Patriarchal congratulations to Archbishop Amphilochius of Ust-Kamenogorsk on his 55th birthday

Your Eminence!

Please accept heartfelt congratulations on this significant date - your 55th anniversary.

The All-Bountiful Lord called you to work in His Vineyard, vouchsafed you to accept holy orders and honored you with the image of an angel. You were entrusted with various church obediences, performing which you acquired spiritual, pastoral and administrative experience.

The Chief Shepherd Christ, seeing your zeal and trust in His good Providence, placed the bishop's omophorion on your shoulders, so that you, following the apostles, would preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).

Having managed the Ust-Kamenogorsk diocese for more than ten years, you strive to enlighten your contemporaries with the light of the Gospel truth, take care of the moral growth of your flock and the development of various aspects of church and parish life.

I prayerfully wish you the help of the All-Merciful God in your further hierarchal work and the gracious strengthening of your strength from the Heavenly Comforter, the Spirit of truth, to whom we now give glory, honor and praise.

With love in Christ,

+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL Rus'