"Welcome the King who is Born" (12/31/77)

"Welcome the King who is Born"

(Christmas Pastoral Letter of the Sobor of Bishops of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church outside Ukraine)

Dearly Beloved!

Christ is born! Glorify Him!

This oft repeated Nativity doxology is the invitation of the Church directed to all of us. Let us grasp the deep significance of the invitation and glorify the New-born Lord in prayerful humility, in our requests for assistance, in times of misfortune, and in thanksgiving for benefit received.

Heaven and earth glorified the newborn Child. Angels and a radiant star showed the way to Him both for the simple and the wise. The wealthy came to Him bearing precious gifts and, finding the Child, "opened their coffers and presented Him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11). The poor shepherds came bearing a lamb; they fell on their knees and, as recorded by the Evangelist Luke, returned from Bethlehem "glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen." (Luke 2:20).

The evil designs of Herod prepared a sad fate for the Infant. Thus the beginning of Christ's life on earth was marked with the murder of thousands of children, and the dangerous and fatiguing flight to Egypt. Yet in all of this, the wise in the Lord and the pure of heart who "glorified and praised" felt the radiance of His divine glory. Gone were the barriers which concealed from many the being of the merciful Creator. In place of the fearsome Jehovah of the Old Testament, the New Covenant Father, full of love, revealed Himself to people by sending His Beloved Son to dwell among them, to proclaim the good news and to save them. As for the people, they have only to walk in the ways of His commandments and magnify "The Born King."

And did not the heart of the talented Ukrainian people compose the most joyous doxologies for the new-born Lord? The ancient and wondrous carols who even today in our churches and in the homes of the pious faithful. They serve to unite the dispersed members of the family, community, and our entire nation.

As we sit down for The Holy Supper before festively decorated tables, greet with a warm welcome the carolers, and are comforted by our present condition of well-being and plenty, let us not forget about others. Let us remember that in praising Christ we must also praise Christ's faithful - those whom the atheistie government of foreigners denies even today the opportunity of freely celebrating the Nativity and the other winter festivals which come to us even now, in the words of the carols, "as guests."

Let us not only leave a setting at the festive table in commemoration of martyred and murdered relatives and friends; let us also foster a remembrance of the absent living - those separated from us by a great distance, especially for our brothers and sisters who endure torture and unbearable oppression in the prisons and camps of the contemporary Herod. Their number is in the thousands! Let us continually remember them! Let us not forget that we have the wherewithall to sit down with them at Holy Supper, but only if we think of them, and thoroughly support the actions now in progress in their defense.

On the occasion of Christ's Nativity, let us not forget to generously support our Church, a Church murderously liquidated in the fatherland and threatened by attacks levied upon Her even from beyond the borders of Ukraine. A carol for the Church is support of her work in various areas, especially in the areas of charitable, scholarly and educational work and publications. In so doing, we in our circumstance, festively entertain in spirit those who are absent, and glory the new-born Lord.

"The entire world celebrates the birth of Christ, and we welcome the King who is born! Glory to God eternal, Who today is revealed in the flesh!"

Devotedly yours,

Metropolitan Mstyslav
Archbishop Mark
Archbishop Orest
Archbishop Constantine

Nativity of Christ, 1978

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