His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon
President of the 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference
His Eminence Metropolitan Jeremiah of Switzerland
Secretary for the Preparation of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church
To the participants in the 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference
Your Eminences and Your Graces, Brothers the Archpastors,
Honourable representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches,
Having learned about the beginning of the 5th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Council Conference, I lift up my zealous prayers to God, asking Him to bestow His blessing upon this lofty assembly and grant His abundant help to its participants in their forthcoming work which is to contribute to the strengthening of the church unity.
The Primates of the Holy Orthodox Churches who assembled in Constantinople in March last year entrusted you with the important task of revising and editing draft documents of the Pan-Orthodox Council. The successful fulfillment of this task will require your concentration, attentiveness not only to the texts you will consider, but also to each other, the ability to hear your brothers and reach consensus in the spirit of Christ’s love and mutual respect.
I wish the participants in the conference fruitful work and blessed success for the benefit of the Holy Church.
With love in the Lord,
+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
