† MACARIE,

BISHOP OF THE ROMANIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF NORTHERN EUROPE

PASTORAL LETTER FOR THE LORD’S NATIVITY

LET US CONTINUE TO EMBODY TRUE HUMANITY AMIDST THOSE WHO HAVE FORSAKEN IT

STOCKHOLM, 2023

† Macarie,

By the mercy and providence of the Almerciful God, Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe,

To the beloved brethren priests and deacons, to the toilers of the holy monasteries and to the chosen people of the Orthodox Church, grace, peace, tranquility, and joy from Christ, born in the manger of Bethlehem and within our hearts, and my fatherly blessing and brotherly embrace!

Honored servants of the Holy Altars,
Dear brothers and sisters in joint prayer

Over two thousand years ago, in a humanity engulfed in sin and dominated by wickedness, powerless against the devil’s tyranny and unable to liberate itself through its righteous and prophets from ‘darkness and the shadow of death’ (Isaiah 9:1), the Son of God became incarnate from the Most Pure Virgin Mary – representing the deepest and most precious yearning humanity could offer to God.

And the Son of God was incarnated, ‘taking the form of a servant’ (Philippians 2:7), embodying as Man an image devoid of divine glory, prone to suffering, vulnerability, and exposure, confined by circumstances. The servant or slave is emblematic of someone deprived of their identity, status, and rights, relegated to the margins of society, their very humanity often overlooked or denied. Prophet Isaiah (53:2) offers a startling and poignant portrayal of the awaited Messiah, describing Him as having ‘no form or majesty that we should look at Him, nor beauty that we should desire Him’.

Through this Self-emptying, the Son of God fully assumed, except for sin, the human condition after the fall of our foreparents from Paradise. For Adam and Eve became slaves once they were deceived and ravaged by the devil in the Garden of Eden. Although they lost the grace, they maintained their status as children of God, yet were stripped of the image of heavenly glory, losing their role as stewards of the created world.

The birth of the Savior is in accordance with the trinitarian counsel, realized in a mysterious way, with its eternal glory concealed under the humble guise of the cave and exile. The Virgin Mary and old Righteous Joseph, descendants of Prophet and King David, though unnoticed and insignificant figures, found no shelter in Bethlehem. The birth took place in a stable within a cave, where the Child, laid in a manger, was warmed by the gentle breath of the animals. The Virgin Mary ‘kept all these things in her heart’ (Luke 2:51), pondering the prophecies and announcements about the Son sent to redeem not only Israel but all humanity.

Furthermore, Herod’s murderous frenzy, spurred by his fear of the prophecy about a new king, resulted in the tragic massacre of the infants in Bethlehem, in a desperate attempt to eliminate the Messiah, an act of infanticide. The Virgin Mary and Righteous Joseph, with the Child Jesus, were compelled to flee to Egypt for refuge

My dearly beloved,

This self-emptying of the incarnate Son of God reveals that His Birth not only foreshadows but also embodies the harbingers of the later Golgotha. The Divine Child, swaddled and laid in a cave, prefigures His entombment and anticipates the Eucharistic sacrifice. The tender embrace of the Mother towards her Son mirrors the future embrace of the cross, as Saint Epiphanius of Salamis aptly put it: ‘Therefore, I call the Mother of the Lord a cross, for the Lord was raised on her outstretched arms.’ Moreover, the Flight into Egypt resonates with the long history of persecution endured by the Church.

At the same time, the Mystery of the Nativity and the veiled glory of the Incarnate One in the form of a vulnerable child reveal God’s astonishing way of approaching humanity, wounded by sin. The Nativity signifies a radical overturning of the hierarchies and values of fallen humanity, which revolves around power, grandeur, and pleasure – ‘the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ (1 John 2:16). Those unnoticed by the world become most precious in the eyes of God. In Bethlehem, no one recognized the humble virgin as the Mother of God. It was only the three wise men and the simple local shepherds who discerned the true identity of the Child.

The Nativity likewise reveals God’s tender, discreet, and boundless love for humanity. It portrays how He descended in pursuit of His son Adam, even to the depths of hell, willingly embracing death, becoming like us to redeem us and draw us back to heaven, to make us like Him. No one could gaze upon humanity with more love than This God, who descends from His glory every Christmas to give Himself to us in the form of a Child. The very fact of His incarnation stands as the indelible mark of divine, unconditional love for His creation.

My spiritual sons and daughters,
Our world, much like in ancient times, continues to be axiologically drawn towards a path of supremacy. Today’s rulers exploit the labor of the many, reminiscent of how Pharaoh exploited the Hebrew slaves. Plans are being laid for the construction of a new ideological Tower of Babel, more ambitious than its predecessor. Despite grand declarations of love, tolerance, and diversity, the world is becoming an increasingly hostile, cold, and dark place, where compassion is banished and the spiritual essence of humanity is so distorted that it becomes unrecognizable.

But we, as Christians, understand that this seemingly unassailable tower of human pride was irrevocably shaken by the Birth of the Lord. Despite what appears to be the daily triumph of evil in the world, we recognize that the spiritual axis has fundamentally shifted. For two thousand years, whenever we gaze upon the starry sky, we are reminded of the holy and gentle night of the Savior’s Birth. In every humble cave and in every modest setting, we envision the manger that cradled the Child. In the faces of the poor and the outcast, the downtrodden and the expelled, we see the Virgin Mother, cradling her Child, and Righteous Joseph, fleeing from the madness of Herod.

We, as Christians, should not hold in esteem what the world values; we do not adhere to its hierarchies nor chase its goals. Where the world sees emancipation and progress, we discern spiritual bondage and the erosion of innocence. In what the world praises as efficiency and prosperity, we recognize idolatry and exploitation. It doesn’t surprise us that the world venerates Mammon, and we observe how the presence of Christianity is gradually dimming in society. Yet, our life, concealed in Christ, persists, enduring until His Second Coming.

Righteous Christians,
Obliged as we are to live in this world, we find ourselves in a perpetual struggle to remain true to our Christian faith, not just in name but in deed and in the very essence of our lives. We face obstacles and adversity in various realms: in society, at school, at work, and even within our own families, confronting trials that often surprise us in their form and intensity. Nevertheless, amidst these challenges, what we truly need is encouragement and hope.

Therefore, I urge you, with the affection of a brother and the guidance of a spiritual father, not to hesitate in loving one another, in offering encouragement, and in selflessly giving of yourselves to each other in Christ. The power of brotherly love can ease our journey through these turbulent times, through the crises of the world, and through the challenges we face in our personal and family lives. The life of the Church is truly complete only when it encompasses a community, no matter how small. Engaging in the Holy Sacraments – Confession and Communion – is vital, but it is equally crucial to devote our time and resources to assist and support our fellow human beings.

In brotherly love, we find a love imbued with spiritual depth, a love for our neighbor rooted in Christ. Let us emulate the sacrificial love that He exemplified, extending this love not only to our spouses, children, parents, and friends but also to those estranged and lonely, overlooked by the world and abandoned by their own families. Thus, let us nurture a kind heart, a heart attuned to the needs and pains of those around us. Let us guard the innocence of children and youth, and stand as a pillar of support against the loneliness experienced by the elderly.

And thus, with benevolent hearts, as we strive to uphold our humanity amidst those who have lost sight of theirs, we will undoubtedly witness the great miracle of the Holy Child taking residence within the humble manger of our souls. In this way, the mysteries of heaven will unfold before us, allowing us to discern in our hearts the celestial chorus: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men!

Your servant, brother and friend, good-willed and zealous petitioner before God

† Bishop Macarie

Issued at the Bishop’s Residence in Stockholm, the Kingdom of Sweden, on the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord, in the year of salvation 2023