BRAMA, Apr 20, 2005, 4:00 am ET
Press Release
Archbishop Antony (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) sends message of prayerful greetings to His Holiness Benedict XVI
His Eminence, Archbishop Antony, President of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, sent a message of congratulations with an assurance of prayers on behalf of the Church's hierarchs, clergy, and laity to His Holiness Benedict XVI, on the occasion of his election to the sacred office of Bishop of the Holy See of Rome and Patriarch of the West.
The text of the message, dated April 19, 2005, reads as follows.
"As members of the world-wide Orthodox Christian community, Ukrainian Orthodox Christians have prayerfully followed the events culminating in Your Holiness's election to the sacred office of Bishop of the Holy See of Rome and Patriarch of the West.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the United States of America, His Eminence Archbishop Vsevolod of Chicago and the Western Eparchy and the undersigned Archbishop of New York and Washington, DC and Bishop of the Eastern Eparchy, convey personal assurances of prayers and those of the venerable clergy and devout faithful entrusted to our Archpastoral and administrative care. May the grace of the All Holy and Life-giving Spirit guide and strengthen Your Holiness as you commence the work, which the same All Holy Spirit has called upon you to accomplish.
In an era when the waves of secularism strike against the Holy Church, attempt to topple it, and configure it to the standards of secular society, we the Bishops, clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA pray that like, the Holy Apostle Peter, Your Holiness will confirm the brethren of the Holy Church of Rome in the Faith and cooperate with the All Holy Spirit in bringing unity to what your predecessor of blessed memory called "the two lungs" of the Church of Christ."
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