Pat. John X of Antioch greets His Beatitude on enthronement anniversary

His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East. Photo: gdb.rferl.org

On August 17, 2024, the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East sent a congratulatory message to His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, reports the UOC's Information and Education Department.

"We pray to Almighty God, the Father of mercy, to strengthen you in your blessed ministry, to embrace you with His light, and to multiply His grace upon you, that you may remain vigilant in preserving the Orthodox faith and its purity in these difficult times, to ‘be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer' (Romans 12:12)," the message reads.

The Primate of the Antiochian Church noted that, upon hearing news of the "persecutions endured by your Church and the sufferings borne by its bishops, priests, monks and faithful, who testify to Christ and uphold the purity of the faith", he recalls the Apostle's words: "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

According to His Beatitude, it is comforting to know that the Primate of the UOC remains steadfast in his love for Christ and bears witness that nothing "shall separate us from the love of Christ: trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword" (Romans 8:35).

"Dear Brother, be assured that the Church of Antioch holds you, your confessors, and your faithful in its prayers, imploring our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to grant peace to your country, to wipe away the tears from the eyes of your people and preserve your Church for ages to come. 'Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all' (2 Thessalonians 3:16)," emphasized the Patriarch of Antioch.

As reported by the UOJ, His Beatitude was also congratulated on his 10th anniversary of enthronement by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije, Georgian Patriarch Ilia, Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, and Archbishop Michael of Prague and the Czech Lands.

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