DECR chairman sends Christmas greetings to heads of non-Orthodox Christian Churches

Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, has sent Christmas greetings to Pope Benedict XVI, Supreme Patriarchate and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, Archbishop Yukka Paarma of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland, Archbishop Rowan Williams of the Anglican Community and to the heads of other non-Orthodox Christian Churches. Below is the text of Archbishop Hilarion's Christmas greetings:

My cordial greetings to you on the occasion of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Today a great joy is heralded to the whole world, for ‘the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth' (Jn. 1:14).

The miracle of the Divine Incarnation fills the life of every person with a new meaning as the Creator Himself descended to the earth for the sake of His beloved creation. We who believe in Christ are compelled by this all-glorious event to proclaim again and again to people the joyful message of the nativity of the Saviour of the world.

From the bottom of my heart I wish you the help of Christ who was born in carrying out your lofty ministry. May He give you good health and strength for fulfilling every good initiative.

With love in the Lord,