Protocol Number 554.
All-Holy and Most Eminent Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Oecumenical Patriarch, the most beloved and earnestly-cherished brother in Christ the God and concelebrant of our Humility, Lord Vartholomaeos, embracing Your distinguished and Eminent All-Holiness with a holy kiss, we greet you with very great pleasure.
At the 11th Meeting (9th June 2006) of our Holy and Sacred Synod, we received with brotherly love and had read the Patriarchal Letters from You who are most beloved and highly-regarded, dealing with the incardination into the hierarchy of the venerable Oecumenical Throne of His Grace Bishop Basil of Sergievo as bishop of the once-illustrious See of Amphipolis with the intention thereby of strengthening the Orthodox Parishes of the Russian Tradition in Western Europe.
Hence we duly inform Your most Godly Beatitude that from henceforth we shall brotherly accept His Grace Bishop Basil of Amphipolis as a canonical Shepherd of the Orthodox Church of the Jurisdiction of the Oecumenical Patriarchate whenever he should visit the Holy Places and wish to celebrate at the various venerable pilgrimage sites.
In conclusion, embracing Your wise and respectfully-beloved All-Holiness in a brotherly fashion, we wish You that which is best from the All-Holy and Life-receiving Tomb of our Lord and we remain,
In the Holy City of Jerusalem, 9th June 2006.
Your most-respected All-Holiness’ beloved brother in Christ
+THEOPHILOS III Patriarch of Jerusalem
