NEW YORK: January 13, 2021
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad sends condolences to the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus on the repose of Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeev)

To His Eminence
VENIAMIN,
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl’
Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus

Your Eminence, Vladyko:

I express my brotherly condolences on the repose of the long-time, universally-loved and respected spiritual father and First Pastor of the Belarussian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Filaret, Honorary Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

His Eminence Vladyka Filaret was exceptional in his profound ecclesiality and education, his joy in the Lord and bold carrying out of his many labors, his prayerful nature and zealous love for the beauty of Divine church services, serving as a fine example for many generations of archpastors, clergymen and seminarians. His Eminence was for many a bright and vivid example of the attentive archpastor with a great heart, with a consoling sense of humor and a soft smile that bolstered those around him. The pious service, eloquence, pastoral approach to his neighbor and chaste image of Vladyka Filaret of blessed repose reminded me of one of the bishops of the old school of the Russian Church Abroad—Archbishop Antony (Bartoshevich) of Geneva and Western Europe, a student of Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who tonsured him, and a fellow-laborer of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker.

Sharing the grief of the archpastors, pastors and the entire God-beloved flock of the Belarussian Orthodox Church, I pray together with the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for the repose of the newly-departed Metropolitan Filaret, that the consolation of Christ be brought upon him, the placid unearthly world praised by the angels over the city of Bethlehem on the night of the Nativity.

Beseeching your holy prayers, I remain in fraternal love in the Lord,

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