Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of the Patriarch of Antioch and the whole East to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, on his election as a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Antioch, mospat writes.
“I gladly received the message about the high honor that the Holy Orthodox Church of Antioch has conferred on you, in consideration of your many merits, – to be a permanent member of its Holy Synod.
For forty-four years, your presence in Russia has been perceived by the clergy and believers of the Russian Orthodox Church as a blessing of the land where Christ’s disciples first began to be called Christians.
I can say with confidence that your personal contribution to the development of relations between the Russian and Antiochian Orthodox Churches bears a truly historic character, “said Patriarch Kirill.