NEW YORK: October 30, 2020
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad sends condolences to His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia on the repose of Metropolitan Amphilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral

From the Editors: This morning, October 30, 2020, after partaking of the Holy Gifts of Christ, His Eminence Archbishop of Cetinje Amphilohije, Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Exarch of the Cathedra of Pec, reposed in the Lord in a medical clinic. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, sent condolences:

To His Holiness
The Most Reverend
IRENEJ,
Orthodox Archbishop of Pec,
Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci,
Patriarch of Serbia.

Your Holiness, Most Reverend Vladyko!

Having learned of the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilohije, I hasten to express my most profound condolences to you, your eminent brother archpastors, clergy and flock of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and lovingly join your common prayer for the repose of his soul.

Vladyka Amphilohije was a great soul, a hierarch with a broad heart, freely combining within it both the joys and sorrows of the entire Holy Orthodox Church. Despite the loftiness of his archpastoral service, he remained a monk first and foremost, by his life preaching and fearlessly confessing the Faith of Christ. I remember with enormous gratitude his vital participation in the divine services and the work of the 4th All-Diaspora Council of Archpastors, Clergy and Laity of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, his fatherly love, his fraternal support to Metropolitan Laurus and the ecumenical spirit of his participation in the life of the Church of Christ. The wise words of the reposed hierarch spoken at that Council softened the hearts of all of its participants, reminding us of our common fathers and ascetics, of our common history.

Internally bidding farewell today to His Eminence Vladyka Amphilohije, I beseech his holy prayers and bow with gratitude before our brotherly Serbian people, who gifted to Orthodox Slavs such a hierarch, ascetic, confessor and faithful son of the Church of Christ. I believe that he has achieved boldness before the Throne of God.

May the Kingdom of Heaven be granted to the late Vladyka, and eternal memory, and to you, your eminent brethren, devoted assistants and entire flock, Divine aid! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the entire Serbian Church!

Your Holiness’ eternal well-wisher, I lift my unworthy prayers for you,

+HILARION,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia