On Tuesday evening, during the traditional Christmas carols concert “The Rising Sun” at the Patriarchal Palace, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the carols’ profound spiritual and emotional impact. Addressing the audience, he described Christmas carols as a source of joy and faith, capable of healing sadness and despair.
“Carols are our response to God’s love,” Patriarch Daniel said, highlighting their unique role in fostering community, passing on faith, and bringing comfort in a secularized and individualistic society. He praised the innocence and purity of children and youth as powerful conduits for sharing the joy of Christ’s Nativity.
Patriarch Daniel also reflected on the deeper theological significance of carols, connecting their message to the gift of the Holy Infant, Jesus Christ, who offers eternal life and healing through His love. “Through carols, we discover God’s love and are inspired to share it with others,” he said.
The concert featured choirs performances showcasing Romanian carols’ rich spiritual heritage. Patriarch Daniel expressed gratitude to the organizers, performers, and attendees, urging everyone to carry forward the joy of Christmas within their families and communities.
The event was part of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s broader effort to honour 2024 as the Solemn Year of pastoral care of the sick.
Please find below Patriarch Daniel’s entire message.
Carols Heal Sadness and Bring Holy Joy
Your Graces,
Reverend and Venerable Fathers,
Esteemed Guests,
Beloved Carolers,
The traditional concert “The Rising Sun” organized by the Romanian Patriarchate this year invites us to reflect on the healing power of carols.
As decided by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, 2024 was designated as the Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the sick and the Commemorative Year of the holy unmercenary healers.
Through all the activities organized and promoted by the Romanian Orthodox Church this year, we have been called to be heralds of the healing grace that enters the world through the Holy Infant Jesus Christ, as stated in the first prayer of the Sacrament of Holy Unction and as the carol proclaims: “The Father sent His Son into the world, to be born and to grow, to save us.”
In the New Testament, “to save” means to rescue from danger, heal, or liberate. Jesus Christ is the Savior because He heals sinners and mortal people from sin and death, granting them Resurrection and eternal life (John 11:25).
Through their gentle message and interpretation, carols have a healing character. Their beauty heals sadness by bringing joy and despair by instilling faith in the Savior born to us, the Giver of eternal life.
The gift of joy is also a gift of carols, as carolers of the Nativity represent the angels who once sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men” (Luke 2:14). Good news is always shared joyfully, from one person to another and from generation to generation.
The gift of faith is another gift of carols, as carolers represent the shepherds who imprinted in their souls the image of the newborn Infant and proclaimed not only what they heard from the angels but also what they saw with their own eyes. They spoke of the Infant born in the manger, above whom rested the miraculous star that guided the magi to Bethlehem.
Angels, shepherds, carolers, and priests thus proclaim the beauty of the Nativity of the Lord, which heals us of sadness through joy and despair through faith.
The Lord Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem, and “Beth Lehem” means “the house of bread.” In Bethlehem was born the One who is the heavenly bread of eternal life: our Savior Jesus Christ, who offers Himself to us as medicine in the Holy Eucharist, a remedy for the healing of soul and body, for the forgiveness of sins, and for eternal life (John 6:54).
In an increasingly secularized, individualistic, isolated, and depressed world, the gift of sharing joy through carols is not only a missionary work but also a healing one, liberating from sorrow and loneliness.
This joy is conveyed mainly by children and youth, through whom the Holy Spirit works uniquely. A child, with the mystery of their innocence resembling the Holy Infant, transmits something of angels’ goodness, holiness, and purity.
It is commendable that through these children and carols in general, through the Romanian tradition of carolling, faith is passed on within communities, and joy is brought to society. The fact that carols reach important state institutions, hospitals, and nursing homes is both a sacred blessing and a significant spiritual accomplishment for Romanians.
Through carols, we are encouraged to thank God for the many gifts He has placed in our people, especially for the gift of faith, often passed on during difficult times through great sacrifices. The Romanian people is one of sacrifice and patience, living and proclaiming the connection between sacrifice and victory.
Through many sacrifices, the Romanian people have preserved their unity of faith and nation (language and culture). It is meaningful that 2025 will be the Solemn Year of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Centennial and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century.
We thank God for this great gift of faith cultivated in our people and all those who participate, as heralds of the joy of the Nativity, in the holy work of the Church.
We thank the choirs who have tonight demonstrated the spiritual richness of carols through their participation and singing.
We also thank you, the audience, for listening to the carols and encourage you to share this joy, born of God’s love for humanity.
Through carols, we learn that God loves us and calls us to be better, to grow spiritually, and to enrich ourselves with love from His love. We have received “wonderful news” that we must pass on within our families—parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren, and all of us to future generations.
We congratulate the participants of the traditional carol concert of the Romanian Patriarchate, “The Rising Sun,” commend the event organizers, and pray to God to bless all those who listen to carols with joy, as they reflect the beauty of the Romanian soul.
We wish you all happy holidays, with health and holy joy!
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu