Orthodox Christmas Greetings and more

Orthodox Christmas Greetings and more!

Christ is born - Glorify Him !

A Pastoral Letter of His Grace Most Rev. Fr. +Andrew of Michigan

Ordinary of the Orthodox Mission of Saint Mary of Egypt

for the Feast of the Holy Nativity of the Old Calendar Orthodox Churches

In this blessed season when we remember the birth and the historical conditions of the nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us not forget His reason for coming into this fallen world. Remember the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Isaiah, (Isaiah 7:14) ; Isaiah 9:6; and Isaiah 53:5-6.

You, my brothers and sisters in Christ, may think of me as grim for dwelling so much upon the death, entombment and the resurrection of Christ Jesus; I am a Hesychast who tries, although with great effort and failings, to keep these things in mind at all times.

At this time especially I try to remember the Resurrectional Stichera of the Saturday Service of Great Vespers. "Bring my soul out of this prison." - "Out of the depth I cry unto thee !" Along with our ancient hymns (irmosi) such as 'O Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly, holy, blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: We that come to the setting of the sun (viz. the setting sun of this corrupt age), when we behold the evening light, praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God. Proper it is for You to be praised at all times with joyous voices, O Son of God, Giver of Life. Thereby the world does glorify You.'

I usually like to relate stories of inspiration from the Saints and church Fathers who came before us. But, today I will change from historical allegory to some concepts of the discipline of the necessary science of Systematic Theology. This is a discipline endemic to all Eastern Orthodox Catholic exegesis. We, as a 'rule' do never take messages out of the context they appear in scripturally.

I would now like to try to pull together some scriptures from both the Old and the New Testaments that I see as relating to the eternal message of Christ. Here are some of the meditative messages of Our Lord which I believe relate to this Glorious Nativity that are, in fact, relative to our salvation caused by His divine life when He was 'in the world'.:

1. The 'Book of Psalms' which is the most ancient Hymnal of the original Christian Church.

2. The 'Book of St. Malachias'.

3. The book of 'Isaiah'.

4. The book of 'Ezekiel'.

5. The book of 'Enoch' considered as "apocryphal" or 'Gnostic' (however, considered most legitimate in the Diocese of St. Moses the Ethiopian here in the tributary diocese of St. Mary of Egypt').

6. The epistle of 'St. James'.

7. The Epistle of 'St. Jude (Brother of Christ).

8. The 'Gospel of St. Thomas' (considered as "apocryphal") but, believed to be legitimate here in the Michigan diocese under-which 'The Orthodox Mission of St Mary of Egypt' experiences its spiritual 'reality').

9. All of the writings and books published through the Coptic Orthodox Church by the Holy Father +Shenouda III - Pope pf the Great city of Alexandria.

10. 'The Practice of the Presence of God' by Brother Lawrence - Carmelite.

11. 'The Ascent of Mount Carmel' by St. John of the Cross - CARMELITE

It is my prayerful hope that by the reading of the aforementioned texts you will attain a deeper spirituality.

Remember that it is Christs desire that we forgive one another. He said, "They will know you as my servants by how you love one another. Remember to forgive. And, to love those who by society's standards, are 'unloveable'. To clothe the naked, and to do good to those who hate and despise you in my name.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ be with you ALWAYS, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amin.

Yours in the love and forgiveness of Christ,

+Andrew of Michigan

Amen.

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