NEW YORK: February 26, 2010
The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad Congratulates the President of Ukraine

To the President of the Republic of Ukraine 
His Excellency, Mr Viktor Fedorovich Yanukovych

I express my heartfelt congratulations to you on the results of the Presidential elections, and your final lawful victory, and on your lawful election to the post of President of Ukraine, and on your official assumption of this duty!

You have honorably conducted the difficult election campaign, and the people of Ukraine have entrusted you with the future of their country. It is worth nothing that you are receiving this country in a difficult time, being rent apart both within and without.

Still, I trust that your accumulated experience, responsibility and focus will serve to resolve the multitude of challenges, including the most important ones facing the Republic, and that the care for the spiritual needs of your fellow countrymen will be among the priorities for you and your administration.

I thank God that despite the various pressures, you found the courage, wisdom and strength to attend a moleben of gratitude led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill before assuming your duties. I thank God that you received Divine blessing for this responsible service in the spiritual bosom of holy Ukraine, and I believe that with your piousness, wisdom and humility, the Lord will pour upon you His strength, and will return the Great Sovereignty of Ukraine to its full glory.

I wish you, honorable Viktor Fedorovich, God’s help, the wisdom of Solomon, strength, patience, love and inspiration in your forthcoming labors to the good of Ukraine, and for your country and her people, I wish blessed successes on the path to development, peace and well-being. In conclusion, I join His Holiness Patriarch Kirill in saying: “May the Lord preserve you for many good years. May the Lord preserve Rus-Ukraine. May the Lord preserve the sacred legacy of Holy Rus. Amen.”

With respect, yours truly,

+Hilarion 
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York 
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia