Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium spoke in his Christmas Encyclical about the nativity of our Lord and Saviour and of the great ordeal the world goes through due to the pandemic.
Moreover, he said that through our prayers during Lent, we prepared ourselves to celebrate Christmas and to find the true meaning of the Incarnation.
In addition, the Mother of God is an example of diligence and faith since she embraced all people and, unlike Eve, she said wholeheartedly “yes”! She embraced what her Son and God achieved through His Nativity.
The metropolitan also spoke of the pandemic, which has afflicted humankind throughout 2020. “At this time of the celebration in the Church Liturgical Calendar, we pray especially for all those who work for those in need: doctors, nurses and all those who – without exception – try to help our fellow human beings to bear the burden,” he said.
At this point, he called on the faithful to pray for those who were sick, but also for those who had fallen asleep in the Lord due to the coronavirus. He also called on the faithful to work together to prevent the spread of the virus, in full compliance with the precautionary measures taken by the governments.
“Merry Christmas and may the New Year of 2021 be full of Divine Blessings!,” he said.