“At the same time, we thank the clergy of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, as well as all those serving at the holy altars throughout Bessarabia who, within their communities, serve with integrity, hear confessions, provide catechesis, visit the sick, support families and gather the people around the Holy Chalice, despite the difficulties, shortages and social tensions, which are by no means few.

“Archbishop Job thanked the Bulgarian authorities and Church for their hospitality and assistance to Ukrainians displaced by the war, stressing that peace remains the Ukrainian people’s foremost desire.

“Sviatoslav Shevchuk thanked the representatives of the authorities for the high state award.

Sviatoslav Shevchuk ›

head of the UGCC

Reported

“He thanked everyone who had helped spread information about the situation, supported the priest’s family, and prayed for Fr Andriy.

“Metropolitan Athanasios thanked His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți for allowing him to serve during the celebrations connected with Putna Monastery’s patronal feast.

“the faithful to give thanks to God for His assistance to the Ukrainian people amid their difficult trials and to place their hope in the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos

Metropolitan Epifaniy ›

Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine

Reported

“We therefore wish that our presence here today will be the preliminary message of what is to take place in October in Bulgaria, as an additional proof of the love of the Holy Great Church of Christ for this Saint, who, although he lived in ascetic obscurity on Mount Rila, became a source of sanctification not only for the Bulgarian people, but for the entire Orthodox Church

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I ›

His All-Holiness

Direct quote

“The priest expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had been concerned about him, supported his family, and prayed for him, adding that he had felt their prayerful support.