Archpastoral Letter for the Nativity 2023/2024
Sunday, December 24, 2023
Protocol No. 10/2023
CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!
Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today I greet you with great joy and love in the Name of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks to Almighty God, by whose grace we have been given this opportunity to celebrate the Birth of His Son.
As we look around ourselves, we find mistrust, suffering, hatred, homelessness, drug overdoses, crime, and senseless killings and the absence of peace and love in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, country and in fact the whole world. This reality in our lives makes us to want to cry out for God's help, assistance and intervention.
My beloved ones, despite all the suffering, sorrow and injustice in our world, today we rejoice because hope comes to us once again. This is why at this blessed time of the year we look forward to the arrival of the new born King.
Therefore, let us celebrate the miracle of His Birth. Let kindness come with every gift. Let compassion, forgiveness and love come with every greeting. Let our hearts be filled with prayer, charity, and reconciliation for one another.
May all of us, Priests, Panis, Deacons, Sub-Deacons, Readers, Acolytes, Archons, Parish Officers, Teachers, Parishioners (young and old), Friends and Supporters of our God-protected Diocese experience the joy and wonders of the Shepherds and the awe and respect of the Three Wise Men at the arrival of the Messiah, our new born King. Christ is Born!
Greetings from Johnstown with much love,
+Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa