Eminent brother-archpastors, reverend fathers,
Beloved brothers, sisters, and children in the Lord!
With a feeling of rejoicing in the Newborn Christ, I greet my brother-archpastors, reverend fathers, monastics, and all the faithful children of the Russian Church Abroad with the feast of Christ’s Nativity, salvific for the world, the Theophany, and the New Year 2025, fervently wishing everyone all-strengthening joy in the Son of God’s coming into the world.
These past years have been difficult and sorrowful, but they also brought us every kind of blessing, for which we ought to offer up thanks to our Benefactor. We have attained to this festal period because God’s Providence has not forsaken us. If we have been able until the present time to bear the obligations placed upon us, this is only because the Lord Himself has given us health, strength, food, drink, clothing, and together poured out upon us His help in walking the path of our lives.
The Lord, as we see in the life and Primatial service of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, who died on the feast of the Annunciation in 1925, never forsakes those faithful to Him. During the memorable period of his Patriarchate, St. Tikhon, as was the case with the multitude of new martyrs and confessors, found within himself the strength from God to boldly, wisely, and simply answer the militant godless. The example of the holy hierarch demonstrated that the Church continues its service both in times of prosperity and, especially, in periods of persecution, confession, and martyrdom. All attempts to destroy Christ’s Church have failed to yield the desired result. We see this in the events of that time, as well as in the current lawlessness being waged against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Through the prayers of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon, who reposed 100 years ago, may the Lord help us, as we reflect on the past, to see and soberly evaluate the present, and with sure hope to forge ahead into the future, feeling "the mighty hand of God" (I Peter 5:6) upon us, leading us to true happiness!
Christmastide always evokes feelings of deep love and gratitude in a faithful heart. In these days, let us also raise up our prayerful thanks to God, offering our love to Him and our neighbors. Gratitude and love are always a sacrifice. These are the two mites of the Gospel widow. And so, I ask all who can do so to give your Nativity gift toward the preservation and restoration of the historic Synodal Headquarters in New York City, the Home of our main holy icon – the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," which appeared 730 years ago. The Holy Hierarch Tikhon, along with the Holy Hierarch Raphael of Brooklyn and the Holy Hieromartyr Alexander Khotovitsky, walked the streets of our neighborhood in Manhattan, while Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky), who labored alongside the holy Patriarch-Confessor, purchased this mansion with the help of his spiritual son, in order to establish within it the Cathedral of the Sign and the spiritual and administrative center of the Russian Church Abroad. The Holy Hierarchs John (Maximovitch) and Nikolaj (Velimirovic) stayed and served here. Councils of Bishops, clergy conferences, church-social functions, and other historic events took place here, as well as the glorification of St. Tikhon, together with all the new martyrs and confessors of the 20th century. Therefore now, offering up our thanks to God and His Most Pure Mother, let us try to manifest it also in caring for the preservation of our legacy, this great gift of God, and the Lord will not forsake us. For a grateful man will certainly be found able to receive even greater gifts and mercies from God, which I wish for our Church with a good heart. Amen.
With love in the Newborn Christ,
+NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
The Nativity of our Lord 2024/2025
