in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin—is scheduled on the day of St Job the Much-suffering and the birth day of the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, and the third—on the field of Butovo, which has been sanctified by the blood of thousands of New Martyrs.

In connection with this great event, we humbly ask You, Your Eminence, to transmit the attached congratulatory address of our spiritual congress on the occasion of the restoration of canonical and Eucharistic communion between the two parts of the Russian Church to His Holiness Alexey II, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia .

We pray to the Lord that You may be granted spiritual and physical strength in carrying the heavy burden of being the First Hierarch that has been placed upon you and in anticipation greet you with your forthcoming 40th anniversary of archpastoral service.

Asking Your holy prayers and First-hierarchical blessing,

Filially devoted to Your Eminence,

† Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America and the participants of the Pastoral Conference

* * *

Greeting of the Pastoral Conference
of the Western-American Diocese
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

To His Holiness Alexey II,
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Your Holiness,
Most Holy Vladyko!

Bless!

Having gathered in the God-protected city of San Francisco, we, the participants of the regular Great Lenten Pastoral conference of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western-America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia greet You, Most Holy Vladyko, and also all of the archpastors, clergy, and the God-protected flock of the Church of Russia with the approaching restoration of the unity of the Russian Church.

In our thoughts and spirits we will be with You in the days that You, Your Holiness, together with His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, will head the celebrations in connection with the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the two parts of the Russian Orthodox Church.

We beseech the All-Merciful Lord, that He, by the prayers of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, would strengthen You in your First-Hierarchal service for the good of the Holy Orthodox Church, and that the coming canonical acts will serve toward the granting peace and well-being to the God-protected Russian land and its Orthodox people both in the homeland and abroad.

Asking your holy prayers and Patriarchal blessing,

With constant good wishes and unworthy prayers before the Lord for Your Holiness,

† Kyrill,
Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America and the participants of the Pastoral Conference