Patriarchal Christmas Proclamation 1999

PETROS VII

BY THE GRACE OF GOD POPE & PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA & ALL AFRICA

TO ALL THE FAITHFUL OF THE CHURCH GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY FROM OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO BECAME MAN.

Brethren concelebrants and beloved children in Christ, Christ is born, let us glorify Him.

Christ came from Heaven, let us meet with Him.

Christ came to earth, let us be lifted up to heaven.

With these oratory and poetic words the Church sings the great event of Christ's Birth, the miracle which astonished all human logic, the miracle which was hidden from all generations, and which is revealed today.

Christ is born, let us glorify Him.

The Savior Christ came from Heaven, let us meet Him.

Christ came to earth, let us be lifted up to Heaven.

In a world which is continuously changing and bears the scars of evil and guilt, due to the contemporary wars and the social divisions the world struggles to rebuild the spiritual values, our Holy Church looks upon the celebration of this great feast of Christ's Birth with hope and proclaims, that: "Today a Savior has been born for us". This event gives Us the opportunity to communicate with Our spiritual children, who are in all Africa, and address them with the festival greeting CHRIST IS BORN, and grant them Our paternal blessing.

May the joy, which was evangelized by the Angel to the shepherds and the peace, which was sung by the angelic hosts above the Manger of Bethlehem, be with you, My beloved children. To the parents, as prosperity of their family. To the workers, as strength in their labours. To the sick, as patience during their difficult moments. To those who mourn, as consolation. To those who are in prison, as hope.

To those who suffered from injustice, as refuge. To all, as Divine Blessing and Grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who was born in Bethlehem and was baptized in Jordan.

God became man, to deliver the whole human race, creation and history from sin and its results, which are expressed in social injustice, misfortune and poverty. Man and the social groups, the nations and the whole world look upon the God man, His mercy and love.

Let us, therefore, recall our lives and direct it in accordance with God's Will, either as social groups all together entrusting ourselves to Christ's love, which is expressed from our part as the denial of sin and egocentric evil, as goodwill to do good towards all, as constructive work, as realization of our responsibilities.

May the Grace and Truth, which became reality by the Birth of the God man, be with you.

PETROS VII

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

In the Great City of Alexandria

CHRISTMAS 1999