Sunday, January 8, 2023

Bishop Athanasius: Nativity Epistle

ROCOR Bishop Athanasius-His Christmas Message 2022/2023-which can be read in English or 

Russian. 


CHRIST  IS  BORN!   GLORIFY  HIM!

Russian and English

http://internetsobor.org/index.php/stati/avtorskaya-kolonka/2022-2024




Author: Metropolitan Agafangel. Publication date:January 08, 2023. Category http://internetsobor.org/index.php/novosti/rptsz/2022-2023: Author's column .


Nativity Message

His Grace Athanasius, Bishop of Vologda and Veliky Ustyug.


Deep night fell on Palestine with a soft veil of darkness. The world fell asleep, tired of the hustle and bustle of the day and the boiling of passions, not knowing about the great blessed event that changed everything in the life of not only the chosen people, but also all the peoples of the Earth, the spiritual state of which is characterized by night darkness, dimly sanctified by the fading lamp of the Jewish faith itself. people - the bearer of the true faith.

The earth plunged into the darkness of the southern night and sleep, and suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, the vault of heaven was lit up and angelic singing was heard.  The angel proclaimed to the shepherds the joyful news that Heaven bowed to the earth and divine light, the light of the Kingdom of Heaven, the light of Truth, Truth, Love, the light of Reason shone from the cold earthly den, ready to pour out on suffering humanity.

In order to be enlightened by this Divine Light, one must come to the Source of Light - the Divine Infant lying in the manger and worship Him, with the humility and meekness that the born Son of God preaches, swaddled by human hands.

Bow down and comprehend - now the One who is the Source of all blessings and the source of all hardships and misfortunes has incarnated and lies in the manger.  The source of all blessings for those who believe in the Son of God, belongs to His Church, eats food from the manger - Thrones, and with love fulfilling the commandments, worships Him.

A source of grief and misfortune, a source of wars and shedding of blood for those who turned away from Him, and even more so - rebelled against Him.

Faithful children of the True Orthodox Church - this is your holiday, on which I hasten to congratulate you.

Merry Christmas, with the mercy of God, with a good end to the fast!

Sinful + Bishop Athanasius



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