Nativity Epistle
of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia
to the Archpastors, Pastors, Monastics & all the Faithful Children
of the Russian Orthodox Church

Beloved in the Lord archpastors, all-honorable presbyters and deacons,
God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters:

I sincerely greet you all on the radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, and I address you with the words of the ancient Christian hymn: "Christ is born, give ye glory! Christ cometh from heaven, meet ye Him! Christ is on earth, be ye exalted!" (Irmos of the first Ode of the Nativity Canon).

The Apostle Paul called the event of the Divine Incarnation that had come about "the great mystery of godliness" (I Tim. 3:16). All earthly wisdom falls silent in awe before this mystery; before it vain human knowledge fades away. This mystery is able to disarm and mollify even the coarsest and stoniest of hearts. Amidst the cruelty and bitterness of this world there is born the One Who can heal all division and grant to us true peace and genuine contentment.

Ever since sin entered the life of people, tragic division has reigned on earth, and the world, torn away from its Maker who is the true Fount of light, inexorably plunged into darkness and chaos. Yet God did not abandon His creation and did not cease to care for it. In patiently preparing our salvation, the Lord became incarnate, entered human history and became one of us. The Son of God became the Son of man, in all things like us, except sin. That sorrowful question which once was heard in the Garden of Eden: "Where art thou, Adam?" finally found its answer in the lowly cave near Bethlehem. "The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven" (I Cor. 15:47), as the Apostle Paul wrote. In Christ, as in the new Adam, "God reconciled the world to Himself" (II Cor. 5:19); He renewed human nature by healing it from the wound of sin.

The life of a human being and the life of the whole world is healed only in God. This is the simple yet profound truth to which today’s feast day testifies. How can we not recall here the inspired words of Blessed Augustine, who with sacred awe glorified the wise Providence of the Almighty: "You created us for Yourself, Lord, and our hearts will always be restless until they rest in You" (Confessions). It is only in Christ Jesus that oneness with God and the true meaning of the life of the human person, who from the creation of the world was called to life eternal, are to be found.

The coming into the world of the Savior is above all the revelation of Divine love for people. A love, which on the one hand is unbounded and all-conquering, and on the other, is meek, "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (I Cor. 13:7).

How, then, are we to reply worthily to the great love of our Maker and draw near to Him? We attain and affirm this closeness by following the Gospel commandments, through patience and unfeigned love for one another, but above all through the constant renewal of our oneness with Christ by participating in the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

Today is a feast of hope; a feast of peace; a feast of quiet joy. In glorifying the Born Savior and greeting him with the beautiful church hymns and songs, let us recall the lofty Christian calling to be the "light of the world and the salt of the earth" (Matthew 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 afflicted, let us comfort the disheartened, let us share our joy with those near and those afar and help those in need. In acting in this way, we truly become "unto God the sweet savor of Christ" (II Cor. 2:15) and thereby bring fruits pleasing to the Lord Who has been born.

And to those who by force of various circumstances find themselves beyond the salvific enclosure of the Church and who are not part of the life of Christ’s community, I would like to say: open up your hearts to the One " so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Let us, then, glorify the Lord and Savior for His ineffable mercy and love for the human race.

In congratulating all of you on the feast of Christ’s Nativity, I wish you, my beloved, bodily strength and unfading joy in the Savior Who has been born. "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:2). Amen.

+KYRILL
Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia

The Nativity of Christ
2025/2026 A.D.
Moscow