Dear Brothers and Sisters, dear believers in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland.
CHRIST IS BORN, REJOICE!
Come forward today, Brothers and Sisters and bow to your knees before the modest manger illuminated by the divine glory because God’s Son Christ begins from here His holy journey on earth, we bow deeply and with reverence because here in front of the manger is the beginning of our salvation, the beginning of our eternity.
The Son of God brings to earth His peace and Christ the saviour with the feat of His short earthly life gifted man the peace of God. In so far as we live in our Orthodox faith God’s peace resides in our lives – Christ’s love and mercy.
The Lord Jesus Christ is announced to the world as a young child wrapped in swaddling clothes. The virgin mother bent over Him amazed before the unbelievable secret which has arrived in the world. The immaculate mother Virgin Mary, who presented the great secret benevolence, in that moment recognised complete joy because the Son of God had arrived on earth, with the Virgin Mary’s heavenly guest was welcomed and received gifts from the wise men of the East who together with the shepherds and the whole of creation were amazed by the mysterious secret and love of the Living God.
The pandemic which has prevailed the known world has dictated that this year also we will not be able to see each other face to face but we will be together in prayer in front of the manger of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the Most Holy mother of God, the Wise Men and the Shepherds singing the eternal joyous hymn “with us Lord…” My thoughts and prayers are with all of you who are far from your homelands, who are in ill health or overwhelmed with misfortune and problems. You should all rejoice in this wonderful festival which is the source of our faith and hope within which you will search for and find spiritual strength which will overcome all sadness and fill emptiness in our souls.
God’s promise to mankind, that there will come a time when on earth a Saviour of the world will be born and that the seed of woman shall crush the head of the snake i.e. the devil, wasn't immediately fulfilled. Mankind travelled a long road to prepare for cleansing and consecration, until finally there was, chosen by God a young woman, with a completely clean soul that could host the Son of God. And all we seekers should travel our own personal life paths to cleansing through fast and prayer since only this way will we recognise the value and beauty of life, the beauty and meaning of the Christmas festival through which we are shown the Love of God. Then we will wish to embrace our loved ones and together from the heart and soul to sing of “the Birth of You Christ the God…”
I wish that in this year also the climax of your Christmas celebration will be in the Holy Temple with the Holy Liturgy because that is the place where we meet the Son of God, where we receive the priceless heavenly gifts of the Holy Spirit which are not be valued or compared to anything which is earthly or transient.
To all of you my dear brothers and sisters, in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, from children to old folks, those who are lonely or imprisoned, with work obligations or without jobs, in hospitals or in mourning, disenfranchised or sad, with joy I congratulate you on this Great Festival of the Birth of Christ!
GOD’S PEACE CHRIST IS BORN!
Bishop of Great Britain & Scandinavia
DOSITEJ