The Holy Fathers proclaimed that it is not possible with our in adequate words to describe the grandeur and significance of the arrival in this world of the Savior, to Whom the angels sing and Who brings spiritual gifts on earth that are more valuable than those given by anyone in the human race.  What can compare to His Benevolence,which is a priceless gift for our life in this temporal world and a promise of eternal life among the angels, praising God?

All of our worldly concerns and all that we possess, our earthly values, hopes and joys, are nothing compared to this Divine Destiny. We are asked only to love the incarnate God with all our heart and accept His Divine Providence for us, while subduing the human will and pride in ourselves.

The Lord cried out with anguish, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, and ye would not!”  (Matthew 23:37)  Our duty is to accept without fail this invaluable desire of God, which concerns itself with our unity with Him and with each other, so that we do not hear these words of our Savior at the Day of Judgment in denunciation of us. 

So let us do away with our decrepit infirmity and open the doors of our heart to welcome the Christ Child born in this world, and may our spirit join in angelic song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men“ (Luke 2:14).

I congratulate you all, my dear fellow archpastors and pastors and brothers and sisters with the Nativity of Christ!

+Agafangel

Metropolitan of Eastern-America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

Odessa, Nativity of Christ, 2009