To His Eminence Kirill,

Patriarch-Elect of Moscow and All Russia

Your Eminence,

I cordially congratulate You on Your election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

You are one of the most respected Orthodox clerics. You have been contributing enormously to the revival of the Orthodoxy and increase of its international influence. Your tireless work helps preserve interconfessional consent in the society, strengthen its moral pillars.

In Belarus, You are well known and praised as an authoritative pastor and religious figure. I hope that close and good relations that have been established between our peoples will become even stronger during the years of Your primacy.

I am expressing the confidence that in this office you will be promoting the unity of the Orthodox Church, preaching Christian ideals of mutual respect, religious tolerance and mercy.

I wholeheartedly wish You, Your Eminence, good health, wisdom and the help of God in the laborious patriarchal service.

Yours faithfully,

Alexander Lukashenko