« Christmas Message of Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe »
06-01-2023 
Christmas Message of Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe.
Beloved in the Lord, fellow archpastors, pastors, deacons, all-honourable monks and nuns, brothers and sisters!
On this holy night of Christmas, we are called to get up, go to Bethlehem, and worship God. For our sake, he made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7), and become a man.
Who else should we go to? Our life has changed so irreparably. It seems that there is nothing left reliable, stable, truthful.
Remember, once the apostle Peter, on behalf of all the disciples, exclaimed: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68).
In the Bethlehem nativity scene, there are no words of eternal life. But we will find there Christ himself.
The nativity scene is dark, cold, and steam rises from the breathing of animals. They are quiet, crunching straw, and the Baby sleeps in a manger. It was once thus in the vicinity of Bethlehem. From the consciousness of this, from the mere contemplation of this scene, hope and joy come to life in our hearts, and peace reigns in our souls.
The Saviour said in his last conversation with the disciples, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you " (John 14:27).
Really, not as the world... And as soon as we incline, even a little, to the way of the world, and get caught up in this external cycle, we will lose ourselves. And we will lose the ability to hear Christ. And He says to us, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27).
May the peace of Christ dwell with you, my dear ones.
I know your work and prayers, I know how much you are doing to remain human, to preserve brotherhood and love in our parishes and communities, in order to receive those who are now coming to us in need of help and comfort.
May Christmas, this feast of Light, strengthen us all in our lives, in our ministry, in prayer. Love is stronger than malice, stronger than death. God is with us, and He will not depart from us.
Merry Christmas!
+ NESTOR
Metropolitan of Korsun and Western Europe
Paris Christmas 2022/2023