Christmas Greetings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

Message for Christmas
from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill
of Moscow and All Russia
to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics, and All Faithful Children
of the Russian Orthodox Church

Your Graces, esteemed archpastors, honored presbyters, deacons, beloved monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters,

Offering glory to God, who is exalted in the Trinity, and sharing the joy of this festivity with you, I present my heartfelt greetings to the Orthodox faithful of our Church living in Russia and beyond the territories guided by the Moscow Patriarchate on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ. It marks the celebration of our Creator’s incarnate love for creation, the fulfillment of the promise of the Son of God’s entrance into the world, and the hope for salvation and eternal life.

A magnificent and glorious wonder unfolds today: A Virgin gives birth, yet her womb remains pure! The Word becomes flesh, yet does not depart from the Father! Angels extol Him alongside shepherds; together we proclaim: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! (Sticheron of the Feast). With these powerful words, the Church testifies to the miraculous event that took place over two millennia ago in the Bethlehem cave, reshaping the entire trajectory of world history. It is with amazement and reverence that we bow our hearts before this divine mystery of salvation, which is beyond human understanding. With gratitude, we receive this sacrificial gift from our Creator and Sustainer, for it brought Him joy to do so for our sake, and to confess His grace, proclaim His mercy, conceal not His gracious deeds (cf.: the Great Blessing of Water).

What, then, should we, the Christians of the twenty-first century, do to partake in this invaluable act of God’s love and to be deemed worthy of His kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world (Mt. 25.34)?

All we can do is respond in kind to His love. This entails believing in and fully trusting God, adhering to the commandments of the Gospel, departing from evil and doing good (Ps. 34.14), and being, as our Savior calls us, the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt. 5. 13-14).

Endowed with free will and the inalienable right to choose, every individual may accept or reject Christ, stand in the light or succumb to the darkness of sin, live in harmony with their conscience or according to the elemental spirits of the universe (Col. 2.8), create paradise within their hearts through good deeds, or, conversely, through wickedness, endure the torments of hell right here on earth. In essence, each of us is called to joy and to the fullness of life, simply put, to happiness. Significantly, it is essential to understand that happiness is unattainable without God, for He is the source of life and all that is good. He is the Creator and Sustainer, our loving Father, and our caring Helper and Protector. With our free will, we can choose life and strive to attain the likeness of God, but we also have the freedom to select a different, godless, and graceless path that leads to destruction.

Therefore, the Lord, who created us, does not save us without our participation. The harmonizing of the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12.2) with our imperfect yet striving human will is the assurance of a successful journey through our earthly existence. Life everlasting for each of us is ultimately the continuation of that spiritual state which characterized us during our earthly life.

With this in mind, let us, as the Apostle Paul encourages us, strive to cultivate within ourselves love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5.22-23) along with the many other gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let us do everything within our power to ensure that we remain Christians not merely in title but in our way of life — in how we treat our families, friends, colleagues, and every individual in need of our assistance, compassion, and support.

Every day, especially on this significant feast, we are called to fervently pray for the peace of the whole world, the welfare of the holy Churches of God, for the sick, the suffering, the captives, and their salvation. These petitions hold great significance today, as the forces of evil that desire war and division are rising against Orthodoxy. They sow discord and hatred, using every means available to implement their devious plans. Yet we hold on to the hope that God’s power will bring shame to all the powerless audacity of demons and their advocates. Thus, it has often occurred throughout our history, and it shall be the same now. The centuries-old experiences of the Church assure us of this.

I extend my sincere gratitude to all those who, while fulfilling their pastoral duties in Ukraine, remain loyal to canonical Orthodoxy despite the risks to their lives and well-being, who bravely walk the path of confessing Christ, enduring slander and hardship for both Christ and His Church. May the Lord strengthen these valiant defenders and advocates of the Truth in their trials and count their sufferings as righteousness.

In spite of this, we remain united in spirit. We are one, for we have emerged from the same baptismal font. We are one, as we collectively embody the fullness of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We are one, for we are bound by the unbreakable ties of love in Christ. We are one, for the words of Christ are steadfast: I am with you always, until the end of the age (Mt. 28.20). This is why we Christians have nothing and no one to fear, as Saint Paul reminds us: If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8.31). Inspired by this promise, we live, create, strive, and triumph in the name of the Lord, for as the Holy Apostle Peter declares, there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved (Acts 4.12). This has been, is, and will forever be the testimony of the Church.

Since the Lord’s coming into the world until now, all who believe in Him are granted the chance to be children of the Heavenly Father, for as Saint Paul expresses, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but also members of the household of God (Eph. 2.19). This means that we are all His children, and in Him and through Him, we grow closer and more precious to one another.

In the divine services and sacraments of the Church, which serve as the conduit between humanity and the Creator, the veil of eternity is lifted for us, and here on earth, we receive a foretaste of the complete fullness of life when, according to Scripture, God will be all in all (1 Cor. 15.28), when nothing and no one will be able to separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8.39), from the joy of communion with Him, when God will wipe every tear, and death will be no more, … for the first things have passed away (Rev. 21.4).

In proclaiming to the world the joyous news of the Savior’s arrival, the Church, like a nurturing mother, invites everyone to embrace belief in Christ and to live by His covenant so that we may inherit eternal bliss. Truly, the Lord came to earth to elevate us to heaven. He continually urges humanity to embark on the path of spiritual and moral transformation, achieved through fulfilling the Gospel commandments and through the voluntary collaboration between individuals and God, facilitated by the active presence of His grace, imparted through the Church’s sacraments.

If in our interactions with others and in our daily lives we learn to be guided by divine principles, many aspects will change both within us and around us. Life will gain true significance and be filled with genuine joy and happiness.

Let us strive to be worthy of our Christian name and calling. Let us navigate our journey through life with steadfast faith and unshakeable hope in divine assistance, joyfully embracing each new day as an opportunity to do good, show love to our neighbors, and give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything (Eph. 5.20), to Whom belongs all glory, honor, and worship unto the ages of ages. Amen.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you, my cherished ones, on the Nativity of Christ!

+His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

The Nativity of Christ

2024/2025

Moscow