Christmas Greeting

to the clergy and faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada.

Христос Раждается! – Славим Его!

Christ is born! Let us glorify Him!

With all my heart I congratulate all the clergy and parishioners of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada with the greatest and the most joyful Holiday – the Nativity of Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!

Today the Eternal enters the narrow boundaries of earthly time. The Invisible now becomes visible. On this day the Unlimited limits Himself by the size of the human mortal body. As a result, Heaven and earth are joined.

At Nativity the flutes of Bethlehem shepherds merge with the singing of numberless heavenly host: “Glory to God in Heaven!” Today the angels rejoice happier than once King David from the Old Testament at the sight of the Ark of the Covenant. They gleefully proclaim peace on earth to all people, whom God loves.

The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the celebration of the merciful love of God to us. God Father, Who is Love Eternal, had sent His Son into the world to be incarnated and become a man – for the sake of salvation and eternal life of all people.

The sinful mankind of the Old Testament time could not rise to Heaven and find God by itself. That is why the only begotten Son of God came down from Heaven to earth to help a man to enter the Heavenly Abode. Jesus was born to destroy the wall of old barriers (Eph. 2:14) of sin and death between God and the man! The Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, radically changed the whole life on earth! It is the day of the new birth of the whole mankind and the spiritual Birthday of all Christians!

Our Lord Jesus Christ was born in a family, and though Saint Joseph, the Betrothed, was not His father by flesh, but only the guardian of the Divine Infant Jesus and His Mother, Blessed Virgin Mary, Christmas is primarily a family holiday. The Divine Infant Jesus became a blessed gift for the pious people all over the world, for all children and for all families that give birth to children and instruct them in the Orthodox faith, teach them to be honest citizens of their earthly country and heirs of the Heavenly Homeland.

I wish you all, and, especially, them, who are raising children, health, salvation, peace, joy and great support from God in all good deeds! I prayerfully wish to all our clergy and parishioners God’s help, blessing and salvation! Let Christ through His benediction and the Intercession of the Heavenly Queen make this 2014 year, into which we are entering, richer for those seeking God and loving Him! I also wish all of you many years of life and call upon you the blessing of the Infant God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

With prayerful good wishes and love in the Lord,

+Iov (Job),

Bishop of Kashira,

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes

Of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada