His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over the festal Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Wednesday, marking the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, and explained that “by coming into the world, Jesus sanctifies the world as a gift from God to humanity.”
His Beatitude referred to the Saviour’s humble obedience to God the Father, showing that God, in all His glory, willingly humbled Himself to exalt humanity.
According to Patriarch Daniel, the feast of the Nativity “shows us that, willingly, God, full of glory, humbled Himself, becoming man, and ordained that His birth should not be in a palace, but in a poor shelter, in a cave serving as a stable for cattle and sheep.”
What is the purpose of His coming?
His Beatitude also explained that through His humility, Christ shows us the true ultimate purpose of His incarnation: the salvation of humankind. Through His perfect obedience to death on the cross, Christ restores man’s communion with God.
“This humility of His shows us the purpose of His coming to Earth. He humbled Himself to exalt people, but He exalts them through humble obedience to God.”
“Jesus Christ, the Eternal One, becomes man and is obedient to God even unto death, and death on the cross. Therefore, God exalted Him through Resurrection and Ascension into the glory of heaven and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on Earth, and of those under the Earth (Philippians 2:10).”
What can we offer the Infant Jesus today?
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained the significance of the gifts brought by the Magi to the Infant Jesus.
Thus, His Beatitude explained that gold was offered as a sign that Jesus is King, frankincense was brought because He is God, and myrrh, on the other hand, signifies the incorruptibility of the One born in the manger in Bethlehem.
“We cannot offer gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But what can we offer in our homes and activities to the Infant Jesus?” His Beatitude asked.
“Instead of gold, we offer the Orthodox faith. This is the gold of Orthodox Christians – the right faith, pure as gold. We offer Him many prayers, symbolized by frankincense. And instead of myrrh, we offer a pure, holy life, with acts of love and charity, preparing our souls for our salvation.”
The liturgical assembly included His Grace Bishop Qais Sadiq of Erzurum from the Patriarchate of Antioch, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and His Grace Timotei of Prahova, the Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
The faithful present at the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral received a printed pastoral letter, icons of the Nativity of the Lord, blessed bread (antidoron), and traditional sweet bread (cozonac).
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
