« Christmas Message by Metropolitan ANTONY of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe »

Christmas message from Metropolitan ANTONY of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe to Archpastors, Pastors, monastics and laity of the Western European Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Beloved in the Lord, fellow Archpastors, priests and deacons, monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters! 

I am sending to all of you my most heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the great and salvatory feast of the Nativity of Christ! 

The first words of the Divine Liturgy – "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" – remind us that, as soon as we cross the doorstep of the church and begin to participate in the Life of the Church, the Lord allows us to become, straight away, partakers of His Kingdom. There are no longer laws of the material world existence, there is no longer any time or space. 

All of us who participate in the Holy Eucharist, the Savior, by the power of His Holy Spirit, allows to overcome the boundaries of centuries and not just to recall the great events of the Gospel history at the Divine Liturgy but He gives us the opportunity to experience them – as if we ourselves are their contemporaries and witnesses. "Of Thy mystical supper, O Son of God, TODAY  – that is, today, now! – receive me as a communicant..." 

Now, having got together in the churches of God, we prayerfully remember the event of the Nativity of Christ. Together with the shepherds and the Magi, we hurry to the manger of Bethlehem to worship the Savior, who has come into the world, and bring our gifts to Him, to turn our most intimate petitions to Him.

Looking at the Divine Child, who, by His coming into the world, gave mankind a hope for salvation, let us today beseech Him that, in this difficult time, He would keep us all in health and prosperity, heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, give His strength and help from above to the doctors who fight, day and night, for human lives. 

And let one of our gifts to the Newborn Saviour be our sincere faith, which, first of all, is our trust in God and our ability to entrust ourselves to His mercy in the most difficult circumstances.  

May the All-Merciful Lord bless the coming year, which may be for all of us the year of His goodness. And let the quiet joy of Christmas, which we experience during these festive days, illuminate our hearts and warm them with the light of Divine Love.

With Love in Christ,

+ANTHONY,

Metropolitan of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe