My beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

This Christmas is truly a season of gifts – with the greatest one being the little Child of Bethlehem, Who was born in a cave and laid in a Manger.

And of His many precious gifts to us, we were blessed with the presence of our great Spiritual Father, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who came to America to manifest the love and concern of the Mother Church of Constantinople for each and every member of Her flock.

In sharing with us the thirtieth anniversary of His enthronement on the See of Saint Andrew, His All-Holiness inaugurated our Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, as well as the centennial year of our Sacred Archdiocese, which we will observe in the forthcoming New Year of 2022.

Therefore, this Christmas, let us celebrate these gifts, together with all of the other spiritual gifts that we receive from our Heavenly Father. He sent His Only-Begotten Son to be with us – beginning in the Cave in Bethlehem, but continuing in the cave of every human heart. And all we need to do is to humbly receive this gift, and then to practice sharing it and giving it away to others freely.

And so, may our Christmas be filled with much joy and gladness, ever-manifesting the love of the Child of Bethlehem.

Merry Christmas! And the happiest of New Years to all!

“Χριστὸς Γεννᾶται! Δοξάσατε!
Christ is Born! Glorify Him