Metropolitan Emmanuel of France addressed a Christmas message to the state television and radio of France as the President of the Episcopal Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of the country.
The Metropolitan of France said: “I send you a message of joy and hope on the occasion of the glorious feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Towards the end of 2020, we are in a period where acts of violence and the terrible Covid-19 pandemic have made the lives of all of us particularly difficult. But we are before the feast of Christmas and full of enthusiasm for the incarnation of the Lord. This special night, God is revealed to us in a unique way. Humans have always formed an image of a majestic, powerful, and victorious God. But God appeared in the manger of Bethlehem in such a way that people would find it difficult to comprehend, because they never imagined a humble, poor and persecuted God, who, as the prophet Isaiah wrote, “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)
The Metropolitan of France invited us all to shine like the star of Bethlehem. “We who have experienced the life-giving rays of the Sun of Righteousness, who have experienced the joy of His Kingdom through baptism, are called to be the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), leading those around us to the knowledge of the incarnate Lord. It is our duty to be His witnesses before all mankind.”
Concluding, the Metropolitan of France stressed “when we are covered with despair and fear of the sufferings of this world, let us remember that Christ chose to incarnate and walk in this world and enlighten it. This world longs for love and peace but unfortunately we see hatred and war in different parts of the world. Only when our love turns to God can it be connected with true love for our fellow humans and bring peace, otherwise it falls into the void and becomes a barren and a fruitless love. Love of fellow man presupposes love of Christ. May the Lord give us courage in faith, strengthen our prayers for our brothers, and remember that Christ came to give us hope and a new life.”