Christmas Message from Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Archpastors, Pastors, Deacons, Monastics and All Faithful Children of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Beloved in the Lord archpastors, all-honourable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!
I cordially congratulate all of you on the radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, and address to you the words of the ancient church hymn: “Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven, meet Him! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted!” (Irmos of the 1st ode of the Nativity canon).
The Apostle Paul called the accomplished event of the Incarnation the great mystery of godliness (1 Tim. 3:16). Before this mystery all earthly wisdom falls silent in awe. Before it, vain human knowledge fades. It is able to disarm and soften the coarsest and most hardened heart. Amid the cruelty and bitterness of this world, He is born Who alone can heal every division and grant us true peace and genuine happiness.
Ever since sin entered human life, a tragic division has reigned on earth — and the world, torn away from the Creator, the true Source of light, inevitably began to sink into darkness and chaos. But God did not abandon His creation or leave it without care. Patiently preparing our salvation, the Lord became incarnate, entered earthly history and became one of us. The Son of God became the Son of Man, like us in all things except sin. The sorrowful question “Where art thou, Adam?”, which once resounded in the garden of Eden, at last found its answer in a humble cave near Bethlehem. “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47), as the Apostle Paul wrote. In Christ, as in the new Adam, God reconciled the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19) and renewed human nature, healing it of the wounds of sin.
The life of man and the life of the whole world are healed only in God — this is the simple yet very important truth to which today’s feast bears witness. How can we not recall here the inspired words of Blessed Augustine, who with sacred awe glorified the wise Providence of the Almighty! “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee” (Confessions). Only in Christ Jesus are unity with God and the true meaning of life found for man, who from the creation of the world has been called to eternity.
The coming of the Savior into the world is above all a revelation of Divine love for people: a love that is, on the one hand, boundless and all-conquering, and on the other, meek — a love that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things(1 Cor. 13:7).
How then can we worthily respond to the great love of our Creator and draw near to Him? This closeness is attained and confirmed by us through following the commandments of the Gospel, through patience and unfeigned love for one another, and above all through the constant renewal of our unity with Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Today is a feast of hope. A feast of peace. A feast of quiet joy. Glorifying the newborn Savior and greeting Him with beautiful chants and church hymns, let us remember our high Christian calling to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14) and, as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Let us give hope to the sorrowing, comfort the despondent, share joy with those near and far, and help those in need — by doing so we will truly become unto God a sweet savour of Christ (2 Cor. 2:15) and will bring pleasing gifts to the newborn Lord.
To those who, for various reasons, are still outside the saving enclosure of the Church and do not participate in the life of the Christian community, I address this call: open your heart to Him Who so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Let us glorify our Lord and Savior for His ineffable mercy and love for the human race.
Congratulating everyone on the feast of the Nativity, I wish you, my dear ones, strength and unfailing joy in the newborn Savior. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:2). Amen.
+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
Nativity of Christ
2025/2026
Moscow