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Published
by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America,
December 15, 2004
Encyclical of Archbishop
Demetrios for The Nativity of Christ |
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Protocol 98/04
December 25, 2004
The Nativity of Christ
"For to you is born this day…a Savior, who is
Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11-12)
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend
Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the
Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of
the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day,
Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos
Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic
Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox
Family in America,
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I greet you on the joyous occasion of the Feast of
the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
an event of cosmic proportions that marked the
very entry of salvation into our world. The
significance of this event rests in the awesome
truth that our God, in His perfect love for us,
chose to enter our world not as an adult clothed
with earthly authority, but as "a babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger". It is
truly incredible to contemplate such a tender and
humble image in view of the incomprehensible might
and majesty of God.
This act of Divine condescension suggests the
bestowal of a tremendous dignity upon humankind.
This dignity reveals itself most directly in the
awesome duty of care that God placed upon the most
Holy Theotokos and Virgin Mary and upon Joseph in
caring for His only-begotten Son, the newborn
Messiah. We must remember that Jesus, in his human
infancy, was dependent upon Mary and Joseph for
the basic necessities of food, shelter, and
clothing. Here, we behold but a glimpse of the
limitless nature of God’s love for humanity. By
becoming a human being from the moment of infancy,
God revealed His desire to partake in the entirety
of the human experience, beginning with a humble
birth and proceeding even unto death on a Cross,
so that we in turn might enjoy an everlasting life
with Him.
Viewed from this perspective, God’s entry into our
world as "a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and
lying in a manger" was an indicative sign with
wider implications: In an age where many looked
toward emperors and kings for their security, God
deigned to herald the salvation of humanity with
the birth, under humbling conditions, of an
infant. This was no accident; rather, it was an
act with a declaratory significance. Beyond the
importance of these humbling conditions, the
appearance of God in the world as a babe, as a
child, strongly affirmed the centrality of the
child in God’s plan for the salvation of the human
race. This affirmation is fundamentally important
in our modern age, particularly in view of social
conditions within our world that compromise the
supreme value of children and their inalienable
right to be nurtured within the security of a
family and to live in dignity as God intended.
Brothers and Sisters,
This year it is fitting that we place special
emphasis upon the vital role and care of children
and their families during our celebration of
Christmas, for we will be inaugurating as an
Archdiocese in 2005 the Year of the Family, a
period of intensified ministry to families across
America. Our principle aims for this year will be
to enhance the spiritual lives of families, to
grow in our appreciation of Greek Orthodox
families in America as we minister to their
particular needs, and to make available to
families more and more resources that communicate
the abiding presence of Christ and His Church.
What beautiful and worthy aims for us to consider
this year during this glorious Feast of the
Nativity, which embodies the true essence and
potential of family like no other holiday!
Therefore, as we celebrate this blessed occasion,
let us do so as loving and caring families. Let us
come together in prayer and worship of the
Almighty God, Who entered our world as an infant
for our salvation. As we gather in fellowship with
one another this holiday season, let us
particularly reflect upon the fact of the
Incarnate God lying in a manger as a babe, thus
establishing forever the paramount importance of
children as precious members of our families.
I offer to you my fervent wishes that the joy of
this Christmas season fills your hearts, your
homes, your families, and your parishes and that
the very same joy may accompany you throughout the
dawning New Year. The Prince of Peace has come as
a child; and He has promised to be with us all the
days, to the end of time, even to the end of the
world (Matthew 28:20).
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America
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