My Beloved Parishioners and Friends,
“Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels with shepherds glorify Him, and magi journey with a star, since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a little Child!”
With these words from our Nativity Kontakion ringing in our hearts, I greet you all on this most sacred feast of our Lord’s Nativity. As we stand before the cave in Bethlehem, we are called to marvel at this greatest of mysteries, how the Uncontainable God willingly contained Himself within the womb of the Most Holy Theotokos, how He Who holds all creation in His hand became a helpless babe.
As St. John Chrysostom beautifully proclaims: “What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men.”
In these days, when the world around us seems increasingly troubled, the light of Bethlehem shines ever more brightly, offering hope amidst darkness. As war engulfs the Holy Land, the echoes of suffering resound in Syria, Ukraine, and beyond, while the spectre of a third world war looms over humanity. The world reels under the weight of new viruses and diseases, unsettling even the strongest hearts, we are confronted with wokeness and demonic ideologies, we find solace in the cave of Bethlehem. For into this wounded world, as in ancient times, Christ enters not with armies or earthly power, but in the profound humility of a newborn child. The cave of Bethlehem becomes our refuge, teaching us that where human wisdom fails, divine wisdom flourishes; where earthly power crumbles, heavenly strength endures.
As we contemplate the icon of the Nativity, we see this divine mystery depicted in sacred imagery, the Creator of the stars lying in a manger, wrapped not in royal purple but in swaddling clothes. The darkness of the cave, rather than obscuring the mystery, shines the light that emanates from the Christ-child, just as our present trials serve to make His saving presence more apparent to those who seek Him. In this holy night, heaven and earth are united, for as St. Ephrem the Syrian proclaims, “This day has opened for us a heavenly gate through which earth and heaven have become one.”
Indeed, the very circumstances that seem to speak of abandonment become, through God’s grace, the signs of His closest presence. Just as the cold cave became the warmest hearth in all creation through the presence of the Divine Child, so too can our present struggles become the very places where we encounter God most intimately. For as our beloved Orthodox tradition teaches us, it is often in the depths of our helplessness that we discover the heights of God’s mercy.As St. Gregory the Theologian illuminates the meaning of this sacred feast: “He who gives riches becomes poor, for He assumes the poverty of my flesh, that I may assume the richness of His divinity. He who is full empties Himself, for He empties Himself of His glory for a short while, that I may share in His fullness.”In Christ’s self-emptying, we find not despair but the promise of renewal, as His divine light pierces the darkness of our troubled times. The humility of the Incarnation reminds us that even in a world fractured by strife, His peace is steadfast and His love unwavering
My dear friends, as we gather in our temple, as we light our lampadas and candles before the icon of the Nativity, let us remember that the same Christ Who was laid in the manger desires to be born in the cave of our own hearts. As St. Ephrem the Syrian writes, “The Lord entered her and became a servant; the Word entered her and became silent within her; thunder entered her and his voice was still; the Shepherd of all entered her; He became a Lamb in her, and came forth bleating.”
Therefore, let us prepare our hearts as the Blessed Virgin Theotokos prepared the manger, with humility, with love, with faith. In this sacred season, I urge you to make time for prayer, for reading the Holy Scriptures, for acts of mercy toward those in need. For as St. John of Kronstadt teaches us, “The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God and of His sufferings upon the Cross consists in His burning love for the human race.”
Also remember the words of St. Nikolai Velimirovich: “The birth of Christ was needed by heaven more than earth, by God more than man. Earth could exist without heaven, but heaven could not be heaven without the earth. Man could exist without God, but God could not be in full glory without man.” Such is the depth of God’s love for us, that He humbled Himself to share in our humanity, that we might share in His divinity.
As your unworthy priest, I rejoice to see how our community has grown in faith and love throughout this past year. Your devotion to prayer, your care for one another, your generosity to those in need, all these things give testimony to the living presence of Christ among us. Let us persevere to build upon this foundation, always remembering that the light of Bethlehem must continues to shine in our hearts and in our lives.
During this festive season, I encourage you to share the joy of Christ’s Nativity with those around you. Visit those who are alone, share your table with those in need, reach out to those who are far from the Church. Let each of us be like the star of Bethlehem, guiding others to Christ through our deeds.
May the newborn Christ child bless each of you and your families. May the Most Holy Theotokos keep you under her protecting veil. May the coming year be filled with spiritual growth, love, and the peace that passes all understanding.
Christ is Born! Glorify Him! I wish you all a very Happy Christmas
With love in our newborn Saviour,
Your unworthy servant,
The Rev. Adrian Augustus
Rector
“Let Heaven and earth today make glad prophetically. Angels and men spiritually keep feast. For God has appeared in the flesh to those that sit in darkness and shadow, being born of a woman. The cave and the manger receive Him. Shepherds announce the wonder. Magi from the East bring gifts to Bethlehem. And with our unworthy lips, in the manner of angels, let us offer Him praise: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!” From the Royal Hours of Nativity.
