In the holiday edition of the program “This Saturday and Sunday“ on bTV, Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe spoke about the spiritual meaning of Christmas and what often escapes modern man in the brightest Christian holiday.
“Most often, we fail to delve deeply into the meaning of Christmas - the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, the Deliverer and Savior“, Metropolitan Anthony emphasized.
In his words, the holiday is not limited to shopping for gifts and a rich meal. “If Christ is not at the table among us and is not the gift that we offer to our loved ones, then we have wasted our time“, said the clergyman.
He drew attention to the fact that behind Christmas symbols and rituals, above all, there is joy and the spiritual gift that a person must bring - good deeds, faith and charity. “Material goods are transient. What is spiritual, which remains deep in our hearts, is impermanent“, stressed Metropolitan Anthony.
The great miracle that Christians celebrate at Christmas is the Incarnation - the humility of God, Who becomes man, so that man can be reunited with Him. “This is the boundless love of God - the chance for humanity to reconcile with God again“, he also said.
On the topic of miracles, Metropolitan Anthony noted that they are around us, but often remain unnoticed due to our spiritual distance. “When we move away from God, we cannot see His miracles. And they are simple – like the seed from which a tree grows, or like the inexplicable healing“, he pointed out.
The clergyman emphasized that even today man continues to look for saviors, but often outside of faith and God, which leads to disappointment. “The true Savior is Christ – The One who teaches us to love. By our love for each other, we will be recognized as His disciples“, Metropolitan Anthony reminded.
In the context of contemporary conflicts and divisions, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church prays above all for peace. "The peace of Christ is vitally needed today - in a world of wars, destruction and human tragedies," he said, calling on believers to be role models, especially for young people.
At the end of the conversation, Metropolitan Anthony gave a blessing to the audience: "May the Infant God enter your homes, enlighten your hearts and make your life path a path of righteousness, love and peace."