Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy Greets Metropolitan Laurus
His Eminence,
The Most Reverend Laurus,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
Your Eminence!
On behalf of the body of professors and teachers, the students of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, and my colleagues on the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, I offer you heartfelt congratulations on your name-day as well as on the seventy-fifth anniversary jubilee of the founding of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.
Your life's path has been inseparably bound to that of Holy Trinity Monastery from the moment you arrived in the USA. You were among the first settlers in the monastery founded on American land by émigrés from Carpatho Rus' and, growing from strength to strength, you followed the path from simple monk to First Hierarch of the Church Abroad.
The monastery in Jordanville became renowned both abroad and in Russia first and foremost as a center of spiritual enlightenment. During the difficult years in our Fatherland the spiritual literature published by Holy Trinity Monastery served as priceless spiritual nourishment for all Orthodox Christians living under the yoke of atheist rule. Holy Trinity Seminary, founded in conjunction with the monastery, likewise acquired tremendous significance abroad. Such notable émigré figures as Archbishop Averky (Taushev), Archimandrite Konstantine (Zaitsev), Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky, Professor I. A. Andreevsky, and many others taught in this theological school. We are very pleased to recognize that constructive relations between our theological schools are developing. It is our hope that these contacts will become a friendly tradition is the future.
We wish you, dear Vladyka, continuing success in your responsible service as First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, for the good of your divinely-saved flock.
Asking Your Eminence's holy prayers,
With fraternal love in the Lord,
Evgenii, Archbishop of Vereia,
Chairman of the Educational Committee,
Russian Orthodox Church,
Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.
September 2, 2005