Home page News
On the feast day of the Nativity of …

On the feast day of the Nativity of Christ Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Liturgy at the Church of “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow

On the night of 7 January 2016, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God in Bolshaya Ordynka Street, Moscow.

The Grand Compline and Matins were celebrated in the evening of January 6.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were Hieromonk Ioann (Kopeykin), pro-rector of Ss Cyril and Methodius Theological Institute of Postgraduate Studies; Hieromonk Sinesiy (Viktoratos), a student of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies from the Greek Orthodox Church; and local clerics.

Liturgical hymns were sung by the Moscow Synodal Choir conducted by Mr. Alexei Puzakov, Honoured Artist of Russia.

After the Litany of Fervent Supplication, Metropolitan Hilarion offered up a prayer for peace in Ukraine.

The Christmas Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to the Archpastors, Pastors and All the Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church was read out by a cleric of the Church of the “Joy to All the Afflicted” Icon of the Mother of God, Hegumen Filaret (Tambovsky).

In his Christmas message, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the people of Ukraine. The message reads, in particular:

“The fratricidal conflict which has arisen in the land of Ukraine should never divide the Church’s children by sowing enmity within peoples’ hearts. The true Christian cannot hate his neighbours or those afar. “Ye have heard, – the Lord says to those who hear him, – that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies… That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good” (Mt 5:43-45). May these words of the Saviour become a guiding force in our lives and may evil and hatred towards others never find a place in our hearts.”

In his homily delivered after the Liturgy Metropolitan Hilarion said, addressing all those present:

“Dear Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters, I cordially greet all of you with the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Lk 2:14) – this hymn was sung by the angels when they received the glad tidings about the Infant Christ been born in Bethlehem. Every time we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Christ we hear this sacred hymn, first sung by the angels. It reminds us that all people want peace, and today we have prayed for peace on earth and goodwill among men.

“Had people obeyed Our Lord Jesus Christ, it all would have come true. The Lord came into this world to bring peace from on high, not the peace that might be achieved through human efforts, but the one that is a gift of God.

“It was with this peace that the Lord filled the hearts of the shepherds and the Magi who had come from the far lands. And every time we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Christ our hearts are filled with peace, joy, and with a sense of God’s presence among us and within us, and with the feeling that a prophet of old expressed in the following words, Know, ye Gentiles, and be conquered: for God is with us (Is 8:9).

“It is because God is with us that we have no fear. It is because God is with us that we look to the future with calm. And it is because God is with us that peace reigns in our hearts. Where there is no God there is no peace either, but where God is present there is peace, descending from on high.

“Let us thank God for He became man, came unto us, lived our earthly life, suffered and died on the Cross to redeem us from sin and to free us from the devil’s power; let us thank God for His Resurrection which opened to us a door to resurrection and life eternal.

“Let us ask God to grant peace to our homeland, to Ukraine, and to the whole world and to send from on high His peace unto our hearts. Amen.”

DECR Communication Service

Share:
Αγιώτατος Πατριάρχης Κύριλλος: Η παραβίαση των δικαιωμάτων των πιστών της Ουκρανικής Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας αναγνωρίζεται στους απολογισμούς των διεθνών οργανισμών προστασίας ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.

20.12.2024

Phone conversation took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed sympathy and full support to the Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church

12.12.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church is fervently praying for the Patriarch, bishops, clergy, and flock of the Antiochian Church

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan

22.11.2024

Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب