T H E O D O R O S II
By the Grace of God, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
to the faithful of the Orthodox Church in Africa
Grace and Peace and Mercy from Jesus Christ, the One Revealed
My Blessed Children throughout the African Continent
“For us a young child is born, the Eternal God before the ages”. The child as God and God as a child. These holy days, on this Holy Night of the Lord’s Nativity, even the hardest of human hearts piously softens and becomes sensitized. We all consider the Creator’s immeasurable love towards man, his creature. We became receptors of this most precious deed that is incomprehensible to the human mind, that we live and experience through the Holy Eucharist, throughout the year, in a unique and continuous celebration.
The Lord’s Nativity, the celebration of love, calls all of us to a spiritual awakening. During these holy days, while joy and gladness fill our hearts, we all have the incredible opportunity of personal self-reflection – an examination with regard to how we have utilized and “invested” the time given to us by the Lord, in works of love.
The only infallible criterion of our Church is love. According to the teaching of the Gospel and the Fathers, it is love that will judge man and the world. Every time we commemorate an event and our Church invites us to celebrate, we call to mind what the Byzantines said, “A life without celebration is a long road without rest and refreshment”
From the moment of birth and seeing the light of life, from the moment of spiritual rebirth in the baptismal font of his spiritual mother, the Church, man is called to encounter God and recognize Him as His Saviour and Redeemer. This path and encounter with Jesus Christ is abundantly offered, in a marvelous way, in the celebration of the Lord’s birth. This is why the message of this joyous festivity is a real challenge for the human mind.
The “Child-God” offers us hope, joy and freedom! In return, He asks only for our heart. In the celebration of the Lord’s birth, our Church reveals to us a mystery of joy – a joy that is the result of love. This love is able to see, to recognize and to love the God – man, the Christ, in the person of the Divine child. It is able to face and recognize the image of God in our fellow man. It is able to love that image and so became the greatest Christmas gift for each of us, the gift of new life!
My Dear and Beloved children,
Open your hearts without reservation to this visitation of the God-man, Jesus. Open your hearts with simplicity and trust that “He who cares” is also the One who was born out of love for us alone. This love has no boundaries. This love is expressed by the measure of the Cross alone. This love, like an ocean, is able to wash-away any faults and sins. It is able to make us new persons, reborn, truly children of God – children and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.
May God grant many years to all of you and your families. May this Christmas be different. May our relationships be annointed with the fragrance of Paradise. May this fragrance spill-over in the respect and dealings with our fellow-man that is in need. Let us wipe-away his sweat. Let us light a candle of light and hope so as to warm our souls. May the heart of each of us become another manger in which Christ will be born and dwell forever. May it be so, Amen!
Fervent intercessor before Christ-Revealed.
T h e o d o r o s II
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
The Great City of Alexandria
Christmas 2007
