Nativity Epistle of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Most Reverend fellow archpastors, most honorable fathers–concelebrants,
God-loving monastics, dear brothers and sisters!

Motivated by the best thoughts and deepest feelings of brotherly love and spiritual joy, I greet the faithful children of the Russian Church Abroad, scattered worldwide as God's wheat, with the celebration of the Nativity of Christ. I send my sincere wish from remote Australia that the coming new 2014th year bring rich spiritual fruit for each of us individually and for the entire Church!

In their writings the Holy Fathers of the Church portray the Feast of the Nativity as great, universal and joyful; the beginning and basis for all other Feasts. It is no wonder the Holy Church sings: "Christ is born, give ye glory, Christ cometh from the heavens. Meet ye Him, Christ is on earth, be ye exalted ..."

The Holy Church calls upon us to worthily celebrate the Nativity of Christ. It was not that long ago that in many countries Christians laid aside worldly and earthly cares. Government offices shut down, trade ceased and everyone hurried to God’s churches for festive services during which all prayed and partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. After the services many engaged in works of piety, visiting hospitals and prisons, providing substantial assistance to the poor. Philanthropic assistance to the poor and orphaned was inherently characteristic of our ancestors. Not a Feast went by without being accompanied by attention to those that struggle and are heavy laden (Matt 11:28).

With the simplicity of the shepherds, let us go to the cave in Bethlehem to worship the living God Who became a living Man. In other words, let us go to church bringing the Infant Christ the gift of warm tears of compunction, a heart enlivened with delight and boundless devotion; and to our neighbors and the needy – benefaction and love.

It is time for us, beloved, to bless ourselves with the Cross of Christ — the cross of self-sacrifice and love in the spirit of light filled Christian understanding. It is time for us to improve in all aspects of our lives. Let us contemplate this during these holy days, referred to as "Christmas-tide", and make a firm decision to become better, closer to God and to each other.

I take this opportunity with great pleasure to announce the upcoming XIII All-Diaspora Youth Conference to be held in San Francisco from June 27 to July 4 this year. This forum will be devoted to missionary work in the field of philanthropy and will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the glorification of St. John the Wonderworker (Maximovich) by the Russian Church Abroad. This great hierarch of the Russian diaspora exemplified a life of prayer, a life active in selfless good deeds. On behalf of the Synod of Bishops and Archbishop Kyrill, the ruling bishop of the Western American Diocese, I extend a heartfelt invitation to our clergy and representatives of our youth to this gathering. I hope that this conference called "In the Footsteps of St. John" will spiritually and intellectually enrich all the participants. Concurrent with the Youth Conference a Council of Bishops will be held to discuss the pressing issues of internal Church life and the external ministry of our dear Church. This will also give our Archpastors the opportunity to participate in important discussions with our young people. May these general Church gatherings, for which we prayerfully prepare, vouchsafe us the mercy and blessings from God: inexhaustible heroism, courage, vigilance of spirit, a selfless, captivating and inspiring faith, and other gifts of grace, so necessary in serving the Church, in serving God and people in our complex world.

May the coming New Year, beloved Archpastors, pastors, brothers and sisters, be one of Christian renewal of our hearts - a year of spiritual sobriety and ennoblement of our entire life! Let us become genuinely and deeply aware of the necessity of spiritual struggle, dictated by the spirit of life, and concern ourselves with the conscientious fulfillment of all our Christian duties: whether they are personal, family or employment responsibilities, or our duty as Orthodox Christian members of the Church, i.e. performing generous charitable works. May the feast be for us a time of prayer, the strengthening of our internal energies, the refreshment of our soul with Christian ideals, feelings and activities!

With love in the new-born Christ and requesting your holy prayers,

†Hilarion,
Metropolitan of New York & Eastern America,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Nativity of Christ
2013 / 2014

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

See also
Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, 2013/2014 Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, 2013/2014
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, 2013/2014 Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, 2013/2014
And today we celebrate an event which at its root has changed the entire course of human history. God enters the very depths of human life, he becomes one of us, he takes upon himself the weight of our sins, human infirmities and weaknesses – he brings them to Golgotha in order to free people from this unbearable burden. God henceforth is no longer to be found somewhere in the unattainable heavens, but is here, with us, among us.
Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia published in twenty languages Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia published in twenty languages
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia published in twenty languages Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia published in twenty languages
Christmas message published in the official languages of a number of countries included in the canonical space of the Moscow Patriarchate, and some others.
Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2013 Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2013
His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2013 Patriarchal Encyclical for Christmas 2013
Many centuries ago, the Prophet foresaw and announced with enthusiasm and joy the birth of the child Jesus from the ever-Virgin Mary. Naturally, even then, there was no period of census by Augustus Caesar, no place to stay for the safety of the Holy Virgin who was carrying a child by the Holy Spirit. So the holy Joseph as her betrothed and protector was obliged to lead her to a cave, a manger with animals, “in order to give birth to a child.”
Nativity Encyclical of His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia Nativity Encyclical of His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia
His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia
Nativity Encyclical of His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia Nativity Encyclical of His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia
His Holiness Patriarch Irenej of Serbia
“I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord”(St. Luke 2:10-11).
Message of His Holiest Beatitude, Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem Message of His Holiest Beatitude, Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem
His Holiest Beatitude, Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem
Message of His Holiest Beatitude, Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem Message of His Holiest Beatitude, Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem
Here, in this land, God the Father had deigned that His hitherto fleshless and timeless Son be born in flesh and appear in time. Here came the Magi from the East, led by a bright star, and saw an infant in the arms of the Virgin and worshipped Him, offering Him their presents of ‘gold, frankincense and myrrh”.
Archpastoral Nativity Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon Archpastoral Nativity Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)
Archpastoral Nativity Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon Archpastoral Nativity Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon
Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)
When we decide to turn to Christ and invite Him into our hearts, we commit to a life of action, a life in which we not only hear, but act upon the commandments of Christ and the teaching of the Holy Fathers of the Church.

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