HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH KIRILL’S CONDOLENCES OVER THE DEATH OF CATHOLICOS-PATRIARCH OF THE ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST, MAR DINKHA IV
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his condolences over the demise of theCatholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Dinkha IV.
The Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East
Your Eminences and Excellencies,
We are grieved by the news about the demise of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV. A whole epoch in the history of the Assyrian Church of the East, which the deceased First Hierarch has headed for almost forty years, is slipping away.
The primatial ministry of His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV fell upon the grave times when a considerable part of the faithful of your Church had to live in diaspora while the Patriarchal See itself had to stay outside the land of your fathers. The late Catholicos-Patriarch was together with his flock in trouble and in joy and gave people his truly paternal love.
His Holiness was especially aggrieved not long before his demise; for the old Assyrian people, who suffered so much in their history, were again subjected to severe persecution for their faith. Seeing the devastation of Nineveh and other biblical cities of Mesopotamia, the killing and banishment of thousands of Assyrian Christians from their homes, the deceased First Hierarch lifted up ardent prayers to God for his people, asking the Creator of the world to give mercies to the land of Mesopotamia and the whole Middle East.
His Holiness Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV visited historical Rus’ several times and was always welcome as a dear friend and honorary guest of the Russian Orthodox Church. Remembering with warmth and sadness our last meeting in Moscow last May, I extend sincere condolences to the episcopate, clergy and laity of the Assyrian Church of the East on your heavy loss.
+Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
