On the occasion of the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, sends an irenic letter to His Holiness Bartholomaios I, the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the other heads of Orthodox Autocephalous Churches.
Full text:
Bucharest, Nativity of the Lord 2022
The Holy Scripture show us that the mystery of the Incarnation and the Nativity of Christ confirms the special connection between the Son of God and creation, because, as Saint Paul the Apostle says, the Incarnation of the Son of God is the very purpose of the creation of the world (cf. Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9), since the eternal Son of the Father is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in Him all things were created (Colossians 1:15-16). The Son of God, Jesus Christ, descends into the world to be born, to grow up and to save us, to reconcile us with God (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19), thus uniting heaven and earth.
In this sense, the gift of every human being reconciling with God, with himself and with fellow human beings is requested through prayer and is cultivated through good thoughts, words and actions, so that the inner peace of the soul becomes a source of social peace, peace in the family, in the community and in the world. Thus, let us show merciful love and solidarity towards all people, but especially towards those who suffer because of the war. Let us bring the joy of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ to the homes of orphans, to homes for the elderly, to the bedside of the sick, but also where there is a lot of sadness, loneliness and depression, in poor, bereaved and grieving families.
On the occasion of the Holy Feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, the New Year 2023 and the Baptism of the Lord, we wish you good health and peace, joy and abundant help from God, along with the traditional greeting: “Many years to come!”.
With high esteem and fraternal embrace in Christ,
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Foto credit: Arhiva Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
