Nativity Message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’

Nativity Message of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill

to the hierarchs, pastors, deacons, monastics, and all the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church

Beloved in the Lord hierarchs,

most honorable presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns,

dear brothers and sisters!

I cordially congratulate all of you on the radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and address to you the words of an ancient church hymn: «Christ is born – glorify Him! Christ comes from heaven – meet Him! Christ is on earth – be exalted!» (irmos of the first ode of the Nativity canon).

The Apostle Paul called the accomplished event of the Incarnation a great mystery of piety (1 Tim. 3:16). Before this mystery all earthly reasoning falls silent in awe. Before it, vain human knowledge grows dim. It is capable of disarming and softening even the roughest and most hardened heart. Amid the cruelty and hostility of this world, He is born Who alone can heal every division, grant us true peace and genuine happiness.

Since the moment when sin entered human life, a tragic division has reigned on earth – and the world, torn away from its Creator, the true Source of light, has inevitably begun to plunge into darkness and chaos. But God did not abandon His creation and did not leave it without care. Patiently preparing our salvation, the Lord became incarnate, entered earthly history, and became one of us. The Son of God became the Son of Man, in all things like us except for sin. The sorrowful question «Where are you, Adam?», once heard in the garden of Eden, finally found its answer in a poor cave near Bethlehem. «The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second Man is the Lord from heaven» (1 Cor. 15:47), as the Apostle Paul wrote. In Christ, as the new Adam, God reconciled the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19), renewed human nature, healing it from the wounds of sin.

The life of the human person and the life of the whole world are healed only in God – this is the simple, yet very important truth to which today’s feast bears witness. How can one not recall the inspired words of Blessed Augustine, who with sacred awe glorified the wise Providence of the Almighty: «You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You» (Confessions). Only in Christ Jesus is unity with God found and the true meaning of human life revealed – a life called to eternity from the creation of the world.

The coming of the Savior into the world is, above all, a revelation of Divine love for humanity – a love that, on the one hand, is boundless and all-conquering, and on the other hand is meek, which covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Cor. 13:7).

How, then, are we to respond worthily to the great love of our Creator and draw near to Him? This closeness is attained and confirmed by us through following the Gospel commandments, through patience and sincere love for one another, and above all through the constant renewal of our unity with Christ in the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

Today is a feast of hope.

A feast of peace.

A feast of quiet joy.

Glorifying the newborn Savior and meeting Him with beautiful chants and church hymns, let us remember our high Christian calling to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13–14) and, while there is time, let us do good to all, and especially to those of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Let us give hope to the sorrowful, comfort the despondent, share joy with both those near and those far, and help the needy – by acting thus, we shall truly become the fragrance of Christ to God (2 Cor. 2:15) and bring pleasing gifts to the newborn Lord.

To those who, due to various circumstances, still remain outside the saving enclosure of the Church and do not yet participate in the life of the community of Christ, I address this appeal: open your hearts to Him Who so loved us that He gave His Only-Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16). Let us glorify the Lord and Savior for His ineffable mercy and love for the human race.

Congratulating all of you on the feast of the Nativity, I wish you, my dear ones, strength of spirit and unfailing joy in the newborn Savior. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:2). Amen.

+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUS’

Nativity of Christ

2025/2026