Christmas Greetings of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion to Heads of Non-Orthodox Churches

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)

December 24, 2015

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the heads of the non-Orthodox Churches on the feast of the Nativity of Christ. Among the addressees are Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the EKD Council, and heads of other non-Orthodox Churches. The text of the message is given below:

Please accept my cordial greetings with the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Lk 2:14). These wondrous words, sang by the host of angels and addressed to the infant Christ born in Bethlehem verily contain the greatest mystery of the Incarnation which took place for the salvation of the world. Over two thousand years separate us from that radiant night. Yet, to this day Christ is being born in the hearts of people, sanctified by grace, comforting them with His love.

I wish you spiritual joy over the Savior Who has come into this world, and His bountiful help in your primatial ministry.

With love in the Lord,

+KIRILL

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

* * *

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent Christmas greetings to Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the EKD Council, and heads of other non-Orthodox Churches. The text of the message is given below:

I send you my heartfelt greetings on the great feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Today with hope we listen to the words of the greeting of the angels: Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord (Lk. 2:10-11). In our day as iniquity abounds (Mt. 24:12), when there appear with particular force in the world enmity, intolerance and falsehood, it is important to remember that the Savior, Who has come into the world, bestows grace to every human person who opens his heart to God.

Let us then proclaim with all our lives the truth of Christ by affirming it with our own example in service to our brothers and sisters, near and far.

I wish you grace in abundance from the Divine infant who has come into the world, health and God’s aid in your good deeds.

With love in Christ who has been born,

+Hilarion

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)

12/25/2015

See also
Christmas Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill Christmas Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill Christmas Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill Christmas Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus Kirill
Today, as we contemplate the mystery of the incarnation of God, we strive to understand what the meaning of this event is that happened two thousand years ago in Bethlehem and what relationship it has to us and our contemporaries. 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). Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia, to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia, to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia, to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia, to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church
For two thousand years Christians throughout the world have turned, with joy and hope, their mental gazes to the event which has been decisive for the history of mankind. Our contemporary reckoning of time, which begins with the Nativity and is the reckoning of time for the Christian era, testifies to the exceptional meaning of the coming of Christ the Saviour.
Comments
Herman (Jim) Spencer12/25/2015 10:38 pm
"These wondrous words, sang by the host of angels and addressed to..."

Note to editor "sang" should be "sung". As in HE sang. THEY sung.
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