January 6, 2016
Nativity Epistle of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, to the
Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics & Faithful Flock of ROCOR
Nativity Epistle of His Eminence
HILARION
Metropolitan of
Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad
to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics & Faithful Flock of
ROCOR
Eminent
brother-archpastors, father-concelebrants, God-loving monastics,
beloved in the Lord brothers and sisters, parishioners and
worshipers of our churches, scattered throughout the world:
I extend to you my heartfelt greetings on this grace-filled feast
day of the Nativity of Christ, when the Omnipotent God, Creator and
Master of the heavens and the earth, became a living Person, One of
us, born a helpless Infant in the small Judean village of Bethlehem!
Why did God descend from Heaven to earth and become a man, incarnate
of the Most-Blessed Virgin Mary? In order to restore and renew our
fallen, profoundly damaged human nature, which was distorted by sin.
From the moment of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Who became
man, mankind must no longer despair of achieving eternal salvation,
no matter how gravely sinful it has been before God, no matter how
disgraced by lawless acts and sinfulness. Through repentance,
through active striving for the Kingdom of Heaven, and through deep
faith in the mercy of God, each of us returns to the embrace of our
Heavenly Father, Who will console and grant us tranquility through
His own grace and peace.
Our sorrows have multiplied, complicating our lives on earth, but it
is obvious that we are also offered consolation, for there is joy
even amid troubles. This Divine consolation is a quiet, serene joy
which abounds in every believing soul, a joy that no one and nothing
can take away from us, which no sorrow can darken, for
“great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh” (I Tim. 3:16).
“Where is there peace on earth?”
asked the Righteous John of Kronstadt. He answers the question
himself: “The Divine peace
proclaimed by the angels is present in the Church and was given to
it by the Price of Peace, Christ.” Let us heed the
compunctionate angelic song, sung on the eve of the Nativity of
Christ above Bethlehem:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among
men” (Luke 2:14). This angelic song must embolden and console
us. It declares to us the joy of God’s love, the blessed union
of Heaven and earth, emergent holiness
and deliverance from the oppression of sin with its anger and
hatred. How can we not rejoice and find consolation in our spirit as
we ponder the eternal mercy of God, which we are granted within the
Church? It is no wonder that the Heavenly Hosts declared glory to
Heaven and peace to earth and to man, the blessed hope of receiving
endless salvation, uncorrupted joy and bliss.
Actively striving for this blessedness, let us give ourselves over
to the service of God and neighbor during these festive days,
attending the churches of God and undertaking deeds of love and
mercy, reading Holy Scripture and spiritually beneficial literature.
Let our parishes joyfully celebrate these holy days as a family and
as friends, receiving edification in the Church, strengthening and
supporting each other in our service to God, the Church and mankind!
I wish you all a joyous holiday and happy New Year!
With love in the Lord,
+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian
Church Abroad
Nativity of Christ 2015/2016
