Metropolitan Volodymyr conferred the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle on Archbishop Ephraim of Kryvyi Rih and Nikopol
3/10/2011
Your Beatitude!
Dear Vladyka!
Please accept our heartfelt congratulations on the 15th anniversary of your episcopal ordination!
Your service to the Holy Church is an example of spiritual life for many believers. The labors you carry out at the diocese of Kryvyy Rih show your sincerity and dedication to the Church of Christ. You managed to embody the most precious quality of a Christian – the love of God and neighbor. Your efforts in combination of a talent of the preacher and administrator skills renewed the spiritual life in Kryvyy Rih region: the magnificent cathedrals and churches were built, the Sunday schools opened, active social work conducted. Your responsibility regarding obedience that the hierarchs of our Church entrust you with, and wise leadership became a warrant of love of your priests and believers of the diocese of Kryvyy Rih.
On the day of your anniversary, we lift up prayers to the merciful Lord for your health and many years. We wish you spiritual joy and God’s blessing in you archpastoral labors.
In view of your ecclesial merits and on the occasion of your anniversary, I think it possible to confer on you the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called.
With Love
† Volodymyr
Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine,
Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
