Peace to you, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May we bring to your attention the words of greetings from our Bishop Vsevolod that were read in the parishes of Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church during the Christmas liturgy.
Brothers and sisters,
It is natural for us humans to be afraid of the dark. And although the modern world sparkles with electrical illumination, there is still plenty of darkness in it. Darkness awakens fear that covers the future and disorients us in the present. The past year has been filled with such fear.
Today at the liturgy we will hear that the people walking in darkness will see a great light [Isa. 9:2]. The Prophet Isaiah spoke about that Light: the most important light — the Light with a capital letter, Whom darkness cannot overcome [John 1:5]; about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior Who was born into this world so that He never leaves us, and about the Word that became flesh to dwell among us [John 1:14].
And so, no matter what lies in wait for us in the present and in the future, darkness is no longer a terrible threat to us. Because any earthly darkness is temporary, and we are eternal. All who are baptized and commune with Christ are eternal.
And here is another thing: in fact, the worst darkness is not physical. The most terrible darkness is unbelief, when people live without God and without the Church (and believing in God and being in the Church are synonyms).
Therefore, always come to church and call into here all those who are far off and who are near, so that the marvelous light [1Pet. 2:9] of Christ will shine for them.
I wish you a good new year filled with this light! Happy Christmas to you, fellow fathers and beloved parishioners!
And we wish you all God’s blessings at this Christmas time and New Year!
Your Siberian friends from “Faith and Hope”
Please see the photos from the liturgy in the Parish of the Annunciation (Moscow).
Please visit our Church “Facebook” page: https://www.facebook.com/siberianelc
