Ecumenical Patriarch Commends Diocese on Recent Sobor
January 25, 2007
JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas recently received a letter of
commendation from His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew regarding
the 20th Diocesan Sobor which was held this past summer in Old Greenwich, CT.
The text of His All-Holiness' letter and His Eminence's response is as
follows:
B A R T H O L O M E W BY THE MERCY OF GOD ARCHBISHOP OF
CONSTANTINOPLE, NEW ROME AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
Protocol No. 1023
Your holy Eminence of Amissos, spiritual brother in the Holy Spirit and
concelebrant NICHOLAS, grace to Your holy sacredness and peace from God.
It is with great interest and anticipation that we received the reports of
the proceedings conducted at the recent Clergy-Laity Sobor of the beloved
Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of America which was held in Greenwich,
Connecticut. We carefully reviewed the reports and essays as submitted by the
official representative of the Mother Church and Exarch, His Eminence Archbishop
Demetrios of America.
Having first been reviewed by the Patriarchal Committee of the eparchies
of the throne and then forwarded to the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, and after a considerable amount of meaningful and constructive
discussion by the Metropolitans concerning the proceedings, proposals and
decisions set forth at this Clergy-Laity Sobor of your beloved parishes, we
convey to Your Eminence and holy brother in Christ Nicholas and convey to you
the great satisfaction of the Mother Church for your spiritual guidance,
administrative excellence and responsible discharge of your sacred duties in
guiding our Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in America, with a unanimous vote
by the Holy Synod, the Mother Church approves and ratifies the outcomes of the
Clergy-Laity Sobor of 2006. Please accept these sentiments of satisfaction and
pride on behalf of the Holy Synod and from myself, personally.
We trust and instruct Your Eminence to assure the beloved membership of
the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of America of the continued positive
regard and love of the Mother Church with our gratitude and congratulations to
the clergy and to the faithful of your beloved vineyard for the successful
Clergy-Laity Sobor. Bestowing upon all our Patriarchal Blessings of Grace, Peace
and Mercy from God.
2006 December 12
+BARTHOLOMEW
Beloved Brother in Christ
Response of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas:
January 24, 2007
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Your All-Holiness:
I ask your Patriarchal Blessing and reverence your right
hand!
We received with great joy and appreciation, the Patriarchal Letter
regarding our recent 20th Clergy-Laity Sobor-Diocesan Council. We are grateful
for your compliments of our triennial gathering, and we are moved that the
Patriarchal Committee received and reviewed our reports to their
satisfaction.
We are also grateful to the Mother Church for the kind compliments of my
episcopal labors in behalf of the faithful and for your constant blessings on
the Diocese.
We also take this opportunity to commend Your All-Holiness on the recent
most successful, historic visit of Pope Benedict with Your All-Holiness, which
we all followed very intensely. We received ample news coverage of this blessed
occasion. And we are grateful for the kindness shown to our Diocesan Archons,
priests and laity of this Diocese who witnessed this historic, blessed
event.
Asking your Patriarchal Blessing, and reverencing your right hand, keeping
you in constant prayer, I remain,
Most sincerely yours in Christ,
+Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos
