Congratulations to Metropolitan Pavel on his 70th birthday from the clergy and laity of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese
Your Eminence! Dear Bishop and Father!
On behalf of the clergy and flock of the Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese, we heartily congratulate you on your anniversary!
Almost from the very beginning of your priestly ministry, the Lord, by special Providence, called you to responsible work abroad.
First, you labored for the Lord in the Holy Land in Jerusalem, and then, under the spiritual protection of St. John of Shanghai, in San Francisco, where the saint’s relics rest.
Then the Lord entrusted you with the challenging service in Rome. And finally, He returned you to your homeland for an even more responsible episcopal service in the newly formed Khanty-Mansiysk Diocese.
But, of course, Saint John does not forget his faithful and responsible co-workers in God’s work. And at the special prayerful request of the Filipino people, who once helped him and his flock by accepting them as refugees fleeing the communists, Saint John interceded for them before God, so that the newly formed Philippine-Vietnamese Diocese would be in safe hands, so that, by God’s Providence, the Philippine flock would be entrusted to you. Thus, to add to your other crowns of heavenly glory, you would also receive the missionary crown.
Of course, you have not disgraced Saint John’s prayers, and the rapid growth of the diocese and spiritual life is evidence of this.
Dozens of ordained priests, new capital churches, education, social service, and, most importantly, the souls of the saved Filipinos and Vietnamese—all this is like fragrant incense raised to the Throne of God.
We wish you the help of God, His Most Pure Mother, St. John of Shanghai, and all the saints in your difficult labors, which should be carried out by several people, but which you yourself humbly bear, in accordance with the Savior’s commandment, “bear one another’s burdens.”
We especially wish you physical strength and joy in the many people who, according to the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “in the east, on the islands of the sea,” glorify the Lord, and who follow you into the Kingdom of Heaven to the Lord Christ!
