The Christmas exhortation of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, calls on the faithful to sing to the Lord not only with their voices, but above all through their deeds.
In his pastoral letter for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, Metropolitan Nicolae Condrea brings to the fore the interpretations of Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite on the canon of the feast, traditionally attributed to Saint Gregory the Theologian.
Saint Nicodemus is known as the editor of the Philokalia, the renowned anthology of hesychast monastic writings, as well as the author of influential spiritual works such as The Unseen Warfare, The Guarding of the Five Senses, Christian Morality, and A Book Profitable for the Soul.
At Christmas, angels and humans alike are called, the metropolitan notes, “to enter into the mystery of God’s descent to earth, the mystery of God’s humility.”
The most precious gifts
When Christ is born in the soul of each person, Metropolitan Nicolae explains, He offers the most precious gifts on earth: faith and hope in the power of His redemption.
“Christ is born in the soul of each of us, granting us that which is of the highest price on earth, faith and hope in the power of His redemption. Endeavoring to receive this revelation, it is right that we bring glory to God,” the metropolitan writes.
Quoting Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite, the pastoral letter adds:
“You men of earth, rise from earthly things pondering the heavenly things and arising with the wings of action and of contemplation, because for this God descended to earth, that those on earth might rise to the heavens.”
Saint Nicodemus’ counsel for today
Metropolitan Nicolae stresses that Saint Nicodemus’ exhortations remain entirely relevant for contemporary Christians:
“Neither must you, brother, cease to praise Christ who is born, and not only with words but much more with deeds. When He descends from heaven, go out and meet Him, contemplating Him.
Raise yourself up from the earth and from earthly things out of love for the One Who descended for you to earth. Sing to Him a new song, as David urges you. But sing many and numberless songs, without wearying of singing.
For if you will sing thus, the Lord, the One to whom you sing, will remember you and will have mercy on you, as Isaiah teaches us: Sing many songs, that you may be remembered (Isaiah 23:16).”
Being light for others
The Metropolitan of Orthodox Romanians in the Americas concludes his Christmas pastoral letter with an encouragement for believers to place their hope in God’s care and help, even if another year has passed in which “the world has not changed” and “the same rumours of crises, turmoils and war persist.”
He recalls the recently canonised Romanian saints and urges the faithful to follow their example, learning from their lives “how to be light for others.”
The pastoral letter, signed at the metropolitan residence in Chicago, concludes with Metropolitan Nicolae’s prayer for the enlightenment and blessing of the clergy and faithful entrusted to his care:
“I give you a brotherly embrace in Christ the Lord, and I wish you to enjoy the holy feasts of Christmas, the New Year, and Theophany with health, peace, and spiritual joys!”
Photo: mitropolia.us
