« Christmas Message of Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe »
05-01-2024 
Christmas Message of Metropolitan Nestor of Korsun and Western Europe, Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monastics and Laity of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Western Europe.
Beloved brothers and fellow servants in the Lord, Right Reverend archpastors, pastors, deacons, honourable monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!
On this holy Christmas night, I would like to share with all of you the great joy of the coming into the world of the Son of God, who became man for our sake.
He "came to give us life, and life more abundantly" (John 10:10), to give us "peace that passeth all understanding" (Phil. 4:7), to give us "the light that enlightens every man" (John 1:9). From the fact that we live in a time when the darkness of sin and unbelief has thickened because of people's unwillingness to fulfill God's commandments, the light of Christ shines only brighter and stronger. From the fact that we live in a time of "rumours of war», when people, often innocent, perish every day, there is no other hope and no other guide than the lasting and inalienable peace of Christ.
What could be more helpless and defenseless than a swaddled baby lying in a manger? And yet, no power can resist Him. Both states and entire nations, rulers, generals, politicians pass and disappear into nothingness, often without any trace, while Christ, and the community of people created by Him, are at the very heart of human history. And it doesn't matter whether thousands of years have passed, or it is tonight, before our eyes, shepherds, angels, magi gather near the nativity scene... And behind them are all those grateful and reverent people who know, believe and keep in their hearts the great secret - God is with us!
Christmas Greetings to all of you, my dear ones!
+ NESTOR
Metropolitan of Korsun and Western Europe
Paris
Christmas 2023/2024