PHOTOS
Nativity 2023/2024 in our churches
http://internetsobor.org/index.php/novosti/rptsz/2023-2024
Metropolitan Agafangel: Nativity message 2023/2024
Author: Metropolitan Agafangel. Date of publication: January 06, 2024. Category: Author's column.
http://internetsobor.org/index.php/stati/avtorskaya-kolonka/2023-2024
NATIVITY MESSAGE
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
The Lord did not come to this world for earthly joy and happiness - He was born to endure suffering for the sake of redeeming people from the power of sin and death, and to open for us the path to eternity - the Kingdom of Heaven.
Why suffering, why?
Because the evil will of people took them from Paradise to uncultivated land, to the kingdom of disease and death - that is, to the world around us. This is where the Lord came to save us. He, by His will, experienced the suffering to which people living on earth are subject. Since illness and death come from sins, Jesus Christ took them upon Himself, and, compassionate with each of us, moved by Divine Love, atoned for our sins (see Heb. 1.3). Therefore, each of us, in an effort to part with sins, must love God and our neighbors, must learn to sympathize with the earthly torment of our Savior. Otherwise, this is suffering only on one side - on His part - without mutual compassion necessary for our salvation. The Lord knows the initial incompatibility of the immortal soul of man with the earthly world, the crown of which is death. But for our salvation it is necessary that we, as people, be involved in the earthly, human suffering of the Lord, His death and Resurrection. Only then will we have a saving unity with Christ.
We are called by the Lord from non-existence not in order to live in this world and die in it, but to endure this temporary world and enter eternity together with Christ.
* * * *
The Star of Bethlehem led people to the born Christ, after which He Himself became a Guiding Star for people, leading us to the eternal Kingdom.
Christ was born - let's follow Him!
+ Metropolitan Agafangel
Christmas 2023/2024
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