Christmas Message By the Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan

Today, the great and holy day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ shines upon us—the Savior is born in the city of David (Luke 2:11), and the great mystery of godliness is revealed to humanity: God is manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16).

Gathering under the arches of churches and participating in festive services, we embark on a spiritual journey to Bethlehem, where we behold with awe, “Heaven—a cave, the cherubic throne—the Virgin, the manger—the dwelling place for Christ the infinite God.” This feast unites heaven and earth, the visible and invisible worlds.

The Evangelist announces that “great joy” (Luke 2:10) has come to humanity from Bethlehem. But what kind of joy is this? The pre-eternal Word of the Father, the infinite and almighty Creator, has dwelt among us. He became flesh and lived with us (John 1:14), altering the course of earthly history forever. Through the birth of the Divine Infant, humankind was granted not fleeting worldly happiness or the pleasures of vain distractions, but true and great joy: from now on, we are children of God (Rom. 8:16). How profound and significant are the Lord’s promises to those who love Him: “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18), and “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Indeed, now and forever—God is with us!

As we celebrate the Nativity of Christ, we renew in our minds and hearts the Gospel proclamation that the Son of God became truly human, so that humanity might reclaim the dignity of God’s children, lost through sin, and attain hope on earth and unending, blessed communion with God in heaven. Glorifying the newborn God-Child with psalms and hymns, we bear witness that no one is forgotten or abandoned by God, for He has come to bear our infirmities and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), to wipe away every tear from our eyes, so that there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4).

The entire earthly life of the Savior was an expression of love and mercy for humanity’s sorrows, compassion for daily hardships, and care for their needs. The Lord who came into the world revealed His priceless gift to humanity: the forgiveness of sins. Traveling across the Holy Land, from city to city and village to village, Christ responded to the sincere faith of the repentant with fatherly warmth, declaring, “Take heart, child; your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2). This gift of forgiveness He entrusted to His Holy Church so that anyone who desires to break free from the grip of evil may receive absolution in the sacrament of Confession and obtain the grace to transform their soul and expel the darkness of sin from their heart.

Another great sacred gift is revealed to us on this festive day. Each time, we encounter the Incarnate God in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and by partaking of the life-giving Mysteries of Christ, we unite with Him.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace” (Luke 2:14)—these words were sung by angels, proclaiming to the humble shepherds of Bethlehem the birth of Christ the Messiah. On the Nativity of the Savior, we join our voices with the heavenly angelic choir, giving glory to God and praying for peace throughout the world.

This radiant and joyful feast of the Lord’s appearance in the world reminds us of the necessity to burn with love for the Creator and for one another, warming the part of the world where God has placed us to live out our earthly existence. Let us look around and be attentive to those Christ sends to us in their need today. Let each of us, in our place, act honestly and responsibly as Christians so that others, seeing our good works, may glorify our Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16). Now is the time not only to speak but to act according to the Divine Gospel with a profound sense of responsibility. It is a time when the apostolic admonition resonates strongly and firmly: “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Along with our hymns and praises, let us offer the Lord lying in the manger some good deed from each of our hearts.

May the newborn God-Child Christ bless the people of Kazakhstan with peace, unity, and prosperity, and preserve us all in good health so that our faith may continue to strengthen, our hope may never fade, and our love may grow. I sincerely congratulate all the people of Kazakhstan on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year.