Grace and peace from God to those who will read it, beloved brethren and children in the Lord.

"I was longing for you, children, and equally you were longing for me... I came back to you. I left by force, yet I came back not by force, but willingly and spontaneously." These are the words of Saint Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople, in his speech "to himself, to the people and to the shepherds, when he came back from the country". Now, referring not to himself only but also to his successor to the throne of Constantinople, Saint John Chrysostom, he repeats today the same words.

Though both had departed from here by force, they always longed for their children, as also the children of the Mother Church longed for them too. Today, however they came back to us not by force, but willingly and joyfully, bringing great joy, delight and satisfaction, a part of which we owe to the gentle and friendly attitude displayed by the most holy brother Pope of the older Rome John Paul II, who responded with brotherly love to our request for the return of the holy relics of the two great saints to Constantinople, which they pastored in a way that pleased God.

Each one of us, Clergy and Laity, joyful for the return of the holy relics of the two great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, address the same words spoken to Chrysostom upon the return of his relics to Constantinople from Cucusus sixteen centuries ago: "Receive back your throne, holy man". From now on, even physically we will have them both with us. This will be a great support for us, strengthening us, and bringing to us consolation during our tearful and sorrowful days.

And we utter, "Glory be to God for everything". We utter these words in the same way as the divine Chrysostom uttered them before his blessed falling asleep in the Lord.

An expression of our joy and delight, through the use of paper and ink, is the booklet in your hands, of which we wish to make you, the beloved readers, equal participants, you being the ones for whom we wholeheartedly invoke the blessings of the great fathers and our predecessors in the Apostolic throne of the First-Called, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom. May the mercy and the grace of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ be abundant.

November 22, 2004.