The Christmas message
of the Acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa,
Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk
to the priests, monastics and all the faithful
of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa of the Russian Orthodox Church
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters!
I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the great feast of Our Lord’s Nativity! With great anticipation we awaited this day and prepared for it. Now it has come.
“Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ is come from heaven, receive Him!” implores the Holy Church.
An unfathomable miracle has occurred, the eternal God has become a Man. The Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ has come to us in order to cleanse us, heal us, and open the path to the Heavenly Kingdom. Christ has brought us salvation and life eternal.
How shall we meet him?
We meet the Infant Jesus with joyful worship and with good Christmas traditions. We work on correcting our ways, and try to be attentive and caring towards the needs of our neighbours. We ask Our Lord to enter our lives and to transfigure them.
Let us then give consent to Christ to act in our lives, to direct them, to fill them, according to the word of our Lord “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
Let us follow Christ and live honestly, righteously, in a Christian manner, according to God’s commandments, in peace and with love for our neighbours.
I wish you all God’s help in your life and work, as well as consolation and mercy from our born Saviour.
I invoke God’s blessing upon you,
Konstantin, Bishop of Zaraisk
Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’
Acting Patriarchal Exarch of Africa
Christmas
2023/2024
