His Eminence Metropolitan Hrizostom of Dabro-Bosnia and Herzegovina said in his Christmas message that Christmas is a mystery of faith, not a custom as many try to portray it, and called on the people to peace and goodness in this time of suffering.
Metropolitan Hrizostom emphasized that Christmas is a holiday of joy whose fullness this, as in previous years, is being shattered by wars and tragic terrorist attacks on innocent people around the world.
“Every day we hear and read shocking reports from the battlefields in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen. Our hearts are equally broken by horrific murders and violence in families, societies, and apocalyptic and unprecedented natural disasters,” said Bishop Hrizostom.
The Metropolitan pointed out that all of this is disturbing, and that it is not an expression of God’s will, but a consequence of sin.
“The Lord tolerates all the violent people of this world, but we should also believe that no one will escape His just judgment,” emphasized Metropolitan Hrizostom.
The Bishop warned that this is a time of evil people, suffering and testing of faith, but that we should not lose hope.
“God is with us! Christ is with us! Let us pray with faith and hope as the Holy Apostle Peter once did and cry out: Lord, save us, we are perishing. The abuse of the freedom that God has given us is the greatest insult to God! Never since the Second World War has there been such fear and uncertainty for our continent, which has found itself in a whirlpool of tragic events,” said Metropolitan Chrysostom.
His Eminence stated that one should not be of little faith but should stand firm in the faith that God is with people, that He will calm this world and make it beautiful and happy again for everyone.
“We especially ask you, brothers and sisters, to look around you and see those who need help, attention and love and show them as much as you can,” said Metropolitan Chrysostom.
The Bishop asked the faithful to understand and fully accept the mystery revealed in the birth of Jesus Christ.
“The birth of Jesus Christ is a great mystery that we accept with faith and confess on the joyful Christmas days when we greet each other with the words: `Christ is born – Truly He is born!'”, stated Metropolitan Hrizostom.
His Eminence conveyed that it is important for believers to offer their hearts, minds and souls to the Lord instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh as the most precious possession they have.
The Metropolitan emphasized that man is the image of God and that by the nature of God’s creation he belongs to God.
With the desire and faith that Christ will become and always be the constant peace and joy of human souls, Metropolitan congratulated the Orthodox faithful on Christmas with the traditional greeting: “Peace of God – Christ is born!”, and the New Year 2025, Srna writes.
