Moscow, 28 January 2008 - In his letter to Metropolitan Seraphim of Karystia and Skyros, Locum Tenens of the Archbishopric of Athens, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia expressed his condolences over the demise of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece. The text is given below.
Your Eminence, Dear Fellow-Archpastors:
On behalf of the whole Russian Orthodox Church I would like to express profound condolences over the death of His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos.
Truly great is the loss that has befallen the Holy Greek Church, the pious people of Greece and the whole Orthodox world. His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos, a fervent preacher, patriot and zealous worker in the field of Christ, was a close friend of the Russian Orthodox Church. He will stay as such in our memory and in our hearts. We were drawn especially close together by His Beatitude's memorable visits to the Russian Orthodox Church.
May the Lord commit the soul of the deceased Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos, to the mansions of the righteous. Eternal and blessed memory be to him.
+ Alexy
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Source: www.mospat.ru