Dear Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest DANIEL,
I warmly congratulate you on this remarkable occasion—your 70th birthday!
Your life testifies to the fact that a soul that sincerely believes will always find paths
leading to the light of the holy Orthodox faith. You have traveled a long journey to the
Orthodox Church and to the high archpastoral service, fortifying Yourself with the works
of the Holy Fathers, whose wisdom and spiritual experience remain relevant through the
centuries, inspiring Christians toward strong faith, the pursuit of perfection, and the
search for inner peace.
“You created us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in You,” writes
the famous Western Saint Augustine. This divine peace, as an Archbishop of the
Church of Christ, you daily proclaim to those near and far, preaching the Risen Savior
and praying to Him for the devout flock entrusted to your pastoral care. Now, dear
Archbishop Daniel, as the light on a stand (Matt. 5:14-16), you shine with a steady light,
guiding the faithful on the Gospel path toward salvation.
HomeI prayerfully wish that the grace and love of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, may always be
with your Eminence, strengthening you in your responsible apostolic ministry for the
glory of our Heavenly Father, for the benefit of the Holy Church, and for the God-loving
flock of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest!
With brotherly love in Christ,
Metropolitan Meletiy of Chernivtsi and Bukovina,
Head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,
Permanent Member of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
