Today we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.
From North America to Australia, from Great Britain to Turkey and central Europe, Hellenism and much of Orthodoxy today celebrates in a splendorous manner the Nativity of Christ.
Messages by hierarchs around the world
In his Christmas message, the Archbishop of America, His Eminence Elpidophoros, wished a Merry Christmas – And the happiest of New Years to all! , as he underlined: “Christ is Born! Glorify Him.”
Halfway around the world, the Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Makarios, officiated at the Service of the Royal Hours for Christmas and at the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, at the Monastery of Axion Esti in Northcote, Victoria.
In another corner of the world, the Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, His Eminence Nikitas, in his Christmas message, emphasized that “…The Nativity set our world on a new course, as the Sun of Righteousness brought light and salvation to all those who embraced Him and His message. Together, we endure the problems of daily life and the contours of history, but in the warm and gentle embrace of Christ, we understand in a mystical way that death has been vanquished.”
Back in Greece, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, on Christmas Day conducted the sacrament of the Holy Communion at the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral for the numerous faithful that attended the con-celebratory services.
Further to the east, the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Metropolitan of Geron-Halkidona, His Eminence Emmanuel, officiated at the Christmas Day Divine Liturgy at the patriarchal cathedral of St. George of Constantinople.
