The vast majority of Christians around the world today celebrate the Nativity of Christ, our Lord, with several Orthodox primates issuing Christmas Day messages of hope and peace for humanity.
The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, called on young people to realize that “… the Church is not a club for Christians, but the Body of Christ”.
In his address, His All Holiness also called on the faithful not to wait for youth to come to them, rather “… we must come closer to them, not as critics but as friends.”
The Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Most Divine Beatitude Theodoros II, emphasized that “… Christ, who is born today, again renews His charitable commitment to remain at our side.”
On his part, the Patriarch of All Romania, His Beatitude Daniel, reminded that “the Son of God is a gift of God to humanity,” while calling on the faithful to respond to the love of God with spiritual and material gifts.
The Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, His Beatitude Anastasios, in his Christmas message, referred to the need to reconcile ourselves, our conscience, our abilities, our limits, with our life’s destination.”
Halfway around the world, the Archbishop of America, His Eminence Elpidophoros, wrote that “…Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Let us meet him in his newborn Humanity today as he enters our daily reality, full of brokenness, impoverishment, and doubt. He is the Word and Wisdom of God Incarnate for our salvation”.
Even further away, the Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Makarios, underlined that “… Christ became man so we could have the ability to rely on truth and light.”
In his Christmas message, the Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, His Eminence Nikitas, emphasized that Christ, who was born today, emerged for the salvation of humanity and the healing of our souls.
Similarly, the Archbishop of Canada, His Eminence Sotirios, underlined that every unjustly slain person is a small Christ.