OCA Chancery
Syosset, New York
To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America
Dearly beloved,
Christ Is Born! Glorify Him!
With love and joy I greet and embrace you as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today the whole world is called to rejoice, for He who is God before the ages is born of the Virgin. “The righteous make glad; the heavens rejoice; and the mountains dance for joy, for Christ is born!” (Praises of the Feast).
On this joyous feast, our Lord and Savior, Who takes upon Himself the sin of the world, lies in a manger as the Pre-eternal One reigning over the Kingdom not of this world. From this Kingdom, the world steeped in fear is given the angelic greeting: “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
Dearly beloved, let us take to heart the greeting: “Be not afraid.” For even though we dwell in a turbulent culture, we are comforted by the fact that through the birth of our Lord and Savior, the Kingdom not of this world enters the world. Through the gift of the Nativity, “God has come to earth, and man ascends to heaven.” All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and are made members of this Kingdom: “for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:27-28).
Today we celebrate the birth of the new Adam for Whom the world from all eternity has been waiting. Let us stand firmly upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Himself as the cornerstone. For we have nothing to fear for each one of us is “no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7).
With conviction unhindered by fear—upholding the truth of the Good News—we who are one in Christ Jesus are called to stand in the midst of our turbulent culture as beacons of faith. Nurtured by the Holy Spirit, we are to speak with unwavering faith, love, mercy and wisdom to the needs, questions and challenges posed by our society.
On behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America, I extend to you and your families our warmest wishes for a joyous celebration of our Lord’s Nativity. May the peace and love of this season always be with you.
With love in the Christ,
+ THEODOSIUS
and the Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops