Department for External Church Relations
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DECR chairman sends Christmas greetings to heads of the Non-Orthodox Christian Churches
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent Christmas greetings to the heads of the non-Orthodox Christian Churches.
Among those whom he addressed were Pope Benedict XVI; Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury; Archbishop Kari Makinen, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Praeses Nicholaus Schneider, president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, and many others. The text is given below.
I greet you cordially with the great and saving feast of the nativity of Christ which fills our hearts with rejoicing and awe before the greatness of the mystery of the Incarnation of God.
The Son of God assumed human nature in order to fill our existence in this world with his life: ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’ (Jn 10:10). The coming into the world of the Divine Infant Christ grants to us the fullness of unity with the heavenly Father. In the earthly world, full of suffering and discord, we are called upon to be witnesses to his mercy and truth, revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
During these holy days I wish you God’s help in your lofty ministry, good health and long years of life.
With love in the Lord,
/+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s
Department for External Church Relations
Patriarch
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020