Russia's Patriarch Kirill Sends Christmas Greetings To Heads Of Foreign Churches

Russia's Patriarch Kirill Sends Christmas Greetings to Heads of Foreign Churches

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill has sent Christmas greetings to the heads of Christian churches, according to the Russian Orthodox Church's website.

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th December, 2018) Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill has sent Christmas greetings to the heads of Christian churches, according to the Russian Orthodox Church's website.

"Over two thousand years have passed since a wonderful and most glorious miracle happened in the Bethlehem cave - God appeared in the flesh (I Tim. 3:16) ... In our solemn marking of this feast, we should remember about the great predestination of Christians called by the Lord Himself to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13-14), to do the works of love and charity, to bear witness before those who are near and who are far to the eternal ideals of the Gospel," the patriarch said in letter posted on the website.

The patriarch also wished the heads of the churches "physical strength, fortitude and God's generous help" in their service.

The greetings were sent to Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church; Pope Francis of Rome; Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church; Catholicos-Patriarch Gewargis III of the Assyrian Church of the East; Patriarch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi of Antioch; Catholicos of the East, Metropolitan of Malankara Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II; and Patriarch Abune Mathias of Ethiopia.