The Head of the House of Romanoff Sends Her Congratulations to His Eminence Metropolitan Onufrii of Kiev and All Ukraine on His Election and Enthronement

From the Head of the Russian Imperial House

To His Eminence,

Metropolitan Onufrii of Kiev and All Ukraine

Your Eminence, Dear Metropolitan Onufrii,

I send you my heartfelt congratulations on your election and enthronement as Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine.

The Lord has called you to be the Shepherd of Orthodox Ukraine at a difficult and tragic moment in its history. I am confident that you, with your characteristic faith, wisdom, and gifts of prayer, will preserve and increase the great legacy of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Vladimir, helping the Ukrainian people to overcome these current Troubles and the fratricidal conflict they are experiencing by your own example of love, generosity, patriotism, firm conviction in, and deep understanding of, the true greatness of Ukraine.

I prayer for Your Eminence’s health, many years of life, strength of body, and God’s unfailing help as you serve the Ukrainian flock, the fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Orthodoxy the world over.

Asking your archpastoral prayers and blessing, I remain faithfully and respectfully yours,

[The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:]

Maria

Madrid
August 4/17, 2014