On the occasion of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia’s 75th birthday, congratulatory messages came to the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate from Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan: Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany; Archbishop Tapio Luoma of Turku and Finland, Primate of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland; Mr. Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Metropolitan Archbishop Rufus Okikiola Ositelu of the Archdiocese of Nigeria, Primate of the Worldwide Church of the Lord (Aladura);Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland. 

In his message, Archbishop Justin Welby writes in particular, “It is with great pleasure that I send you my greetings and congratulations on your birthday on 20 November. I wish you every blessing for the years to come”. 

“On this festive day, I would like to congratulate you on your 75th birthday on behalf of the Evangelical Church in Germany. May the Most High bless you with abundant gifts that He promised to send to the faithful: ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise’ (Parables 11:30)”, writes in his letter Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm.  “Certainly, the tree of life of the Church, which you have served almost for all your life, has experienced many storms but in all the times of upheavals the Church has born witness to the mercy of our Lord, who has given us deep roots and a solid foundation <…> I sincerely wish you a blessed and memorable celebration and pray that the mercy of Triune God may be with you and all the faithful of your Church”. 

Archbishop Tapio Luoma, in congratulating His Holiness, stressed in particular, “Merciful God has blessed your Church with various gifts. He has given a firm faith to its members and wisdom to its leaders so that your Church may endure hard periods and prosper in good times. So, we have many reasons for thanking God for His gifts and blessings sent to you and through you to your whole Church”. 

“I am deeply grateful for how you continuously encourage churches across Russia to support each other and work together”, Franklin Graham notes in his message, “Your support for persecuted Christians around the world, as well as your desire to seek peace and protect the sanctity of life is admirable. I commend you for these God-honoring efforts.” 

“May the Grace, Peace and Mercy of God, Father Almighty continue to be with Your Holiness, and the entire Household of God in the Most Precious Name of our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ”, says in his congratulatory letter the head of the Aladura Church Rufus Okikiola Ositel, “Wishing your Holiness more years in the service of God and Mankind, and that you will continue to wax stronger in good health. Through the years and unto this day, you have laboured. You are a true Man of God, Spiritual Leader, and Preacher of the word and exceptional ecumenical figure”. 

In his congratulatory message, Honorary Archbishop Ukka Paarma of Turku and Finland says in particular, “I pray that the following years of your life may be filled with peace, prosperity, good health and, above all, happiness in its true sense”.

DECR Communication Service/Patriarchia.ru