site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil Leads Christmas Liturgy at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
On Christmas Day, the Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia, Daniil, led the festive divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which took place at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.
Patriarch Daniel emphasized that God has given mankind the great gift of His presence and the high honor of being His children. He noted that people often undervalue themselves, and urged everyone to embrace God’s divine peace, humility, and love, which reflect the Godlikeness of man and allow people to share in His grace.
The festive Christmas service was celebrated in concelebration with metropolitans, bishops, deacons, and clergy of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Among those who served in the solemn liturgy were Metropolitan Anthony of Western and Central Europe, Metropolitan Ioan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, Metropolitan Grigoriy of Vratsa, Metropolitan Pahomiy of Vidin, among other clergymen.
According to the Gospel accounts of Saints Matthew and Luke on the Birth of the Savior, the Holy Virgin Mary and the righteous Joseph traveled to the city of David, Bethlehem, for the census of the Roman Empire under Caesar Octavian Augustus. However, they could not find shelter in the city, and so the Infant Jesus was born in a cave outside the town, where shepherds sheltered with their animals. In this way, the Son of God was born on earth as an Infant in unspeakable humility, because on the night of His birth He chose a poor and modest setting. Jesus Christ did not come as an earthly king into a wealthy home or palace with precious treasures, courtiers, and servants. He came into our world in humble and modest circumstances to show us the greatness of His humility and to teach us His humility and obedience to God.
The Bulgarian Patriarch said in his sermon on Christmas Eve: "Today a wondrous and most glorious mystery is accomplished: nature is renewed and God becomes man. The invisible God takes on human form; the boundless One is wrapped in swaddling clothes. He whose throne is in heaven is laid in a manger. The Sinless One clothes Himself in human nature, corrupted by sin, in order to sanctify it and restore it to its paradisiacal purity".
/MY/
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