November 19, 2009

Your Grace and Dear Brother in Christ,

I extend condolences from my entire diocese to Your Grace and the clergy and faithful of the Western Diocese on the falling asleep of Patriarch Pavle. I was blessed to serve with him some years ago when the Patriarch visited Southern California. I felt I was truly in the presence of a living saint. He led the Serbian Church through a very dangerous and tumultuous period with integrity and strength.

Truly God gives us the leaders we need when we need them.

+Bishop Benjamin
The Diocese of the West
The Orthodox Chruch in America
1520 Green Street
San Francisco, CA 94123