Nativity of the Lord

Patriarch Daniel’s Christmas Homily: The world is sanctified through Christ’s birth as a divine gift for humanity

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over the festal Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Wednesday, marking the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, and explained that “by coming into the world, Jesus sanctifies the world as a gift from God to humanity.” His Beatitude referred to the Saviour’s humble obedience to God the…

Dec 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Children of light or darkness: A bishop’s call for discernment in front of modern challenges

In the Christmas Pastoral Letter, His Grace Bishop Iustin of Maramureș and Sătmar underscores the importance of making a definitive decision between living in the light through faith and love and in the darkness through lawlessness and the rejection of Christ in the context of the modern world, which is characterised by conflicts, divisions, and…

Dec 24, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel shares message of peace and joy for Christmas and New Year: A celebration of humble, generous love

In his annual Christmas video message, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the spirit of “humble and generous love, peace, and joy” that accompanies the celebration of Christ’s Nativity. Patriarch Daniel highlighted the biblical narrative where angels announced the birth of Jesus with the proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill…

Dec 21, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Ahead of Christmas, Bishop Ignatie of Huși reminds us that love for enemies is the criterion of true fellowship with God

In his Christmas encyclical, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși emphasized that the commandment to love one’s enemies is the ultimate test of genuine communion with God. His message highlighted the lack of love in today’s society and the transformative power of Christ’s love. A World Lacking Love At the start of his pastoral letter,…

Dec 20, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens: Christmas Message 2024 – “True peace flows from the cave in Bethlehem”

Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens conveyed a heartfelt Christmas message for 2024, emphasizing the significance of peace, solidarity, and spiritual life in the face of modern challenges. Drawing inspiration from the angelic hymn at the Nativity of the Lord—“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace”—the Archbishop highlighted that Christ’s Nativity marks the…

Dec 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s 2024 Christmas Pastoral Letter: Christ’s Nativity brings joy to all

In his annual Christmas Pastoral Letter, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasized the profound joy that the Nativity of Jesus Christ brings to believers, describing it as the “joy of salvation.” The message, titled “The Nativity of Christ, Joy for All,” reflects on the biblical account where angels announce the birth of Christ…

Dec 16, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romfilatelia launches 2024 Christmas stamp collection celebrating the Lord’s Nativity

Last Friday, Romfilatelia unveiled its latest stamp issue dedicated to the celebration of the Nativity of Christ, titled “Christmas 2024.” The philatelic collection features two stamps, a perforated souvenir sheet, a “first-day” cover, and a special philatelic folder produced in a limited edition. The collection’s centrepiece is the stamp on the souvenir sheet, with a…

Nov 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan’s Christmas message: Priests contributed to the consolidation of communities

A few days before the old calendar Christmas celebration, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru sent a pastoral letter expressing his appreciation for the efforts of parish priests within the Metropolis of Bessarabia. “Another essential aspect of this year is the commendable efforts of the parish priests, who sacrificed themselves in every parish to serve the faithful,”…

Jan 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Christmas is a celebration of God’s humble and merciful love

“This feast is a celebration of God’s humble and merciful love shown in His eternal Son, who out of love for humankind and its salvation became exactly what He loved – a Man,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the patriarchal cathedral on the feast of the Nativity of the…

Dec 30, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Offer Christ the gold of faith and good deeds, the frankincense of prayer and the myrrh of a pure life

If rich in spirit, every Christian, whether rich or poor in material terms, “can offer Christ more precious gifts than the gifts offered by the wise men of the East.” These are “the gold of faith and good deeds, the frankincense of fervent prayer and the myrrh of a pure life,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel…

Dec 29, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s Christmas Encyclical 2022: Christ’s Nativity unites heaven and earth

“Christ’s Nativity unites heaven and earth” is the title of this year’s Christmas encyclical of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania. In his pastoral letter addressed to the plenitude of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel stresses that “the Son of God, Jesus Christ, descends into the world to be born, to grow and to…

Dec 22, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu