----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When reprinting [the Russian text], reference to  http://www.russia-talk.com/  IS MANDATORY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.oocities.org/kitezhgrad/images/lethead.jpe (17296 bytes)

The Nativity Epistle
Of His Eminence
+Metropolitan Vitaly
The First Hierarch
of
The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

Christ is Born!
Glorify ye Him!

I extend my greetings and felicitations to all the sons and daughters of our Church, both those dwelling in the diaspora and those dwelling in our Native land.

We are celebrating a Great Mystery, incomprehensible to the human mind, for the Pre-Eternal God is being born as a man. Never heretofore had humanity known such holiness, such perfection, such wisdom and such love.  The God-man is being born in order that we might acquire even some slight crumb of these qualities from Him.  Having created us, having brought us into existence out of non-being, the Lord has not abandoned us and with joy do we exclaim:

God is with us, comprehend it all ye nations and submit:
for God is with us.

I call down God's blessing upon You.

+Metropolitan Vitaly


---------------------------------------

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE

RETURN TO NATIVITY INDEX PAGE

RETURN TO HOLIDAY INDEX PAGE

RETURN TO HOME PAGE