Christmas message of the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel:
Christ is born! Let us glorify Him!
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Born of the God-Child,
With reverence and amazement we stand before the great mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. “Today a wonderful and glorious mystery is being performed: nature is being renewed, and God becomes man“ (December 26, votive, ch. 8).
The invisible God takes on a human form. The Infinite One is wrapped in swaddling clothes. He Whose throne is heaven is laid in a manger. The sinless One takes on human nature, damaged by sin, in order to sanctify it and restore it to its paradisiacal purity.
God came and found us - us, lost in the abyss of unbelief and vanity, despair, weakness, enmity, destruction! God became man and healed man. He showed us who we are - Christ's people, God's children, heavenly men! He also showed us the path that alone leads to Him, so that we may be His children - the path of humble, sincere and sacrificial love: "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34).
Christ is the essential need for man. Christ is the meaning of our life. Christ is the criterion of all criteria. Christ is the hope of the hopeless, the guide of the lost, the light in the darkness, the comfort of the inconsolable, the justice of the wronged, the unity of the divided, the only saving future of humanity. Christ is our closest Brother, Who is closer to us than all our relatives. Christ is closer to our hearts than we are ourselves (St. Nicholas of Cavusillas). From His immediate proximity and condescension to us, He calls us: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls; (Matt. 11:28, 29)
In the days of anxiety and uncertainty, enmities, wars and disunity in which we live, let us always strive in the face of our brothers and sisters to
discover the image of Christ, because Christ God is with us! Let us love them with the love of Christ, because He gave us such an example. Let us forgive them, as Christ forgives our countless transgressions. Let us show mercy, as He shows His infinite generosity towards us. Let us acquire the peaceful spirit of Christ for our salvation and thus serve for the salvation of many!
May the Lord bless the New Year 2026 of His Birth in the flesh with His goodness, grant reconciliation to those who are at war, healing to those who suffer, goodwill among men! Following the example and prayers of the saints whom we celebrate every day of the year, may the Lord keep our minds and hearts directed to Him, so that we may have His blessing in all our deeds! May we be bearers, witnesses and spreaders of Christ's peace!
A peaceful, healthy and saving New Year 2026!
Here's to many and blessed years!