Moscow, Christmas 2022/2023

 

Dear Brother in Christ,

 

I wish you a blessed Feast of the Nativity of Christ!

 

Now the earth is illuminated again by the unfading light of the Star of Bethlehem, which brings good news of “great joy.” (Lk. 2:10) Sheltered in a poor cave, the grace of our Lord shone forth for all nations and the Sun of righteousness rose, who called the world to the bliss of divinely given life and ushered in the New Covenant. May the Lord who wondrously manifested Himself in the flesh increase the angelic jubilation and instruct us to obtain salvation (1 Thess. 5:9) in the worship of the most glorious mystery of His Nativity.

 

I wish you spiritual and bodily strength and bountiful help of the Son of God who became man.

 

With love in Christ who was born,

 

Anthony

 

chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk